1-800 Water Damage

Home
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

1-800 Water Damage

Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

1-800 Water Damage Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

1-800 Water Damage offers expert water damage restoration services, providing prompt and reliable solutions for properties affected by water-related emergencies.

1-800 WATER DAMAGE is a rapidly growing franchise in the property restoration industry, recognized for its comprehensive services that address water, fire, smoke, and mold damage. Founded in 1981, the franchise became part of the BELFOR Franchise Group, which has significantly expanded its reach and capabilities. 

The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and began franchising in 2002, offering entrepreneurs an opportunity to join a recession-resistant industry with a strong demand for restoration services.

One of the key differentiators for 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is its commitment to making a meaningful impact in communities. 

Franchise owners are positioned as trusted experts who help restore homes and properties to their pre-loss conditions, often during critical times of need.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

1-800 Water Damage offers 2 types of franchises:

Business Type Initial Investment
1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business $210,903 to $316,398
Conversion 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business $71,203 to $294,548

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Standard 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Standard 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee per Territory $59,000 - $64,950
Initial Package Fee/Marketing and Operations Package/Equipment and Products Package Fee $55,000
Food and lodging while at training, not including the cost of transportation $1,800 - $2,500
Vehicle with upfitting $70,000 - $115,000
Full time Service Technician $6,336 - $16,896
Business Telephone Fee $0 - $150
High Speed Internet, Anti-Virus Software and Electronic Mail $267 - $477
Computer System $0 - $2,875
Insurance $4,500 - $8,750
Rent $3,000 - $15,000
Leasehold Improvements $0 - $1,200
Security Deposits/Utility Deposits $1,000 - $3,000
Licenses and Permits $0 - $600
Additional funds for the first 3 months $10,000 - $30,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT & ADDITIONAL EXPENSES $210,903 - $316,398

1-800 Water Damage offers 2 types of franchises:

Business Type Initial Investment
1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business $210,903 to $316,398
Conversion 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business $71,203 to $294,548

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Standard 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Standard 1-800 WATER DAMAGE Business

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee per Territory $59,000 - $64,950
Initial Package Fee/Marketing and Operations Package/Equipment and Products Package Fee $55,000
Food and lodging while at training, not including the cost of transportation $1,800 - $2,500
Vehicle with upfitting $70,000 - $115,000
Full time Service Technician $6,336 - $16,896
Business Telephone Fee $0 - $150
High Speed Internet, Anti-Virus Software and Electronic Mail $267 - $477
Computer System $0 - $2,875
Insurance $4,500 - $8,750
Rent $3,000 - $15,000
Leasehold Improvements $0 - $1,200
Security Deposits/Utility Deposits $1,000 - $3,000
Licenses and Permits $0 - $600
Additional funds for the first 3 months $10,000 - $30,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT & ADDITIONAL EXPENSES $210,903 - $316,398

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

The training provided by the 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise is comprehensive and designed to equip franchisees with both the technical skills and business acumen needed to succeed in the restoration industry. The training program includes:

  1. Initial Training Program: Franchisees undergo an extensive initial training program that covers all aspects of the restoration services offered by 1-800 WATER DAMAGE. This includes water, fire, smoke, and mold damage restoration techniques, as well as crime scene and trauma cleanup. The training ensures that franchisees are well-prepared to deliver high-quality restoration services from day one.
  2. Business Development Training: In addition to technical training, the franchise provides business development education. This includes guidance on how to create and implement a business plan, set realistic goals, hire and retain top talent, and build strong relationships within the community. The focus is on helping franchisees manage their businesses effectively and sustainably.
  3. Ongoing Support: After the initial training, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE offers ongoing support through regional business coaches and other resources. This includes assistance with marketing, customer service, and operational challenges, ensuring that franchisees have continuous access to the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of the restoration industry.
  4. Hands-On Training: The franchise also provides hands-on training in the use of specialized equipment and tools necessary for effective restoration work. This practical experience is crucial for franchisees to build confidence and competence in delivering the services that 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is known for.

Territory Protection

1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise offers territory protection to its franchisees, ensuring that each franchisee has exclusive rights to a defined geographic area. 

This protection is designed to prevent market saturation and allows franchisees to operate without competition from other 1-800 WATER DAMAGE locations within their designated territory. 

The size of the territory is typically based on population density and other market factors, giving franchisees the opportunity to maximize their business potential in their area.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2002
Franchisees

?

178
+
16%
16%
Franchise fee

?

$59,000 - $64,950
Investment

?

$71,000 - $316,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$483,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

No
Upgrade
No
Passive investment

?

No
Upgrade
No
Download FDD
Download
Download
Buy this FDD for $49

You have 0 FDDs left to download this month

Serious about franchising?

Sign up to get access to:

2,500+ franchises

?

Essential financial data

?

Detailed investment

?

View 1 FDD

?

Sign up for free
Need more data?

Upgrade to Pro to get access to:

Revenue, profit margins and more

?

Passive and home-based franchises

?

Download 2,500+ FDDs
Upgrade to Pro
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Competitors

Below are some of

1-800 Water Damage

key competitors in the

Restoration/Disaster

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

178

New
+
16%
16%

$59,000 - $64,950

$71,000

$316,000

n.a.

$483,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

296

New
+
9%
9%

$59,900

$104,000

$272,000

n.a.

$450,000

$xxx,xxx

78.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
0%
0%

$50,000

$148,000

$267,000

n.a.

$122,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

19

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$5,000

$154,000

$253,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

91

New
+
-4%
-4%

$29,500

$109,000

$174,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

101

New
+
-42%
-42%

$5,000

$117,000

$197,000

n.a.

$253,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

165

New
+
4%
4%

$85,000

$162,000

$262,000

n.a.

$591,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

55

New
+
31%
31%

$57,000

$92,000

$308,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

14

New
+
-62%
-62%

$49,500

$163,000

$205,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

126

New
+
-1%
-1%

$45,600 to $64,600

$56,000

$539,000

n.a.

$2,184,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

41

New
+
0%
0%

$40,000

$227,000

$445,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

43

New
+
54%
54%

$45,000

$188,000

$312,000

n.a.

$1,265,000

$xxx,xxx

40.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
60%
60%

$49,000

$214,000

$627,000

n.a.

$1,015,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

7

New
+
-30%
-30%

$49,000

$65,000

$122,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

8

New
+
-27%
-27%

$30,000

$52,000

$96,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

30

New
+
100%
100%

$50,000 - $70,000

$82,000

$379,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

268

New
+
13%
13%

$29,500

$44,000

$55,000

n.a.

$188,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$55,000

$135,000

$294,000

n.a.

$344,000

$xxx,xxx

68.5%

xx%

n.a.

30.8%

xx%

n.a.

58

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$59,500

$201,000

$358,000

n.a.

$440,000

$xxx,xxx

61.0%

xx%

n.a.

22.0%

xx%

n.a.

8

New
+
-20%
-20%

$40,000

$84,000

$334,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$47,500

$136,000

$243,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

54

New
+
-7%
-7%

$30,000

$151,000

$650,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

49

New
+
-2%
-2%

$19,900

$27,000

$34,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

322

New
+
40%
40%

$49,000

$102,000

$247,000

n.a.

$521,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

46

New
+
48%
48%

$35,000

$52,000

$68,000

n.a.

$154,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

18

New
+
500%
500%

$39,950

$60,000

$110,000

n.a.

$166,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

266

New
+
19%
19%

$65,000

$299,000

$805,000

n.a.

$3,976,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

8

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$49,500

$87,000

$195,000

n.a.

$1,211,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

72

New
+
243%
243%

$35,000

$186,000

$230,000

n.a.

$578,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

110

New
+
10900%
10900%

$49,500

$88,000

$275,000

n.a.

$298,000

$xxx,xxx

79.2%

xx%

n.a.

33.1%

xx%

n.a.

2046

New
+
-9%
-9%

$72,500

$255,000

$365,000

n.a.

$494,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

130

New
+
491%
491%

$59,900

$129,000

$596,000

n.a.

$369,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

330

New
+
5%
5%

$40,000

$159,000

$331,000

n.a.

$613,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
33%
33%

$0

$210,000

$369,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

17.9%

xx%

n.a.

45

New
+
-22%
-22%

$62,500

$197,000

$401,000

n.a.

$997,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

36

New
+
-3%
-3%

$65,000

$139,000

$554,000

n.a.

$1,490,000

$xxx,xxx

93.8%

xx%

n.a.

13.3%

xx%

n.a.

45

New
+
2150%
2150%

$60,000

$144,000

$272,000

n.a.

$563,000

$xxx,xxx

83.5%

xx%

n.a.

35.8%

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$74,000

$201,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

92

New
+
15%
15%

$60,000

$167,000

$258,000

n.a.

$468,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10

New
+
25%
25%

$40,000

$124,000

$334,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

402

New
+
29%
29%

$59,000

$219,000

$246,000

n.a.

$667,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$95,000

$194,000

n.a.

$738,000

$xxx,xxx

84.1%

xx%

n.a.

21.3%

xx%

n.a.

22

New
+
83%
83%

$60,000

$315,000

$385,000

n.a.

$339,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Disaster Blaster

Disaster Blaster is a home-restoration franchise offering water-fire-mold damage remediation and reconstruction services, serving homeowners and commercial property managers, and known for rapid-response model, certified technicians and strong back-office support.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$136,000 - $243,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

Archive Contents Restoration

Archive Contents Restoration is a disaster-restoration franchise offering archival, document-and-media preservation and environmental-remediation services, serving institutions and businesses safeguarding assets, and known for niche expertise and B2B support.

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$74,000 - $201,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

Evans Garment Restoration

Evans Garment Restoration is a specialized restoration franchise offering fabric and textile restoration, wedding-gown preservation, and damage repair services, serving homeowners and institutions, and known for expert craftsmanship, trained technicians, and premium restoration support.

Franchisees

?

8
+
-20%
-20%
Investment

?

$84,000 - $334,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

Martindale Pinnacle Construction

Martindale Pinnacle Construction is a construction & restoration franchise offering general contracting, remodeling, and disaster restoration services, serving residential and commercial clients, and known for strong technical systems, project management support, and structured growth model.

Franchisees

?

4
+
33%
33%
Investment

?

$210,000 - $369,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

Mastertech Franchise Systems

Mastertech Franchise Systems is a restoration and remediation franchise offering mold removal, water damage restoration, and biohazard cleanup services with certified professionals.

Franchisees

?

7
+
-30%
-30%
Investment

?

$65,000 - $122,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster

Steamatic

Steamatic is a cleaning and restoration franchise providing services like air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, mold remediation, and disaster recovery.

Franchisees

?

41
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$227,000 - $445,000
Home Services
Restoration/Disaster
Franchises by industry
Business Services
Education
Pets
Senior Care
Recreation
Financial Services
Beauty
Food & Beverage
Home Services
Healthcare
Fitness
Automotive
Retail
Franchises by investment
Under $25,000Under $50,000Under $100,000Under $200,000Under $500,000Over $500,000
Popular searches
All franchisesAll industriesNew brandsHome-based opportunitiesPassive investmentsFranchise earnings
Company
Log inLog outSign upPricingTerms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy
Any information on Franchise Payback (franchisepayback.com) has been made for informational and educational purposes only. We do not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the information presented therein. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other professional advice. Nothing contained in this website constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, advertisement, or offer to buy or sell any franchises, securities, or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the franchise and/or securities laws of such jurisdiction.

All content on Franchise Payback is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial and/or legal advice, nor does any information in the article constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this website before making any decisions. See terms for more information.
© 2025 Franchise Payback. All Rights Reserved.