There are thousands of franchise opportunities in the United States and Canada. How are you supposed to choose the best franchise under $100K?

We’ll discuss the top franchises under $100K to help you understand the services they offer, the initial investment involved, and other considerations you need to look at before you get a $100K franchise.

First, we’ll look at our picks for top franchises under $100K, then review cleaning franchises, service businesses, food franchises, and other franchises.

Best Franchise Opportunities Under $100K

Upflip has partnered with specific companies that are committed to providing new business owners with the franchise tools they need to become profitable franchises. The best franchises we’ve interacted with, and our top recommendations, are:

• Wise Coatings
• MaidThis
• Spray-Net
• Brown’s Pressure Washing
• EverLine Coatings

We’ll discuss these first.

#1. Wise Coatings

Brandon Vaughn used just $15,000 to start Wise Coatings. The majority of the initial investment went to marketing and learning how to work with the unique concrete floor coating materials. There are currently eight franchises and 140 applicants (and growing). Wise Coatings helps its franchisees navigate the marketing and systems needed to run the business right. This franchise opportunity requires:

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $117,400-$160,000 (including 3 months working capital)
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: 2-4 employees (suggested)
• Territories: Discounts for buying more than 1
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through Benetrends. Learn how to qualify.

Check out our interview with Brandon below.

#2. MaidThis

Neel Parekh started MaidThis just over 10 years ago, and now the company is making over $166,000 a month. It currently has 17 franchisees and is making a name for itself by helping small business owners start their own remote cleaning companies.

• Franchise Fee: $39,000
• Total Investment: $50,400-$72,650
• Royalty Fee: 7%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Work it yourself or hire employees.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about starting a remote cleaning business franchise below.

#3. Spray-Net

Carmelo started Spray-Net because he realized the residential painting space needed modernization to speed up the house painting process. Today, Spray-Net has 40 franchisees and owns patents on its processes so nobody else can offer them.

• Franchise Fee: $45,000
• Total Investment: $170,825-$241,825
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees or subcontractors to do the cleaning.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about starting a painting franchise in our exclusive interview.

#4. Brown’s Pressure Washing

A pressure washing franchise is among the easiest to operate. You don’t need any special skills or a big team, and the initial investment is low.

When you buy a Brown’s franchise, you’ll get extensive training and comprehensive support, making it even easier to turn your investment into long-term success.

• Franchise Fee: $20,000
• Total Investment: $50,000-$100,000
• Royalty Fee: 10%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees or use subcontractors.
• Territories: Multiple territories are allowed.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

You can learn founder Joshua Brown’s successful business strategies in The 7-Figure Pressure Washing Blueprint, or hear his story in this interview:

#5. EverLine Coatings

John Evans started the Canadian company EverLine Coatings and has received the Canadian Franchise Association Awards of Excellence two years running. The average EverLine parking lot repair franchise makes nearly $900K in its first year. To get started you’ll need:

• Franchise Fee: $49,500
• Total Investment: $164,744 – $332,443
• Royalty Fee: 9% or $500 per territory + 3%—whichever is greater
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees to provide the services.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about EverLine Coatings in our interview below.

Cleaning Franchises for $100K

#6. Augusta Lawn Care Services

Mike Andes is a brilliant entrepreneur who founded Augusta Lawn Care Services when he was a teenager, and today it’s one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Their franchise opportunities offer low barriers to entry and flat fees instead of the standard percentage model. Here’s what it takes to become an Augusta franchise:

• Franchise Fee: $6,999-$25,000
• Total Investment: $12,999-$82,500
• Royalty Fee: $699-$1,200/mo.
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Solopreneur or hire other employees to work for your franchise.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through the Franchise Forgiveness Model.

Learn more about starting a lawn care franchise below.

#7. Maid Brigade

The main benefit of franchise business models is having a well-known and established brand reputation to build from.

This is what puts Maid Brigade among the top 10 franchises in the cleaning industry. It’s regularly ranked as one of the Top 100 Franchises for less than $100,000 by Entrepreneur (#44 in 2023).

It’s also a good fit for veteran and minority franchisees, ranked among the top 50 for vets by USA Today and a top 25 franchise for Hispanics by the World Franchising Network.

• Franchise Fee: $27,700-$40,700
• Total Investment: $85,150-$113,850
• Royalty Fee: 3.5%-6.9%
• Space Needed: None (can be home-based)
• Employees: Average of 4 employees per franchise
• Territories: Franchisees get an exclusive operating territory
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#8. Scoop Soldiers

Scoop Soldiers is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to start an in-demand franchise in the yard clean-up sector. With Scoop Soldiers, you ensure homeowners and businesses have clean outdoor spaces by offering pet waste removal solutions.

The unique franchise business model is built to scale while being a good fit for franchisees with busy lives. You can start to operate within 60 days—much faster than many franchises.

Aspiring entrepreneurs also get the option of building from the ground up or moving into an established market. If you want a flexible, corporate-tested franchise under $100K, Scoop Soldiers is one of the top franchises to consider. 

• Franchise Fee: $39,500
• Total Investment: $68,300-$118,300
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: None needed
• Territories: Exclusive territories available in all 50 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

You can learn more by listening to our interview with Scoop Soldiers’ founder:

Best Service Business Franchises: Top Franchises Under $100K

#9. Century 21 Real Estate

If you’re interested in the top franchises in the property management sector, Century 21 is among the best cheap franchises to invest in. Investing in a franchise lets you join a community of more than 14,000 franchisees across 86 countries. You’ll get to leverage brand recognition and Century 21’s strong track record of success as a franchise company.

• Franchise Fee: Up to $25,000
• Total Investment: $24,700-$459,250
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: 30 square feet per agent
• Employees: 1-3 on average
• Territories: Exclusive territories available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for startup costs

#10. Dog Wizard franchise

Dog Wizard is the best franchise opportunity for animal lovers. This unique opportunity provides mobile dog training services or a full kennel, meaning franchisees get multiple ways to grow their businesses.

Investing in a franchise gives you access to a four-part comprehensive training program to ensure your services meet the company’s high standards. If you’re dedicated and passionate about animals, this is among the best franchises to explore.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $81,500-$98,250
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: Varies (mobile, retail, and boarding options available)
• Employees: Solopreneur or run with a team
• Territories: Protected territory with 200,000 population (and you can expand your territory easily)
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#11. Kumon

Educators seeking the best franchises under $100K may find a Kumon franchise suits their interests.

Kumon provides tutoring services, and franchisees get full access to training, too. This starts with eight days of training in the Kumon Instructor Development Program, followed by hands-on training in the Kumon Curriculum and Kumon Method.

• Franchise Fee: $2,000
• Total Investment: $68,428-$146,640
• Royalty Fee: $36-$40.50 per student per month
• Space Needed: Recommended minimum of 1,000 square feet
• Employees: 2-3
• Territories: Available across the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Subsidies up to $37,100 and a $10,000 veteran’s incentive

#12. HomeWell Care Services

In-home care for seniors is increasingly in demand. The home care solutions and services you’ll offer with a HomeWell Care franchise set you up for big growth potential, and it’s among the top franchises for entrepreneurs with healthcare experience.

The minimum investment in a HomeWell franchise is only $5,000, so this is also one of the best franchise opportunities for people with limited financial resources.

• Franchise Fee: Up to $49,500
• Total Investment: $52,400-$230,800
• Royalty Fee: 5%-10%
• Space Needed: 500-1,000 square feet
• Employees: Can run as a solopreneur or with a small team
• Territories: Available in 47 states, exclusive territories and site selection support available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available, 20% discount for veterans

#13. Signal Security

Signal is a world-class security brand with a reputation for excellence. It’s among the best franchises under $100K for veterans and law enforcement professionals and is Entrepreneur’s #1 security franchise brand.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000-$200,000
• Total Investment: $57,450-$273,150
• Royalty Fee: 4%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: Average of 2-4 per location
• Territories: Available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house and third-party financing available

Top Food Franchise Under $100K

#14. Cinnabon

Cinnabon is the only food or, more specifically, bakery franchise under $100K with global brand recognition. It also has a relatively low minimum investment for a food franchise, and franchisees get complete training and marketing support.

• Franchise Fee: $5,500-$30,500
• Total Investment: $60,300-$621,400
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: 600 square feet on average
• Employees: 5+
• Territories: Exclusive territories available in the U.S. and around the world
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

Additional Food Franchises Under $100K

#15. Carvel

This iconic ice cream franchise has been around for more than 80 years, and that staying power is part of what puts it among the top franchises in the food industry.

Franchisees get complete support in multiple facets of their businesses, from menu development to cost optimization, as well as access to a top-notch in-house marketing team.

• Franchise Fee: $10,500-$30,500
• Total Investment: $67,875-$536,400
• Royalty Fee: $2.88/gallon
• Space Needed: 100-1,600 square feet
• Employees: 2-6
• Territories: Exclusive territories available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#16. Champs Chicken

With its low minimum investment and no franchise fee, Champs Chicken is one of the best businesses in the food industry for entrepreneurs with limited financial resources.

They also offer excellent franchisee support, with continual training and a strong investment in the growth of their owners.

• Franchise Fee: $0
• Total Investment: $9,000-$349,000
• Royalty Fee: None
• Space Needed: Varies depending on format
• Employees: Minimum of 2
• Territories: Available in 11 U.S. states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

More Best Franchises to Own (Under $100K)

Investing in any of the following franchises could be a great way to start a successful business, whether you want a brick-and-mortar store in your community, a mobile business, or a lucrative creative outlet.

#17. The UPS Store

Buying a UPS Store franchise gives you the power of a recognized brand with a track record of franchise success. The extensive ongoing support and training are what consistently make UPS one of the top franchises to own and manage.

• Franchise Fee: $9,950-$29,950
• Total Investment: $101,819-$476,993
• Royalty Fee: 5%
• Space Needed: 800-1,800 square feet
• Employees: 3-5
• Territories: Over 5,000 locations available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for all franchisees as well as 10% off for veterans

#18. Cornwell Quality Tools

Cornwell Quality Tools has been a leading name in high-quality, professional equipment for over 100 years, and it is the best franchise to own in the mobile tool and repair industry.

Additionally, it’s a very accessible franchise business, with relatively low up-front costs, excellent training, and strong franchisee support. It’s one of the few all-mobile franchise opportunities, which is one reason it requires such a low initial investment.

• Franchise Fee: $0
• Total Investment: $54,525-$298,825
• Royalty Fee: 7%
• Space Needed: None (mobile franchise)
• Employees: Can be run as a solopreneur
• Territories: Available in 48 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for equipment and startup costs

#19. Minuteman Press

Minuteman Press is the #1 printing and marketing franchise business. It’s among the best franchise opportunities in any industry, offering franchisees multiple revenue streams and local support.

As a full-service marketing provider, you can establish strong recurring revenue streams quickly with a Minuteman Press franchise. There’s a reason it’s one of the companies highlighted by Entrepreneur’s franchise list, appearing among their top franchises for 20 years in a row.

• Franchise Fee: $32,500-$48,500
• Total Investment: $78,241-$219,529
• Royalty Fee: Up to 6%
• Space Needed: 1,000 square feet
• Employees: 3
• Territories: Available in all 50 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#20. Big Frog

For aspiring entrepreneurs who want to get into the custom clothing sector, Big Frog is one of the best franchises to open.

• Franchise Fee: $39,500-$60,000
• Total Investment: $180,750-$235,700
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: Under 1,200 square feet
• Employees: 2-4 required per location
• Territories: Available markets in 47 U.S. states and Canada
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Veteran discount and third-party financing

You can make great money with this established brand. Since becoming a Big Frog franchisee in 2008, Sanford Booth has consistently made more than $40,000 a month. Hear his story in this interview:

#21. YESCO Sign & Lighting Service

First founded in 1920, YESCO is a family-run company that builds custom signs in addition to providing sign and lighting repair and maintenance services.

You can start a franchise for $100K or less without needing a brick-and-mortar space for the repair side of the business.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $65,000-$389,200
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: 3
• Territories: Available in 39 states and Canada, exclusive territories available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: 10% veteran discount and in-house financing available for equipment and franchise fee

#22. Duct Doctor

With over 30 years as a leader in the duct cleaning services market, investing in a Duct Doctor franchise gives you access to their well-known brand and strong marketing and advertising program.

The company also provides extensive training and ongoing support, so you don’t need any special educational background or skills to get started as a franchisee. Another benefit is the growth potential, with ample opportunities to expand beyond your initial market.

• Franchise Fee: $25,000
• Total Investment: $44,100-$201,500
• Royalty Fee: 5%-8%
• Space Needed: None (can be home-based)
• Employees: 2
• Territories: Worldwide exclusive territories available and option to operate multiple units
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

How did we choose the top franchises under $100K?

We use a variety of factors to select the companies we recommend to a potential franchisee. Some of the factors include:

• Initial investment
• Franchisee support
• Profit margins
• Limited competition
• Search engine optimization

Initial Investment

Potential business owners are looking for “Franchise $100K” opportunities, and for this list, we took that specific number into consideration. We use the franchise fee or the total initial investment to judge the franchise up-front costs.

In scenarios where the initial costs are more than that amount, there are other factors that we use when comparing the companies, for example…

Franchisee Support

While costs are important to a franchise business, the main benefit of a franchise is the ability to book clients faster. You don’t have to spend countless hours researching the best strategies to operate your business if the franchise has good business systems.

When it comes to our top five picks, we have personally interacted with the business owners and established that the costs, profit margins, and approaches to finding clients are worth the investment.

Profit Margins

We look for business owners who have created highly automated business structures because the more automation a business uses, the fewer costs (as a percentage of revenue) they have to find and support clients.

Higher profit margins lead to faster business growth and increased personal wealth, which you can then invest in other businesses like rental properties.

Limited Competition

A business that takes a novel approach tends to have less competition, higher revenue, and an easier time finding clients. Combining highly automated business processes with high-demand local businesses reduces the time to recoup costs.

Search Engine Optimization

Every business today needs to take search engine optimization into account. We have to include certain businesses in some blogs (including this one!) because readers (like you!) expect to see them.

Dog Wizard is the only franchise in this blog that our primary SEO tool, SurferSEO, expected us to include. All others were chosen because of our research or personal experience with how the business owner operates their franchising company.

Which franchise under $100K is most appealing to you?

Everyone considers franchise opportunities differently. Some people care most about the initial investment, while others are most concerned with ongoing support. That’s why it is important to do your own research before making the minimum investment in any of the best franchises under $100K.

Which franchise under $100K is most appealing to you? Let us know in the comments.