Start a Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchise in 2026

Company Overview

About Mr. Rooter Plumbing

Industry	Maintenance
Related Categories	Plumbing , Miscellaneous Maintenance Businesses, Miscellaneous Services
Founded	1968
Parent Company	Neighborly
Leadership	Mike Davis, Brand President (Interim)
Corporate Address	1010 N. University Parks Dr. Waco, TX 76707
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1972 (54 years)
# of employees at HQ	1,100
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada
# of Units	262 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Mr. Rooter Plumbing 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 Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$42,500
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$122,303 - $263,800
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$250,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$100,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	20% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	6%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

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

In-House Financing	Mr. Rooter Plumbing offers in-house financing to cover the following: franchise fee
Third Party Financing	Mr. Rooter Plumbing 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	8-40 hours
Classroom Training	82.8 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	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	5-6
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	No

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Mr. Rooter Plumbing landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Mr. Rooter Plumbing ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Ranked #1 in Plumbing in 2025

Best of the Best

Ranked #116 in 2026

Franchise 500

Ranked #80 in 2025

Top Global Franchises

Ranked #14 in 2025

Top Franchises for Less Than $150,000

Ranked #54 in 2025

Top Franchises For Veterans

Feeling drained of pointless plumbing services? Mr. Rooter is one of the most well-known services for all your plumbing needs!

With more than 200 Mr. Rooter franchises spread across the United States and parts of Canada, as well as over 50 locations internationally, Mr. Rooter is a plumbing business founded in 1968. The franchise provides sewer cleaning, plumbing, and drain cleaning services for homes and businesses. It is headquartered in Waco, Texas, and has been franchising since 1972. It is under the direction of parent company Neighborly brand.

Even existing plumbing businesses may be able to join the Mr. Rooter franchise empire by rebranding. The company is also known to give special discounts to veterans who want to be franchisees.

Why You May Want to Start a Mr. Rooter Franchise

Mr. Rooter is well-known as a leader in plumbing and drain cleaning services. It is one of the largest plumbing services franchises in the U.S.. Being a part of Neighborly, you may be guaranteed customer referrals and leads, which could result in more stability for your franchise.

If you already have a plumbing franchise, rebranding it as a Mr. Rooter franchise could take it to the next level as it may be a great opportunity to make your business grow with the backing of a recognized brand name.

The good thing with Mr. Rooter is you may not need to be a trained plumber to become a franchisee. As a franchisee, you only need to hire trained plumbers to join your crew.

What Might Make a Mr. Rooter Franchise a Good Choice?

There has been tremendous growth in the plumbing industry over the years. With developments in real estate, homeowners and commercial agents constantly need professionals to work their drains and provide plumbing services. Investing in a known brand like Mr. Rooter will help you provide high-quality results.

To be part of the Mr. Rooter 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 prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees.

Marketing a business may be the best way to create a reliable client base. Mr. Rooter offers marketing materials and strategies to help you market your location. They'll create a franchise website, newsletter, and social media page. They can also help you plan a grand opening to put your business on the map.

How To Open a Mr. Rooter Franchise

To get started, you may need to submit a franchise inquiry form. A franchise developer in your area may contact you to answer all your questions pertaining to your possible Mr. Rooter franchise. They can help you identify a suitable location for your plumbing business once you decide to go ahead with Mr. Rooter.

If your request is approved, you may be invited to company headquarters in Waco, Texas. Here, you can familiarize yourself with the business model and explore your options with the help of a business coach. The next step is signing the franchise agreement. You'll attend on-the-job training and classroom sessions to improve your business skills. After this, you may be all set to launch your plumbing business through a franchise-assisted grand opening.

Get started with Mr. Rooter and drain away all your previous plumbing worries!

Mr. Rooter®: A Recession-Resilient Franchise & Plumbing Leader

Since 1970, Mr. Rooter has provided a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services as an award-winning industry leader, including recognition within Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® as #1 in category (2026) and Top Franchises For Veterans (2025).

With more than 240 locations across North America, Mr. Rooter has a proven business model that emphasizes executive ownership, scalability, and recession-resiliency.

Mr. Rooter is proud to be a part of Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services franchise with 19 brands and more than 5,000 locations focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing properties.

Why Invest in a Mr. Rooter Franchise?

No Industry Experience Required: By utilizing an executive ownership model where you make the decisions and manage your own business, you won’t need to hold a wrench to be successful, especially after hiring an expert staff.

Recession-Resilient Model: Our licensed professionals provide expertise with sewers, drains, septic systems, and so much more. From preventative maintenance to emergency repairs and everything in between, Mr. Rooter is the one-stop shop to keep plumbing issues from backing up.

ProTradeNet® Buying Power: Exclusively available to Neighborly brand franchise owners, you’ll have access to discounts and rebates from over 250 preferred vendors, such as Ferguson and The Home Depot. In 2023, Neighborly brand franchise owners who joined PTN collectively received over $8.7 million in rebates and $98 million in up-front savings.

Veteran Discounts: We are proud to partner with VetFran and offer franchise fee discounts for qualified veterans. With more than 425 current Veteran owners across Neighborly brands, we’re committed to helping transitioning and current Veterans achieve their business goals.

Best-in-Class Training & Support

Training Program & Business Coach: In-depth marketing and sales training as you get started, plus a consultant to answer questions and provide guidance as you grow.

Local & National Marketing Expertise: SEO & PPC guidance set the stage for integrated plans and tactics in your market that focus on customer acquisition, retention, and reactivation.

Ongoing Education & Owner Collaboration: Comprehensive opportunities such as regional training events and national conferences to ensure you have the knowledge to function at the top of your game.

Digital Integration: The Neighborly app makes it convenient for customers to find your brand, get inspiration for home projects, and book service appointments with just a few clicks.

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

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