Top 100 Franchises
2014
Established in 1970, Mr. Rooter is an all-franchised, full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company with approximately 300 franchises worldwide. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its "Franchise 500" and Franchise Times Top 200, Mr. Rooter franchisees provide services to both residential and commercial customers. Mr. Rooter began franchising in 1974 and is part of The Dwyer Group family of companies, which also includes Rainbow International, Aire Serv, Mr. Electric, Mr. Appliance, and Glass Doctor.
| Year | Franchised | Change | Company-Owned | Change | Total | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 222 | -0.89% | 0 | -- | 222 | -0.89% |
| 2011 | 224 | -5.88% | 0 | -- | 224 | -5.88% |
| 2010 | 238 | -- | 0 | -- | 238 | -- |
Investment Required
The initial franchise fee for a Mr. Rooter franchise is $30,000, plus $300 per 1,000 population for additional territory. Mr. Rooter provides the following range of investments required to open your initial franchise. The range assumes that all items are paid for in cash. To the extent that you choose to finance any of these expense items, your front-end investment could be substantially reduced.
| Item | Established Low Range | Established High Range |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $30,000 + $300 per 1,000 additional pop. |
| Vehicle | $2,925 | $29,250 |
| Equipment, Supplies & Inventory | $10,000 | $35,000 |
| Insurance | $1,200 | $2,500 |
| Advertising & Promotional | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Expenses While Training | $2,250 | $4,850 |
| Deposits, Permits & Licenses | $0 | $1,000 |
| Professional Fees | $0 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $12,000 | $30,000 |
| Total Initial Investment | $68,375 | $62,600 |
Ongoing Expenses
Mr. Rooter franchisees pay weekly license fees of 5-7% of gross sales, a weekly MAP fee of 2% of gross sales, and a $50 monthly call center fee. Additional fees include the training fee and the systems accounts/administrative fee.
What You Get: Training and Support
Mr. Rooter offers a two-part training program for new managers and franchisees. Phase I involves three hours of classroom training, provided via webinar, video, or over the phone. Topics covered include website overview, budget planning, and office setup. Phase II of the training program combines both classroom and hands-on training methods, and takes place at the company offices in Waco, Texas. The second phase generally lasts about 5 days. Lastly, all trainees must complete 1-5 days of field training at a Mr. Rooter franchised business selected by the company.
Territory
Mr. Rooter does not grant exclusive territories.
Note: The tables and information regarding the number of operating units, investment required, ongoing expenses, training and territory grants were taken from the company's 2013 FDD.
