10 Franchises With an Affordable Franchise Fee of 10K or Less

Franchising is a way of investing that allows you to become a business owner while having the support of a brand with an established plan and loyal customer base. However, the initial investment costs for a lot of well-known franchises are out of reach for many, especially new entrepreneurs who are just starting to venture into the world of franchising. 

These 10 franchises are the exception, offering initial franchise fees of $10K or less to more affordably chase your dreams of business ownership. 

Cruise Planners

Initial Franchise Fee: $8,995

As a Cruise Planners franchisee, you will receive ongoing training from the brand so you can become a knowledgeable travel agent and business owner. You will also have the flexibility to work from home, which saves you the costs of an office space. 

Baby Boot Camp

Initial Franchise Fee: $5,000 to $8,000

Baby Boot Camp is a fitness franchise that focuses on moms. Offered by Momleta, these 60-minute, stroller-friendly fitness classes take place outdoors, meaning you do not need to purchase or rent a property. The initial franchise fee varies depending on the population of your territory. 

Uniglobe Travel

Initial Franchise Fee:  $2,000

Uniglobe Travel is a travel planning services company that personalizes plans for both clients seeking leisure travel and clients planning corporate events. The brand has been around for 40 years and places a high priority on excellent customer service.

Card My Yard

Initial Franchise Fee: $8,000

Card My Yard was started by two moms looking to do something positive in their community in 2014 and has since grown to 500-plus franchise locations. The brand offers large signs staked into people’s lawns to celebrate occasions like birthdays, graduations and holidays. This business can be run largely from home. 

BuildingStars

Initial Franchise Fee: $795+

The BuildingStars franchise model offers cleaning services for office buildings. The brand offers three options for business ownership: the technician, the onsite manager and corporate. The technician model is the most affordable and allows new franchisees to gain experience with a part-time position so they can keep the steady income of another job. This makes the model very scalable, as franchisees can progress to the other models over time. 

Sign Gypsies

Initial Franchise Fee: $1,000

Sign Gypsies specialize in yard signs used to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, graduations or any other event, as the signs are completely customizable. The brand is well-established with over 800 locations across the country and an overall estimated initial investment of $4,150–$9,900. 

Jazzercise

Initial Franchise Fee: $2,000+

Jazzercise is a well-known dance workout franchise. The brand offers two different models of ownership: instructor franchise ownership and class owner. As a class owner franchisee, you are required to pay monthly fees and royalties beyond that of an instructor franchisee, and you are also responsible for facility costs. However, as an instructor franchisee, you need only pay a onetime franchise fee of $1,250 and a few minor annual costs for equipment and insurance. 

The Packagehub Business Center

Initial Franchise Fee: $385-$750 

The Packagehub Business Center is a non-traditional franchise model that offers shipping, mailing, printing and packaging services. This is an especially affordable business opportunity for those who already have a business that offers similar services; the brand name and franchisor support will allow for a wider reach of customers. 

Fit4Mom

Initial Franchise Fee: $7,495+

Fit4Mom specializes in fitness classes for moms and has over 250 franchise locations nationwide. The brand offers an opportunity to improve physical fitness, help to build a sense of community between moms and empower women business owners. 

RugbyTots

Initial Franchise Fee: $6,500+

RugbyTots is a franchise brand that offers rugby lessons to children. As this global franchise does not require a building or expensive equipment, it is relatively inexpensive to start your own business with RugbyTots. 

When looking for an affordable franchise, consider ways to lower the startup cost. For example, most of the franchises on this list do not require a building, extensive equipment or a large quantity of inventory, making for a great way to launch a business without huge upfront costs. 

While these franchises listed offer a franchise fee of less than 10K, there are many other costs required to open and operate a franchise, so be sure to do some thorough research before you commit to a brand.