The Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $100,000

Check out the top franchises that can be started for less than $100,000, ranked based on their scores they received in Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 ranking.

By Tracy Stapp Herold | Apr 26, 2018
Sakonboon Sansri/EyeEm | Getty Images

Buying a franchise doesn’t have to break the bank. Below you’ll find the top franchises that can be started for less than $100,000, ranked based on their scores they received in Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 ranking.

This list is not intended to recommend any particular company, but rather as a starting point for your own reserach. No matter how much a franchise costs, you should always carefully read the company’s legal documents, consult with a franchise attorney and an accountant, and talk to current and former franchisees before you invest.

For more budget-friendly franchises, check out our other lists here.

1. uBreakiFix
Electronics repairs
Startup cost: 60.4K – 220.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 307/18

2. Kumon Math & Reading Centers
Supplemental education
Startup cost: 69.8K – 141.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 25,827/32

3. CPR-Cell Phone Repair
Electronics repairs and sales
Startup cost: 58.2K – 176K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 365/4

4. Matco Tools
Mechanics’ tools and equipment
Startup cost: 91.4K – 269.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,755/2

5. Merry Maids
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 86.8K – 123.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,667/3

6. Firehouse Subs
Subs
Startup cost: 94.8K – 1.1M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,049/37

7. Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen beverages
Startup cost: 93.6K – 401.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 7,892/0

8. Mosquito Joe
Outdoor pest control
Startup cost: 66.6K – 127.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 234/2

9. The Maids
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 76.1K – 164.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,236/111

10. Right at Home
Home care, medical staffing
Startup cost: 78.3K – 137.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 553/0

11. Weed Man
Lawn care
Startup cost: 68.5K – 85.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 335/0

12. FirstLight Home Care
Nonmedical home care
Startup cost: 97.7K – 141.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 154/0

13. Visiting Angels
Nonmedical home care
Startup cost: 77.99K – 102.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 585/0

14. BrightStar Care
Medical/nonmedical home care, medical staffing
Startup cost: 94.2K – 176.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 311/4

15. MaidPro
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 57.6K – 207.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 242/1

16. Ikor International
Patient advocacy and guardianship for seniors and people with disabilities
Startup cost: 86.5K – 138.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 63/0

17. Signal 88 Security
Private security guard and patrol services
Startup cost: 73K – 268.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 416/7

18. Pop-A-Lock Franchise System
Mobile locksmith and security services
Startup cost: 99.7K – 134.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 558/3

19. ASP-America’s Swimming Pool Company
Swimming pool maintenance, repairs, and renovations
Startup cost: 96.2K – 143.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 254/0

20. Patrice & Associates
Hospitality, retail, and sales recruiting
Startup cost: 84.95K – 93.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 107/0

21. Valpak Direct Marketing Systems
Direct-mail and digital advertising
Startup cost: 80.6K – 200.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 129/14

22. Restoration 1
Water, fire, smoke, and mold restoration
Startup cost: 77.95K – 182.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 109/0

23. Chem-Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
Carpet and upholstery cleaning, tile and stone care, granite countertop renewal
Startup cost: 56.5K – 161.96K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 3,536/0

24. Weichert Real Estate Affiliates
Real estate
Startup cost: 50K – 364.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 323/129

25. Yesco
Sign and lighting service and maintenance
Startup cost: 65K – 352.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 57/49

26. Cornwell Quality Tools
Automotive tools and equipment
Startup cost: 52.5K – 223.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 643/0

27. Senior Helpers
Personal, companion, and Alzheimer’s home care
Startup cost: 83.3K – 117.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 291/1

28. Tutor Doctor
Tutoring
Startup cost: 68.5K – 101.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 531/1

29. N-Hance Wood Refinishing
Wood floor and cabinet refinishing
Startup cost: 62.2K – 160.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 479/0

30. 1-800 Water Damage
Restoration
Startup cost: 79K – 262.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 55/2

31. 911 Restoration
Residential and commercial property restoration
Startup cost: 70.1K – 226.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 138/0

32. Assisting Hands Home Care
Medical/nonmedical home care, temporary staffing
Startup cost: 70.6K – 147.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 105/3

33. Painting with a Twist
Paint-and-sip studios
Startup cost: 89.3K – 188.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 285/4

34. Dale Carnegie Training
Workplace training and development
Startup cost: 51.2K – 186.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 271/2

35. Miracle Method Surface Refinishing
Kitchen and bathroom surface refinishing
Startup cost: 83.4K – 127.99K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 144/1

36. Molly Maid
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 89.2K – 137.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 466/0

37. Pinot’s Palette
Paint-and-sip studios
Startup cost: 63.4K – 204.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 135/4

38. Poolwerx
Pool and spa maintenance, service, remodeling, and supplies
Startup cost: 78.5K – 288.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 131/2

39. Fibrenew
Leather, plastic, and vinyl restoration and repair
Startup cost: 93.3K – 104.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 241/0

40. 9Round
Kickboxing circuit-training programs
Startup cost: 75.2K – 116.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 533/6

41. GoliathTech
Foundation systems for the construction industry
Startup cost: 72.9K – 176K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 160/0

42. Orion Food Systems
Fast-food systems for nontraditional markets
Startup cost: 59.5K – 140K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 996/0

43. Color Glo International
Leather, vinyl, fabric, carpet, and surface repair and restoration
Startup cost: 56.3K – 61.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 142/0

44. The Tutoring Center Franchise
Tutoring
Startup cost: 91.5K – 136.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 90/0

45. Precision Door Service
Garage-door repairs and installation
Startup cost: 67.8K – 515.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 86/1

46. Realty One Group
Real estate
Startup cost: 53.3K – 220K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 60/23

47. Two Maids & A Mop
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 56K – 136.95K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 55/2

48. TeamLogic IT
IT managed services for businesses
Startup cost: 94.6K – 137.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 115/0

49. ServiceMaster Clean/ServiceMaster Restore
Commercial/residential cleaning, disaster restoration
Startup cost: 93.2K – 299K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 5,023/10

50. Amada Senior Care
Home care and assisted-living placement
Startup cost: 85K – 178.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 74/0

51. Best in Class Education Center
Supplemental education
Startup cost: 62.8K – 121.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 48/0

52. Signarama
Signs
Startup cost: 94.4K – 292.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 683/0

53. College Hunks Hauling Junk/College Hunks Moving
Junk removal, moving, and labor services
Startup cost: 89.3K – 208.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 82/3

54. Apex Fun Run
Elementary-school fundraising programs
Startup cost: 80.5K – 113.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 92/0

55. Executive Home Care
Home healthcare
Startup cost: 99.7K – 169.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 18/1

56. Kitchen Tune-Up
Residential and commercial kitchen and bath remodeling
Startup cost: 71.9K – 105.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 190/0

57. Mr. Rooter
Plumbing, drain, and sewer cleaning
Startup cost: 74.3K – 180.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 276/0

58. HouseMaster
Home inspections
Startup cost: 61.1K – 106.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 312/0

59. 360 Painting
Residential and commercial painting
Startup cost: 76.7K – 123.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 82/0

60. Transworld Business Advisors
Business brokerages; franchise consulting
Startup cost: 69.6K – 91.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 210/0

61. Border Magic/Boulder Designs
Concrete landscape edging, custom rocks and boulder signage
Startup cost: 78K – 138K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 163/0

62. Tutu School
Children’s ballet schools
Startup cost: 68.3K – 135.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 25/3

63. HomeWell Senior Care
Home care
Startup cost: 67.5K – 133.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 63/0

64. Window Genie
Residential window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing
Startup cost: 90.8K – 145K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 121/0

65. Furniture Medic
Furniture and wood restoration, repair, and refinishing
Startup cost: 80.4K – 90.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 348/0

66. Home Care Assistance
Nonmedical home care
Startup cost: 77.8K – 245.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 116/32

67. Bin There Dump That
Residential-friendly dumpster rentals
Startup cost: 72.2K – 127.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 121/0

68. Expense Reduction Analysts
Business consulting
Startup cost: 66K – 85.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 708/6

69. Our Town America
Direct-mail advertising to new movers
Startup cost: 63.3K – 86.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 63/0

70. JEI Learning Centers
Individualized supplemental education
Startup cost: 63K – 105K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 301/246

71. Caring Senior Service
Nonmedical home care
Startup cost: 58.6K – 107.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 56/4

72. Fully Promoted
Branded products and marketing services
Startup cost: 92.8K – 248.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 283/0

73. The Screenmobile
Mobile window and door screening
Startup cost: 83.8K – 164.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 102/1

74. The Entrepreneur’s Source
Franchise/business coaching and development services
Startup cost: 74.3K – 103K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 108/0

75. Creative Colors International
Leather, vinyl, fabric, and plastic repair, cleaning, and dyeing
Startup cost: 94.98K – 122.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 72/4

76. Bio-One
Crime-scene and trauma-scene cleaning
Startup cost: 80.8K – 124.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 42/0

77. ComForCare Home Care
Nonmedical and skilled home care
Startup cost: 76.7K – 175K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 200/0

78. Maid Brigade
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 85K – 124K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 455/0

79. Zerorez Franchising Systems
Carpet and surface cleaning
Startup cost: 76.3K – 182.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 45/0

80. Nutty Scientists
Science enrichment and entertainment programs
Startup cost: 50.7K – 263.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 271/5

81. Assisted Living Locators
Senior-care referrals and senior-living placement
Startup cost: 61.95K – 74.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 64/3

82. American Leak Detection
Concealed water, gas, and sewer leak-detection
Startup cost: 76.8K – 259.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 163/53

83. Money Mailer Franchise
Direct-mail advertising
Startup cost: 65.2K – 77K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 186/52

84. The Cleaning Authority
Residential cleaning
Startup cost: 71.2K – 153.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 214/1

85. Relocation Strategies
Corporate transition consulting, project management
Startup cost: 62.5K – 88.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 16/1

86. Lapels
Dry cleaning and laundry services
Startup cost: 86.5K – 609.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 76/0

87. Steamatic
Insurance/disaster restoration, cleaning, mold remediation
Startup cost: 74.4K – 173.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 170/0

88. Handyman Matters Franchise
Residential and commercial repairs, restoration, and maintenance
Startup cost: 66.8K – 116.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 129/0

89. Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services
Commercial cleaning
Startup cost: 59.5K – 107.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 131/0

90. Real Property Management
Property management
Startup cost: 86.8K – 113.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 274/3

91. Mr. Appliance
Residential and commercial appliance installation and repairs
Startup cost: 60.8K – 139.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 210/0

92. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
Residential, holiday, and hospitality lighting
Startup cost: 61.7K – 133.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 56/2

93. Preferred Care at Home
Senior home care
Startup cost: 62.5K – 84.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 74/6

94. The Glass Guru
Window and glass restoration, repair, and replacement
Startup cost: 64.2K – 183K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 90/0

95. Junk King
Junk removal
Startup cost: 79.7K – 197.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 87/1

96. Caring Transitions
Senior relocation, online auctions, and estate management
Startup cost: 58.1K – 80.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 192/0

97. Gateway Newstands
Newsstand and sundry stores
Startup cost: 55.9K – 501.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 365/0

98. Sparkle Wash International
Pressure washing, restoration, and preservation services
Startup cost: 47.1K – 96.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 82/2

99. U.S. Lawns
Commercial grounds care
Startup cost: 39.8K – 81.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 252/0

100. Five Star Painting
Residential and commercial painting
Startup cost: 69.7K – 179.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 161/0

Buying a franchise doesn’t have to break the bank. Below you’ll find the top franchises that can be started for less than $100,000, ranked based on their scores they received in Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 ranking.

This list is not intended to recommend any particular company, but rather as a starting point for your own reserach. No matter how much a franchise costs, you should always carefully read the company’s legal documents, consult with a franchise attorney and an accountant, and talk to current and former franchisees before you invest.

For more budget-friendly franchises, check out our other lists here.

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