Arctic Resto Brings Eco-Friendly Innovation to the Cleaning Industry With Its Mobile Dry Ice Franchise

Joe Pinto is betting big on the future of sustainable, mobile cleaning — and so far, that bet is paying off.

Arctic Resto is a mobile dry ice cleaning franchise based in Connecticut, offering a powerful, water- and chemical-free solution for residential, commercial and industrial cleaning. The brand launched in early 2024 with a bold approach: to build a scalable franchise model right from the start — before even operating multiple units.

“We did it a little backwards,” said Pinto, founder of Arctic Resto. “We believed in the mobile dry ice cleaning model so much that we started with the franchise framework first. We have our first van on the road now, but from day one, our mindset has been on scale.”

Dry ice cleaning is a high-pressure, non-abrasive cleaning method that uses solid carbon dioxide pellets. The pellets evaporate on contact, leaving no water, chemicals or residue behind. The versatility of this method means Arctic Resto can serve a wide range of industries — from cleaning boats and restaurant hoods to restoring historic buildings and removing soot or mold from homes.

Outfitting the first corporate van to handle this kind of service wasn’t simple. Pinto and his team had to engineer a custom layout that could safely store and operate dry ice, with dedicated bins, a mounted compressor system, and proper ventilation.

“Getting that first van fully operational was a big milestone,” Pinto said. “From metal fabrication to branding, every piece had to work together seamlessly — and now it’s out there performing jobs weekly.”

The van is equipped to carry 900 pounds of dry ice across three bins and is designed for maximum efficiency in on-site, high-powered cleaning jobs — all without leaving behind any secondary waste.

While the business model was built for replication, franchising brings its own set of complexities — especially on the legal front. Pinto turned to Spadea Lignana to guide him through that part of the journey.

“They’ve been fantastic,” he said. “They helped us build the FDD and the franchise agreements, get registered in Connecticut, and introduced us to key partners like auditors. As someone new to franchising, that support has been crucial.”

Pinto initially discovered Spadea Lignana through online research while exploring legal partners to help launch a franchise. The firm’s stellar reputation, responsiveness and deep franchise law expertise stood out immediately. Having never built a franchise before, Pinto said the team at Spadea made the legal side of franchising approachable and actionable, helping him understand everything from registration requirements to ongoing compliance. They also facilitated helpful introductions to industry partners such as auditing firms and consultants, providing a broader foundation for building the Arctic Resto franchise system.

The franchise is still in its early days, but Pinto is optimistic about Arctic Resto’s future as a leader in the dry ice space.

“This is a service people haven’t really seen franchised before. There are a few independent vans out there, but no unified brand doing it at scale,” he said. “We’re offering entrepreneurs a chance to bring an emerging, sustainable service to their communities — and do it quickly.”

To learn more about Arctic Resto’s franchise opportunity, visit https://arcticresto.com/franchise-opportunities/.