The cheapest franchises to open
Item 7's low end sets the order here. Starting at $92,640, Home Instead is the cheapest.
| Brand | Category | total, lowest to highest | one-time fee | ongoing, usually a % of sales | does the brand show sales figures | Year filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Instead | Senior care | $93K to $351K | $54,000 | 5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Right at Home | Senior care | $94K to $176K | $49,500 | 5% | Yes | 2026 |
| BrightStar Care | Senior care | $101K to $217K | $50,000 | 5.25% | Yes | 2026 |
| Kumon | Tutoring | $102K to $234K | $2,000 to $3,000 | $38 per student a month | No | 2026 |
| The UPS Store | Retail | $114K to $413K | $14,950 to $39,950 | 5% | No | 2026 |
| The Maids | Cleaning | $118K to $141K | $60,000 | 3.9% to 6.9% | Yes | 2026 |
| Comfort Keepers | Senior care | $120K to $191K | $55,000 | 5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Visiting Angels | Senior care | $125K to $171K | $51,950 to $89,950 | 3% to 3.5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Merry Maids | Cleaning | $127K to $169K | $55,000 | 7% | Yes | 2026 |
| Mathnasium | Tutoring | $127K to $166K | $49,000 | 10% + $650 a month | Yes | 2026 |
| Molly Maid | Cleaning | $144K to $204K | $14,900 | 3% to 6.5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Mr. Rooter | Home services | $153K to $299K | $42,500 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Auntie Anne's | Bakery and snacks | $158K to $836K | $35,500 | 7% | Yes | 2026 |
| Kung Fu Tea | Bubble tea | $169K to $378K | $37,000 | 4% | No | 2026 |
| Supercuts | Beauty and wellness | $186K to $323K | $39,500 | 4%, then 6% | Yes | 2025 |
| Great Clips | Beauty and wellness | $188K to $420K | $20,000 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Valvoline Instant Oil Change | Automotive | $192K to $640K | $30,000 | 6% from year three | Yes | 2026 |
| Gong cha | Bubble tea | $207K to $648K | $37,000 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Jiffy Lube | Automotive | $211K to $510K | $35,000 | 4% | Yes | 2026 |
| Domino's | Pizza | $231K to $744K | $10,000 | 5.5% | Yes | 2026 |
| The Joint Chiropractic | Beauty and wellness | $254K to $521K | $39,900 | 7% (at least $700 a month) | Yes | 2024 |
| Cinnabon | Bakery and snacks | $257K to $704K | $35,500 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Subway | Restaurants | $263K to $630K | $15,000 | 8% | No | 2026 |
| Servpro | Home services | $263K to $386K | $100,000 | 3% to 10% | No | 2026 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Smoothies and bowls | $276K to $771K | $35,000 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
Before you buy, a brand has to hand over its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD); the brand's latest one is where every figure comes from. After opening, you still pay the brand a royalty: a share of sales or a set amount. "Sales or earnings shown" says if the brand tells you the amount its locations take in. A K stands for thousand, an M for million. The filing year is the year that FDD was listed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Can you buy a franchise for under $50,000?
You won't find one among these brands. Home Instead is the cheapest, starting at $92,640 on the low end of Item 7. Already included are equipment, the fee and running costs for the first months.
A cheap start doesn't mean cheap running costs
Each week's sales get reduced by royalties and brand fund fees. Read Item 6 next to Item 7: when the royalty is high, a low entry cost can cost more across ten years.
Want a shortlist for your budget?
Tell us your cash and where you want to open. One franchise consultant will contact you about brands that match.