Rankings · Lowest investment · FDD 2024

Cheapest Franchises to Open

The 50 franchises with the lowest total initial investment (FDD Item 7) - the franchise fee, equipment, inventory and startup costs combined, lowest first.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher. · Updated August 2026

$0
Lowest (Century 21): 27
Under $50K: 50
Brands ranked

Not investment advice: This ranks franchises strictly by minimum initial investment (FDD Item 7) - the cheapest to open, not the best return or the safest bet. Pair it with each brand's Item 19 revenue disclosure and Item 20 termination history, and consult a franchise attorney or accountant before investing.

The list in one line

The lowest-cost franchises start at $0 - 27 of the 50 cheapest open for under $50,000, almost all home-based, mobile or service models with no storefront build-out.

$0
Cheapest: Century 21: 27
Brands under $50K to open: $76K
Highest entry in this top 50

Century 21

$0
Coldwell Banker

$0
Sotheby's International Realty

$0
ERA Real Estate

$0
Cruise Planners

$2
Music Together

$3
Jan-Pro

$4
Anago Cleaning Systems

$10
NextHome

$10
Jani-King

$11
Coverall

$14
Bricks 4 Kidz

$25

What this shows Century 21 is the lowest-cost entry at $0.

#	Franchise	Min. investment	Max	Franchise fee	Royalty
1	Century 21Real Estate	$0	$25K	-	6%
2	Coldwell BankerReal Estate	$0	$300K	-	6%
3	Sotheby's International RealtyReal Estate	$0	$300K	-	6%
4	ERA Real EstateReal Estate	$0	$100K	-	6%
5	Cruise Plannerstravel-hospitality	$2K	$23K	$11K	3%
6	Music TogetherEducation	$3K	$20K	$3K	10%
7	Jan-ProHome Services	$4K	$52K	$3K	-
8	Anago Cleaning SystemsHome Services	$10K	$90K	$5K	10%
9	NextHomeReal Estate	$10K	$20K	$5K	3%
10	Jani-KingHome Services	$11K	$440K	$9K	10%
11	CoverallHome Services	$14K	$60K	-	-
12	Bricks 4 KidzEducation	$25K	$75K	$25K	7%
13	Sit Means Sit Dog TrainingPet Services	$26K	$110K	$30K	8%
14	OpenWorksHome Services	$30K	$200K	$10K	-
15	ACFN Franchised IncFinancial Services	$30K	$50K	$10K	-
16	H&R BlockBusiness Services	$32K	$139K	$3K	30.5%
17	Soccer ShotsEducation	$35K	$66K	$28K	8%
18	Dale Carnegie TrainingBusiness Services	$36K	$148K	-	-
19	CurvesHealth & Fitness	$37K	$77K	-	5%
20	RE/MAXReal Estate	$37K	$224K	$18K	-
21	7-ElevenRetail	$37K	$1.64M	$0	-
22	i9 SportsEducation	$39K	$67K	$30K	7.5%
23	HallmarkRetail	$40K	$200K	-	-
24	Succentrix Business AdvisorsBusiness Services	$41K	$104K	$45K	11%
25	Jackson HewittBusiness Services	$47K	$96K	$15K	-
26	HomeVestorsReal Estate	$47K	$452K	$70K	-
27	Cold Stone CreameryFood & Beverage	$50K	$467K	$42K	6%
28	U.S. LawnsHome Services	$50K	$100K	$35K	4%
29	Eye Level Learning CentersEducation	$50K	$100K	$15K	6%
30	Money MailerBusiness Services	$50K	$100K	-	-
31	Fetch! Pet CarePet Services	$50K	$126K	$20K	7%
32	GNCRetail	$55K	$300K	$40K	6%
33	Chem-DryHome Services	$56K	$158K	$24K	-
34	ActionCOACHBusiness Services	$56K	$139K	$45K	-
35	Liberty Tax ServiceBusiness Services	$58K	$92K	$40K	14%
36	Griswold Home CareSenior Care	$59K	$160K	$40K	3%
37	Nerds On Calltech-it	$60K	$120K	$30K	6%
38	Tutor DoctorEducation	$65K	$120K	$51K	8%
39	Senior HelpersSenior Care	$67K	$145K	$50K	5%
40	Weed ManHome Services	$68K	$245K	$20K	8%
41	Assisting HandsSenior Care	$68K	$150K	$50K	5%
42	Sylvan LearningEducation	$71K	$176K	$47K	8.33%
43	Sparkle WashHome Services	$72K	$198K	$25K	3%
44	The Grounds GuysHome Services	$73K	$220K	$40K	6%
45	911 RestorationHome Services	$74K	$219K	$50K	5.5%
46	Minuteman PressRetail	$74K	$231K	$48K	6%
47	KumonEducation	$74K	$154K	$1K	5.14%
48	Rainbow InternationalHome Services	$75K	$210K	$38K	7%
49	Bark BustersPet Services	$75K	$120K	$30K	10%
50	Office PrideHome Services	$76K	$148K	$38K	9%

According to Franchise Disclosure Documents published under the FTC's Franchise Rule (FDD year 2024), the 50 lowest-investment franchises range from $2,095 to over $1,000,000 in total initial investment (FDD Item 7). See our methodology for how these figures are compiled.

Important: Investment figures represent the low end of the total initial investment range disclosed in FDD Item 7. Actual costs vary by location, market conditions, and individual circumstances. Always consult the full FDD and an independent advisor before investing.

Source: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), published under the FTC's Franchise Rule Data reflects most recent available FDD year for each franchise

What the Lowest-Investment Rankings Reveal

The lowest-investment franchises ranked here sit at the bottom of the FDD Item 7 disclosure spectrum, typically home-based, mobile, or kiosk-format brands where the franchisor minimizes required real estate, build-out, and equipment. Many systems on this list start under $50,000 in total initial investment, but that figure should be read against franchisee earnings (Item 19) and unit closures (Item 20) before drawing any conclusion about ROI. Low capital requirements do not equate to low risk, always pair the investment range with sustained-unit growth, the royalty rate, and the franchisor's own disclosed financial performance representations. Note that the Item 7 range generally excludes ongoing working-capital needs beyond the first three months of operation.

PlainFranchise currently publishes an editorial comparison registry. This release does not yet link every displayed figure to its underlying FDD and retrieval date, so do not treat a registry value as a verified source record. Verify a material figure in the brand's current FDD before relying on it. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Publisher	PlainFranchise
Sources	Public state franchise disclosure registries and FDD filings

What the Lowest-Investment Rankings Reveal

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