You’re hiring someone to clean your carpet, not researching an investment portfolio. But behind some familiar cleaning brands, you’ll find private equity firms buying businesses and building national service networks.
That might surprise you when you’re searching for an Austin carpet cleaner or a local steam cleaning company. A local phone number tells you where a business works. It doesn’t necessarily tell you who owns the brand.
If you prefer to support an independent local business, ownership is worth a closer look.
K&M Steam Cleaning is locally owned and independent, founded in Austin by Ken Moncebaiz in 1996. Here’s how that differs from some other names you may encounter while comparing cleaning companies.
Zerorez: A private equity-backed carpet cleaning brand
Zerorez partnered with Banner Ventures, now known as Banner Capital, in August 2022. The deal included the national franchisor and several franchise operations, including Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Minneapolis.
The companies described a plan to grow through acquisitions, expand existing operations and continue adding franchise territories. Management and the acquired franchise owners retained meaningful ownership stakes.
For someone comparing Zerorez Austin and K&M Steam Cleaning, the verified ownership distinction is at the national brand level: Zerorez has private equity backing.
That does not establish that Banner directly owns the Austin operation. Buying a franchise brand and buying every business operating under that brand are different things.
Sir Grout: A local franchise within a private equity-backed organization
Sir Grout became part of Threshold Brands, a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, in September 2021. Threshold’s other brands include MaidPro, Men In Kilts and additional home service businesses.
But there’s a distinction Austin customers should know: Sir Grout Austin identifies Silver Cornia as its owner and describes its operation as locally owned and operated. Its national franchise brand belongs to the Riverside-backed organization.
Both can be true. A local entrepreneur can own a franchise while the brand belongs to a private equity-backed parent company.
If you’re comparing Sir Grout Austin and K&M for tile and grout cleaning or natural stone care, that’s the ownership difference: a locally owned franchise within a national system versus an independent local company.
SOLID Surface Care: Buying companies to build a national network
Private equity’s interest extends beyond residential carpet cleaning.
Angeles Equity Partners acquired a majority interest in SOLID Surface Care in June 2025. SOLID provides commercial cleaning, maintenance and restoration for carpet, stone, concrete, metal and other surfaces. Its national model offers customers one contact, contract and invoice across multiple facilities.
Angeles publishes its acquisition strategy: buy additional commercial surface care businesses, expand into more markets and add related services. SOLID has also acquired DFS Green, a commercial surface maintenance and restoration business.
For property managers and business owners comparing commercial cleaning providers, this is consolidation happening among the companies doing the work.
milliCare: Part of a broader commercial services platform
The Riverside Company acquired milliCare, a commercial floor and textile care franchise brand, in 2021.
The stated goal was to build a broader collection of commercial service franchise brands. That platform subsequently became EverSmith Brands. As with other franchise systems, ownership of the brand does not establish ownership of every local franchise business.
What about Chem-Dry and Stanley Steemer?
These companies shouldn’t simply be lumped into the same ownership category.
Chem-Dry belongs to BELFOR Franchise Group, which acquired its parent company, Harris Research, in 2019. That identifies the national brand’s corporate parent; it does not establish private equity ownership of a particular local Chem-Dry franchise.
Stanley Steemer describes itself as family-owned and operated. A national name alone is not evidence of private equity ownership.
Why are investors interested in cleaning your floors?
A cleaning company can have something valuable beyond equipment and service vans: established customers, experienced crews, a recognizable name and relationships that produce repeat business.
The investment strategies announced by Banner, Riverside and Angeles involve expanding those businesses through acquisitions, additional locations, franchise growth and operational support. Commercial maintenance also offers opportunities for recurring customer relationships.
Private equity investors seek a financial return. Building a larger cleaning organization is one way to pursue it.
That can bring resources for growth. Ownership alone, however, won’t tell you whether your technician will arrive on time, explain the work clearly or do a thorough job. You still need to evaluate service.
But if supporting an independent local company is part of your decision, you deserve to know the difference.
The K&M difference: An Austin company with a name behind it
K&M Steam Cleaning began in 1996 when Ken Moncebaiz started the business with one used van. Our roots are here in Austin, where we’ve grown by serving homeowners, property managers and businesses.
We’re independently owned. We’re not a national franchise or part of the private equity-backed platforms described above.
When you choose K&M, you’re choosing an Austin business operating under its own name, with a local owner and a history in this community.
Our services include carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning, area rug cleaning and natural stone care for homes and businesses.
As you compare Austin carpet cleaning and steam cleaning companies, ask what the price includes, read customer reviews and understand the service policies. And if ownership matters to you, ask who owns the company and who owns the brand.
Prefer to keep it independent and local? K&M Steam Cleaning would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.
