Z PLUMBERZ Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 2007

Franchising Since: 2017

Headquarters: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Estimated Number of Units: 40

Franchise Description: The franchisor is PLUMBERZ International, LLC. The franchisor’s parent company is Belfor Franchise Group (BFG). The franchise offered is for the establishment and operation of a business offering residential, commercial, industrial and government/municipal plumbing, sewer and drain services, and cured in place pipe lining services, utilizing the Z PLUMBERZ business system.
Training Overview: Franchisees must successfully complete the “Jumpstart Training Program” before attending in-person Business Operations and Managerial Training. The Jumpstart Training Program includes a comprehensive preparation program that includes numerous pre-opening activities and may last six to eight weeks, depending on the pace the franchisee establishes to complete activities. Business Manager and Technical Operations Training takes place at the franchisor’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the BFG headquarters, or another location determined by the franchisor. It may be attended by the managing owner or, if applicable, the designated manager, at no additional fee. The managing owner or, if applicable, the designated manager or certified service technician, must complete the Business Manager and Technical Operations Training to the franchisor’s satisfaction. Business Manager and Technical Operations Training will last up to six days in duration. The managing owner or, if applicable, the designated manager, must attend the annual convention when scheduled. The managing owner or, if applicable, designated manager also must attend periodic refresher training courses and conferences, not to exceed one convention/conference per year, at the times and locations the franchisor determines.

Territory Granted: A standard franchise territory will encompass between 200,000 and 350,000 people. Within the territory, franchisees have the right to advertise, market, solicit and service any customer, except as described in the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees may not advertise, market, solicit or provide services in any way, any customers or customer service locations outside the territory, without the franchisor’s prior written consent. The franchisee’s Z PLUMBERZ business office site, which may be in their home, must be located within the territory, and the franchisor must approve such office site. The territory that has been awarded to franchisees is where the franchisor will not allow another Z PLUMBERZ franchisee or company store to advertise in print or media, primarily directed to persons in the territory. Following their first full year of operation, Z PLUMBERZ franchisees must maintain a minimum level of monthly gross sales.

Obligations and Restrictions: Franchisees must at all times faithfully, honestly, and diligently perform their obligations under the Franchise Agreement. Except as stated by the franchisor, franchisees must designate at least one managing owner who will be the primary individual contact with the business and who the franchisor will approve in its sole discretion. Before commencing operation of the business, franchisees must employ at least one person who has completed the Business Manager and Technical Operations Training. Before they begin operating the Z PLUMBERZ business, franchisees must also hire one service technician who will be responsible for performing and overseeing the residential, commercial, industrial and government/municipal plumbing, sewer and drain services, and cured in place pipe lining services. Franchisees must offer and provide only and all of the services that the franchisor periodically requires for Z PLUMBERZ franchisees in the manner that it prescribes, and franchisees may only provide the services specified.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. One additional term of 10 years is available if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: If the franchisor grants the franchisee the right to open and operate a Z PLUMBERZ business for a standard territory, the franchisor may offer the franchisee financing for a portion of the initial franchise fee if the franchisee meets the qualifications. The franchisor provides a 20% discount on the initial franchise fee for the first territory to veterans of U.S. Armed Forces who have been honorably discharged or otherwise meet the requirements of the IFA’s VetFran program.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$44,900	$44,900
Initial Package Fee	$67,500	$67,500
Rent	$0	$6,000
Leasehold Improvements	$0	$20,000
Exterior Signage	$0	$3,000
Licenses / Permits	$500	$5,000
Technology System	$250	$2,000
Initial Supplies and Inventory	$2,500	$53,900
Insurance	$2,500	$10,000
Vehicles	$69,900	$89,900
Full-time Service Technician	$7,260	$21,360
Business Telephone Fee	$150	$1,050
High Speed Internet Anti-Virus Software	$210	$600
Security Deposits / Utility Deposits	$0	$2,500
Costs Incurred While Attending Training	$1,000	$5,000
Grand Opening Advertising and Marketing	$0	$6,000
Additional Working Capital (three months)	$60,000	$80,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL (for a standard franchise)	$256,670	$418,710

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	8% of gross sales up to $999,999 per year (beginning the first of the month following 60 days after the launch date; 7% of gross sales up to $1,999,999 per year; 6% of gross sales of more than $2,000,000 per year.
Brand Marketing Fee	2% of gross sales, beginning the first of the month following 60 days after the launch date.
Additional Training or Hosting Fee	$25 per person, per day, of any training conducted at the franchisor’s headquarters, or the then-current fee, plus all travel, lodging, and meal expenses.
Technology Fee	The then-current fee, which is presently $600 per month, beginning the first of the month following the successful completion of the initial training.
Convention, Regional Meetings and/or Additional Training	The then current fee, which is currently (a) $1,000 maximum per person to attend the annual convention, and (b) $0 - $500 per person per event for regional meetings and/or additional training.
Transfer Fee	The then-current fee, per territory; presently, this is $9,900 if transferred to a new franchisee, or $3,000 if transferred to a current franchisee.
Transfer of Corporation Fee	$500
Broker Fee - Resale	If franchisees authorize the franchisor to enlist a third party broker to locate the transferee, there will also be a broker fee, which is currently $30,000.
Outstanding Royalties, Support Fees, and other fees of Transferor	Will vary under circumstances.
Renewal Term Fee	10% of the then-current initial franchise fee.
Renovation, Refurbishing, and Remodeling Fees	Actual costs.
Late Report Fee	$20 per week that a report is late.
Late Payment Fee	5% of amount due or $50 per week, whichever is greater.
Administrative Fee	The then-current fee, which is presently $500 per transaction.
Collection Fee	The then-current fee, which is presently up to 35% of gross amounts collected on the franchisee’s behalf.
Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Fee	The then current fee, which is presently $50 per NSF.
Convention Non-Attendance Fee	The then current fee, which is presently $1,000.
Non-Compliance Fee	Currently up to $5,000 per violation, or in the case of out-of-territory conduct, a fine of $500 or the cost of the job.
Audit	Due only if an inspection is necessary. Cost of inspection or audit estimated at $2,500 - $3,500, plus 100% of understated royalty and interest, at the rate of 18% per annum or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is greater, and all late fees, from the date originally due until the date of payment; if an understatement of the royalty is greater than 3%, franchisees also must pay the franchisor an additional penalty fee equal to 10% of the total amount of the understated gross sales.
Insurance	Cost of insurance; If the franchisee fails to maintain the required insurance, the franchisor has the right to procure insurance on the franchisee’s behalf and the franchisee must pay the franchisor, on demand, for the costs and premiums the franchisor incurs.
Interest Fee	Lesser of 18% per annum or the maximum permitted by law.
Indemnification	Will vary under circumstances.
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees	Will vary under circumstances.
Optional Upgrade to RingCentral Premium	$40
NORA Fee	None currently assessed; if the franchisor manages accounts through a national or regional accounts program the franchisee will pay up to 3% of gross sales from NORA jobs.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Mister Sparky. Year of FDD: 2025.
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