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

HouseMaster, which is owned by home service giant Neighborly, has become one of the most well-known home inspection businesses in the industry since its founding more than four decades ago.

By Jeff DwyerStaff Writer

10:10AM • 12/15/23

LAST UPDATED: October 26, 2023
FRANCHISE WEBSITE: https://franchise.neighborly.com/house-master/
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 300+
REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $58,250 to $92,200
REPORTED ROI (Item 19): N/A

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.

How Many HouseMaster Locations Are There?

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.

What Is HouseMaster’s Business Model?

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

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

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.

How Much Can HouseMaster Franchise Owners Make?

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.

How Much Does It Cost To Open a HouseMaster Franchise?

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.

What Is the Franchise Fee for HouseMaster?

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.

Who’s On HouseMaster’s Leadership Team?

What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More About HouseMaster?

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*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.