A27/100FDD 2025
Service Experts — Litigation & Risk
Home Services - Plumbing & HVAC · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5
Lower Risk
No litigation cases disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.
Source: FDD Items 3–5
FDD Items 3 & 4
Litigation Metrics
Cases disclosed
0
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
27 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
STRONG
STRONG / MODERATE / CAUTION / AVOID
7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present
SBA Loan Performance
Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Default rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.
Total 7(a) loans
81
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
0.0%
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
FDD Items 5, 6 & 17 — what you give up
Contract Risk Indicators
Mandatory arbitration
Not required
You retain the right to sue in court
Jury trial waiver
Waived
You give up the right to a jury trial
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
Texas
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there
What drove the 27/100 rating
Risk Score Breakdown
- 01MINORUnknown unit growth trajectory with only 89 units suggests stagnant or declining system despite 10-year maturity
- 02MINORNo Item 19 financial performance disclosure limits validation of claimed $485K avg net income
- 03MINORHigh initial investment ($145-285K) against modest net income creates 30%+ payback period with execution risk
- 04MINOR6% royalty + minimum royalty structure unclear on minimum threshold, potentially punitive for slower-ramping franchisees
- 05MINORService-based business model dependent on labor costs and local market saturation with protected territory uncertainty
Severity inferred from FDD text — not a regulatory or legal classification
Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice — consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.