Independent Contractor Operations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Independent Contractor Operations [Abstract]

Independent Contractor Operations

9.   Independent Contractor Operations

The Roto-Rooter segment sublicenses with 69 independent contractors to operate certain plumbing repair, excavation, water restoration and drain cleaning businesses in lesser-populated areas of the United States and Canada.  We had notes receivable from our independent contractors as of September30, 2017 totaling $1.5 million (December 31, 2016 - $1.7 million).  In most cases these loans are fully or partially secured by equipment owned by the contractor.  The interest rates on the loans range from 0% to 7% per annum and the remaining terms of the loans range from less than 3 months to approximately 5 years at September 30, 2017.  We recorded the following from our independent contractors (in thousands):

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Revenues	$	10,455	$	9,823	$	32,632	$	29,451
Pretax income		6,311		5,835		19,742		18,015