1851

In the world of franchising, some of the biggest names often also come with the heftiest price tags. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/about-us/franchising/acquiring-franchising.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">McDonald’s</a> franchise costs between&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-profitable-is-owning-a-mcdonalds-franchise-2715302">$1.3 million and $2.3 million to open</a>, for example, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dunkinfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dunkin’</a> franchise can cost as much as $1,597,000. On average, startup costs come in at about $50,000 to $200,000,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchising.com/guides/the_cost_of_opening_a_franchise.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444#:~:text=The%20cost%20of%20entry%20varies,about%20%24200%2C000%20to%20get%20started." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according to Franchising.com</a>, and average royalty fees paid by franchisees range from 3% to 6% of monthly gross sales.So, what is the cheapest franchise an entrepreneur can invest in if they want to take control of their destiny on a budget? Well, that depends on a few factors, but one name that pops up on nearly every “cheapest franchises to buy” list is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dream Vacations</a>, the home-based travel agency franchise.“Many people think you need hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a franchise business, but the reality is that there are some great low-cost franchises that can provide a very high return on your investment in the long run,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstites?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Stites</a>, CEO and managing director of the Franchise Business Review, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/21/10-low-cost-franchises-you-can-start-with-15000-or-less.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CNBC</a>.Dream Vacation’s initial investment can be as low as $1,795, with a franchise fee of between&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com/travel-franchise-cost/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$495 and $10,500</a>, depending on the level of expertise of the owner. Certain entrepreneurs can take even more off of that price tag, with the Dream Vacations franchise offering discounts for military members and community heroes.&nbsp;The Dream Vacations concept is able to maintain low overhead and no inventory since the business can be run out of the franchisee’s own home. While there are plenty of home-based franchises out there, Dream Vacations may be the cheapest of them all, and puts owners in a unique position to do their work from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection and a laptop.&nbsp;Started in 1991, the home-based travel agency specializes in both land and cruise vacations and includes more than 1,200 franchisees, who earn commission on the sales of vacation packages from tours across Europe to Caribbean cruises and luxury resorts across the globe.Of course, for an investment that is significantly lower than competitors, Dream Vacations franchisees should also expect potentially lower returns. The average annual pay for a Dream Vacations in the United States is $60,317 a year, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Dream-Vacations-Salary?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ziprecruiter</a>, compared to the average annual pre-tax income of $80,000 for all franchise owners in America, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://fransmart.com/how-much-money-can-you-make-owning-a-franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444#:~:text=Franchise%20Business%20Review%20found%20that,or%20forecasts%20of%20future%20income." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Franchise Business Review</a>.&nbsp;While the low initial investment for a Dream Vacations franchise does include marketing support and training, franchisees do need to obtain a travel agent license or certificate on their own. It is also important to note that travel agents who own their own franchise through Dream Vacations are paid only through commissions; there is no annual salary or hourly rate. Once the business is going, Dream Vacations royalty fees come in between 1.5% and 3% of annual commissionable sales.And the amount of commissionable sales franchisees are bringing in seem to vary widely across the Dreams Vacations system. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/travel-agent-career/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Item 19 in its Financial Disclosure Document</a>, the brand’s top group of franchisees (representing 5% of the network) had average sales of $2.2 million in travel in 2018. The lowest group, which represented 38% of all agents, had average sales of only $42,563.&nbsp; Average annual sales were $336,971 in 2019, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/21/10-low-cost-franchises-you-can-start-with-15000-or-less.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy-2720444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CNBC</a>.

What is the Cheapest Franchise to Buy?

1851 Franchise

This lucrative, low-cost franchise allows entrepreneurs to open a home-based travel agency business for $10,500 or less.

what-is-the-cheapest-franchise-to-buy

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Lumin Lash Franchise Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, Profit and Data - 1851 Franchise

Lumin Lash Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

lumin-lash-franchise-deep-dive

HTeaO Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-hteaos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

What is the Cheapest Franchise to Buy?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS