Top Professional Services Franchises Under 50 Units

Some franchises aim to make life a little bit easier for businesses, and for individual working men and women.

Indeed, from food delivery to tech services, there are many businesses that provide workers with a variety of services in their day-to-day working lives. And they may be on to something. According to a September 2018 Restaurant Business report, 28 percent of consumers order delivery more often today than they did a year ago, which bodes well for a variety of food delivery service companies.

There’s also a matter of providing the working spaces themselves. Coworking spaces, for example, have become an increasingly huge hit for companies that offer more non-traditional working options. In 2017, the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC) forecasted that global coworking spaces would increase from 14,411 in 2017 to more than 30,000 in 2022.

Here are 10 emerging professional service franchises with less than 50 units.

Aarrow Sign Spinners

Unit count: 35

Investment range: $36,877 - $80,016

This sign-spinning company was founded in a dorm room with the aim of providing job opportunities for young people and cost-effective ad solutions for clients. Aarrow Sign Spinners has employed more than 5,000 young people since 2002 and prides itself on providing sign spinners who are also engaging to watch. Aarrow maintains an active blog where they even highlight the “Spinner of the Month.” Clients include restaurants and pool and furniture companies. Aarrow touts its services as being affordable and available in any place at any time, and its spinners as being professional and able to interact with potential customers. The company’s franchise network includes entrepreneurs who run other businesses simultaneously.

Apple Spice

Unit count: 31

Investment range: As low as $285,000

Lunch delivery company Apple Spice started in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1988. It provides box lunches to local businesses and for corporate events. They offer sandwiches, salads, wraps and more. Locations also offer catering and dessert and pastry trays. Bread is baked daily from scratch. There are 16 locations currently in development. Franchisee benefits include the opportunity to work during normal business hours. Opening a franchise can cost as little as $285,000. Franchisee support includes both onsite and offsite training, real estate assistance and 24/7 access to online operation tools and marketing resources.

Fully Promoted

Unit count: 50 in the U.S.

Investment range: $160,000 - $165,000

This company makes your company’s mark on promotional products. Formerly known as EmbroidMe, Fully Promoted started out by providing custom apparel and promotional products and expanded to also offer printing services and digital marketing. It switched its name to Fully Promoted in 2017. Customers are paired with a local Fully Promoted expert to help them grow their brands. In addition to franchising, Fully Promoted also offers business conversion opportunities. Ideal franchisees are independent promotional products or marketing business owners, business professionals and sales and marketing professionals. The company operates on a B2B model. Fully Promoted is a member of the United Franchise Group.

Generator Supercenter

Unit count: 7

Investment range: $424,500 - $825,500

Generator Supercenter was founded in 2005 and focuses on generator installation, repair and maintenance for homes and businesses. The company touts itself as the No. 1 Generac dealer in North America. Generator Supercenter’s awards include the BBB Pinnacle award and the Generac Premier Dealer Award. The company is active on Facebook and posts customer reviews. Benefits for customers include 24/7 emergency services, turnkey installation and full manufacturer warranties. One service the brand offers is the GenMonitor Maintenance Program, which provides remote diagnostics. Franchisees will have three streams of income - sales, service and maintenance. Other benefits for franchisees include brand name recognition, national retail partnerships, 24/7 technical support and accounting and infrastructure support.

Mr. Delivery

Unit count: 42

Investment range: $67,200 - $68,700

This online ordering and food delivery service partners with local businesses, schools and more. Mr. Delivery aims to deliver food between 45 and 60 minutes, and a standard delivery fee is between $3.99 and $4.99. Restaurants that deliver through Mr. Delivery include Hooters, Chick-fil-A, Five Guys, Maggiano’s and Applebee’s. The company offers restaurant owners four different packages if they choose to allow their food to be delivered via Mr. Delivery: Gold, Platinum, Titanium and Diamond. The company is aggressively looking to increase its franchises in the United States. Franchisee benefits include corporate staff management of menu items, marketing and menu management and corporate training. Financing is available for franchisees.

Nerds To Go

Unit count: 18

Investment range: $171,200 - $347,300

This computer and technical support service company mainly deals with residential computer users and small businesses. Nerds To Go’s core company values include expecting the best and having passion and integrity. Company “Nerds” are on call 24/7 and are certified professionals who have passed background checks. Benefits for franchisees include repeat business due to a consistent customer base in a profitable industry. The brand’s only national competitor is Geek Squad, a Best Buy subsidiary. Franchisee resources include Take-off to Success training, the Navigator Program, which pairs franchisees with a Business Coach, and the Nerd Net system to help the franchisee handle all of the numbers.

OpenWorks

Unit count: 25

Investment range: $17,000 - $124,450

First started in 1983, facility services company OpenWorks offers pressure washing, janitorial services, pest control and more. The company has worked with brands including UPS, FedEx and Gap. OpenWorks also offers business conversion opportunities, and both franchisees and business converters go through the same training and receive the same support. An ideal franchisee is committed to providing excellent service, treats their customers and employees with respect and is willing to work hard. Benefits for franchisees include freedom from inventory and a low cost of entry. The company provides franchisees with their initial customers and will continue to provide franchisees with future business. OpenWorks also does invoicing and collecting for their franchisees.

Serendipity Labs

Unit count: 26

Investment range: Not listed

Coworking company Serendipity Labs aims to offer an upscale environment for employees who typically don’t work in corporate offices. It offers workplace memberships for a variety of needs through four different membership plans: Dedicated Desks, Dedicated Offices, Coworking and Meetings and Events. The brand also offers corporate memberships and uses a platform called OASIS to provide technology needs. There are currently more than 125 Serendipity Labs under development across the United States. The company’s executive team members have backgrounds in hospitality, technology, real estate and more. Benefits for franchisees include territory protection, site selection assistance and access to a company technology platform.  

The Work Lodge

Unit count: 4

Investment range: $40,000 - $60,000

This coworking franchise was founded in 2015 and currently has locations in Houston and Dallas. The Work Lodge offers private offices, virtual offices, coworking spaces and conference rooms. The company’s philanthropic arm is the Gabriel Foundation. The Work Lodge also has a referral program and a Realtor Partnership program. Franchisees receive help with site selection, lease negotiation, staffing and more. Company values include being authentic, being generous and being humble. The company prides itself on offering a hassle-free franchise process. The ideal franchisee has a passion for growing businesses, wants to add value to their community and promises to adhere to the company’s values.

Venture X

Unit count: 7

Investment range: $600,000 - $800,000

Coworking franchise Venture X has several locations in development across the United States, Canada, South Africa and the Middle East. The company offers coworking spaces to a variety of business professionals, including small business owners, remote workers and consultants. The brand also provides networking opportunities for clients. Venture X maintains an active franchising blog and offers franchising opportunities both in the United States and abroad. Franchisees can enjoy a simple business model and multiple revenue streams from the variety of businesses they will service. Other benefits for franchisees include training and marketing support. Franchisees also receive on-site training from a corporate representative.