Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive:With over 400 locations and a reputation built on on-time service and customer satisfaction, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offers an established franchise model.
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is a leading HVAC franchise brand offering heating, ventilation and air conditioning services to residential customers across the United States. Known for its “Always On Time…Or You Don’t Pay A Dime®” promise, the brand has grown to over 400 locations since its founding and is part of Authority Brands. One Hour empowers both seasoned business owners and new entrepreneurs to run their own HVAC business backed by training, tools, technology and brand trust.
Founded in 2003, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning was created to elevate the professionalism and reliability of HVAC services across the United States.
Mission: To help franchise owners provide trusted, on-time HVAC services while maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Vision: To be the most reliable and customer-friendly HVAC company in every community served.
Territories are available in all states except Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, Delaware, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Maryland.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning franchise ranges from $143,273 to $286,702. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Franchise Fee | $43,000 | $43,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $0 | $6,000 |
| Rent/Lease of Real Estate | $3,090 | $9,270 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $1,030 | $4,120 |
| Computer, Technology Systems & Software | $1,854 | $4,120 |
| Office Furniture & Equipment | $1,545 | $4,120 |
| Machinery, Tools & Equipment | $3,090 | $10,300 |
| Vehicles | $8,240 | $15,450 |
| Vehicle Upfitting | $0 | $5,150 |
| Signage for Vehicles | $0 | $8,240 |
| Office Signage | $1,030 | $5,150 |
| Travel Expenses for Initial Training | $2,575 | $5,150 |
| Initial Vehicle Inventory | $2,575 | $8,240 |
| Insurance | $4,120 | $8,240 |
| Startup Supplies | $2,575 | $5,150 |
| Professional Fees & Licensing | $4,635 | $20,600 |
| Vehicle Registration Fees | $2,266 | $4,532 |
| Decals for Consumer Units | $309 | $515 |
| Telephone Services | $309 | $515 |
| Personal Tools for Technicians | $1,030 | $3,090 |
| Full-Time General Manager/Operations Manager | $0 | $25,750 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $60,000 | $90,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The base initial franchise fee for a One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning franchise is $43,000, plus $0.43 for each person above 100,000 in the franchise territory (“Additional Population Fee”).
The brand offers a variety of discount and incentive programs for qualified candidates, including military veterans and active personnel, women and minority applicants, conversion franchises, existing franchisees (and affiliates), law enforcement officers, first responders and current Authority Brands employees.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty | Greater of 6% of gross revenue or $1,500/month |
| Brand Fund Contribution | 1.5% of first $5,000,000 of gross revenue/year 1.25% of $5,000,001 - $10,000,000 gross revenue/year 1% of $10,000,001 - $15,000,000 gross revenue/year 0.75% of $15,000,001 - $20,000,000 gross revenue/year |
| Technology Fee | $100/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 88 franchises (covering 364 territories) operating for the entirety of 2025 reported the following annual gross revenue per franchisee:
| Quartile | Average | Median | High | Low |
| Top 25% (22/172) | $11,509,564 | $7,435,302 | $48,865,630 | $4,370,880 |
| 2nd 25% (22/66) | $3,040,586 | $2,866,281 | $4,017,957 | $2,231,900 |
| 3rd 25% (22/68) | $1,296,717 | $1,258,529 | $2,203,438 | $825,334 |
| Bottom 25% (22/58) | $483,742 | $496,337 | $806,583 | $93,209 |
| Total (88/364) | $4,082,652 | $2,217,669 | $48,865,630 | $93,209 |
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offers extensive training through its Success Academy™, which includes over 175 online courses as well as in-person training sessions. In addition to educational resources, franchise owners benefit from ongoing business coaching and technician retention programs, ensuring both owners and employees are set up for long-term growth. Onboarding tools are also provided to help new team members get up to speed quickly.
Franchise owners receive hands-on operational support that includes help with site selection and territory planning, business planning assistance, and call center and customer service management. Owners are also supported through ongoing coaching and peer networking opportunities such as the Franchise Advisory Committee and Success Squads, which facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among franchise owners.
To simplify day-to-day business operations, franchise owners have access to ServiceTitan. This includes mobile tools for dispatching, CRM, invoicing, and payroll, as well as systems for inventory management and performance tracking. Additionally, One Hour provides customer-facing technology to enhance service delivery, including appointment updates and post-service feedback tools.
Prospective franchise owners do not need prior HVAC experience to open a One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning location, though some states may have specific licensing requirements. Ideal candidates often have backgrounds in business, home services, or entrepreneurship.
Franchise owners are expected to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of their business as the model is geared toward engaged ownership.
To help cover startup costs, One Hour offers financing assistance with franchise fees. Many franchise owners use Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, home equity loans or rollovers for business startups (ROBS) as funding options.
“Before, at times, it felt like I was on an island. And now, if I hit a stumbling block or a speed bump, I know I have a vast network across the country that are willing to help … Really being a part of this network is invaluable.”
- Chris Baumann, Franchise Owner — Peoria, Illinois
“The support that we got from Authority Brands and from the franchise itself was outstanding from a leadership standpoint. Through their training with Success Academy, which includes both online and in-person training, the support all the way across the board was absolutely off the charts.”
- Brian Wick, Franchise Owner — Medina, Ohio
The U.S. residential HVAC market was valued at $31.7 billion in 2025. This growth is driven by rising demand for energy-efficient, eco-friendly systems as homeowners prioritize sustainability, cost savings and reduced environmental impact, creating a strong opportunity for HVAC service providers like One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.
Primary competitors include Aire Serv, Service Experts, ARS/Rescue Rooter and local independent HVAC businesses. What sets One Hour apart is the strong customer trust it generates with its punctuality guarantee and its straightforward pricing.
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