How much does a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise cost?

The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $142,903–$312,398, including a $59,000 initial franchise fee.

Is a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise worth it?

It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. 1-800 WATER DAMAGE scores B on disclosure honesty, carries about 12% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 1 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

Home › Water Damage Restoration/Buyer-Advocate Franchise › 1-800 WATER DAMAGE

The real numbers on owning a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise

Water Damage Restoration/Buyer-Advocate Franchise · FDD 2026 · from public state filings

BDisclosure honesty

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

★★★★☆ FranchiseValidate transparency rating: 4/5

Investment

$142,903–$312,398

Total fees

12% of sales

Outlets

160

Closure signals

25 ceased, 25 terminated

Lawsuits

Is 1-800 WATER DAMAGE worth it? How it compares to 10 similar franchises

Ongoing fees	12% of sales	about average
Startup cost	from $142,903	about average (median $138,875)
Disclosure honesty	Grade B	more honest than 73% of restoration & remediation franchises
Closure rate	15.6% of outlets	worse than 82% of peers
Disclosed lawsuits	1	about average

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

What their own earnings claim actually says

Gross Sales data for 78 franchisees (2025). Top 25% avg $1.95M; median $481K. Bottom 25% avg $133K. Excludes operating costs, owner salary, and other expenses.

Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)

25 terminations & 15 net outlet decline in 2025. Bottom 25% franchisees avg only $133K.

Legal history (Item 3)

1 matters disclosed.

Get the full 1-800 WATER DAMAGE validation report — $149

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

Franchisor's framing: Gross Sales data for 78 franchisees (2025). Top 25% avg $1.95M; median $481K. Bottom 25% avg $1…

🔒 Real estimated owner take-home (low / median / high) — unlocked in the report

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

See a full sample report →

1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise — frequently asked

How much does a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise cost?: The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $142,903–$312,398, including a $59,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise owners make?: Gross Sales data for 78 franchisees (2025). Top 25% avg $1.95M; median $481K. Bottom 25% avg $133K. Excludes operating costs, owner salary, and other expenses. We grade this disclosure B for honesty.
What is the 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise failure rate?: 25 terminations & 15 net outlet decline in 2025. Bottom 25% franchisees avg only $133K.
Is a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise worth it?: It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. 1-800 WATER DAMAGE scores B on disclosure honesty, carries about 12% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 1 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

Own a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE? Add your real numbers (anonymous)

We publish only aggregated benchmarks — never your name. Contribute and we'll show you how your numbers compare.

Compare 1-800 WATER DAMAGE to similar franchises

ServproF PuroCleanC 1-800-PackoutsB 911 RestorationC

See all franchises ranked by disclosure honesty →

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