Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain vs Mr. Rooter
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain vs Mr. Rooter: Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain costs $15K to $346K to open; Mr. Rooter costs $122K to $264K. Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 35 units, Mr. Rooter has 97. SBA loan history: Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain = 15 loans (6.7% 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.
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain 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
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($15K vs $122K for Mr. Rooter), a 87% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $60K for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain versus $43K for Mr. Rooter, Mr. Rooter has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain and 7% for Mr. Rooter, giving Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Mr. Rooter operates 97 units to Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain's 35, roughly 3× the system size. Mr. Rooter has been operating 58 years (founded 1968) versus 13 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (founded 2013), a 45-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 15 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.7% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain and 8.6% for Mr. Rooter, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 75 (Strong) for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain 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 | 75/100 | 77/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 15 | 116 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 6.7% | 8.6% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $15K to $346K | $122K to $264K |
Franchise Fee | $60K | $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 | 35 | 97 |
Franchised Units | 35 | 97 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2013 | 1968 |
Franchising Since | 2014 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 12 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Birmingham, AL | Waco, TX |
Category | Plumbing, Heating, | Plumbing, Heating, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain or Mr. Rooter?
Lower upfront capital required
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: $15K starting · Mr. Rooter: $122K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Mr. Rooter
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 15 SBA loans · Mr. Rooter: 116 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6.7% · Mr. Rooter: 8.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Mr. Rooter
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 35 units · Mr. Rooter: 97 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6% · Mr. Rooter: 7%
More lender financing options
Mr. Rooter
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 9 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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About These Franchises
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain vs Mr. Rooter: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain and Mr. Rooter is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $15K to $346K.
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 15 SBA loans on record and Mr. Rooter has 116. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
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.
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain vs Mr. Rooter, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain or Mr. Rooter?
How much does a Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain franchise cost compared to Mr. Rooter?
Can I finance Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain or Mr. Rooter with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain 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