Franchises Under $100K: Explore Your Options

You don’t need to drain your 401(k) or cut back on your lifestyle to launch a business. We’ve got a lineup of the best franchises under $100K, plus tips on choosing the right one for you based on return on investment (ROI) and demand.

Franchising enables you to launch a business with a recognized brand and established operational guidelines. Some franchises, such as a rental car location or a large fitness center, require an initial investment of more than $1 million. But there are many budget-friendly opportunities featuring low overhead costs and the potential for high returns.

Advantages of a Low-Cost Franchise

While some low-cost franchises may provide less support and offer less growth potential than pricier ones, there are advantages to opting for a franchise that doesn’t break the bank.

• Lower financial risk: A smaller initial investment means less capital at risk.

• Flexibility: Many lower-cost franchises are home-based or mobile, offering more flexible work hours and lower overhead costs.

• Easier entry: With less upfront capital, these franchises are often easier to launch, especially for first-time business owners.

What Franchises are Under $100K?

Franchises under $100K span various industries, including service-based sectors, food and beverage, health and fitness, and home improvement. Here are seven options that made Entrepreneur magazine’s list of Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000:

1. Kumon: The increase in the focus on STEM (science, education, engineering, and mathematics) learning is boosting demand for tutoring services, according to Technavio. The global tutoring market size jumped 8.86% in 2023 and is forecast to reach $55.47 billion by 2027. Kumon focuses on helping children hone their math and reading abilities while developing critical, self-directed learning skills. Although tutoring can be lucrative, you’ll need to invest in a brick-and-mortar location and business may be seasonal, peaking during the school year.
2. The Junkluggers: Americans are running out of space in their homes. Around 11% of households have a self-storage unit, the New York Times reports. Junkluggers founder Josh Cohen started his business using his mother’s SUV and operated out of a small storage closet in his father's office. Today Junkluggers has approximately 139 locations.
3. Griswold Home Care: Our population is aging and 95% of seniors want to remain in their homes, according to a survey by U.S. News & World Report. Griswold Home Care provides a wide range of senior services, including personal care, light housekeeping, hospice support, and more. The home care industry is highly regulated and finding reliable staff can be challenging.
4. Weed Man: A lawncare business that generates recurring revenue and is a specialized service many homeowners need. Weed Man is an easy-to-start mobile franchise. Bear in mind that your schedule will be at the mercy of the weather and the lawn care industry can be competitive year-round.
5. Five Star Painting: A painting business is highly scalable. You can start with a single territory and expand to multiple territories as your business grows. Unlike franchises that sell products, a painting franchise requires minimal inventory, reducing the need for large storage spaces and managing unsold stock.
6. I9 Sports: This franchise is the nation’s largest multi-sport provider focused solely on high-quality, community-based youth sports programs, providing a range of youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics for children ages three and older. Securing volunteer coaches may be challenging and with 245 locations, there may not be a franchise available in your area.
7. Two Maids: A cleaning franchise, like Two Maids, is an ideal business for a first-time entrepreneur and one of the best franchises under $100K. Two Maids’ business model relies on a pay-for-performance structure that appeals to consumers and helps you retain high-quality employees. A home cleaning franchise operates during weekdays, freeing up evenings and weekends for franchisees’ free time.

Own a Franchise Under $100K in the Cleaning Industry

A rise in the number of dual-income households is prompting people to turn to home cleaners to alleviate stress and give them time to relax. Residential cleaning is expected to generate $18.8 billion in 2024.

Two Maids offers a variety of customized home cleaning services. You don’t need experience owning a business to be successful as a Two Maids franchisee. We provide the training, technology, and tools you need to get started. And our ongoing support is top-notch. You’ll have a dedicated field representative who visits your store regularly and we provide monthly key performance indicator reports to measure your performance so you can make profitable decisions. Our regional meetings, bimonthly conference calls, and annual conferences ensure your business stays on track.

“The onboarding process is seamless. I had a point of contact every step of the way to answer any questions I had,” said Stephanie Mattos, a Two Maids franchisee in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The initial investment for a Two Maids location ranges from $93,440 to $149,890. We offer $32,000 of in-house financing to qualified candidates, bringing startup costs to as low as $61,440.

On top of low initial startup costs, a Two Maids franchisee can be a venture with high profit potential. Average gross revenues for our top 16 territories open two years or more was $1,170,154 in 2023. Even our lowest 16 territories earned an average of $243,692 in gross revenues. *

Get Started with Two Maids Today

Request information to learn more about opening a Two Maids cleaning franchise. Our franchise team can answer your questions and provide you with more information about our business model. We want to talk!

* See Franchise Disclosure Document for details.