2026 Guide•131 franchises analyzed
Under $100K opens more doors than you'd think, but it also attracts more questionable franchisors. Here's how to separate real opportunities from expensive mistakes.
Best Low Cost Franchises in 2026
Under $100K opens more doors than you'd think, but it also attracts more questionable franchisors. Here's how to separate real opportunities from expensive mistakes.
The $50-100K investment range includes legitimate franchises in cleaning, home services, mobile businesses, senior care, and specialty retail. It also includes "franchises" that are barely more than a license to use a name.
We filtered for franchises with total Item 7 investment under $100K, then applied quality filters: at least 50 operating units, 3+ years franchising history, and reasonable franchisee retention. What's left are 131 franchises worth considering.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 131 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
131
low cost franchises analyzed
$41K - $63K
avg. investment
$28K
avg. franchise fee
$318K
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Low cost franchises
This page shows franchises with total investment under $100K per Item 7, ranked by number of locations, reported revenue, and franchisee retention. We filtered for franchises with 50+ operating units and 3+ years of history to focus on established systems rather than new or unproven concepts.
Top Low cost franchises at a Glance
Ranked by Number of Locations
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAZZERCISE | $2K - $3K | $1K | 5,251 | - |
| CRUISE PLANNERS | $2K - $21K | $11K | 2,655 | - |
| CruiseOne | $13K - $21K | $11K | 2,175 | $446K |
| LIBERTY TAX SERVICE | $50K - $71K | $25K | 1,686 | $152K |
| PACKAGEHUB BUSINESS CENTERS | $6K - $13K | N/A | 1,156 | - |
| SIGN GYPSIES | $4K - $5K | $1K | 587 | - |
| REAL PRODUCERS | $2K - $13K | $735 | 540 | - |
| Frontier Adjusters | $22K - $30K | $15K | 527 | $56K |
| CARD MY YARD | $10K - $19K | $9K | 505 | $20K |
| AMERICAN POOLPLAYER'S ASSOCIATION INC | $22K - $31K | $10K | 334 | - |
10 Best Low cost franchises Ranked
Growing
Investment
$2K - $3K
Franchise Fee
$1K
Locations
5,251
Royalty
20.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$2K - $21K
Franchise Fee
$11K
Locations
2,655
Royalty
3.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$13K - $21K
Franchise Fee
$11K
Locations
2,175
Avg. Revenue
$446K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$50K - $71K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
1,686
Avg. Revenue
$152K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$6K - $13K
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
1,156
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$4K - $5K
Franchise Fee
$1K
Locations
587
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$2K - $13K
Franchise Fee
$735
Locations
540
Royalty
15.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$22K - $30K
Franchise Fee
$15K
Locations
527
Avg. Revenue
$56K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$10K - $19K
Franchise Fee
$9K
Locations
505
Avg. Revenue
$20K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$22K - $31K
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
334
Royalty
20.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Profit Low cost franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Investment
$23K - $51K
Franchise Fee
$13K
Locations
18
Est. Profit
$870K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$78K - $100K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
0
Net Profit
$538K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$41K - $65K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
0
Net Profit
$324K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$67K - $98K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
146
Est. Profit
$224K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$80K - $84K
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
51
Est. Profit
$163K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Revenue Low cost franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Investment
$78K - $100K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
0
Avg. Revenue
$3.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$41K - $65K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
0
Avg. Revenue
$1.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$81K - $93K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
6
Avg. Revenue
$1.0M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$33K - $58K
Franchise Fee
$27K
Locations
147
Avg. Revenue
$700K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$37K - $67K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
67
Avg. Revenue
$691K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Low cost franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
Growing
Investment
$13K - $21K
Franchise Fee
$11K
Locations
2,175
Avg. Revenue
$446K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$2K - $13K
Franchise Fee
$735
Locations
540
Royalty
15.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$2K - $3K
Franchise Fee
$1K
Locations
5,251
Royalty
20.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$17K - $76K
Franchise Fee
$5K
Locations
168
Royalty
15.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$6K - $13K
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
1,156
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable Low cost franchises
Ranked by minimum initial investment from Item 7 of their FDD filings.
Sorted by Minimum Investment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRUISE PLANNERS | $2K - $21K | $11K | 2,655 | - |
| JAZZERCISE | $2K - $3K | $1K | 5,251 | - |
| REAL PRODUCERS | $2K - $13K | $735 | 540 | - |
| TRAVEL LEADERS | $2K - $18K | $3K | 188 | - |
| FIT4MOM | $3K - $29K | $7K | 211 | - |
Who Should Consider Low cost franchises?
The $50-100K range suits career changers with savings who want more structure than sub-$50K options but can't access $300K+ concepts. Home services, senior care, and specialty retail dominate this tier. Most require owner-operator involvement, at least initially.
Frequently Asked Questions About Low cost franchises
How much does it cost to open a low-cost franchise?
The average initial investment for low cost franchises ranges from $41K to $63K, based on our analysis of 131 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $28K. The most affordable option is CRUISE PLANNERS, starting at just $2K.
What is the most profitable low-cost franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, Satellite Teams reports the highest average unit revenue at $3.5M. Other high-performing low cost franchises include Whole Property Management (Unit) ($1.1M), WORLD OPTIONS ($1.0M), ACTIKARE IN-HOME CARE SERVICES ($700K). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest low-cost franchise by number of locations?
JAZZERCISE is the largest with 5,251 locations nationwide. Other major low cost franchises include CRUISE PLANNERS (2,655 locations), CruiseOne (2,175 locations), LIBERTY TAX SERVICE (1,686 locations), PACKAGEHUB BUSINESS CENTERS (1,156 locations). Combined, the top 5 low cost franchises operate over 12,923 locations.
What is the cheapest low-cost franchise to open?
The most affordable low cost franchises by initial investment are: CRUISE PLANNERS ($2K - $21K), JAZZERCISE ($2K - $3K), REAL PRODUCERS ($2K - $13K), TRAVEL LEADERS ($2K - $18K), FIT4MOM ($3K - $29K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a low-cost franchise opportunity?
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Key sections include: Item 5 (fees), Item 7 (initial investment), Item 19 (financial performance, if disclosed), and Item 20 (outlet information including terminations and closures). Our database extracts this data from official FDDs to help you compare low cost franchises objectively.
Want to explore more low cost franchises?
Browse all low cost franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
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