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2025 Franchise 500 Rank
#231 Ranked #219 last year
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Initial investment
$45K - $82K
Units as of 2024
703 Decrease 8% over 3 years

Are you looking to open a plumbing, drain, and sewer cleaning franchise? Then Rooter-Man may be for you. The company offers various commercial and residential plumbing services. Services range from leak detection, troubleshooting, repairs, pipe location, drain cleaning, and septic works. They have patented drain cleaning equipment that they believe is superior to their competition.

Founded by Donald MacDonald in 1970, Rooter-Man is a plumbing services company that's been around for decades. Rooter-Man, which now boasts more than 50 years of operation, began franchising in 1981. 

There are over 650 Rooter-Man franchises in the U.S., with another few dozen in Canada.

Why You May Want to Start a Rooter-Man Franchise

Rooter-Man offers an excellent opportunity to run a home-based plumbing business for anyone with plumbing knowledge and experience. Although multiple franchise locations are not required, a good amount of franchisees own multiple units that are run by approximately four employees.

If you're looking to expand your business, you may want to try starting this plumbing franchise. As a franchisee, you'll receive equity in the franchisor's national brand, and owning the brand's trademark may go a long way in expanding your operational territory. It is possible to receive support through each stage, with information and expertise to be provided upon request.

What Might Make a Rooter-Man Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Rooter-Man team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees including advertising, royalty, and renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. It may be a good idea to speak with an attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you have the financial stability necessary to open a Rooter-Man franchise.

What may make opening a Rooter-Man franchise a good choice is the brand's proven franchising system built around a registered trademark in local areas. You get access to a training program on management skills, a local advertisement plan, and a pool of information from professionals in the field. Additionally, Rooter-Man has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and Fastest-Growing Franchises many times in the past several decades. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

How to Open a Rooter-Man Franchise

As you decide if opening a Rooter-Man franchise is the right decision for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Rooter-Man franchise would do well in your community. If there are multiple other plumbing companies available in your area, then you may want to reconsider your location.

It's relatively easy to start this national plumbing and drain cleaning franchise. To become one of the Rooter-Man franchisees, you have to submit an inquiry form. If you are seen as a good fit, a franchise representative may reach out to you to begin the initial franchising process. 

Don't let your future slip down the drain—ask about opening your Rooter-Man franchise

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Company Overview

About RooterMan

Industry Maintenance
Related Categories Plumbing , Miscellaneous Maintenance Businesses
Founded 1970
Parent Company Premium Service Brands
Leadership Paul Flick, CEO
Corporate Address 126 Garrett, #J
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1981 (44 years)
# of employees at HQ 40
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada

# of Units 703 (as of 2024)
Line graph showing the number of units this franchise had for the last 5 years.
U.S. FranchisesInternationalCompany OwnedTotal
100%

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a RooterMan franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$4,975
Initial Investment Information Circle
$45,075 - $82,475
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$25,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$10,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
10% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Information Circle
Varies
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
Varies
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing RooterMan has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 28 hours
Classroom Training 62.5 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
Yes
# of employees required to run 3-5
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where RooterMan landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

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Additional Rankings

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022