Is Paul Davis Restoration right for you?
Established Insurance Network
The brand maintains long-standing relationships with national and regional insurance carriers that drive a substantial portion of annual claims volume.
Recurring Revenue Model
Property loss events create a steady flow of emergency and reconstruction projects that are typically paid directly by insurers rather than end consumers.
Scalable Field Operations
A mix of in-house crews and approved subcontractors allows owners to scale project volume without proportional increases in fixed labor costs.
About Paul Davis Restoration
Paul Davis Restoration is a national franchise system founded in 1967 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The company, operated under Paul Davis Restoration, Inc. and ultimately owned by FirstService Corporation through FSB Holdings, Inc., licenses a complete business system for general contracting focused on insurance-driven property restoration. As of 2025 the network included 277 franchised outlets across 43 states with no company-owned units.
Franchisees operate a general contracting business that provides emergency services, water and fire damage restoration, mold remediation, structural reconstruction, and contents cleaning for residential and commercial properties. Revenue is generated primarily through work authorized by insurance carriers following property loss events. Operations integrate estimating software, project management systems, certified technicians, and a national brand that supports direct relationships with insurance adjusters and property managers.
FSB Holdings, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with principal place of business at 2621 Van Buren Avenue, Suite 550A, Audubon, PA 19403, wholly owned by FS Brands, Inc., which traces up to FirstService Corporation in Canada.
The business model
How a Paul Davis Restoration territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Territory Structure
Franchise territories are defined by zip code boundaries and sized for populations between 500,000 and 800,000. Territories are non-exclusive; the franchisor and affiliates may operate Paul Davis Emergency Services businesses and national accounts within the same geography.
Initial Franchise Fee
The fee is calculated at $0.26 per person in the territory population. For a standard 500,000-person base territory the fee ranges from $65,000 to $208,000 depending on exact population and any negotiated adjustments.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty is 4 percent of gross sales with an escalating annual minimum royalty that begins at $0 in the first partial year and rises to $6.00 per person in population by year nine. Additional monthly fees include marketing ($500 plus 0.75 percent of invoiced sales), technology ($75), call-center dispatch, indemnity fund, and guarantee fund contributions.
Total Investment Range
Estimated initial investment for a new franchise ranges from $298,800 to $804,900. This includes the franchise fee, vehicles, equipment, insurance, three months of working capital, and other startup costs. Higher amounts apply in high-cost markets such as California.
Supplier and Technology Requirements
Franchisees must purchase Xactimate estimating software and use the RMS job-management platform. Most restoration materials and subcontractors may be sourced from any qualified provider that meets insurance specifications.
Financial Performance Representation
the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 gross sales for 231 operating franchised businesses. Median reported gross sales were $3,008,596 and average reported gross sales were $4,837,325. Thirty percent of reporting locations exceeded the average.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
n/a
Total investment range
$298,800 to $804,900
Royalty
4.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
0.75% of gross revenue
Founded
1967
Headquarters
Jacksonville, FL
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Mandatory Owner’s Training Program totaling 354 hours: 248 classroom (largely online) and 106 on-the-job.
- +Core modules include estimating and project management (RMS), IICRC certifications (WRT/ASD, AMRT, FSRT), marketing and sales, financial management, HR, QA, and IT systems.
- +Initial training delivered in Jacksonville, FL, designated locations, online, and at the franchisee’s site.
- +Post-opening field support provides up to 40 man-hours of operations, marketing, and finance coaching plus 32 hours of job-cost accounting training.
- +Franchise Launch program supplies dedicated coaches for the first three years, including mentor week and on-site launch support.
- +Ongoing access to proprietary Operations Manual, estimate review for the first eight weeks, and quarterly Joint Quality Business Reviews.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not provide training on local business licensing, contractor licensing, or insurance licensing requirements. Franchisees are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and credentials for their specific market.
Multi-unit growth path
Multi-unit ownership is permitted and practiced within the system. Operators who demonstrate proficiency in the first territory may be awarded additional markets, subject to development schedules and approval. The non-exclusive territory model and national account relationships allow experienced operators to manage multiple locations under centralized leadership while sharing certain overhead functions.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
Franchisor Financing
Paul Davis Restoration, Inc. may finance up to 50 percent of the initial franchise fee. All other startup costs must be funded separately.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
Many franchisees utilize SBA-guaranteed loans for equipment, vehicles, and working capital. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Registry which streamlines approval.
Third-Party Lenders and Equipment Leasing
National and regional banks familiar with the restoration industry offer term loans and equipment leases. Vendor financing is available for certain restoration equipment packages.
Personal Capital and Partnerships
Prospective owners frequently combine personal equity, retirement-account rollovers, and private investment partners to meet the full investment range.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor leadership, and conduct calls with existing franchisees. Complete financial qualification.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign the Franchise Agreement and pay the initial franchise fee. Begin territory mapping and demographic review.
Pre-Training Preparation (Weeks 1-4)
Secure office lease, order vehicles and equipment package, obtain insurance, and complete required software licensing.
Initial Training (Weeks 5-10)
Attend 354-hour Owner’s Training Program covering technical certifications, operations, sales, and systems in Jacksonville and online.
On-Site Launch (Weeks 11-12)
Franchise Launch team provides two weeks of on-site mentoring, marketing setup, and first-claim process training.
First 90 Days
Focus on insurance carrier introductions, lead generation, and building the initial subcontractor network while coaches provide weekly support.
Ongoing Operations (Year 1+)
Monthly call-center and technology fees begin. Quarterly business reviews and continuous access to national account programs and marketing fund.
Match assessment
Are you a Paul Davis Restoration match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Paul Davis Restoration franchise cost?
Total initial investment ranges from $298,800 to $804,900 according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. The initial franchise fee is calculated at $0.26 per person in the territory population and typically falls between $65,000 and $208,000 for a standard territory.
What is the royalty fee for Paul Davis Restoration?
The royalty is 4 percent of gross sales. An annual minimum royalty applies and escalates from $0 in the first partial year to $6.00 per person in population by the ninth year.
Does Paul Davis Restoration provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 gross sales for 231 operating franchises. Median gross sales were $3,008,596 and average gross sales were $4,837,325. Thirty percent of locations exceeded the average. No profit or expense figures are provided.
How many Paul Davis Restoration franchises are there?
As of year-end 2025 the system operated 277 franchised outlets across 43 states. The network has shown steady net growth of 11 to 21 units per year over the past three years.
Is territory exclusive for Paul Davis Restoration franchisees?
Territories are non-exclusive. The franchisor reserves the right to operate Paul Davis Emergency Services businesses, national accounts, and alternative distribution channels inside franchise territories.
What training does Paul Davis Restoration provide?
New owners complete a mandatory 354-hour program consisting of 248 classroom hours and 106 on-the-job hours. Training covers IICRC certifications, estimating, project management, marketing, finance, and a three-year Franchise Launch coaching program.
How does Paul Davis Restoration compare to Servpro or Servicemaster?
Paul Davis focuses on insurance restoration with a similar royalty structure but uses a population-based franchise fee and non-exclusive territories. Gross sales medians are competitive; each brand maintains distinct national-account strategies and supplier programs.
What are typical Paul Davis Restoration franchisee reviews?
Franchisee feedback frequently highlights the strength of the insurance carrier network and quality of the Franchise Launch coaching. Challenges cited include the time required to build local adjuster relationships and the impact of minimum royalty obligations in slower markets.
Can I own multiple Paul Davis Restoration locations?
Yes. Multi-unit ownership is permitted and common among operators who successfully open and stabilize their first territory. Additional units are awarded based on performance and market availability.
Does Paul Davis Restoration offer financing?
The franchisor may finance up to 50 percent of the initial franchise fee. SBA 7(a) loans, equipment leasing, and conventional bank financing are also commonly used by new owners.
What is the working capital requirement?
the investment disclosure estimates $150,000 to $200,000 in working capital to cover the first three months of operations. Actual needs vary by territory size and speed of insurance program acceptance.
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