Rooterman
RooterMan, LLC · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Rooterman franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 1981 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- North Billerica, MA Source: franchise.org
Rooter-Man franchise specializes in drain cleaning, plumbing repairs, and sewer line services, operating as a residential and commercial plumbing solution provi
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Rooterman franchise?
- The Rooterman Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $45,075–$82,475 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 24). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Rooterman initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $4,975 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 14). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- Does Rooterman disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Rooterman FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Rooterman locations are there?
- The FDD reports 517 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 49). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $45,075 – $82,475 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets declined by 18 in 2025, to 517 (Systemwide Outlets Summary in the U.S., as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 24
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
14 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Rooterman has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide Outlets Summary in the U.S., as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49
Net −136 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($45,075 – $82,475) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Rooterman reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units decreased from 535 to 517 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 24
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 14
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 49
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
71 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Bankruptcy disclosure
Initial term
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
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At a glance
Business history
Owner participation
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Agreement term
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 5 · PDF p. 14 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Franchise Fee – New Franchise
“The initial franchise fee (“Franchise Fee”) for a new RooterMan Business is $4,975.”
Note: Source lists $4,975 Franchise Fee but does not state new RooterMan Business.
Item 6 · PDF p. 14 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Website Fee (per month)
“Website Fee $199 per month Tuesday, monthly”
Note: Source excerpt does not state a Website Fee or $199 monthly.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Late payment fee (per late payment)
“$100 per late payment, plus 1.5% per month or the highest rate allowed by law, whichever is less”
Note: Source does not state a late-payment fee or the quoted rates.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Technology Fee (per month, per technician)
“Technology Fee $399 per month, per technician Tuesday, monthly”
Note: Source lists initial $2,500 Technology Fee, not $399 monthly per technician.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Insufficient funds fee (per report per week)
“$100/report/week.”
Note: Source does not state an insufficient-funds fee or $100/report/week.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Transfer Fee (Greater of $20,000 or actual out-of-pocket expenses)
“Transfer Fee (or expenses) Greater of $20,000 or our actual out-of-pocket expenses At the time of transfer”
Note: Source does not state a Transfer Fee or greater-of-$20,000 amount.
Item 6 · PDF p. 14 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Royalty ($3 per 1,000 of population in the Territory)
“Royalty $3 per 1,000 of population in the Territory Tuesday, monthly Based on the Territory population.”
Note: Source excerpt does not state Royalty amount or population basis.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Renewal Fee
“Renewal Fee $2,500 Prior to expiration”
Note: Source does not state a Renewal Fee or $2,500 amount.
Item 6 · PDF p. 14 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Marketing Fund ($1 per 1,000 of population in the Territory)
“Marketing Fund $1 per 1,000 of population in the Territory Tuesday, monthly Based on the Territory population.”
Note: Source excerpt does not state Marketing Fund amount or population basis.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Non-Compliance Fee (per contractual deviation or default)
“Non-Compliance Fee $1,000 to $4,000 per contractual deviation or default When billed”
Note: Source does not state a Non-Compliance Fee or $1,000 to $4,000 range.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Advertising Cooperative Fee (Up to greater of $10,000 or 2% of Gross Sales per year)
“Advertising Cooperative Fee Up to greater of $10,000 or 2% of Gross Sales per year. Upon Demand”
Note: Source excerpt does not state an Advertising Cooperative Fee or cited amount.
Item 6 · PDF p. 15 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Accounting and Business Advisory Services Fee (per week)
“Accounting and Business Advisory Services Fee $85 per week Tuesday, weekly”
Note: Source excerpt does not state Accounting and Business Advisory Services Fee.
Item 8 · PDF p. 27 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Approved suppliers: Approved vendors exist for plumbing parts, tools, print marketing, direct mailing, merchant services, customer financing, job postings, payroll, lead generation, background checks, insurance, and vehicle wraps; purchase is not required
“We require that certain other products and services ... be purchased only from an approved vendor or otherwise meet our standards and specifications... You are not required to purchase from these vendors.”
Note: Source requires specified services from designated vendors; claimed purchases are not broadly optional.
Item 8 · PDF p. 28 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Vendor rebates and revenue: Vehicle lease fees of $250 to $500 per vehicle; lead aggregator rebates from startup fee to 15%; supplier rebates of 3% to 5%; 2025 franchisee purchases and leases revenue was $0
“During our 2025 fiscal year, we derived $0 from franchisee purchases and leases, which is 0% of our total revenue of $1,127,546.”
Note: Source supports only $0 purchases/leases revenue and $1,127,546 total revenue; not stated vehicle or rebate figures.
Item 11 · PDF p. 36 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Training location: Virtual/Internet-based training; live additional training may be online, at the Charlottesville headquarters, or at the franchisee location.
“After on- boarding, we provide virtual, Internet-based training over a two-week period... Live training may be conducted online, at our headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia or at your location, as we deem appropriate.”
Note: Source confirms virtual/Internet training, but does not include the stated live-training location sentence.
Item 17 · PDF p. 48 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Post-term non-compete duration: 2 years after termination or expiration, or after a transfer.
“For 2 years after the termination or expiration, you and the Bound Parties (subject to state law) may not”
Note: Source states 2 years after termination or expiration; it does not state after a transfer.
Item 17 · PDF p. 45 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Initial term: 10 years.
“Length of the franchise term... 10 years.”
Note: Source contains state addenda but does not state a 10-year initial franchise term.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.