Franchises are a great way to start a new business since they already have the business systems in place. But that initial franchise fee can really limit the options business owners have. Don’t worry! We’ve found 19 low cost franchises to get you started as a business owner.
We’ve interviewed some amazing franchisors and franchisees like Brandon Vaugh and Mike Andes. Brandon started Wise Coatings and quickly built it into a system that works for other business owners. Mike’s story is even more amazing! Find out why!
7 Best Low Cost Franchise Opportunities
After thorough reviews of franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) and getting to know dozens of franchise owners and founders, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best low cost franchises with high profit to:
- Wise Coatings
- Cruise Planners
- Pool Ready
- Naturals2Go
- MaidThis
- Spray-Net
- Photobooth International
Find out why these outperform most franchises!
#1. Wise Coatings
• Franchise fee: $50,000
• Initial investment: $117,400-$160,000
• Royalty fees: 5%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $5.1 million
• No. of U.S. franchises: 7
Wise Coatings is the nation’s leading concrete floor coating company and one of the best franchises to buy for new business owners looking for a turnkey business for sale in the home services industry.
Our YouTube interview with Wise Coatings founder Brandon Vaughn can give you more insights about how to run a successful franchise and the typical day-to-day of a concrete flooring business owner.
While their franchise fee is on the higher side compared to other options on this list, they have in-house financing options available, and that fee entitles new franchise owners to extensive training and support from their corporate office.
#2. Cruise Planners
• Franchise fee: $695-$10,995
• Initial investment: $1,945-$20,465
• Royalty fees: 1.5%-3%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): Not disclosed
• No. of U.S. franchises: 2,797
Cruise Planners is a network of home-based travel agents who sell full-service vacation packages. The Cruise Planners franchise fee includes a six-day hands-on training program at Cruise Planners STAR University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, along with their award-winning marketing program and access to their ongoing support and development, including their Cruisitude Academy mobile training program.
#3. Pool Ready
• Franchise fee: $40,000
• Initial investment: $60,000 to $100,000
• Royalty fees: 8%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): Unknown
• No. of U.S. franchises: 9
Pool Ready has over 50 years in the pool maintenance industry. As a small business owner, you can expect to make revenue from pool cleaning, mechanical repairs, and cosmetic repairs.
#4. Naturals2Go
• Franchise fee: N/A
• Initial investment: $20,000
• Royalty fees: $0 (some locations require a commission)
• Average annual sales (per vending machine): $3,900
• No. of U.S. franchises: 10,000
If you want to be your own boss without spending all your time at work, Naturals2Go is one of the top low cost franchises to own. The initial investment amount is balanced by the lack of ongoing royalties, meaning your profits are all yours.
Your investment entitles you to make the most of an established brand and high customer demand for a healthier vending option. This makes Naturals2Go a great way to get franchise owner support while earning passive income.
#5. MaidThis
• Franchise fee: $39,000
• Initial investment: $50,400-$72,650
• Royalty fees: 7%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $5.1 million
• No. of U.S. franchises: 7
MaidThis is a remote cleaning franchise company started by Neel Parekh in 2013, and today it has 17 franchisees. The company makes over $166K per month.
Learn more about the remote cleaning business franchise below.
#6. Spray-Net
• 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.
Spray-Net’s approach to residential painting narrows it down to a science and speeds up the process. The company currently has just 40 franchisees and its process is patented, meaning it’s totally unique and can’t be offered by any other painter or home improvement company.
Learn more about starting a painting franchise below.
#7. Photobooth International
• Franchise Fee: N/A
• Total Investment: $12,500-$18,895
• Royalty Fee: 0%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Do it yourself or hire employees.
• Territories: N/A
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes
The franchise industry is full of profitable opportunities, but franchise owners will love these low cost franchise options from Photobooth International. It’s a turnkey business model and you pay $12,500 to get into these low cost opportunities…which represents a $6K+ discount for UpFlip members.
Check out our interview with the founder to learn how to start a photo booth business.
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What Is the Cheapest Franchise Business Available?
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest franchise to start, look no further—we’ve found it for you. In fact, it’s one of four cheap franchises under $1,000. Keep reading to find out if Dream Vacations is for you.
#8. Dream Vacations
• Franchise cost: $495-$10,500
• Initial investment: $1,795-$21,000
• Royalty fees: 1.5-3%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $7.3 million
• No. of U.S. franchises: 1,618
Run by the parent company World Travel Holdings, Dream Vacations is the #1 home-based travel franchise. Not only is it among the cheapest franchises to start, but its low ongoing costs make it arguably the cheapest franchise to own, period.
Dream Vacations also offers some of the best discounted investment prices for veterans, including 30% off the Dream Vacations franchise fee and waived training fees for military veterans and their spouses.
More of the Best Low Cost Franchises 2024
These are more great opportunities for you to find a franchise. Check out some of the best low cost franchises for 2024!
#9. Soccer Stars
• Franchise fee: $57,300 to $74,300
• Initial investment: $73,300 to $106,300
• Royalty fees: 8.2%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $1,815,000
• No. of U.S. franchises: 95
Soccer Stars is a youth soccer franchise that offers leagues for kids 12 months and older. With average revenue of over $1.8 million and a net profit margin of 29.5%, that means a franchise owner can make over $535K annual profits.
#10. Mosquito Nix
• Franchise fee: $71,500 to $72,500
• Initial investment: $120,900 to $155,900
• Royalty fees: 12%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $1,297,520
• No. of U.S. franchises: 7 locations nationwide, franchising in progress
Mosquito Nix is a new franchising company that focuses on mosquito control. Franchisees can get a very high return on investment because an exclusive territory complying with the franchise could earn $1.3 million with a 34.15% net profit margin, or $443K in profit.
#11. British Swim School
• Franchise fee: $83,350
• Initial investment: $108,850 to $145,200
• Royalty fees: 12% + $1,550 monthly + mailer fees
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $403,822
• No. of U.S. franchises: 189
Teach kids to swim as a British Swim School franchise owner. Training kids to swim can be extremely rewarding and profitable as a small business owner. The average franchise makes $403,822 per year with a 30% net profit margin.
#12. Oasis Senior Advisors
• Franchise fee: $50,000 to $90,000
• Initial investment: $67,189 to $111,989
• Royalty fees: 10% + additional fees
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $375,643
• No. of U.S. franchises: 128
Oasis Senior Advisors provides services that help its customers find assisted care for the elderly. Entrepreneurs can get started for under $100K, and the median revenue is $375,643. Businesses offering services tend to have high profit margins, and significant growth is expected in the field during the upcoming years.
I do have some concern that you’ll need more liquid capital than is stated because it appears approximately a quarter of Oasis franchises make below the total monthly fees, which appear to be around $4K per month.
#13. Apex Leadership
• Franchise fee: $59,500
• Initial investment: $79,000 to $113,700
• Royalty fees: 16%
• Median annual sales (company-wide): $374,266
• No. of U.S. franchises: 37
Apex Leadership works with schools on fundraising. The average franchise helps schools raise over $1.5 million, of which approximately 40% counts as revenue and 22.5% of that is the owner’s profits. These are excellent opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to do good in the world.
#14. Blue Moon Estate Sales
• Franchise fee: $62,100
• Initial investment: $102,165 to $234,225
• Royalty fees: 8% +$1,200 monthly
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $195,900
• No. of U.S. franchises: 109
Investing in a Blue Moon Estate Sales franchise means you’ll be offering services to customers coping with the loss of a loved one. The company offers a chance to start a franchise for just $62,100 and the average location makes hundreds of thousands a year. Best of all, you can make money from home.
#15. Dryer Vent Wizard
• Franchise fee: $49,900
• Initial investment: $80,700 to $159,400
• Royalty fees: 22% +$120/month
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $164,439
• No. of U.S. franchises: 147
Dryer Vent Wizard focuses on providing vent cleaning services that protect homes from fires. The startup costs are under $100K making these great low cost franchises.
#16. P3 Cost Analysts
• Franchise fee: $59,500 to $64,400
• Initial investment: $68,690 to $85,935
• Royalty fees: 60%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $133,907.68
• No. of U.S. franchises: 46
Want to help business owners save money? P3 Cost Analysts help business owners reduce how much they pay for expenses like utilities, vendors, and inventory. Start a franchise location and help other business owners improve their capital positions.
#17. Fetch!
• Franchise fee: $65,000 to $66,125
• Initial investment: $88,567 to $103,667
• Royalty fees: 22% + $3,800 monthly
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $104,202.88
• No. of U.S. franchises: 136
The pet care industry is great for people who love animals. That said, as a prospective franchisee, the costs to operate this business may not justify it because of the $3,800 per month marketing requirement.
You’ll want to analyze the differences between the top performing franchises, which make over $700K per year, and the others.
#18. Hommati (UNIT)
• Franchise fee: $46,250-$46,350
• Initial investment: $69,440-$83,998
• Royalty fees: 16%
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $78,026.98
• No. of U.S. franchises: 136
Want to get into photography and videography? Consider a Hommati unit franchise. You’ll work with real estate agents to photograph and provide video for properties.
You’ll get all the marketing materials and other business equipment you’ll need to provide service to the real estate industry.
#19. Maid Right
• Franchise fee: $65,000
• Initial investment: $103,600-$147,500
• Royalty fees: 10% + $210/week
• Average annual sales (company-wide): $516,529
• No. of U.S. franchises: 44
Start a Maid Right franchise and earn money cleaning homes. These low cost franchises make great money, but it may take a while to reach the average earnings.
The franchise fees are weekly, which means you’ll probably need to save a nice nest egg before you take a week off. The good news? The commercial cleaning service is also one of the easiest types of companies to start.
How We Conduct Our Franchise Business Review
At UpFlip, we aim to provide you the best information available on the market today. That means using multiple resources to identify and screen franchises. We identify franchise opportunities through the following methods:
- Interview Franchise Owners: We interview both franchisees and franchisors to understand how the business works. Wise Coatings, MaidThis, and Spray-Net are among the franchises we have worked with personally.
- Consult Franchise Brokers: We consulted with three franchise brokers to get their opinions on the best low cost franchises to buy.
- Review Company Information: During the blog writing process, the writer performs a franchise business review that includes looking at each company’s website, Franchise Disclosure Document, and rankings by Forbes and the International Franchise Association.
Using these methods enables us to identify the top low cost franchises through multiple strategies to provide you with the best information.
Which Franchise Business Sounds Best to You?
We’ve covered franchising opportunities that span a wide range of industries, from cleaning companies to youth sports, home improvement to food, marketing, and even traveling! Which franchise business would you like to learn more about?
