Longtime family plumbing business in Nevada County there for those middle-of-the-night emergencies

In 1998, Lindsay Marich’s mother mentioned during a phone conversation that “a nice, handsome plumber” had just been to her house. Not only that, the plumber had discovered a photo of Lindsay on the fridge. She was holding a fish that she had caught. “Who is he? She’s cute,” he said.

A full four years later and after the divorce, Lindsay was staying with her father one day when the two met a plumber he knew.

“I remember you,” said the plumber. “I saw your photo on the fridge in your parents’ house.”

A year later, Lindsay and Jim Marich married, and six months later they jointly bought Nevada County’s Mr. Rooter, an independent and operated franchise company.

The Mariches have been working side by side since 2003 and will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary in March. “And we’re still talking,” joked Lindsay.

Already an established master plumber with their own independent business, the couple decided to buy the franchise because it offered a number of benefits, including uniform pricing, a fully streamlined management system, and international recognition.

Founded in 1970, Mr. Rooter is the second largest full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company in the United States. Recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine in the “Franchise 500” and by Franchise Times Magazine as “Top 200”, Mr. Rooter’s franchisees provide services to private and business customers in more than 200 locations in the United States and Canada, and 100 in more than 200 countries International locations. Mr. Rooter began franchising in 1974 and is a subsidiary of the Dwyer Group.

Household and commercial services include solving problems related to clogged drains, fuses the sewer system, frozen pipes, leaking pipes, repair and replacement of water heaters, repair and replacement of sewer lines, and installation diagnostics – including camera inspection – and repairs.

One of the “best investments we’ve ever made,” said Lindsay, was a Hydro Jetter, a high-performance drain cleaning machine that uses high pressure water jets to remove obstacles in residential and commercial drainpipes, as well as larger municipal sewer systems.

“We’re clearing a lot of culverts, leach lines to septic tanks, and NID lines,” said Lindsay. “The Jetter is always in demand.”

Another favorite toy that wasn’t bought until August is the TRIC trenchless pipe bursting machine, which can break old pipes in the ground and replace them with new pipes without digging a single trench.

“We are all about security,” said Lindsay. “I think you could say we’re a bit neurotic and meticulous when it comes to that.”

Mr. Rooter of Nevada County is based in his Grass Valley office on Loma Rica Drive and employs four technicians plus Stephanie Williams, who works as a weekend dispatcher, and full-time dispatcher, Ashley Carson, whom Lindsay calls “my right arm.” . “

“The most rewarding part of running this business is giving the people who work here the opportunity to learn a trade and make a living in Nevada County,” said Jim. “We are also able to fix our customers’ installation problems at affordable prices and promptly. The biggest challenge is being a company that is open 24/7, 365 days a year – that can be quite overwhelming at times. “

Still, the Mariches say being available after business hours is vital for emergencies as there aren’t many options in Nevada County.

While grateful to have run a successful business since 2003, the two now hope to sell their business within the next five years. They are now roughly in the middle of their second 10 year deal and hope to sell before that end.

“We’re in no rush – we want the right person to buy the business,” said Lindsay. “But we’re in the 60s now and we’ve always wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest. Jim wants to see if he can hit my biggest 33 pound salmon catch.

“Doubt it.”

Over the years, Lindsay said the best part of her job has been the loyal customers, many of whom have become friends.

“It was worth seeing the business grow and I loved getting to know this county,” she said. “But with our extended hours, my work has become my social life. Without a doubt, people were the best part of this job. “

To contact Staff Writer Cory Fisher, email [email protected].

You might also like

Comments are closed.