Franchises from $250,000 to $500,000: franchise opportunities by investment
Short answer: Across 767 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $336,000 and the median starting franchise fee is $39,950. The lowest starting investment in this group is ConDecor Superstore at $250,100.
This list includes franchises whose total initial investment starts between $250,000 and $500,000, based on the low end of each brand's Item 7 range. The high end of the range is usually the better planning figure.
What do franchises in this group cost?
Franchises in this group have a median minimum investment of $336,000, a median starting franchise fee of $39,950 and a median liquid cash requirement of $85,000, calculated from 767 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database. Medians use the low end of each brand's reported range.
Which franchises are on the list?
The table sorts 767 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 1 to 100.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConDecor Superstore | $41,000 | $250,100 to $324,700 | $55,000 | 1 |
| QC Kinetix | $55,000 | $250,100 to $600,080 | $70,000 | 194 |
| The Lost Cajun | $40,000 | $250,152 to $667,500 | $70,000 | 25 |
| iFoam | $59,500 | $250,293 to $337,275 | $55,000 | 88 |
| SweetDuet | $10,000 | $250,300 to $352,800 | $55,000 | N/R |
| 1-800-STRIPER | $49,500 | $250,496 to $321,702 | $55,000 | 130 |
| Sandbox Vr | $50,000 | $250,719 to $1,875,464 | $130,000 | 36 |
| Nautical Bowls | $39,500 | $250,750 to $474,750 | $60,000 | 63 |
| Medi-Weightloss | $60,000 | $251,000 to $494,000 | $60,000 | 104 |
| Sir Speedy | $55,000 | $251,690 to $299,190 | $55,000 | 124 |
| Cream | $30,000 | $251,700 to $380,600 | $55,000 | 26 |
| TONCHIN | $40,000 | $251,700 to $570,500 | $65,000 | 3 |
| Pizzava | $27,500 | $251,850 to $523,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Sugar Llamas | $30,000 | $252,400 to $368,200 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Alleviant | $100,000 | $253,000 to $842,500 | $80,000 | 3 |
| Pip Printing | $55,000 | $253,027 to $280,527 | $50,000 | 55 |
| Drnk Coffee + Tea | $40,000 | $253,150 to $637,600 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Qwench Juice Bar | $40,000 | $253,150 to $637,600 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Mama's Meatball | $35,000 | $253,300 to $415,400 | $60,000 | 1 |
| Which Wich | $30,000 | $253,500 to $822,250 | $80,000 | 150 |
| Cityrow | $49,500 | $253,843 to $460,074 | $60,000 | 6 |
| Prep Academy Tutors | $43,000 | $254,000 to $423,500 | $60,000 | 2 |
| Blimpie | $9,520 to $18,000 | $254,070 to $588,750 | $70,000 | 101 |
| Bach To Rock | $45,000 | $254,500 to $544,500 | $65,000 | 59 |
| World Famous Meats | $25,000 | $255,000 to $307,600 | $55,000 | 1 |
| Mobility City | $47,500 to $267,500 | $255,350 to $653,800 | $70,000 | 46 |
| Paulie Gee's | $15,000 | $255,500 to $735,000 | $75,000 | 6 |
| The Buffalo Spot | $45,000 | $255,700 to $615,500 | $70,000 | 37 |
| Honest 1 Auto Care | $75,000 | $255,750 to $1,242,250 | $100,000 | 64 |
| Miniso | $30,000 | $255,800 to $485,000 | $65,000 | 275 |
| Playa Bowls | $35,000 | $255,944 to $1,037,794 | $90,000 | 290 |
| Wayback Burgers | $35,000 | $256,000 to $850,000 | $80,000 | 152 |
| Good Feet | $25,000 | $256,290 to $617,865 | $70,000 | 271 |
| Firenza | $40,000 | $256,450 to $546,000 | $65,000 | 9 |
| Sweetfrog | $15,000 to $30,000 | $256,500 to $658,500 | $70,000 | 206 |
| Wolfnights | $35,000 | $256,500 to $492,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Sweethoney Dessert | $50,000 | $256,600 to $355,750 | $55,000 | 8 |
| Z Plumberz | $44,900 | $256,670 to $418,710 | $60,000 | 37 |
| Leg Up Recovery | $30,000 | $257,000 to $792,300 | $80,000 | 1 |
| Frank & Furter's | $35,000 | $257,150 to $496,400 | $65,000 | 3 |
| Earthfruits Yogurt | $40,000 | $257,770 to $570,143 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Crimson Coward | $50,000 | $258,000 to $495,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Grain and Berry | $49,500 | $258,000 to $673,500 | $70,000 | 17 |
| Mr Fries Man | $35,000 | $258,000 to $516,000 | $65,000 | 13 |
| Yang's Braised Chicken Rice | $35,000 | $258,000 to $460,000 | $60,000 | 7 |
| GoMobile Tires | $40,000 | $258,100 to $307,600 | $55,000 | 64 |
| The Plug Powered by AVANCE | $50,000 | $258,250 to $448,800 | $60,000 | 6 |
| MA MODERN ACUPUNCTURE | $39,500 | $258,377 to $666,772 | $70,000 | 51 |
| Power Trucks Usa | $75,000 | $258,775 to $498,207 | $65,000 | 1 |
| Servpro | $100,000 | $258,780 to $379,500 | $60,000 | 2,286 |
| Town Pride | $5,000 to $30,000 | $258,800 to $773,800 | $80,000 | 1 |
| Welcyon | $20,000 to $30,000 | $259,100 to $363,000 | $55,000 | N/R |
| The Covery | $42,500 | $259,500 to $382,500 | $60,000 | 18 |
| Zoom Drain | $49,500 | $259,618 to $490,641 | $65,000 | 166 |
| The Exercise Coach | $49,500 | $259,840 to $389,970 | $60,000 | 215 |
| Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ | $45,000 | $260,600 to $1,068,500 | $95,000 | 22 |
| Papa John's | $5,000 to $25,000 | $261,165 to $853,365 | $80,000 | 3,291 |
| Health Mart | $0 | $261,870 to $833,870 | $80,000 | 4,347 |
| Rooster & Rice | $35,000 | $262,000 to $669,000 | $75,000 | 10 |
| GLOW SAUNA STUDIOS | $49,000 | $262,096 to $454,256 | $60,000 | 3 |
| Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop | $30,000 | $262,300 to $405,700 | $60,000 | 2 |
| Zerorez | $15,000 to $60,000 | $262,394 to $618,706 | $70,000 | 79 |
| Batteries Plus | $15,000 to $44,500 | $262,646 to $496,996 | $65,000 | 737 |
| Augment | $5,000 to $39,000 | $263,300 to $957,000 | $85,000 | 1 |
| T-Swirl Crepe | $35,000 | $263,400 to $496,850 | $65,000 | 15 |
| Mister Softee | $7,500 | $263,500 to $314,000 | $55,000 | 601 |
| Painted Dough | $30,000 | $263,627 to $423,657 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Abra | $35,000 | $263,640 to $4,569,050 | $270,000 | 55 |
| Happy's Pizza | $25,000 | $263,700 to $619,250 | $70,000 | 54 |
| Sweet & Sassy | $45,000 | $263,700 to $437,400 | $60,000 | 14 |
| Sweetwaters | $49,500 | $264,144 to $636,038 | $70,000 | 7 |
| Paint Nail Bar | $0 to $45,000 | $264,350 to $884,700 | $85,000 | 20 |
| Merlin | $30,000 | $264,745 to $534,395 | $65,000 | 24 |
| Missquito | $49,500 to $200,000 | $265,000 to $500,000 | $65,000 | 1 |
| MOGUMOGU Mazemen and Ramen | $30,000 | $265,000 to $444,500 | $60,000 | 3 |
| Sushi Freak | $25,000 | $265,000 to $344,000 | $55,000 | 5 |
| The Great American Barbershop | $35,000 | $265,000 to $412,500 | $60,000 | 2 |
| V's Barbershop | $40,000 | $265,000 to $630,900 | $70,000 | 60 |
| The Big Salad | $49,000 | $265,250 to $506,500 | $65,000 | 7 |
| Body20 Studio | $65,000 | $265,512 to $427,833 | $60,000 | 62 |
| ISI Elite Training | $60,000 | $266,000 to $645,000 | $70,000 | 45 |
| Superior Play Systems | $40,000 | $266,170 to $318,345 | $55,000 | 7 |
| Rapid Fired Pizza | $16,500 to $26,000 | $266,500 to $854,750 | $85,000 | 31 |
| Servicemaster Restore | $72,500 | $266,600 to $442,890 | $60,000 | 1,939 |
| Gelsosomo's Pizza | $25,000 | $266,750 to $445,930 | $60,000 | 10 |
| Cousins Maine Lobster | $40,000 | $267,000 to $969,300 | $90,000 | 4 |
| Miami Subs | $30,000 | $267,000 to $458,000 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Piara Pizza | $50,000 | $267,000 to $553,000 | $70,000 | 13 |
| Mr. Transmission / Milex | $45,000 | $267,300 to $340,800 | $55,000 | 111 |
| Park Inn | $45,000 | $267,445 to $1,416,145 | $110,000 | 27 |
| Roosters | $39,500 | $267,490 to $417,190 | $60,000 | 78 |
| Pacific Pride | $15,000 | $267,559 to $1,248,045 | $105,000 | N/R |
| Katsu Bar | $30,000 | $268,000 to $439,000 | $60,000 | 5 |
| Hardcore Fitness Boot Camp | $39,500 | $268,500 to $743,300 | $75,000 | 22 |
| WheelMaxx | $35,000 | $268,700 to $596,500 | $70,000 | 4 |
| Junbi | $30,000 | $268,750 to $576,250 | $70,000 | 7 |
| Onward Physical Therapy | $0 | $268,849 to $3,032,849 | $190,000 | N/R |
| PopUp Bagels | $35,000 | $268,849 to $3,332,849 | $205,000 | N/R |
| StretchLab | $65,000 | $269,019 to $610,224 | $70,000 | 485 |
| The Lash Lounge | $50,000 | $269,063 to $790,080 | $80,000 | 137 |
N/R = not reported.
How do you compare franchises from this list?
Compare franchises from this list by putting each brand's Item 5 fee, Item 6 ongoing fees and the high end of the Item 7 investment side by side, then checking Item 20 for closures and transfers. The guide to franchise costs explains each line, and the 8-step selection process shows the order of due diligence.
Frequently asked questions
What franchises can you open for from $250,000 to $500,000?
Across 767 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $336,000 and the median starting franchise fee is $39,950. The lowest starting investment in this group is ConDecor Superstore at $250,100.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $85,000. Franchisors set their own capital requirements, and lenders usually finance part of the total investment.
Are these figures guaranteed?
No. The figures come from franchise disclosure data and public listings and change with every annual FDD. Confirm fees in Items 5 and 6 and the investment in Item 7 of each brand's current FDD.
Other investment levels
- Franchises Under $50,000
- Franchises Under $100,000
- Franchises from $100,000 to $250,000
- Franchises over $500,000
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Brand names belong to their owners; listing does not imply endorsement. Not an offer to sell a franchise.