Franchises over $500,000: franchise opportunities by investment
Short answer: Across 756 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $989,000 and the median starting franchise fee is $45,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill at $501,000.
This list includes franchises whose total initial investment starts at $500,000 or more, 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 $989,000, a median starting franchise fee of $45,000 and a median liquid cash requirement of $280,000, calculated from 756 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 756 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 501 to 600.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmer's | $40,000 | $1,520,750 to $4,672,125 | $460,000 | 20 |
| Planet Fitness | $0 to $20,000 | $1,525,000 to $5,221,500 | $490,000 | 2,568 |
| Wahlburgers | $50,000 | $1,530,000 to $2,785,000 | $370,000 | 25 |
| Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders | $35,000 | $1,540,100 to $2,995,500 | $380,000 | 71 |
| Piggly Wiggly | $0 | $1,541,000 to $5,164,000 | $490,000 | 93 |
| Tierra Encantada | $48,000 to $60,000 | $1,541,675 to $3,658,354 | $415,000 | 13 |
| Black Bear Diner | $24,000 to $55,000 | $1,546,200 to $2,349,000 | $350,000 | 162 |
| Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar | $60,000 | $1,554,500 to $7,016,300 | $585,000 | 75 |
| Arwa | $35,000 | $1,556,400 to $3,833,400 | $425,000 | 3 |
| Ruby Tuesday | $35,000 | $1,559,650 to $3,877,400 | $430,000 | N/R |
| Giordano's | $40,000 | $1,565,000 to $2,056,000 | $340,000 | 60 |
| CD ONE PRICE CLEANERS | $30,000 | $1,575,800 to $2,997,650 | $385,000 | 52 |
| California Pizza Kitchen | $50,000 | $1,587,000 to $5,375,000 | $505,000 | 131 |
| True Install | $45,000 | $1,593,300 to $2,173,800 | $350,000 | 3 |
| Jinya Ramen Bar | $40,000 | $1,612,500 to $3,546,000 | $420,000 | 62 |
| Melting Pot | $36,000 to $45,000 | $1,617,128 to $2,740,600 | $380,000 | 89 |
| Denny's | $30,000 | $1,618,374 to $3,056,874 | $395,000 | 1,334 |
| Wings Etc | $25,000 | $1,618,650 to $2,881,100 | $385,000 | 80 |
| Aqua-tots Swim School | $50,000 | $1,619,820 to $2,939,590 | $390,000 | 132 |
| Lyft 24 | $5,000 to $39,000 | $1,624,000 to $3,837,500 | $435,000 | 1 |
| Altitude Trampoline Park | $50,000 | $1,625,000 to $2,957,500 | $390,000 | 80 |
| Goldfish Swim School | $40,000 to $50,000 | $1,663,263 to $3,746,733 | $435,000 | 177 |
| Green Mill | $45,000 | $1,671,700 to $2,493,000 | $375,000 | 16 |
| Sonic Drive-In | $15,000 | $1,676,000 to $3,140,900 | $410,000 | 3,461 |
| Mellow Mushroom | $50,000 | $1,688,000 to $2,906,000 | $400,000 | 165 |
| Zavazone | $50,000 | $1,698,511 to $2,945,608 | $400,000 | 2 |
| Baekjeong | $300,000 | $1,713,000 to $2,147,000 | $365,000 | 7 |
| Jason's Deli | $35,000 | $1,719,655 to $2,529,255 | $385,000 | 237 |
| Heavyweight Waste | $49,500 | $1,728,500 to $4,380,000 | $480,000 | 30 |
| 1 Percent Lists | $15,000 | $1,731,885 to $2,237,682 | $370,000 | 48 |
| Gold's Gym | $40,000 | $1,793,500 to $4,537,000 | $495,000 | 211 |
| The Hot Room | $60,000 | $1,803,500 to $3,303,333 | $435,000 | N/R |
| Chili's | $40,000 to $60,000 | $1,806,195 to $6,515,695 | $595,000 | 1,214 |
| Brothers Est. 1967 Bar & Grill | $50,000 | $1,810,500 to $2,574,500 | $400,000 | N/R |
| Tom's Urban | $50,000 | $1,821,000 to $5,090,500 | $530,000 | 5 |
| Midwest Shooting Center | $40,000 | $1,828,650 to $3,556,600 | $450,000 | 7 |
| The Paterson Center | $15,000 to $37,500 | $1,850,000 to $12,375,000 | $895,000 | 8 |
| Honest | $25,000 | $1,862,000 to $2,689,000 | $415,000 | 40 |
| Rockin' Jump | $60,000 | $1,894,500 to $2,348,000 | $400,000 | 39 |
| Long John Silver's | $35,000 | $1,902,500 to $4,160,000 | $495,000 | 483 |
| Jack In The Box | $50,000 | $1,910,500 to $4,032,100 | $490,000 | 2,188 |
| Dill Dinkers | $50,000 | $1,913,100 to $4,865,700 | $530,000 | 5 |
| Climbzone | $40,000 | $1,914,324 to $3,034,487 | $440,000 | 2 |
| CoCo's Bakery | $50,000 | $1,925,000 to $2,848,000 | $430,000 | 55 |
| Museum Of Illusions | $100,000 | $1,935,500 to $6,552,500 | $620,000 | 20 |
| Prime Car Wash | $50,000 | $1,944,500 to $3,681,000 | $475,000 | 9 |
| Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza | $50,000 | $1,987,250 to $3,696,125 | $485,000 | 60 |
| Fireline Shooting & Training | $35,000 | $2,006,400 to $4,423,200 | $520,000 | 2 |
| Fueled Collective | $30,000 to $125,000 | $2,016,600 to $14,261,150 | $1,015,000 | 6 |
| Retrofitness | $29,000 | $2,037,316 to $3,241,991 | $470,000 | 82 |
| Burger King | $50,000 | $2,064,200 to $4,730,500 | $545,000 | 6,701 |
| Bombshells Restaurant & Bar | $50,000 | $2,094,000 to $4,820,500 | $555,000 | 10 |
| Pizza Ranch | $30,000 | $2,101,500 to $2,962,000 | $465,000 | 218 |
| O'Charley's | $15,000 to $40,000 | $2,104,500 to $3,140,000 | $475,000 | N/R |
| Big Blue Swim School | $50,000 | $2,108,000 to $3,760,500 | $505,000 | 42 |
| Jollibee | $40,000 | $2,131,495 to $4,888,004 | $565,000 | 77 |
| Tony Roma's | $40,000 | $2,138,500 to $3,536,000 | $500,000 | 17 |
| Mr Gatti's Pizza | $50,000 | $2,143,000 to $3,837,097 | $515,000 | 91 |
| Twin Peaks | $50,000 | $2,254,000 to $6,946,000 | $685,000 | 103 |
| GolfTRK | $39,500 to $49,500 | $2,271,550 to $6,130,000 | $645,000 | N/R |
| Blue Martini | $50,000 | $2,295,000 to $4,680,000 | $580,000 | 10 |
| Michelin Retread Shop | $2,500 | $2,315,000 to $12,391,000 | $965,000 | 44 |
| Sky Zone | $75,000 | $2,330,960 to $4,187,960 | $560,000 | 234 |
| Nowlogy | $40,000 | $2,348,750 to $9,182,000 | $810,000 | 4 |
| The StandardX | $95,000 to $145,000 | $2,401,500 to $3,987,000 | $560,000 | N/R |
| Salty Paws Ice Cream Truck | $35,000 | $2,407,290 to $52,176,023 | $2,970,000 | N/R |
| IHOP | $50,000 | $2,441,798 to $4,506,865 | $590,000 | 1,655 |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House | $100,000 | $2,477,000 to $6,380,000 | $690,000 | 135 |
| Big Air Trampoline Park | $50,000 | $2,501,500 to $4,560,000 | $605,000 | 17 |
| Express Oil Change | $50,000 | $2,564,000 to $3,815,000 | $575,000 | 354 |
| Culver's | $20,000 to $55,000 | $2,642,500 to $8,573,000 | $825,000 | 997 |
| DEFY | $60,000 | $2,650,700 to $4,207,600 | $610,000 | 61 |
| Bojangle's Famous Chicken'n Biscuits | $35,000 | $2,650,870 to $3,829,400 | $590,000 | 830 |
| Red Robin | $35,000 | $2,705,000 to $5,785,000 | $695,000 | 498 |
| Fowling Warehouse | $75,313 | $2,712,913 to $5,319,313 | $675,000 | 8 |
| TGI Fridays | $50,000 | $2,721,000 to $4,326,000 | $625,000 | 269 |
| Puddle Pool Services | $49,500 | $2,738,400 to $4,867,900 | $655,000 | 2 |
| Renegade Insurance | $20,000 to $25,000 | $2,752,510 to $4,850,310 | $655,000 | 1 |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | $12,500 to $25,000 | $2,882,845 to $4,883,320 | $675,000 | 1,183 |
| Buona | $40,000 | $2,916,867 to $5,256,675 | $700,000 | 31 |
| 810 Bowling | $50,000 | $2,941,500 to $4,967,000 | $690,000 | 10 |
| DaaBIN Store | $35,000 | $2,953,250 to $58,847,500 | $3,385,000 | 11 |
| Palace Inn | $15,000 to $25,000 | $3,011,200 to $5,291,900 | $715,000 | 45 |
| Spark by Hilton | $75,000 | $3,102,531 to $5,514,193 | $740,000 | 91 |
| Urban Air Adventure Parks | $100,000 | $3,111,409 to $5,791,969 | $755,000 | 197 |
| Travelcenters Of America Express | $80,000 to $130,000 | $3,179,200 to $7,528,700 | $855,000 | 59 |
| Unscripted by Hyatt | $75,000 to $100,000 | $3,195,009 to $3,825,209 | $670,000 | N/R |
| Ultimate Ninjas | $45,000 | $3,309,700 to $4,415,500 | $715,000 | 10 |
| Holiday Stationstores | $25,000 | $3,356,200 to $7,742,500 | $890,000 | 538 |
| BrewDog | $50,000 | $3,363,500 to $5,730,500 | $790,000 | 8 |
| Bee Hive Homes | $75,000 | $3,400,000 to $5,100,000 | $765,000 | 201 |
| Benihana | $40,000 | $3,405,200 to $6,250,000 | $825,000 | 77 |
| Americas Best Value Inn | $17,500 | $3,451,434 to $7,732,081 | $905,000 | 283 |
| Knights Inn | $19,750 | $3,500,799 to $9,623,807 | $1,005,000 | 136 |
| Launch Park | $75,000 | $3,517,213 to $6,501,900 | $855,000 | 26 |
| Signature Inn | $20,000 | $3,528,334 to $6,566,547 | $860,000 | 10 |
| Golden Corral | $50,000 | $3,557,604 to $8,738,837 | $970,000 | 351 |
| Epcon Communities | $75,000 | $3,624,025 to $5,724,967 | $830,000 | 101 |
| Ford's Garage | $50,000 | $3,703,800 to $6,618,000 | $885,000 | 30 |
| LEAFSPRING SCHOOL | $87,500 | $3,738,150 to $6,773,700 | $900,000 | 12 |
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 over $500,000?
Across 756 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $989,000 and the median starting franchise fee is $45,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill at $501,000.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $280,000. 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 from $250,000 to $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.