Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchise

The April 2, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document traces the disclosed predecessor’s franchise operations to 1993. Mr. Rooter LLC was incorporated in Texas on July 30, 1993 and converted to a limited liability company in December 2011. It offered franchises under the Mr. Rooter and America’s Trouble Shooter names until March 2021. The current franchisor, Mr. Rooter SPV LLC, was organized in Delaware in November 2020 and is headquartered in Waco, Texas. These dates describe the entities and franchise history disclosed in the FDD, rather than establishing the brand’s original founding date.

Mr. Rooter is part of the Neighborly organization. Its corporate ownership changed in August 2021 when an entity controlled by KKR-affiliated investment funds acquired the relevant parent company. As of December 31, 2025, the FDD reported 238 U.S. franchises and three affiliate-operated U.S. locations, along with four U.K. franchises operating through a master-franchise relationship. This is a dated system snapshot, not a projection of future expansion.

The franchise accommodates both start-ups and conversions of existing businesses. Its authorized service range extends from residential and commercial plumbing repairs and drain cleaning to water heaters, video pipe inspection, leak detection, sewer-line repair and other specified plumbing-related services. The standard minimum initial franchise fee is $42,500 for a territory of up to 100,000 people; additional population generally costs $425 per 1,000 people, with separate qualification and discount provisions. Territory size and operating requirements depend on the agreement and market. Owners may use a qualifying home base within their territory where local zoning permits, or suitable business premises.

Before opening, Mr. Rooter provides site-selection guidelines, approved supply and supplier information, access to operating manuals, the required training programs and opening support. The owner selects the location and must demonstrate that it meets the franchisor’s guidelines; the franchisor does not select or equip the site. The manuals cover operations, marketing, accounting and financial management, human resources, recruiting and retention.

The training program combines initial business setup, Business Training and virtual Systems Training. Initial setup covers the operations manual, business registration, communications, marketing planning, accounting setup and supplier-program orientation. Item 11 makes that initial component discretionary, but requires completion before later training if the franchisor assigns it. Business Training generally lasts four to five days in Waco, Texas, another designated location or by video conference. Topics include organizational roles, customer calls and service, sales, pricing, cash flow, financial reports, local marketing and search engine optimization. Systems Training addresses ServiceTitan booking, dispatch, schedules, pricebooks, estimates, invoicing and reporting. Optional field training at a selected operating franchise or virtually is also described. Training-hour figures differ between the FDD’s tables and narrative, so prospective owners should confirm the assigned schedule.

The franchisor provides training for the franchisee and four other people without an additional training charge; extra participants are accommodated as space allows. At least one owner must complete all required training satisfactorily, and both an owner and any location manager must complete Business Training. Attendees pay their travel, living and miscellaneous expenses. Required training must be completed before opening. The FDD describes a typical opening period of two to five months, with the agreement requiring opening within six months, subject to satisfying pre-opening obligations.

After launch, support includes ongoing communications, manual and supplier-list updates, product and service development, and consultation visits as the franchisor determines necessary. Owners must attend the annual Reunion and other required training at their expense; refresher courses and regional meetings may carry additional fees. Required ServiceTitan and technology systems support scheduling, dispatch, customer histories, invoicing and reporting, with separate software and support costs. The Marketing, Advertising and Promotion Fund supports system advertising, but does not promise spending in an individual owner’s area. Owners also fund local marketing: Item 6 specifies at least $60,000 during the first 12 months and $75,000 during months 13–24. Owners remain responsible for hiring, employee training, licensing and daily execution.

Mr. Rooter is worth considering for an owner who wants to organize a local plumbing service business around an established brand, a broad range of authorized repair services and a defined operating system. The opportunity can suit an existing plumbing-business owner evaluating conversion or a qualified buyer prepared to build and supervise a service team. Its mix of residential and commercial work, customer-service processes and dispatch tools gives the owner concrete operating resources to work with.

The strongest fit is someone comfortable with recruiting, financial management, customer relationships and local marketing. Individual owners generally must perform or supervise operations; an entity generally needs direct, on-site supervision by a trained designated owner. A trained manager can supervise instead only with the franchisor’s consent. The territory comes with limited contractual protection and reserved competitive rights. For a buyer who values that structure and is ready to manage the business actively, Mr. Rooter offers a documented route into plumbing-service ownership, without making a promise about income, customer volume or lifestyle.

For questions about service scope, staffing, equipment and local operating costs, read our home-service franchise comparison guide.