1-800-Plumber vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
1-800-Plumber vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 1-800-Plumber costs $124K to $327K to open; Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain costs $15K to $346K. 1-800-Plumber has 54 units, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 35. SBA loan history: 1-800-Plumber = 27 loans (7.4% default); Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain = 15 loans (6.7% 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 Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 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
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($15K vs $124K for 1-800-Plumber), a 706% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $55K for 1-800-Plumber versus $60K for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, 1-800-Plumber has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for 1-800-Plumber and 6% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, 1-800-Plumber operates 54 units to Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain's 35. 1-800-Plumber has been operating 16 years (founded 2010) versus 13 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (founded 2013), a 3-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 15 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. 1-800-Plumber's peak SBA year was 2023 (12 loans); Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain's peak was 2025 (4 loans). Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded 1-800-Plumber deals is $205K vs $198K for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.4% for 1-800-Plumber and 6.7% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has the cleaner SBA loss record by 0.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for 1-800-Plumber and 75 (Strong) for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, giving Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 75/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 27 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.4% | 6.7% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $124K to $327K | $15K to $346K |
Franchise Fee | $55K | $60K |
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 | 35 |
Franchised Units | 50 | 35 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 2013 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 2014 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 12 yrs |
Headquarters | TX | Birmingham, AL |
Category | Plumbing, Heating, | Plumbing, Heating, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, 1-800-Plumber or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
Lower upfront capital required
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
1-800-Plumber: $124K starting · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: $15K starting
More SBA lender confidence
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 27 SBA loans · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
1-800-Plumber: 7.4% · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6.7%
Larger system & brand presence
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 54 units · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 35 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
1-800-Plumber: 6% · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6%
More lender financing options
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
1-800-Plumber: 3 unique lenders · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 9 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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About These Franchises
1-800-Plumber vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing 1-800-Plumber and Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $15K to $346K.
1-800-Plumber has 27 SBA loans on record and Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 15. 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 Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, 1-800-Plumber or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
How much does a 1-800-Plumber franchise cost compared to Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
Can I finance 1-800-Plumber or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, 1-800-Plumber or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
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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