Roto-Rooter vs DPF Alternatives
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Roto-Rooter and DPF Alternatives are cleaning & maintenance franchises. Roto-Rooter requires an investment of $104K – $274K while DPF Alternatives requires $86K – $289K. Neither Roto-Rooter nor DPF Alternatives makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD — a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule — so the two cannot be compared on disclosed unit revenue. Roto-Rooter has SBA lending data on file with a 6.1% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Roto-Rooter B (Above average) and DPF Alternatives B (Above average).
| Metric | Roto-Rooter | DPF Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove average | BAbove average |
| Investment Range | $104K – $274K | $86K – $289K |
| Franchise Fee | $25K | $3K |
| Royalty Rate | Monthly Franchise Fee ranging from $280 to $36,000+ per month, calculated per 100,000 population in the Territory using tiered per-population rates ($507/$480.32/$453.62 per 100,000 for Tier 1/2/3 population bands in year 1), adjusted annually for CPI and every 5 years for population changes; not a percentage of gross sales. | $750/month flat |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/ANo Item 19 representation | N/ANo Item 19 representation |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 6.1% (61 loans) | Limited data |
| Total Units | 458 | 68 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | -7 units | +16 units |
| Year Began Franchising | 1936 | 2016 |
| FDD Year | 2024 | 2023 |
Investment Range
$104K – $274K
$86K – $289K
Franchise Fee
$25K
$3K
Royalty Rate
Monthly Franchise Fee ranging from $280 to $36,000+ per month, calculated per 100,000 population in the Territory using tiered per-population rates ($507/$480.32/$453.62 per 100,000 for Tier 1/2/3 population bands in year 1), adjusted annually for CPI and every 5 years for population changes; not a percentage of gross sales.
$750/month flat
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/ANo Item 19 representation
N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate
6.1% (61 loans)
Limited data
Total Units
458
68
Unit Growth (YoY)
-7 units
+16 units
Year Began Franchising
1936
2016
FDD Year
2024
2023