Méthodrone reaches seven franchise branches in France

Launched in Brest in late 2023, Méthodrone is continuing to expand its drone-based roof and façade cleaning business. According to information published by L’Express Franchise on 28 September 2026, the network has seven franchise branches and is training an eighth entrepreneur. A branch in Vendée, western France, is also among the openings announced for the end of the year.

From Brest to the first branches across France

Méthodrone founder Thomas Couvin, a former clearance diver in the French Navy, developed a cleaning service using drones. In June 2024, just a few months after launching the business, he secured the contract to clean La Géode at La Villette in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games.

Preparations for franchising began that same year. As a winner of the 2024 Passeport pour la franchise competition, the founder received support to document and structure his know-how. This paved the way for the first two franchise openings in March 2025, in Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d’Armor, and Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique.

Expansion then moved beyond western France, with branches in Bordeaux, Montpellier and Montélimar. The network now has seven franchise branches. It also reports receiving 200 applications since launching its franchise offer. This is a measure of interest reported by the brand, not the number of approved projects or branches actually opened.

Cleaning services complemented by inspections

The operating principle involves using a drone to spray a treatment product onto roofs and the façades of tall buildings while the operator remains on the ground. This service forms the core of the Brest-based company’s offer.

Inspection is becoming a second line of business for the network. Branches take aerial images, identify roof defects and carry out thermal imaging surveys of solar power installations. The model therefore extends beyond surface treatment to include observation and inspection work.

For prospective franchisees, these two activities warrant close examination. Cleaning and inspection services should be assessed separately when preparing a business plan, to understand the skills required and the role each could play in the local business. The available information does not specify how much each contributes to branch turnover.

A two-stage training programme

There is a prerequisite for entering the business: according to the training pathway described by L’Express Franchise, flying a cleaning drone above a house or other building requires a remote pilot certificate. Méthodrone directs prospective franchisees towards this training, which it says takes an average of one month.

This is followed by four weeks of job-specific training. Two weeks take place in the field in Brest, followed by two weeks of support in the franchisee’s territory. The programme thus combines remote pilot training with instruction in the services offered by the brand.

At the time of publication, an eighth franchisee is training in Brest. This points to the next stage of expansion but does not yet represent another branch opening. Similarly, openings announced for the period up to December, notably in Vendée, should be distinguished from the seven branches already recorded.

Two investment options to assess

On its website, Méthodrone states a total investment of €46,500 when the drone and van are financed through leasing, compared with €115,000 if they are purchased. The brand recommends a personal capital contribution of at least €10,000 when applying for a bank loan.

These two figures reflect different financing arrangements. To compare the options, prospective franchisees should therefore look beyond the initial outlay and request a detailed breakdown of costs and the payment schedule associated with leasing.

The network targets turnover of around €120,000 in the first year and €180,000 in the second. These are stated targets, not demonstrated average results for existing branches or a guarantee of income.

Key takeaway: before committing, request a detailed budget, check the training timetable and compare sales targets with the available results from the first branches. The network’s expansion provides useful benchmarks, which should be assessed territory by territory.