Franchises under $50,000: low-cost franchise opportunities
Short answer: Across 437 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $31,300 and the median starting franchise fee is $15,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Mood Media at $0.
This list includes franchises whose total initial investment starts below $50,000, 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 $31,300, a median starting franchise fee of $15,000 and a median liquid cash requirement of $10,000, calculated from 437 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 437 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 101 to 200.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie's International Real Estate | $35,000 | $17,400 to $44,900 | $5,000 | 36 |
| Chefs for Senior | $9,500 | $17,425 to $27,330 | $5,000 | 92 |
| Advanced Mobile IV | $35,000 to $85,000 | $17,530 to $24,770 | $5,000 | 17 |
| Hi-5 ABA | $50,000 | $17,618 to $109,730 | $10,000 | 30 |
| Toro Taxes | $5,000 to $40,000 | $17,835 to $79,150 | $5,000 | 219 |
| Coverall | $15,570 to $40,320 | $17,917 to $64,048 | $5,000 | 5,588 |
| JPAR Real Estate | $6,250 to $27,500 | $17,940 to $235,400 | $15,000 | 69 |
| Top Ten Percent | $12,900 | $17,958 to $26,836 | $5,000 | 8 |
| Kinderdance International | $15,000 to $30,000 | $18,150 to $47,900 | $5,000 | 87 |
| Lifetime Blinds | $500 to $25,000 | $18,250 to $90,000 | $5,000 | 1 |
| Parisi Speed School | $3,500 to $6,000 | $18,250 to $183,500 | $10,000 | 87 |
| Ace Sushi | $6,000 to $15,000 | $18,275 to $119,650 | $10,000 | 535 |
| Ace Sushi Non-Traditional | $6,000 to $15,000 | $18,275 to $127,650 | $10,000 | 106 |
| Sprinkles Cupcakes | $40,000 | $18,378 to $49,648 | $5,000 | 24 |
| Cardio Barre | $15,000 | $18,400 to $51,500 | $5,000 | 16 |
| U Got Stink | $2,000 to $15,000 | $18,400 to $83,515 | $5,000 | 13 |
| 1-800-Flowers.com | $0 to $30,000 | $18,500 to $932,500 | $50,000 | 51 |
| Conroy | $0 to $30,000 | $18,500 to $774,500 | $40,000 | 25 |
| Family Financial Centers | $3,500 to $40,500 | $18,500 to $307,010 | $20,000 | 48 |
| Go painting | $59,500 | $18,525 to $117,470 | $10,000 | 3 |
| Computer Troubleshooters | $10,000 to $20,000 | $19,500 to $45,000 | $5,000 | 111 |
| Macu | $25,000 | $19,680 to $36,300 | $5,000 | 2 |
| Dale Carnegie | $10,000 to $30,000 | $19,700 to $174,500 | $10,000 | N/R |
| STEM for Kids | $12,500 | $19,900 to $48,650 | $5,000 | 84 |
| Leadership Management International | $15,000 | $20,000 to $27,500 | $5,000 | 110 |
| Wienerschnitzel | $3,000 to $15,000 | $20,000 to $156,200 | $10,000 | 325 |
| Eventprep | $0 to $33,500 | $20,250 to $68,800 | $5,000 | 13 |
| Mossy Oak Properties | $5,000 to $15,000 | $20,250 to $72,250 | $5,000 | 83 |
| Vintage Market Days | $10,000 | $20,350 to $39,300 | $5,000 | 34 |
| Cleannet | $15,500 to $69,500 | $20,377 to $85,410 | $5,000 | 1,168 |
| TSS Photography | $7,500 | $20,415 to $74,725 | $5,000 | 179 |
| Able Autism Therapy | $40,000 | $20,684 to $228,815 | $15,000 | 2 |
| New Mom School | $30,000 | $20,684 to $228,815 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Purchase Green | $25,000 to $100,000 | $20,750 to $111,130 | $10,000 | 47 |
| Goin' Postal | $9,950 to $15,000 | $20,950 to $128,500 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Jani-King | $16,250 to $33,000 | $21,177 to $101,758 | $10,000 | 4,992 |
| Benefit Personal Training | $16,000 | $21,200 to $35,400 | $5,000 | 3 |
| Project H3 by Hilton | $100,000 | $21,280 to $133,950 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Touch n Glow | $15,000 to $19,500 | $21,350 to $141,250 | $10,000 | 1 |
| Snowfox | $1,000 to $100,000 | $21,442 to $223,920 | $15,000 | 1,470 |
| Frontier Adjusters | $15,000 | $21,500 to $30,450 | $5,000 | 527 |
| Christmas Decor | $7,900 to $15,900 | $21,550 to $116,250 | $10,000 | 240 |
| Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care | $20,000 to $22,000 | $21,760 to $62,450 | $5,000 | 11 |
| Sticky's | $40,000 | $21,870 to $59,560 | $5,000 | 14 |
| American Poolplayers Association | $10,000 to $14,000 | $22,210 to $30,749 | $5,000 | 339 |
| Brickhouse Cardio Club | $14,900 | $22,450 to $39,350 | $5,000 | N/R |
| Golden Heart Senior Care | $0 to $45,000 | $22,450 to $96,750 | $10,000 | 22 |
| Portraitefx | $9,995 | $22,477 to $43,606 | $5,000 | 43 |
| Happyfeet-Legends International | $15,000 | $22,500 to $29,400 | $5,000 | 95 |
| Mountain Mudd | $5,000 to $10,000 | $22,500 to $266,000 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Laserlab | $55,000 | $22,697 to $170,405 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Wize Computing Academy | $38,500 | $22,750 to $52,500 | $5,000 | 21 |
| Counselor | $7,500 to $15,000 | $22,850 to $105,700 | $10,000 | 11 |
| M14 Hoops | $49,500 | $23,000 to $1,287,000 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Abbey Carpet & Floor | $10,000 | $23,050 to $61,900 | $5,000 | 420 |
| Floors To Go | $10,000 | $23,050 to $61,900 | $5,000 | 150 |
| Pacific Lawn Sprinklers | $12,500 to $45,000 | $23,100 to $92,700 | $10,000 | 78 |
| Fuego Cravings | $35,000 | $23,260 to $43,500 | $5,000 | N/R |
| Brightway Insurance | $10,000 to $25,000 | $23,325 to $136,900 | $10,000 | 341 |
| KidzArt | $14,900 to $19,900 | $23,750 to $37,150 | $5,000 | 13 |
| Grout Doctor | $15,000 to $20,000 | $23,765 to $37,785 | $5,000 | 83 |
| Centro Chiropractic Clinic | $12,500 | $24,250 to $310,150 | $20,000 | 9 |
| Red Rover | $100,000 to $1,625,000 | $24,300 to $27,900 | $5,000 | 5 |
| Cousins Maine Lobster (Food Truck) | $40,000 | $24,340 to $1,216,000 | $65,000 | 73 |
| Los Taxes | $20,000 | $24,515 to $40,400 | $5,000 | 17 |
| Balance Pan-Asian Grille | $35,000 | $24,550 to $196,500 | $15,000 | 5 |
| LivAway Suites | $35,000 | $24,675 to $50,800 | $5,000 | 4 |
| Realean | $19,900 | $24,710 to $40,220 | $5,000 | 1 |
| Hunting Lease Network | $15,000 | $25,000 to $42,500 | $5,000 | 15 |
| Portal Languages | $15,000 | $25,000 to $50,000 | $5,000 | 3 |
| Seronda Senior Services | $17,500 | $25,000 to $33,760 | $5,000 | N/R |
| Rezzil | $10,000 | $25,031 to $39,122 | $5,000 | 2 |
| Top Shot Firearms Simulator | $47,000 | $25,150 to $110,100 | $10,000 | 1 |
| Property Sellwise | $49,500 | $25,200 to $122,500 | $10,000 | 1 |
| Town Planner | $25,000 | $25,250 to $53,600 | $5,000 | 27 |
| Water Wings Swim School | $50,000 | $25,270 to $121,165 | $10,000 | N/R |
| New Remedies | $5,000 to $30,000 | $25,300 to $416,750 | $25,000 | N/R |
| Lifestyle Publications | $30,000 | $25,340 to $1,261,000 | $65,000 | 214 |
| Learning Express | $20,000 to $40,000 | $25,375 to $378,251 | $25,000 | 88 |
| Paws & Remember | $15,000 | $25,500 to $267,200 | $15,000 | 13 |
| NYS Collection | $12,500 to $35,000 | $25,520 to $176,078 | $15,000 | 45 |
| Milkster | $15,000 to $30,000 | $25,650 to $192,000 | $15,000 | 12 |
| U-Swirl | $6,000 to $25,000 | $26,000 to $686,320 | $40,000 | 57 |
| Webby Dance Company | $20,000 | $26,140 to $43,185 | $5,000 | 13 |
| Pronto | $10,000 to $30,000 | $26,600 to $114,750 | $10,000 | 205 |
| Hissho Sushi/Oumi Sushi/Sushi with Gusto | $7,500 | $26,849 to $136,829 | $10,000 | 2,449 |
| The Specific Chiropractic Center | $0 to $25,000 | $27,000 to $258,000 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Keystone Insurers Services Group | $5,000 to $20,000 | $27,250 to $99,200 | $10,000 | 302 |
| SCA | $10,000 to $50,000 | $27,300 to $79,950 | $10,000 | 88 |
| Chester's | $3,500 | $27,500 to $301,500 | $20,000 | 993 |
| Coast Hotels | $0 | $27,500 to $556,000 | $30,000 | 9 |
| 10-4 TOW | $2,500 | $27,800 to $120,050 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Fujisan | $3,750 | $28,183 to $104,055 | $10,000 | 742 |
| Perfect Skating | $20,000 to $120,000 | $28,183 to $109,055 | $10,000 | 1 |
| Ledgers | $15,000 to $35,000 | $28,200 to $89,700 | $10,000 | 2 |
| Codeadvantage | $12,500 to $25,000 | $28,280 to $73,200 | $10,000 | 2 |
| Destination Athlete | $20,000 to $50,000 | $28,300 to $93,610 | $10,000 | 260 |
| Richard's Painting | $39,950 | $28,350 to $96,200 | $10,000 | 22 |
| Schakolad Chocolate | $18,000 to $30,000 | $28,600 to $144,000 | $10,000 | N/R |
| A.C.E. Janitorial | $15,500 | $28,745 to $91,795 | $10,000 | N/R |
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 under $50,000?
Across 437 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $31,300 and the median starting franchise fee is $15,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Mood Media at $0.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $10,000. 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 $100,000
- Franchises from $100,000 to $250,000
- Franchises from $250,000 to $500,000
- 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.