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The Top 10 Franchises You Can Buy for $50,000 or Less
Breaking into business ownership doesn’t have to break the bank. These 10 concepts are a great place to start.
The franchise business model has proven itself to be an attractive route to ownership for budding entrepreneurs. Rather than trying to start a business entirely alone, franchisees receive support and knowledge from experts while still participating in the strategy and daily operations of building a successful business.
The other variable for many new franchisees, however, is money. Depending on the brand, a new franchisee may rack up a multi-million dollar initial investment, which can be difficult to collect or finance and, logically, presents an even larger risk.
Fortunately, plenty of franchise concepts pride themselves on being accessible to new owners or those who simply are not interested in putting up a huge initial investment.
Here are the top 10 franchises you can invest in for $50,000 or less, ranked based on the order in which they appeared in Entrepreneur’s 2022 Franchise 500.
Jan-Pro Cleaning and Disinfecting touts its status as the number one commercial cleaning franchise. After a rise in diligence surrounding cleaning and disinfecting during the pandemic, Jan-Pro continues to allow franchisees access to a lucrative industry.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $5,000 to $58,000. There are currently 10,418 franchised locations.
Stratus Building solutions is another janitorial concept that cleans offices, schools, religious establishments, gyms and fitness facilities, banks, daycare centers, industrial buildings, and more.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $4,000 to $80,000. There are currently 2,900 franchised locations.
Anago Cleaning Systems offers commercial cleaning and janitorial services for other buildings like auto dealerships, restaurants and retail establishments. Anago offers two franchising models: Unit Franchises and Master Franchising. Master franchisees mentor unit-level franchisees and handle administrative work while the unit owner focuses intently on servicing their accounts.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $11,000 to $68,000. There are currently 1,791 franchised locations.
Goosehead Insurance franchise owners are able to break into the insurance space with the support of an experienced franchisor. The brand advertises homeowners, car, landlord, renters, condo, motorcycle, boat, RV, flood insurance and more. It says franchisees are set up for success as they’re selling something that everyone needs.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $40,000 to $119,000. There are currently 1,344 franchised locations.
Realty One Group advertises itself as “a modern, lifestyle real estate brand.” The franchisor recognizes that the real estate space is really a people business. Rather than a traditional brokerage concept, Realty One Group supports franchisees as they work to build a successful brokerage with no limits.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $43,000 to $225,000. There are currently 344 franchised locations and 12 company-owned locations.
RooterMan is a plumbing and drain cleaning concept that offers franchisees a low cost-of-entry opportunity that has long-term benefits. With low overhead costs, exclusive partnerships and a spot in a market with consistent demand, RooterMan presents an opportunity with a lower barrier to entry and strong potential for return.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $45,000 to $82,000. There are currently 749 franchised locations.
Dream Vacations is a work-from-home, vacation-planning concept. With no required inventory or equipment outside of basic office supplies, new franchisees are able to get into business for very little money. The franchisor also says its owners receive “100% of the travel industry’s highest-paid commissions.”
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $2,000 to $21,000. However, the franchisor’s website notes a $10,500 franchise cost with possible discounts to bring the minimum investment to $3,500 down.
There are currently 1,618 franchised locations.
NextHome is another real estate franchise meant to support its owners as the industry continues to change. The concept options one- and five-year franchise agreements, and it promotes flexibility throughout its model by offering growth resources without requiring a certain expansion pace.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $16,000 to $220,000. There are currently 578 franchised locations.
Chester’s is a quick-service fried chicken concept that serves its marinated, double-breaded fried chicken in convenience stores, truck stops and more. In 2021, the concept underwent a thorough brand refresh, bringing its logo, store design and packaging to modern day.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $16,000 to $228,000. There are currently 1,098 franchised locations.
Cruise Planners promotes itself as the number one travel agency franchise. Franchise owners run a home-based travel advisory business, supporting their clients in planning vacations like cruises, land tours, all-inclusive resort trips and more.
According to Entrepreneur, startup costs can range from $2,000 to $23,000. According to the Cruise Planners site, however, there is a $4,000 discount on its $10,995 franchise fee, indicating that the minimum initial investment would be far above Entrepreneur’s listed $2,000 by nature of the franchise fee alone.
There are currently 2,585 franchised locations.
