1-800-Plumber vs Mr. Rooter
1-800-Plumber vs Mr. Rooter: 1-800-Plumber costs $124K to $327K to open; Mr. Rooter costs $122K to $264K. 1-800-Plumber has 54 units, Mr. Rooter has 97. SBA loan history: 1-800-Plumber = 27 loans (7.4% default); Mr. Rooter = 116 loans (8.6% 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 Mr. Rooter: 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
Mr. Rooter requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($122K vs $124K for 1-800-Plumber), a 1% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $55K for 1-800-Plumber versus $43K for Mr. Rooter, Mr. Rooter has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for 1-800-Plumber and 7% for Mr. Rooter, giving 1-800-Plumber the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Mr. Rooter operates 97 units to 1-800-Plumber's 54. Mr. Rooter has been operating 58 years (founded 1968) versus 16 for 1-800-Plumber (founded 2010), a 42-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Mr. Rooter has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 116 7(a) approvals compared with 27 for 1-800-Plumber.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.4% for 1-800-Plumber and 8.6% for Mr. Rooter, 1-800-Plumber has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for 1-800-Plumber and 77 (Strong) for Mr. Rooter, giving Mr. Rooter the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 77/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 27 | 116 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.4% | 8.6% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $124K to $327K | $122K to $264K |
Franchise Fee | $55K | $43K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 54 | 97 |
Franchised Units | 50 | 97 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 1968 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | TX | Waco, TX |
Category | Plumbing, Heating, | Plumbing, Heating, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, 1-800-Plumber or Mr. Rooter?
Lower upfront capital required
Mr. Rooter
1-800-Plumber: $124K starting · Mr. Rooter: $122K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Mr. Rooter
1-800-Plumber: 27 SBA loans · Mr. Rooter: 116 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 7.4% · Mr. Rooter: 8.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Mr. Rooter
1-800-Plumber: 54 units · Mr. Rooter: 97 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
1-800-Plumber
1-800-Plumber: 6% · Mr. Rooter: 7%
More lender financing options
Mr. Rooter
1-800-Plumber: 3 unique lenders · Mr. Rooter: 54 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 Mr. Rooter: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing 1-800-Plumber and Mr. Rooter is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $122K to $327K.
1-800-Plumber has 27 SBA loans on record and Mr. Rooter has 116. 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 Mr. Rooter, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, 1-800-Plumber or Mr. Rooter?
How much does a 1-800-Plumber franchise cost compared to Mr. Rooter?
Can I finance 1-800-Plumber or Mr. Rooter with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, 1-800-Plumber or Mr. Rooter?
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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