Top 25 Franchise Brands Santa Would Pick for the Nice List

It’s that time of year again. Santa Claus is coming to town. 

From cookie brands to toy stores and businesses that will make your home sparkle, there is no shortage of Santa-approved franchises out there.  

To celebrate the holiday season, here’s a list of brands that are sure to make his nice list this December: 

Christmas Decor*

Investment Range: $11,400–$31,900
Startup Costs:  $11,400–$31,900
Unit Count: 300

Founded in 1986 by Blake Smith, Christmas Decor has become the leading holiday decorating brand in the U.S. and Canada. Originally created as an off-season supplement to the landscaping business, the franchise now brings holiday cheer to over 300 communities across North America, creating jobs for 3,000-plus seasonal workers that might otherwise be unemployed. 

Home Clean Heroes*

Investment Range: $76,902 to $100,851
Startup Costs:  $76,902 to $100,851
Unit Count: 12

Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Home Clean Heroes is a fast-growing, residential cleaning franchise under the Buzz Franchise Brands umbrella that supports local first responders with every house it cleans. Home Clean Heroes' national initiative called Heroes First allows franchisees to partner with a national nonprofit, First Responders Children’s Foundation, to make a difference in their local communities. First Responders Children’s Foundation is a national philanthropic organization with a 20-year legacy of supporting the children and families of first responder heroes who risk their lives every day in service to their communities. 

Chip City

Unit Count: 14

Born in Astoria, Queens, in 2017, Chip City Cookies began as a hobby between childhood friends. A small storefront, some equipment, and a dream led the entrepreneurial team to listen to that feedback and open store one. The gourmet cookie brand that rotates its flavorful and sizeable cookies on a weekly basis.

Scooped Cookie Dough Bar

Investment Range: $94,000–$182,000
Startup Costs:  $94,000–$182,000
Unit Count: 2

Established to share the love of cookie dough in a safe way, Scooped Cookie Dough Bar is like an ice cream bar that uses fresh ingredients, pasteurized eggs, and heat-treated flour to ensure a safe way to eat “raw” cookie dough. 

Mrs. Fields

Investment Range: $251,995–410,500
Startup Costs: $251,995–410,500
Unit Count: 300+

The Mrs. Fields brand is one of the biggest cookie franchises in the U.S. The concept also offers cookies through retail outlets and catalogs, increasing revenue potential. The franchisor offers kiosk and store investment opportunities making this a sweet deal. 

Crumbl Cookies

Investment Range: $227,666–$567,833
Startup Costs: $227,666–$567,833
Unit Count: 638

Crumbl Cookies have taken social media by storm. Crumbl’s rotating menu features 200+ flavors that are inspired by cakes, candies, pies and desserts of all kinds. These flavors rotate weekly and keep customers coming back to try brand-new cookies, stock up on returning favorites and discover the classics. 

Learning Express Toys & Gifts

Investment Range: $138,000 –$320,000
Startup Costs: $138,000–$320,000
Unit Count: 87

Learning Express Toys & Gifts provides children with activities and events to entertain them for days. The company was founded in 1987 and has been selling its trademark toys, books, games and children’s accessories for several decades.

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Startup Costs: $5,000,000–$12,000,000 minimum capital requirement
Unit Count: 400+

Originally conceived as a place for children to create their own teddy bear with a step-by-step process, including the iconic Heart Ceremony, Build-A-Bear Workshop is now a multi-generational, multi-dimensional global brand that has been appealing to a diverse range of consumers for over 25 years. 

Shack Shine

Investment Range: $72,000–$150,000
Startup Costs: $72,000–$150,000
Unit Count: 66

Shack Shine puts a strong emphasis on Christmas lighting. As a major home detailing service underneath the O2E Brands home service conglomerate, Shack Shine is a strong brand for the Christmas season – but the overall opportunities are also worth exploring.

Once Upon a Child

Investment Range: $276,000–$417,000 
Startup Costs: $276,000–$417,000
Unit Count: 404

Once Upon A Child buys and sells gently used kids' clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear. There is an amazing amount of nearly-new clothing, toys, baby gear and more hidden in every family’s home, which presents fantastic opportunities for both franchise owners and customers alike. 

Certified Lights

Investment Range: $44,050–$88,000
Startup Costs: $44,050–$88,000
Unit Count: 2

Certified Lights was founded on the idea of providing customers with high-

quality, commercial-grade lighting at competitive prices. The brand offers a range of professional lighting solutions made to illuminate spaces for various residential and commercial applications.

Midtown Chimney Sweeps

Investment Range: $73,000–$145,000
Startup Costs: $73,000–$145,000
Unit Count: 36

Midtown Chimney Sweeps is a unique Santa-approved franchise opportunity in North America. The company is involved with the hearth industry (the fireplace manufacturing and maintenance industry). Midtown creates value through business systems, chimney sweeping, and related services like dryer vent cleaning, light maintenance and chimney repairs.

Brilliant Sky Toys & Books

Investment Range: $196,000–$424,000
Startup Costs: $196,000–$424,000
Unit Count: 14

Brilliant Sky Toys and Books is a children’s store based in the heart of Brentwood, Tennessee. It is known for its inspired selection of toys and books, as well as an interactive shopping experience. 

Woops!

Investment Range: $60,000–$391,000
Startup Costs: $60,000–$391,000
Unit Count: 23

WOOPS! was born in 2012 from a simple idea: Why not make money by opening a pop-up shop at the bustling Holiday Shops at Bryant Park in New York City — sharing delicious, specialty macarons with shoppers? In just nine weeks, they had sold $250,000 worth of macarons. 

NiteLites

Investment Range: $65,585–$102,205
Startup Costs:  $65,585–$102,205
Unit Count: 17

NiteLites Outdoor Lighting Franchise, an industry leader since 1992, is the most recognized and trusted name for commercial and residential energy-efficient low-voltage outdoor lighting. Its business model is designed to help franchisees attain personal, professional and financial goals.

BIGGBY Coffee*

Investment Range: $276,000–$439,000
Startup Costs: $276,000–$439,000
Unit Count: 300+

BIGGBY Coffee has become a beloved institution for customers and franchisees alike, thanks in large part to the franchise’s “commitment to genuine care — a philosophy that guides every facet of the brand's customer- and franchisee-facing operations. The brand is an expert in customizable drinks, including its hot chocolate which is sure to impress Santa. 

Cookies by Design

Investment Range: $149,450–$554,800
Startup Costs: $149,450–$554,800
Unit Count: 80+

Started in 1983, Cookies by Design offers customers a “cookie bouquet” as a delicious and unique alternative to flowers. The brand’s ability to create custom cookie bouquet designs along with personalized messages, in addition to providing hired local hand delivery, sets this cookie franchise apart. 

Mind Games

Startup Costs: $80,000–$100,000 minimum capital requirement
Unit Count: 8

Mind Games, with its motto “The Shop for Creative Minds at Play,” is an established retail business that offers a wide range of toys and games selection for all ages.

Decorating Den Interiors

Investment Range: $44,000–$70,000
Startup Costs: $44,000–$70,000
Unit Count: 250

Since 1969, Decorating Den Interiors has been making the world more beautiful, one room at a time, with individually owned and operated franchises throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Franchisees have access to over 130 wholesale suppliers offering a wide variety of home furnishings to their clients.

Neighborhood Kids Schools

Investment Range: $374,833–$2,635,156
Startup Costs: $374,833–$2,635,156
Unit Count: 4

Neighborhood Kids Schools got its start as a preschool established in Wellington, Florida, in 1978. Now a private, faith-based early childhood education organization, Neighborhood Kids Schools provides generational impact through safe, fun, supportive, and God-honoring early education environments.

Sylvan Learning*

Investment Range: $85,525–$186,930
Startup Costs: $85,525–$186,930
Unit Count: 710+

With more than 40 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K–12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. 

Lightbridge Academy*

Investment Range: $621,233–$5,088,750
Startup Costs: $621,233–$5,088,750
Unit Count: 65+

Founded in 1997, Lightbridge Academy is an Iselin, New Jersey-based franchise that provides early education and child care to children ages six weeks through kindergarten, as well as special programming for children up to 10 years old for summer camp, and a new school-age remote-learning program as well as Summer Camp. 

Everything Christmas

Investment Range: $35,000–$55,000
Startup Costs: $35,000–$55,000

Everything Christmas is a recognized regional innovator in the Seasonal Christmas Store industry throughout the Eastern United States. Its reputation has been built on service, product quality, customer experience, and commitment to creating a truly memorable time for every customer who visits Everything Christmas seasonal location.  

Great American Cookies*

Investment Range: $277,400–$403,150
Startup Costs: $277,400–$403,150
Unit Count: 380+

Great American Cookies was founded in 1977 by Michael Cole and Arthur Karp who developed the business around a generations-old family recipe. As the first franchised retail cookie store  in the country, Great American Cookies is an industry leader with  a huge following of loyal customers to show for it. 

Cinnabon

Investment Range: $233,700–$546,800
Startup Costs: $233,700–$546,800
Unit Count: 1,800+

Cinnabon is a world-famous bakery franchise that is synonymous with the cinnamon roll. Its sweet, irresistible products and outstanding service have taken it from a single bakery in Seattle to a growing, international brand–and are sure to land it on Santa’s nice list.