How much does a 1-800-Plumber franchise cost?

The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $179,210–$345,700, including a $56,500 initial franchise fee.

Is a 1-800-Plumber franchise worth it?

It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. 1-800-Plumber scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 8% of sales in ongoing fees. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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The real numbers on owning a 1-800-Plumber franchise

Plumbing & HVAC Services Franchise · FDD 2026 · from public state filings

CDisclosure honesty

This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.

★★★☆☆ FranchiseValidate transparency rating: 3/5

Investment

$179,210–$345,700

Total fees

8% of sales

Outlets

Closure signals

4 ceased, 8 terminated

Lawsuits

Is 1-800-Plumber worth it? How it compares to 29 similar franchises

Ongoing fees	8% of sales	lower than most (median 8%)
Startup cost	from $179,210	pricier than 90% of peers
Disclosure honesty	Grade C	less honest than most of the category
Closure rate	6.6% of outlets	worse than 82% of peers
Disclosed lawsuits	0	fewer than most

Benchmarked against every home & trade services franchise we've graded from public FDDs — the context the franchisor's pitch never gives you.

What their own earnings claim actually says

Discloses 2025 actual revenue for 26 operators across three tiers ($166K-$7.9M annually). Top tier averaged $3.78M; middle tier $661K; lower tier $166K. Omits net profit/income after expenses.

Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)

2025: 4 ceased operations, 8 terminations, 5 transfers among 50 franchised outlets starting year

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The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.

Franchisor's framing: Discloses 2025 actual revenue for 26 operators across three tiers ($166K-$7.9M annually). Top t…

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Reconstructed owner P&L — net take-home after royalty, ad fund, rent, labor & debt
Break-even timeline + cash-on-cash ROI on your investment
Full fee stack + required-purchase markups
Decoded real failure / closure rate
How it ranks vs comparable franchises
Validation-call playbook — who to call + the exact questions

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1-800-Plumber franchise — frequently asked

How much does a 1-800-Plumber franchise cost?: The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $179,210–$345,700, including a $56,500 initial franchise fee.
How much do 1-800-Plumber franchise owners make?: Discloses 2025 actual revenue for 26 operators across three tiers ($166K-$7.9M annually). Top tier averaged $3.78M; middle tier $661K; lower tier $166K. Omits net profit/income after expenses. We grade this disclosure C for honesty.
What is the 1-800-Plumber franchise failure rate?: 2025: 4 ceased operations, 8 terminations, 5 transfers among 50 franchised outlets starting year
Is a 1-800-Plumber franchise worth it?: It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. 1-800-Plumber scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 8% of sales in ongoing fees. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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Compare 1-800-Plumber to similar franchises

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Source: WI DFI Franchise Registration (2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with 1-800-Plumber or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.