10 Low-Cost Restaurant Franchises to Buy

For those interested in making their mark in the restaurant industry, franchising offers an easy way to get into business without having to come up with a unique concept and business plan. In addition, name recognition is a bonus of owning a franchise location. Don’t be put off by the cost of buying into a franchise system; many brands offer franchise ownership for less than you would think.

Check out these 10 low-cost restaurant franchise opportunities.

Doc Popcorn

Get popping with Doc Popcorn. The fresh popped franchise is a great business opportunity for potential franchisees looking to own their own location at a low cost. According to the Doc Popcorn website, a PoPrietor can get up and popping for under $75,000—depending on their type of franchise location.

Papa Murphy’s

A take ‘n bake pizza chain, Papa Murphy’s offers a great way to get into the pizza game without having to spend a lot. According to Papa Murphy’s, the total requirement for a Papa Murphy’s franchise location is $226,011 to $414,321.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches

At Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, guests can craft their perfect sandwich by choosing what goes in it from the brand’s signature brown paper bag ordering format. That same build-it-your-way model also applies to their franchise model. Franchisees can open their own Which Wich location from $195,000 to $488,800 depending on the specifics of the location, according to Entrepreneur.

Rita’s Italian Ice

Looking for a cool franchise opportunity? Think Rita’s Italian Ice. For a total investment of $140,500 to $414,200 you could own your own Rita’s Italian Ice.

Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants Inc.

If you’re looking for the cheapest quick service restaurants to own, then look no further than Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants Inc. According to Checkers & Rally’s franchise site, the cost for owning one of the most recognizable brands will set you back $155,400 to $1,286,743, depending on various building formats.

Baskin-Robbins

Go ahead and scoop up a Baskin-Robbins if you’re looking to purchase a low-cost franchise. The ice cream and frozen treat chain will cost you anywhere from $90,400 - $396,100 to open your own location, according to Entrepreneur.

French Fry Heaven

Ooh, French Fry Heaven is a place on earth. After opening the first French Fry Heaven location in 2011, this young brand is a leading the pack in a new franchise space. For those interested in investing in the spud-themed franchise, budding entrepreneurs can expect a fee of approximately $101,000 for a French Fry Heaven Mobile, and around $152,000 to $490,500 for a franchise location.

Smoothie King

If you’re going to invest in a franchise, why not invest in royalty? Smoothie King, a national franchise chain that specialized in custom-blended smoothies and nutritional supplements, offers many financial options for franchisees to buy into the brand. According to Smoothie King, the total investment for a franchise ranges from $176,300 to $403,550.

Philly Pretzel Factory

Go ahead and do the franchise twist with Philly Pretzel Factory. The soft pretzel franchise has made a name for itself along the East Coast with their soft pretzels, pretzel dogs, cheesesteak-stuffed pretzels and dipping sauces. According to the International Franchise Association, the total investment of opening a Philly Pretzel Factory ranges from $157,550 to $355,100.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

If you’re looking for an established brand with a low franchise fee, think of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. The barbecue franchise offers potential franchisees several cost options for owning their own locations. According to Entrepreneur, the total investment for a location can be from $121,700 to $498,100 to open.

Nick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.

10 Low-Cost Restaurant Franchises to Buy

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