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    Franchise opportunities compared

    CULLIGAN vs Zoom Drain

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    CULLIGAN2026 FDDZoom Drain2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    CULLIGAN

    $130,000 – $815,601

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21

    Zoom Drain

    $266,250 – $672,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    CULLIGAN

    $40,601

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Zoom Drain

    $54,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    CULLIGAN

    0.5% · Percentage of prior month’s Gross Revenues

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Zoom Drain

    $1,000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Zoom Drain discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Zoom Drain has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    CULLIGAN

    $130,000 – $815,601
    Totals
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21

    Zoom Drain

    $266,250 – $672,000
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    CULLIGAN

    $40,601
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Zoom Drain

    $54,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Royalty (Item 6)

    CULLIGAN

    0.5% · Percentage of prior month’s Gross Revenues
    Non-Culligan Small Pack Continuing Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Zoom Drain

    $1,000
    Royalty minimum after month 12
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    CULLIGAN

    1% of percentage of prior month’s gross revenues
    Culligan System Advertising Contributions
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Zoom Drain

    2%
    Brand Fund contribution — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    CULLIGAN

    550
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 64

    Zoom Drain

    165
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 63
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    CULLIGAN

    −4
    Calculated: 554 at end of 2023 → 550 at end of 2025

    Zoom Drain

    +36
    Calculated: 129 at end of 2023 → 165 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    CULLIGAN

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Zoom Drain

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    CULLIGAN

    Exact year not stated; dealer program began over 90 years ago
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    Zoom Drain

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    CULLIGAN

    1936
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    Zoom Drain

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    CULLIGAN

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Zoom Drain
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisee 1 (2 Territories)
    $13,568
    other Franchisee 1
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 53
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisee 2 (3 Territories)
    $18,804
    other Franchisee 2
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 53
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisee 3 (3 Territories)
    $31,125
    other Franchisee 3
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 53
    +20 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    CULLIGAN vs Zoom Drain: common questions

    Which costs less to open, CULLIGAN or Zoom Drain?
    CULLIGAN: $130,000 – $815,601 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21); Zoom Drain: $266,250 – $672,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for CULLIGAN. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do CULLIGAN and Zoom Drain royalties compare?
    CULLIGAN: 0.5% · Percentage of prior month’s Gross Revenues (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Zoom Drain: $1,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, CULLIGAN or Zoom Drain?
    CULLIGAN: 550 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 64); Zoom Drain: 165 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 63). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do CULLIGAN and Zoom Drain disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    CULLIGAN makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Zoom Drain has reviewed Item 19 figures for 23 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full CULLIGAN report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Zoom Drain report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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