How do the obligations of a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee (Item 9) compare to the responsibilities of independent plumbing contractors?
Benjamin_Franklin_Plumbing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Our franchisees are subject to plumbing licensing laws, which vary by state and sometimes by county or municipality. You may need other specific types of licenses required by the jurisdictions in which you will operate. Some states, counties or municipalities may require that your business be owned by a master or journeyman plumber. Check with your local licensing board, as well as with an attorney, to learn about specific industry and contractor laws and regulations applicable to your business. You are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required licenses for the operation of your Franchised Business.
You are required to offer and sell all products and services that we designate as required items for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING businesses. You may also offer for sale any optional products and services that we have approved for sale in the Franchised Business. You are prohibited from offering any unapproved products or services without our prior written consent, and you must discontinue selling or offering for sale any products or services that we disapprove at any time. You primarily will be targeting homeowners as customers.
Approved or designated required products may include residential and light commercial Plumbing Services, including maintenance, repair, remodeling and replacement; water conditioning maintenance, repair and replacement; drain and septic tank digging, cleaning, re-piping and replacement, all of which must be performed in accordance with the specifications in the Operations Manual or the System Standards. You may not work on the following kinds of plumbing projects: new construction, industrial, or remodeling work.
You are required to provide the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING customer warranty and satisfaction guarantee to each customer and comply with the requirements of the warranty/guarantee program, as set forth in the Brand Appendix and/or the Operations Manual. You are also required to offer our Club Membership, a service plan for cleaning and general maintenance.
The home warranty and service plans are subject to various state and local regulatory requirements and approvals, and, as such, may not be available to all franchisees, or if available, may not be available to all franchisees on the same terms or in all locations.
We reserve the right to provide you with the materials needed to establish and maintain a service club for customers of your Franchised Business, to the extent service clubs are permitted by applicable law. Similarly, we reserve the right to provide you with the materials needed to offer your customers repair and replacement plans through our affiliates. The service club and the repair and replacement plans may be expanded to offer maintenance products delivered directly to customers of your Franchised Business via mail, electronic communications, courier service, or other methods.
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Plumbing FDD, franchisees, like independent plumbing contractors, must adhere to plumbing licensing laws that vary by state, county, or municipality. Franchisees are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required licenses to operate their Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise. Some jurisdictions may require the business to be owned by a master or journeyman plumber.
Unlike independent plumbing contractors, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisees must offer and sell products and services designated as required by the franchisor. While franchisees can offer optional, approved products and services, they are prohibited from offering unapproved products or services without prior written consent. They must also discontinue selling any products or services that the franchisor disapproves. Franchisees primarily target homeowners and offer residential and light commercial plumbing services, including maintenance, repair, remodeling, and replacement. However, franchisees may not work on new construction, industrial, or remodeling work.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisees are required to provide the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing customer warranty and satisfaction guarantee to each customer and comply with the requirements of the warranty/guarantee program. They are also required to offer the Club Membership, a service plan for cleaning and general maintenance. The home warranty and service plans are subject to various state and local regulatory requirements and approvals, and may not be available to all franchisees, or may not be available on the same terms or in all locations. The franchisor reserves the right to provide franchisees with the materials needed to establish and maintain a service club for customers and to offer customers repair and replacement plans through its affiliates, to the extent permitted by applicable law.