Franchise Deep Dive: HouseMaster’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

Company overview

HouseMaster is a home inspection service franchise that provides professional inspection services for homebuyers and sellers. The brand’s inspectors are trained to evaluate the condition of a home, including the roof, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and electrical systems.

HouseMaster was first established in 1971 by founder Ken Austin as an independent home inspection company in New Jersey. The brand officially began offering franchise opportunities in 1979 and became the first home inspection franchise of its kind in the United States.

In 2020, HouseMaster joined Neighborly, the world’s largest home services franchisor, which also operates brands like Drain Doctor, Five Star Painting, Molly Maid, Mosquito Joe and Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

As of October 2023, there are more than 300 HouseMaster franchises located throughout North America. The brand is actively offering new opportunities across the country. You can find a map of all available territories here.

HouseMaster provides consumers with the information and confidence they need to make a wise investment decision when it comes to buying a home. With more than four decades of experience, HouseMaster claims to be the “premier home inspection franchise company in North America.” The brand offers entrepreneurs a franchise opportunity with minimal overhead and capital costs, as it does not require a permanent office. Additionally, HouseMaster lists the following benefits for operating one of its franchises:

• Scalability

• Superior training and support

• Benefit of decades of support

• 92% customer satisfaction

Franchise support

Since it was acquired by Neighborly, franchisees can also benefit from the expertise and backing of a well-established franchisor with a proven track record. Neighborly provides support in the following business functions:

• Operations

• Finance and accounting

• Ongoing education

• Information technology

• Innovation

• Sales and marketing

• Technical training

Franchise performance

According to HouseMaster’s website, the average franchisee has been with the HouseMaster system for over 12 years, and its average gross sales are the highest in the industry.

HouseMaster does not have a publicly available Item 19. To learn more, contact the Neighborly team about reading the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which will state the total earnings of any company or franchise-owned unit as a reference.

As of the publishing of this story, the initial investment cost to franchise is $58,250 to $92,200. Interested candidates must also have a minimum net worth of $100K and at least $30K in liquid capital.

The initial franchise fee required to open a HouseMaster franchise is $42,500. HouseMaster also offers a 15% discount off its initial franchise fee to qualified veterans.

• Josh McCormick — Brand President

• Jon Shell — Interim CEO at Neighborly

• Mary Kennedy Thompson — COO at Neighborly

• Heather Robertson — Interim CFO at Neighborly

• Amer Waheed — Chief Technology Officer at Neighborly

• Roger Chacko — Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Neighborly

• Brad Stevenson — CDO at Neighborly

• Grayson Brown — Executive VP and General Counsel at Neighborly

• HouseMaster Franchise Owners Garret and Crystal Daly Share Franchising Experience

• Neighborly Acquires HouseMaster

• Neighborly snaps up home-inspection company HouseMaster

• HouseMaster Franchise Owner Cesar Costa Shares His Experience Starting a Franchise

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