Benjamin Franklin Plumbing markets itself as “The Punctual Plumber”, and unusually for the trade, the promise behind that slogan is specific enough to hold them to. It is also worth reading carefully, because it is capped.
The guarantee, in their words
“If we're not on time, we pay you $5 for every minute that we're late ($300 maximum).” Their tagline puts it more memorably: If There's Any Delay, It's You We Pay.
Read the cap. $300 is sixty minutes. Past an hour late, the remedy stops growing. That is still a far more concrete promise than almost anything else in the trade, and it has been published at the same rate and cap since at least 2009 — but it is a defined, capped cash remedy, not an open-ended commitment.
They also publish a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and claim 24/7 emergency service without after-hours fees. If the after-hours point matters to you, get it confirmed by the local office before you book, for the reason in the next section.
Every location is a separate business — and they say so
The footer of their own site reads: “Each location independently owned and operated.” The national brand sets the standards and the guarantees; the local owner sets prices, hires the plumbers, and decides which services are actually on offer.
That last point is not our inference. On both their hydro jetting and trenchless pages, the company itself writes: “Check with your local franchise; services may vary by location.” Camera inspection is marketed at franchise level rather than nationally for the same reason.
So the national site tells you what the brand can do. Only the local office can tell you what is available at your address.
StraightForward Pricing — what it does and does not mean
Their pricing model is named and flat-rate. In their own words: “Because we charge by the job, you never pay an exaggerated hourly rate”, and pricing for standard repairs is “determined upfront”.
Flat-rate genuinely protects you from paying for slow work. What it does not do is tell you the number. No prices or ranges are published on the national site or the franchise pricing pages we checked — you are directed to request an estimate. Flat-rate means the price is fixed before work starts, not that it is public.
UWIN, and why it is worth knowing about
Franchise locations carry a third-party certification called UWIN, covering random drug testing, background checks on field staff, current liability and workers' compensation insurance, and local licensing compliance. Customers can file a claim through UWIN for dispute resolution.
That matters precisely because the franchisee is a separate legal entity. UWIN is an escalation path above the local owner — which is the thing a franchise customer most often lacks.
Who owns it
The franchisor is Authority Brands, which acquired the brand in 2019 and is majority-owned by funds advised by Apax Partners, with British Columbia Investment Management Corporation holding a significant minority stake since 2022.
Authority Brands also owns One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and Mister Sparky. In practice the same local owner often runs two or three of those brands out of one building — useful to know if you are getting quotes for more than one trade.
On size: published figures disagree. Franchise Times counted 363 units for 2025; the parent company says more than 400; Entrepreneur lists 410. The company does not publish a state count, and the location dropdown on its site lists all fifty states regardless of coverage, so it cannot be used to derive one.
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Call (888) 855-8790Questions people ask
How does the on-time guarantee actually work?
$5 for every minute they are late, capped at $300 — which is sixty minutes. Past an hour, the remedy stops growing. Confirm the appointment window in writing so there is an agreed start time to measure from.
Is Benjamin Franklin Plumbing a franchise?
Yes. Their own site states each location is independently owned and operated. The brand sets standards and guarantees; the local owner sets prices and staffing.
Do they do hydro jetting and trenchless sewer work?
The brand offers both nationally, but the company's own pages say services may vary by location and tell you to check with your local franchise. Confirm for your address rather than assuming.
What does StraightForward Pricing mean?
They price by the job rather than by the hour, and quote before work begins. It protects you from paying for slow work. It does not mean prices are published — they are not.
How many locations are there?
Published figures disagree: 363 units for 2025 per Franchise Times, more than 400 per the parent company, 410 per Entrepreneur. We would rather give you the spread than pick one and sound certain.
What is UWIN?
A third-party certification covering drug testing, background checks, insurance and licensing, with a claims process for disputes. It gives you somewhere to go above the local franchise owner.
Who owns Benjamin Franklin Plumbing?
Authority Brands, which is majority-owned by funds advised by Apax Partners. Authority Brands also owns One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and Mister Sparky.
These are published third-party figures, not our prices and not a quote. We do not set anyone's rates and cannot price your job — only the contractor who sees your line can. Figures as published by each named source, last checked August 2026. Prices move; re-check the source before relying on a number.
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