Independent franchise review
Zoom Drain Franchise, LLC Franchise Review (2026): Costs, Fees, Revenue Potential
Zoom Drain Franchise, LLC is a service franchise operating under the Zoom Drain name. The disclosure indicates a territory-based business with multiple territories per franchisee in some cases, meaningful technology usage, and a vehicle- and equipment-heavy operating model.
The business appears to require active management oversight by a principal owner, with staffing, field operations, and office/sales functions all playing a role.
Quick verdict: 👉 Mixed — disclosed revenue data and affiliate expense data provide some operating context, but startup costs are substantial and the territory is non-exclusive.
Snapshot
At a glance- Category: Health & Wellness
- Initial Investment: $259,618 to $490,641
- Franchise Fee: $49,500
- Royalty: 6% of gross sales; after month 12, the greater of 6% of gross sales or $1,000 per territory per month
- Marketing / Ad Fee: 2% of gross sales
- Key additional recurring fees: $300 monthly technology fee; productivity account fee currently $15 to $35 per account per month
- Number of locations: As of December 31, 2024, 59 franchisees operating in 161 territories, plus 3 affiliate-owned locations operating in 5 territories
- Best Fit: Manager-led owner-operator or active oversight model
What does it cost to start?
The estimated initial investment ranges from $259,618 to $490,641, which places this in a high-cost startup range. The midpoint is roughly $375,130.
Major cost drivers appear to include the initial franchise fee, vehicles and equipment, and working capital. The disclosure also lists additional funds of $43,302 to $57,962, which suggests a meaningful cash buffer is expected beyond setup costs.
The initial franchise fee for the first franchised business is listed as $49,500. The disclosure also shows higher total franchise fee amounts for operators taking multiple non-contiguous territories, with totals rising as high as $299,500 for 10 units. That means the actual upfront fee burden can increase materially depending on territory structure.
Fee structure
- Royalty fee: 6% of gross sales during the first 12 months
- Royalty minimum after month 12: Greater of 6% of gross sales or $1,000 per territory per month
- Brand fund contribution: 2% of gross sales
- Technology fee: Currently $300 per month per franchisee for contiguous territories
- Productivity account fee: Currently $15 to $35 per account per month
- Renewal fee: $10,000 per transaction
- Transfer fee: $10,000 per transaction, plus any applicable broker or consultant fees
- Additional training/assistance: Currently $1,000 per day plus travel expenses
- National conference: Currently $250 per attendee
Overall, the recurring fee load is moderate on paper at 8% of gross sales before local operating expenses, but the structure becomes heavier if sales are low because of the post-year-one royalty minimum per territory.
Can you make money with Zoom Drain Franchise, LLC?
Yes, the FDD includes Item 19 financial performance representations. The disclosed figures include franchisee gross sales data and a separate expense table for affiliate-owned locations.
Franchisee gross sales: less than 12 months open in 2024
Sample: 15 franchisees operating 47 territories, split into thirds.
Top third
- Average monthly gross sales: $43,997
- Median monthly gross sales: $37,898
- High average monthly gross sales: $61,398
- Low average monthly gross sales: $32,741
Middle third
- Average monthly gross sales: $24,805
- Median monthly gross sales: $22,789
- High average monthly gross sales: $29,888
- Low average monthly gross sales: $22,402
Bottom third
- Average monthly gross sales: $13,898
- Median monthly gross sales: $13,525
- High average monthly gross sales: $18,359
- Low average monthly gross sales: $5,586
What the spread suggests
The spread is wide even within the same age cohort. In the under-12-month group, average monthly gross sales range from $13,898 in the bottom third to $43,997 in the top third, and the lowest reported figure in that table is $5,586. That indicates meaningful variability in early ramp-up.
The disclosure also states that Item 19 includes additional annual gross sales data for franchisees open 12 to 24 months and more than 24 months, plus gross sales per job and systemwide total gross sales by year, but those detailed figures are not clearly established here beyond the summary description.
Affiliate-owned location expense table
For 3 affiliate-owned locations operating 5 territories during 2024:
- Total gross sales: $15,350,582
- Total cost of goods sold: $5,005,484 (32.6% of gross sales)
- Gross profit: $10,345,098 (67.4%)
- Total operating expenses: $7,529,191 (49.0%)
- Estimated earnings: $2,815,907 (18.3%)
Selected operating expense lines:
- Office & sales personnel wages: $1,358,476 (8.8%)
- Employee payroll taxes, insurance & benefits: $800,969 (5.2%)
- Advertising & marketing: $999,931 (6.5%)
- Brand fund contribution: $307,306 (2.0%)
- Royalty fee: $921,417 (6.0%)
- Technology expenses: $373,203 (2.4%)
- Vehicle & equipment expenses: $1,202,322 (7.8%)
- Other SG&A: $1,001,665 (6.5%)
These affiliate-owned figures are useful for understanding cost structure, but they are not franchisee results. Revenue does not equal profit, and gross sales do not show what a franchisee owner would keep after all expenses, debt service, taxes, or owner compensation. The disclosure does not clearly establish whether the Item 19 figures are audited.
Business model
- Model: Hybrid service business
- Customer type: The disclosure does not clearly establish whether revenue is primarily B2C or B2B
- Revenue pattern: Appears transaction-based, with revenue generated per job rather than a membership model
- Operations: Territory-based service model with vehicles, equipment, field labor, office and sales personnel, and a required technology stack
- Ownership structure: Principal owner participation in management is described as a material inducement, and the model appears suited to active oversight rather than passive ownership
Pros and considerations
Advantages
- Item 19 includes actual franchisee gross sales data and a separate affiliate-owned expense table.
- The disclosure shows a reasonably sized operating base as of year-end 2024: 59 franchisees, 161 territories, and 3 affiliate-owned locations.
- The affiliate-owned expense table gives a clearer view of labor, marketing, vehicle, technology, and overhead cost categories.
- Multi-territory development is built into the model, which may matter for operators planning scale.
Considerations
- Startup cost is high at $259,618 to $490,641.
- Territory protection is non-exclusive, which can limit the practical value of a territory grant.
- After the first year, royalty becomes the greater of 6% of gross sales or $1,000 per territory per month, which can pressure lower-volume operators.
- Early-stage revenue varies substantially across the disclosed under-12-month franchisees.
- The affiliate-owned earnings table covers only 3 locations, so it should not be treated as a reliable proxy for franchisee outcomes.
Who this franchise may fit
This franchise may fit an operator comfortable with a higher initial investment, multiple moving parts, and active management of staff, vehicles, and field operations. It may also fit someone planning to build across multiple territories rather than treating it as a simple single-unit absentee investment.
It likely does not fit someone seeking a low-cost startup, a passive ownership structure, or a business with exclusive territory protection.
FDD-based risk notes
- The principal owner’s participation in management is described as material to the franchise relationship, which may reduce flexibility for passive investors.
- The disclosure references multiple territories per franchisee, so execution may depend on territory planning and development structure rather than a simple one-unit format.
- Technology and productivity tools are mandatory recurring costs and begin before opening in at least some cases.
- Renewal and transfer involve $10,000 transaction fees, which can affect long-term economics and exit planning.
- Dispute resolution points to a forum tied to the franchisor’s headquarters or the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which may create travel or legal cost considerations for some franchisees.
Final assessment
Zoom Drain is a higher-cost, operationally involved service franchise with disclosed revenue data for franchisees and a separate expense profile for affiliate-owned locations. The main tradeoff is that you get more concrete sales and cost context than many concepts provide, but in exchange you are taking on a non-exclusive territory structure, meaningful operating complexity, and a royalty model that can become less forgiving at lower sales levels.
FAQ
How much does a Zoom Drain franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment is **$259,618 to $490,641**, including a **$49,500** initial franchise fee for the first franchised business.
What is the royalty fee?
It is **6% of gross sales** for the first 12 months, then the greater of **6% of gross sales** or **$1,000 per territory per month**.
Does Zoom Drain disclose revenue data?
Yes. Item 19 includes franchisee gross sales data and an expense table for **3 affiliate-owned locations**.
Is a Zoom Drain franchise profitable?
The FDD does not establish franchisee profitability. It provides gross sales data for franchisees and estimated earnings for affiliate-owned locations only.
Is this an absentee franchise?
It does not appear to be. The disclosure indicates principal owner participation in management is important.
How many locations are in the system?
As of December 31, 2024, the disclosure states there were **59 franchisees operating 161 territories** and **3 affiliate-owned locations operating 5 territories**. ---
Related links
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