The 5 Cheapest Franchises in the Industry

Franchising can be an excellent way to start a business, grow your portfolio and hone your entrepreneurial skills. Before diving headfirst into the world of franchising, there are a number of factors you should consider. For starters, it takes time, hard work, money and dedication to operate a successful business. And while these are just some of the most basic factors to consider, many people can also get discouraged when they see the price to become a business owner.

But it doesn’t have to be a discouraging experience. And to prove that, we’ve gathered five of the cheapest franchise opportunities that you can check out right now.

Without further ado, here are just a few of the cheapest franchises as of March 2023.

1)    Cruise Planners
Units: 2,800+
Startup Costs: $2,295 to $23,665

 Cruise Planners is the largest home-based travel agent franchise. The brand is backed by travel giant American Express. Cruise Planners’ travel advisors work from home selling full-service travel packages, including cruises, car rentals and vacations.

2)    Jazzercise
Units: 8,000+
Startup Costs: $3,700 to $32,750

Jazzercise is a unique dance-inspired fitness franchise. It is arguably one of the most affordable franchise opportunities in the industry. After the initial franchise fee of $1,250, franchisees will be provided with all the necessary materials and training they need to begin hosting classes. Jazzercise offers a variety of exercises, including strength training, high intensity interval training (HIIT), kickboxing, fusion and dance Mixx. 

3)    Fit4Mom
Units: 1,800+
Startup Costs: $6,205 to $24,285

Fit4Mom is the nation’s leading franchise that focuses on pre- and postnatal health, wellness and fitness programs for every stage of motherhood. The franchise’s goal is to empower women to become leaders in their communities and allow them to start their own businesses while raising children.

4)    United Country Real Estate
Units: 430
Startup Costs: $10,480 to $51,100

United Country Real Estate is one of the oldest real estate franchises in the country. The brand provides comprehensive auction, brokerage, and marketing services for individuals interested in selling or owning lifestyle real estate. United Country Real Estate primarily focuses on real estate in small towns and rural areas.

5)    Stratus Building Solutions
Units: 2,800+
Startup Costs: $4,450 to $79,750

Stratus Building Solutions is an environmentally conscious commercial cleaning service. They offer both janitorial unit franchises and master franchises licenses across North America, and are currently operating in more than 60 major cities. The brand focuses on providing environmentally friendly services using the most state-of-the-art equipment.