1-800-Plumber vs 1tomplumber
1-800-Plumber vs 1tomplumber: 1-800-Plumber costs $124K to $327K to open; 1tomplumber costs $516K to $2.8M. 1-800-Plumber has 54 units, 1tomplumber has 43. SBA loan history: 1-800-Plumber = 27 loans (7.4% default); 1tomplumber = 14 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
1-800-Plumber vs 1tomplumber: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
1-800-Plumber requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($124K vs $516K for 1tomplumber), a 76% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $55K for 1-800-Plumber versus $50K for 1tomplumber, 1tomplumber has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for 1-800-Plumber and 6% for 1tomplumber, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, 1-800-Plumber operates 54 units to 1tomplumber's 43. 1-800-Plumber has been operating 16 years (founded 2010) versus 8 for 1tomplumber (founded 2018), a 8-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
1-800-Plumber has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 27 7(a) approvals compared with 14 for 1tomplumber. 1-800-Plumber's peak SBA year was 2023 (12 loans); 1tomplumber's peak was 2024 (4 loans). 1tomplumber's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. 1-800-Plumber has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 8. 1tomplumber leads in WA, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded 1-800-Plumber deals is $205K vs $320K for 1tomplumber, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.4% for 1-800-Plumber and 0.0% for 1tomplumber, 1tomplumber has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for 1-800-Plumber and 62 (Moderate) for 1tomplumber, giving 1tomplumber the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 62/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 27 | 14 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.4% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $124K to $327K | $516K to $2.8M |
Franchise Fee | $55K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 54 | 43 |
Franchised Units | 50 | 37 |
Company Owned | 4 | 6 |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 2018 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 2020 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 6 yrs |
Headquarters | TX | Milford, OH |
Category | Plumbing, Heating, | Plumbing, Heating, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, 1-800-Plumber or 1tomplumber?
Lower upfront capital required
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: $124K starting · 1tomplumber: $516K starting
More SBA lender confidence
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 27 SBA loans · 1tomplumber: 14 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
1tomplumber
1-800-Plumber: 7.4% · 1tomplumber: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 54 units · 1tomplumber: 43 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
1-800-Plumber: 6% · 1tomplumber: 6%
More lender financing options
1tomplumber
1-800-Plumber: 3 unique lenders · 1tomplumber: 10 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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1-800-Plumber vs 1tomplumber: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing 1-800-Plumber and 1tomplumber is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $124K to $2.8M.
1-800-Plumber has 27 SBA loans on record and 1tomplumber has 14. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
1-800-Plumber vs 1tomplumber, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, 1-800-Plumber or 1tomplumber?
How much does a 1-800-Plumber franchise cost compared to 1tomplumber?
Can I finance 1-800-Plumber or 1tomplumber with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, 1-800-Plumber or 1tomplumber?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman