Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Roto-Rooter 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.

    Roto-Rooter2026 FDDZoom Drain2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Roto-Rooter

    $123,110 – $281,550

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    Zoom Drain

    $266,250 – $672,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available

    Zoom Drain

    $54,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available

    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)

    Roto-Rooter

    $123,110 – $281,550
    Total Estimated Initial Investment
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available
    No reviewed royalty record

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    Zoom Drain

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

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Roto-Rooter

    448
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 41

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    −15
    Calculated: 463 at end of 2022 → 448 at end of 2025

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    1936
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 12

    Zoom Drain

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

    Roto-Rooter

    1935
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 12

    Zoom Drain

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Roto-Rooter

    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.

    Roto-Rooter vs Zoom Drain: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Roto-Rooter or Zoom Drain?
    Roto-Rooter: $123,110 – $281,550 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22); 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 Roto-Rooter. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    Which has more locations, Roto-Rooter or Zoom Drain?
    Roto-Rooter: 448 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 41); 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 Roto-Rooter and Zoom Drain disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Roto-Rooter 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 Roto-Rooter 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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