HVAC contractors traditionally have been independent operators. The biggest might run two or three locations in their region. Now, some firms see potential in creating economics of scale and are creating operations with multiple locations, some in different states. Between these two ends lies franchising, which offers the support of a national group with the ability to still control the day-to-day operations.
The biggest two HVAC franchisors are One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning and Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning. One Hour is owned by Authority Brands LLC, a Columbia, Maryland–based company that owns seven home service brands. Aire Serv is owned by Neighborly Brands (formerly The Dwyer Group), a Waco, Texas-based company that owns 24 home service brands. Authority Brands provides home services through more than 1,675 locations operated by 920 franchise owners in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Kenya, and Indonesia. Neighborly has 4,000 franchise owners all over the world, with 200 in the U.S.