1 Tom Plumber^®

Home & Commercial Services • Year: 2025

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What Is 1 Tom Plumber?

1 Tom Plumber is a franchise in the Home & Commercial Services category offering drain cleaning and full-service plumbing. Franchisees operate from a single central office in light industrial space (brick-and-mortar) serving a defined zip-code Operating Area and dispatch outfitted service trucks to perform on-site work. It serves both residential and commercial customers (B2C and B2B), focusing on emergency drain cleaning and repairs, and requires key assets such as hydrojetters and at least three fully stocked, 1-Tom-Plumber outfitted service trucks.

1 Tom Plumber Franchise: Pros and Cons

A Territory Protection Score of 73, well above typical for Home & Commercial Services, gives franchisees a strong protected area and reduces overlap risk; however, the franchise's high capital requirements-a maximum total investment of $2,796,495 (minimum $515,719) plus reserves of $100,000–$800,000-mean much higher upfront needs.

Pros

A Territory Protection Score of 73, well above typical for Home & Commercial Services, gives you a strong protected area and reduces the risk of nearby company or franchise overlap.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and zero government penalties are unusually low for this category, indicating a clean legal and regulatory record.

Initial franchise fees are refundable on failure (the FDD indicates fees are not non‑refundable), which is unusual compared with most peers and lowers your sunk cost risk if a deal falls apart.

Cons

Five outlet terminations, unusually high for the franchise universe (top 10%), suggests some operators have exited the system earlier than expected.

Twenty-two signed-but-not-open units, well above typical for Home & Commercial Services (top 5%), suggests the franchisor may be selling agreements faster than it can support openings or that there are delays in site approvals and buildouts.

Item 7 shows a maximum total investment of $2,796,495 (and a minimum of $515,719) plus required reserves listed between $100,000 and $800,000 - all well above typical for Home & Commercial Services - meaning your upfront capital and cash-on-hand needs will be significantly higher than industry peers.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

1 Tom Plumber reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

73/100

Excellent

1 Tom Plumber grants an exclusive Operating Area tied to a single Central Office (assigned by zip code or travel time); franchisees may market only within it and may relocate only with franchisor written consent. The franchisor retains development, alternative-channel and national-account rights, and territorial protection is not contingent on performance.

Training & Support

57/100

NORMAL

The brand provides a robust 114-hour training curriculum designed to prepare franchise personnel for launch and ongoing operational responsibilities, with no trainees included in the initial franchise fee. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; travel and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the franchisee, and on-site support may involve additional fees.

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

Opening a 1 Tom Plumber franchise requires a total initial investment of $515,719 to $2,796,495, 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

$515,719

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$2,796,495

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$50,000

Real Estate$500

Equipment & Assets$339,519

Reserves$100,000

Training$2,500

Other$23,200

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$50,000

Real Estate$17,250

Equipment & Assets$1,859,313

Reserves$800,000

Training$5,500

Other$64,432

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 Tom Plumber Franchise Owners Make?

Average Gross Sales:

N/A

Median Gross Sales:

N/A

High Gross Sales:

$3,776,306

Low Gross Sales:

$542,627

Sample Size:

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Corporate locations include at least one location (Cincinnati) with substantially higher annual total sales than any franchised location, while franchised locations peak at $3,776,306, indicating some corporate outlets outperform the franchised sample on revenue.

Performance Variability Analysis: Franchised annual total sales vary materially across the 19 units (range roughly $542,627 to $3,776,306), showing significant variability in revenue between territories and outlets.

Data Scope and Limitations: The Item 19 data are unaudited, present only 2024 results for 19 franchised units, do not include aggregate averages or medians across the sample, and contain no expense/P&L data, limiting profitability analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1 Tom Plumber a good franchise to own?

Whether 1 Tom Plumber is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: 1 Tom Plumber operates 43 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 57/100. 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 Tom Plumber franchise worth the investment?

The value of a 1 Tom Plumber franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $515,719 to $2,796,495. The system reported 5 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 Tom Plumber franchises?

In the 2025 FDD, 1 Tom Plumber reported 5 terminated franchises and 0 non-renewals out of 43 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 Tom Plumber franchise?

Break-even timelines for 1 Tom 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 Tom Plumber a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, 1 Tom Plumber operates 37 franchised locations and 6 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Interested in 1 Tom Plumber?

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