1-800-Plumber^®

Home & Commercial Services • Year: 2025

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What Is 1-800-Plumber?

1-800-Plumber is a franchise that provides installation and repair of residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC systems. The operational model is a mobile field service that performs Services at customers' sites using at least two approved vans while maintaining an approved office to manage the business. It serves both residential consumers (B2C) and commercial customers (B2B), and the core service bundle includes plumbing and HVAC installation and repair plus the sale of approved supplies, materials, equipment and other products.

1-800-Plumber Franchise: Pros and Cons

Zero outlet non-renewals (bottom 5%) demonstrates unusually strong franchisee retention, but the system also lists 23 signed-but-not-open outlets (top 5%), which could mean the franchisor is selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is facing major site approvals and build-out delays.

Pros

Zero outlet non-renewals, an unusually low figure for Home & Commercial Services (bottom 5%), which indicates franchisees are renewing agreements and staying in the system at higher-than-usual rates.

No disclosed lawsuits, no franchisee-initiated judgments or settlements, no government penalties, no franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and no fraud cases-an exceptionally clean legal and regulatory record (bottom 5%) that reduces legal distraction and potential legacy liabilities.

Manager required equity is 0% (bottom 5%), giving you flexibility to hire, compensate, or structure manager ownership without being forced to cede equity.

Cons

Four outlet terminations, well above typical for comparable systems (top quarter), suggesting some operators have exited the system earlier than expected.

Twenty-three signed-but-not-open outlets, unusually high for Home & Commercial Services (top 5%), which can indicate the franchisor is selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is experiencing delays in site approvals and build-outs.

Item 7 reserve requirements of $50,000 (min) and $100,000 (max), both well above typical for Home & Commercial Services (top 10%), mean you should expect to hold significantly more cash on hand to cover operating costs during ramp-up.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

1-800-Plumber reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

35/100

NORMAL

1-800-Plumber grants a protected, site-specific Service Area (by zip/street/city/county boundaries) with a market-density cap of 300,000 and authorization to operate a single franchisor-approved Office. Rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas; franchisor may develop nearby units, sell via e-commerce and alternative channels, and relocation requires franchisor consent.

Training & Support

35/100

NORMAL

1-800-Plumber provides a focused 40-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support to aid operational readiness; travel and living expenses are the franchisee's responsibility, and on-site support is available for an additional cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a 1-800-Plumber Franchise?

Opening a 1-800-Plumber franchise requires a total initial investment of $153,580 to $327,040, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$153,580

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$327,040

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$49,050

Real Estate$2,500

Equipment & Assets$26,000

Reserves$50,000

Training$1,000

Other$25,030

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$54,500

Real Estate$31,000

Equipment & Assets$57,700

Reserves$100,000

Training$3,000

Other$80,840

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do 1-800-Plumber Franchise Owners Make?

1-800-Plumber franchise locations reported average gross sales of $909,046 and median gross sales of $426,797 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$909,046

Median Gross Sales:

$426,797

High Gross Sales:

$7,511,298

Low Gross Sales:

$18,306

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

11.1%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Table C (affiliate 1-800-Plumber of Pearland) shows Total Revenue of $2,883,340 with Total Cost of Sales of $1,534,170 (53.21%), producing Gross Profit of $1,349,170 (46.79%). The Table C disclosure also lists fees that a franchisee would pay (royalty 6% = $173,000; BDF 2% = $57,667; technology fee $1,200), but the affiliate’s reported figures do not present net profit or other operating expenses. Separately, systemwide revenue (Table D) grew to $25,282,139 in 2024 (year‑over‑year growth 13.67% from 2023), showing network-level growth even though the affiliate profit figures exclude many franchisee operating costs.

Performance Variability Analysis: Performance across the 27 Operators is highly skewed. The mean Annual Total Revenue (simple average of the 27 operators) is approximately $909,046 while the median is $426,797 - the mean is driven up by a few very large operators (top = $7,511,298; top three operators are A/B/C). Only 3 of 27 operators (≈11.11%) have annual revenue at or above the arithmetic average, indicating substantial right-skew. Tier-level summary (Table A) highlights wide dispersion: Top Tier average annual revenue ~$2,169,822; Upper Mid ~$477,727; Lower Mid ~$262,001; Low Tier ~$64,401. Technician productivity (from Table A summaries) also varies materially: Top‑Tier revenue per month per technician ~$30,656.83, Upper Mid ~$15,924.25, Lower Mid ~$16,083.63, Low Tier ~$4,775.53 - illustrating that both scale and technician utilization drive operator revenue differences.

Data Scope and Limitations: The Item 19 dataset covers 27 Operators who operated in 2024 and were operating as of December 31, 2024. The financial data are unaudited and were compiled from the affiliate and franchisee reports (the disclosure explicitly states the financial statements have not been reviewed or audited by an independent accountant). Some Operators commenced operations during 2024 (partial-months are flagged with an asterisk), and some franchisees report aggregated revenue across multiple Service Areas (so per-Service-Area breakdowns are not available). Table C reports Cost of Sales and Gross Profit for the affiliate only; it does not present net profit or operating expense detail for the affiliate or for franchisees, so prospective franchisees cannot derive net income from the tables alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1-800-Plumber a good franchise to own?

Whether 1-800-Plumber is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: 1-800-Plumber operates 54 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 35/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a 1-800-Plumber franchise worth the investment?

The value of a 1-800-Plumber franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $153,580 to $327,040. 1-800-Plumber disclosed average gross sales of $909,046 in 2025. The system reported 4 terminated units in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of 1-800-Plumber franchises?

In the 2025 FDD, 1-800-Plumber reported 4 terminated franchises and 0 non-renewals out of 54 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

How long does it take to break even with a 1-800-Plumber franchise?

Break-even timelines for 1-800-Plumber franchises are not disclosed in the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is 1-800-Plumber a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, 1-800-Plumber operates 50 franchised locations and 4 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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