Independent Contractor Operations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Independent Contractor Operations [Abstract]

Independent Contractor Operations

8.Independent Contractor Operations

The Roto-Rooter segment sublicenses with 65 independent contractors to operate certain plumbing repair and drain cleaning businesses in lesser-populated areas of the United States and Canada.We had notes receivable from our independent contractors as of June 30, 2012 totaling $1.1 million (December 31, 2011 - $1.1 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 8% per annum and the remaining terms of the loans range from 2 months to 5 years at June 30, 2012.We recorded the following from our independent contractors (in thousands):

	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Revenues	$	6,809	$	6,528	$	13,491	$	13,039
Pretax profits		3,732		3,402		6,813		6,389