Starting your own business can be extremely intimidating…
Which is why the thought of investing in a franchise can be so appealing.
But the downside to investing your money into a proven franchise model, is that most franchise fees and net worth requirements are far beyond what the average aspiring entrepreneur can afford!
I'm Ippei, a master of all things online business, passive income, and local lead generation...
And in this article, I’m going to break down 13 of the best franchise models that you can get started with for an initial investment of only $10,000 or less.
I’ve spent countless hours doing some serious digging and investigation, and in my opinion…
These are your most viable affordable franchise options that are available in 2021.
Are they actually worth it?
That is for you to decide…
But we’ll let the research and numbers speak for themselves.
So let’s dive right in!
Franchises You Can Start For 10K or Less in 2021
Want to Start a Franchise, but Short on Cash? You Can Start a Franchise for 10K or Less!
Investing in the proven business model of a franchise can be a great way to step into entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever wanted to start a franchise, but were held back because of finances… This is a list of 13 franchise opportunities that you can start for $10,000 or less!
Thirteen 10K Franchise Opportunities
1. Chick-Fil-A
According to Chick-Fil-A themselves, franchisees need to bring passion, grit and unceasing determination to build their businesses in the communities where they live and work.
It’s no secret that becoming a Chick-Fil-A franchisee is extremely difficult!
Some have even stated that from a statistical perspective…
It would be easier to get into Stanford University at a 4.8% acceptance rate than to become a Chick-fil-A franchisee!
But there is a reason why this giant of fast food has a shocking 0.13% acceptance rate for franchise applications.
They strive for excellence in all they do…
While still making it financially attainable for new franchisees to join the Chick-Fil-A family.
There are very few fast food restaurant franchise opportunities that can be done for only $10,000.
But there is a catch.
In return for such low startup costs, Chick-Fil-A will get 15% of your sales, and 50% of your net profit.
And in addition to these fees, potential franchise owners should be aware that:
Despite these steep qualifications and rules surrounding a Chick-fil-A franchise…
An operator can still expect to bring home 5-7% of revenue, which equates to around $150-$250K per year.
Just remember that this salary will be in exchange for working at least 60 hours a week, hands-on, in-store.
If you make it past the initial online application, you will be required to submit extensive information on your previous work experience, leadership, financial health, and geographical preferences.
Then you will move on to a round of virtual and in-person interviews…
As well as submitting essays and proof of your work and investment in your local community.
But if you are not accepted as a franchisee, you will have to wait a minimum of 2 years before re-applying.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who have a holistic commitment to own and operate the business in a hands-on manner and fit the following criteria:
2. Papa John’s
Aware that modern consumers want transparency and authenticity from the companies they support…
Papa John’s prides themselves in having one of the cleanest ingredient labels among top national pizza brands.
Their fresh packed pizza sauces are made fresh and never from a concentrate.
Papa John’s franchise motto is, “Be a part of something better.”
Although the initial franchise fee of only $5,000 falls into the category of franchise opportunities that can be started for less than $10,000…
Bear in mind that there is a much greater financial commitment that is required to fully open a Papa John’s location.
One good thing that Papa John’s Franchisees have going for them is that this is a relatively simple franchise to start when compared to other restaurant franchise options.
This is primarily because they have reasonable net worth requirements of only $250,000 in comparison with competitors like Pizza Hut, who require a minimum net worth of $700,000.
However, despite being a reasonably affordable fast food restaurant franchise option…
The profits for a Papa John’s franchisee are relatively low!
Due to the 5% net sales royalty fee, and the required 8% of profit designated for marketing, combined with narrow profit margins…
Franchise owners can expect to walk away with only around 40-67K per year in personal profit.
Yikes.
Plus, Papa John’s has faced some rough financial years…
And has failed to adequately keep up with the demands of a competitive pizza industry.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who meet the following minimum criteria:
3. Steak ‘N Shake
So it appears that Steak ‘N Shake is taking a page out of Chick-Fil-A’s magic book.
And I don’t blame them.
As of May 2020, Steak ‘N Shake closed an additional 51 stores on top of the ones that had already been permanently shut down prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
So in the face of a looming debt payment and multiple store closures…
It’s no surprise that they would look to the most profitable fast food chain that there is!
Their grand plan?
Using currently closed locations to give new franchisees the opportunity to make something out of nothing…
With an investment of only $10,000.
This is truly an amazing deal, but the real question is whether or not it will be worth it.
Remember, these stores were shut down for a reason…
And Steak ‘N Shake’s track record for the last several years doesn’t exactly point to an upwards spiral of success.
So the question is ultimately whether or not you believe that you have the management potential to take a location that has already failed, reopen it....
And turn the store around for the better.
This is a tall order.
And even if you do pull it off…
Don’t forget that Steak ‘N Shake will be rewarding your 24 hours a day, seven days a week, efforts by taking 50% of your profits.
Now, this is the same with Chick-Fil-A, because everyone has got to make money, remember?
But the difference is that Chick-Fil-A is offering a proven and successful business model…
While Steak ‘N Shake is basically just pawing off their leftovers to anyone with the balls to give it a good ‘ol college try.
(Can you feel my lack of confidence in this franchise opportunity?)
Nonetheless…
Steak ‘N Shake makes the cut for franchises that can be started with only 10K, and there are very few fast food chains out there that you can buy into without well over $100,000 in liquid capital.
So who knows?
Maybe you have what it takes to run with this opportunity and turn it into something great.
If so, sign me up for a chocolate banana shake…
I sure miss those things.
Oh!
One last thing…
They’re expecting you to put all your eggs in their basket here:
No other obligations, jobs, or business ventures allowed.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are a results-oriented self-starter, and fit the following criteria:
4. Jazzercise
Jazzercise might not be a term that you’ve thought about in a hot minute…
But this franchise model has transitioned out of the 80’s and 90’s and is apparently still alive and well today in 2021!
And they are always looking for new instructors.
If you are considering becoming a jazzercise franchisee, then there are essentially two options in front of you:
The associate instructor is the base level, and it is geared towards those who have a passion for teaching, but not the business end of franchising.
But if you want to run your own small business as well as teach these fun hybrid dance and fitness classes…
Then the Owner Instructor route is probably the way to go.
Before you can even apply however…
You have to prove that you’ve got the moves.
Working alongside an instructor, you will spend five weeks preparing your virtual audition routine…
According to the Jazzercise website, once you have passed your audition, you will continue to work with a training specialist via virtual coaching to prepare for teaching your first class.
“Once you complete this training, you will officially be a franchisee and certified Jazzercise instructor.”
The primary complaint amongst jazzercise instructors is that when you account for the unpaid hours required to learn each new routine…
You will hardly make minimum wage.
Depending on your location, you will generally make between $10-20 per jazzercise class.
But you will need to put in many hours of consistent choreography training behind the scenes.
If you are passionate about health and fitness, and enjoy the camaraderie and community that come with teaching jazzercise classes…
Then the financial pay-off might not be your only motivator.
Which is fine.
But be aware that most jazzercise instructors do this as a side hustle or hobby…
And not as their full time job.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are looking to change their own life and the lives of others and fit the following criteria:
5. Momleta
Currently, Momleta has established instructors and classes ranging across 15 different states…
Including California, Floria, Texas, and New York.
They are passionate about seeing mothers become leaders and pioneers of holistic health and fitness within their communities…
And they are adamant that you don’t need to be an established, professional fitness instructor to become one of their “Baby Boot Camp” instructors.
Their programs serve both prenatal and postpartum mothers looking to develop positive habits for themselves and the next generation.
The Momleta franchise business is founded on strong community values, and on tight knit “tribes” of mothers pursuing their health and fitness goals together.
Their “fit for the journey” motto stretches far beyond just physical fitness, and extends to the overall health of mother and baby.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they are also offering virtual classes!
When you sign up to become a Baby Boot Camp Franchise, you also receive a startup kit that includes:
Baby Boot Camp Startup Kit:
Although Momleta does provide a detailed Franchise Disclosure Document for their potential franchisees…
They do not promise any range of profitability, due to the vast geographic and demographic differences from franchise to franchise.
However, they don’t take any royalties from their franchisees, so the more you make, the more money you get to keep!
While Momleta claims that over 90% of their franchise owner operators have no prior professional fitness experience prior to becoming a franchisee…
They do require you to obtain a national fitness certification.
Their recommendation would be to pursue a group exercise or personal trainer certification that you can pursue while you also prepare for your Grand Opening.
Momleta’s suggestions for certifications are: ACE, AFAA, NASM, or ACSM, among others.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners/mothers who are passionate, committed, have a growth mindset, and fit the following criteria:
6. BuildingStars Commercial Cleaning Solutions
Buildingstars Commercial Cleaning Solutions has a uniquely positioned franchise opportunity, as they offer multiple different levels of investment.
They are structured with three different tiers of franchisees, so that they can offer solutions for people with widely different goals.
Whether you just want to earn some extra cash, or run a full fledged cleaning business, Buildingstars has a model that will suit your needs.
Plus, before you sign an official agreement, they will invite you out to visit their office in person and learn about their unique business model, your earnings potential, and the logistics of becoming a Buildingstars franchise owner.
If after your initial visit, you are feeling ready to commit, they still require that you wait 14 days before signing the franchise agreement and making a final decision.
Which is a great interim period to speak with other Buildingstars franchisees, whose contact information will be provided for you.
Their three flexible franchise programs are:
The entry level franchise opportunity at the “Technician” level is all about building trust.
It works well for those who are interested in branching out into starting their own cleaning business, but still desire the security of keeping their current job.
Plus the initial investment is extremely reasonable, and whenever you are ready to move forward, you can continue to work your way up the BuildingStars franchise ladder!
The Onsite Manager is the next level of commitment, and it involves transitioning from the technician stage to becoming a full-time business owner.
This will entail managing much larger accounts, and plus handling your own team of cleaning employees.
You will still need to pitch in and do some of the dirty work yourself when needed, however.
The final level of franchise opportunity with Buildingstars is the Corporate level.
This opportunity is limited to those who have built up considerable expertise in the management of larger tenant office buildings as well as small corporate headquarters.
Ultimately, the goal of the Corporate program is to build wealth, and it is the only large building franchise in the commercial cleaning industry.
Plus, the Corporate program offers the potential for the highest average gross revenue of any cleaning franchise.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who have a stable work history, and fit the following criteria:
If you find yourself struggling to attract new business, check out our course on local lead generation for small businesses here!
7. College Pro Window Cleaning
College Pro Window Cleaning is a business founded by college students, to serve and uplift other college students.
This 40 year old company boasts decades of teaching other young self starters how to turn their summer break into the next great entrepreneur success story.
And they’re doing it by painting houses, and washing windows.
Seriously.
According to one of their past franchisees:
“College Pro has been very life transforming for me. I’ve become a better person, a better man. I’ve transferred my dreams into reality, and I’ve met amazing people.”
Since 1971, College Pro has successfully helped create over 50,000 jobs, by teaching their budding entrepreneurs how to manage a team of trained painters and window cleaners.
When you invest in their business model, you will learn a variety of valuable skills…
Including hiring and training staff, job estimation and quotes, customer service, and financial management.
Their goal is for a summer job to equip college students to go on to even great entrepreneurial aspirations in the future.
And many of their “alumni”, as College Pro calls their prior franchisees, have done exactly that.
The unique training program requires more than just one summer to implement, however.
During Fall and Winter, you will be completing the necessary training that typically occurs over several weekends.
When Spring rolls around, you will enter into more hands on in the field training with your General Manager.
Which will include job estimates, marketing, and establishing contracts with clients for your Summer work load.
Then it’s time to get down to business, hustle, and grind.
Summertime is a busy season, and you will be responsible for getting your crew out there and doing the work.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are passionate about entrepreneurship, have a solid work ethic, and fit the following criteria:
8. Winzer Retail and Supplies
Winzer is the first franchise sales model in the commercial fastener industry.
They supply a wide variety of different wholesale supplies to a variety of businesses in many different industries, including electrical materials, chemicals, abrasives, and business supplies.
Their franchise model allows current business owners, individuals, and salespeople to create a new revenue stream through selling their supplies.
The goal of their business model is to offer their franchisees a simplified business model in which they are responsible for things like order fulfillment and franchisee support.
Which leaves you as a potential franchisee in complete control of how you want to run your business, and even which products you want to offer.
For someone who already has business connections within the industries that Winzer currently supplies to, the opportunity to become a franchisee could be extremely financially lucrative.
And if you are ready to sell and hustle, it can be an extremely affordable business venture for those who are passionate about starting their own business without significant startup capital.
Currently Winzer has over 400 franchisees and representatives across North America…
And they have 4 currently American distribution centers that operate at a 99% order fulfillment rate.
Plus, Winzer supplies products across over 650 product categories!
Making their products applicable to such a wide variety of businesses that you could potentially sell to as a franchisee.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are self starters and fit the following criteria:
9. American Express Cruise Planners
Becoming an advisor for American Express Cruise Planners sounds like many people’s dream job!
Not only do you get to set your own hours, work from virtually anywhere, see the world, and get paid…
But you get to do it all while helping other people realize their dreams of seeing the world as well.
It doesn’t get much better than that for a travel junkie entrepreneur, am I right?
Plus, if you are wanting to join the Cruise Planners family, there is no prior experience required.
The Cruise Planners personalized coaches will walk you through a step by step process on how to establish and build your business and reach clients.
Currently, they are offering a $4,000 dollar discount off of their original franchise fee of $10,995, which I suspect is due to the effects of Covid-19 on the travel industry.
But who knows…
Right now might actually be the perfect time to get started in the travel industry, since people will be itching to book a cruise as soon as things open back up!
Plus, American Express Cruise Planners also offer incentives for veterans/active military personnel, first responders, and current travel agents…
And their flexible business model side-steps the hefty startup expenses of opening a brick and mortar travel agency.
For all levels of the franchise, you will take part in their 6-day STAR University training classes….
Which includes hotel accommodations, all breakfasts, lunches and most dinners, training materials, and transfers to and from the ship inspections held during the training week.
As with most affordable franchise options, what you put in will determine what you get out of the business model.
American Express Cruise Planners franchisees are no different.
There is no guarantee on the income you can make, but they have franchisees that work anywhere from 5 hours a week to 80 hours a week.
Your willingness to hustle and invest your time and energy into building your client base will determine whether this is a side hustle, or even a full time gig.
However, Cruise Planners is an extremely well rated franchise, and has ranked as the number one travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 17 years in a row.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are looking to break into the travel industry, and fit the following criteria:
10. Advisory Capital Broker
Advisory Capital Broker Training is unique in the sense that it doesn't operate as a traditional franchising model.
They don’t take royalties from you, or collect a percentage of your sales.
In fact, you get 100% of your commission off of sales made!
So what’s the catch?
What you put into the training is what you will get out.
Your money is essentially paying for a 3 day training and some additional support…
But the profit potential is completely up to you.
As with many other low cost franchise options…
If you aren’t willing to hustle, $10,000 isn’t going to get you very far.
So one of your biggest responsibilities when investing in the Advisory Capital Broker model is sourcing leads.
They claim that lead generation is covered in multiple different forms and avenues during the training…
But putting it into practice will be entirely up to you.
The good news is that not only is the Advisory Capital training affordable, they also have 100% financing options through paypal.
So if you’re really on a shoestring budget, but you’ve got the drive to turn commercial brokerage into a thriving business for yourself…
The Advisory Capital business model has a very low barrier of entry, and is essentially accessible for almost everyone.
The meat of the Advisory Capital training centers around their simple seven step “lead-to-close workflow”.
This workflow relies on their funding scenario tool that verifies viable leads and matches them with potential funding.
Typically, a potential client will be matched with 1-3 different funding and loan scenarios that might work well for them.
The beauty of this tool is that it streamlines the brokerage process, and allows you to quickly procure potential solutions during networking scenarios.
Which helps you close your deals and get that commission check!
You will typically receive your commission at closing.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who want to run their own business, and fit the following criteria:
11. Credit Repair USA
Credit Repair USA stands out from the crowd by guaranteeing that their affiliate credit repair agents will literally never have to deal with paperwork!
That’s right…
You won’t have to personally file a single dispute letter.
They offer three different revenue streams for their agents through their credit repair, debt elimination, and credit card programs.
And once you have signed up as a new agent and your website is finished…
Credit Repair USA guarantees to provide you with 600 credit repair leads to get you started in the right direction.
Plus they claim to offer the highest payouts of anyone in their industry.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are seeking financial freedom and fit the following criteria:
12. Complete Weddings + Events
“People are our product, and we are here to focus on you.”
Complete Weddings + Events have been around since 1974, and they have been franchising since 1983.
Needless to say, they have decades of wedding and event experience under their belts, and are continually expanding their territory through franchise owners.
If you have always dreamed of being a wedding or event planner, but were intimidated by the idea of going it alone…
Then Complete Weddings might be a great fit for you!
They are driven to see you start a business through their organized franchise development process that maximizes success and minimizes risk.
An added credibility factor for Complete is that they have consistently ranked within the top 500 franchise systems in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Even despite the effects of Covid-19, the wedding industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
What Complete offers is a way to get your foot in the door of this massive industry with a pre-proven system, and a trusted brand.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
This affordable franchise opportunity is geared towards those who are looking to start a sustainable company in their local market, and fit the following criteria:
13. Online Casino Bookie
For those with no qualms with online gambling…
A franchise opportunity with Online Casino Bookie can be extremely affordable to get started in.
One of the most appealing aspects to this franchise business model is that there are no franchise fees or recurring monthly fees involved.
In fact, the only requirements for franchise owners is that they promote the online platform.
Which means that Online Casino Bookie doesn’t even require their franchisees to have computer or tech skills of any kind.
You will need a reasonable amount of sales aptitude and a willingness to hustle if you are going to make any money via this business, however.
According to their website, franchisees of OCB will receive hands-on industry expertise and guidance from their platform.
And if you’re wondering how exactly this whole system works…
Essentially, OCB makes money when you make money.
And you make money when someone loses a month on the site.
Because Online Casino Bookie deals with real money, you will receive up to 35% of net losses from everyone who plays on your site.
Franchise opportunities are based on available zip codes, so you will need to reach out to determine if you are in a viable area.
One thing to keep in mind is that there have been serious questions raised regarding OCB’s licensing and regulations, which are handled through curacao egaming regulators…
Who are considered to be notorious for having one of the worst online gaming regulation reputations in the gambling industry.
Yikes.
I would highly recommend doing your homework before you put all your eggs into the OCB basket.
On the flip side of things, their site supplies an entire page of testimonials from supposed franchisees.
Granted, there are only four of them.
And there is no way to verify their sources…
But do with that what you will.
They offer support for their franchise owners in the following ways:
And they are looking for franchise owners who are willing to promote the platform and fit the following criteria:
Starting a 10K Franchise Can Work, but Lead Gen is Better, Here's Why:
Alright my friends…
Here are the facts:
Starting a franchise can be an amazing opportunity for wannabe entrepreneurs who are hesitant to branch out entirely on their own…
As franchises provide guidance, and a proven business model to follow.
But if you are looking to invest in a franchise for $10,000 or less…
You need to be aware of what you are getting yourself into.
Here in 2021, $10,000 is only going to get you so far in regard to franchising.
Most of the time, if you are looking to invest in a franchise for this small of a sum of money…
You are going to need to look for the catch…
Or simply be prepared to work your booty off to make money.
So if you aren’t prepared to hustle, become your own sales person, and network until you drop…
These 13 franchise opportunities might not be the best use of your hard earned cash.
If this brings your business dreams tumbling down around your ears…
Don't despair just yet!
I’ve been in business for myself since 2014…
And I’ve found incredible success in the realm of online business and entrepreneurship.
In fact, I went from barely paying my bills at my traditional 9-5 job, to making over 50K per month in passive income in only five years!
Why is this relevant for you?
Because the business model that worked for me, can legitimately work for anyone who is willing to learn the skill.
I’m talking about online lead generation.
While I’ve dabbled in everything from drop shipping to affiliate marketing…
I’ve made the big bucks from leveraging the localization abilities of Google, and strategic SEO to supply a steady stream of new leads to small businesses.
And local lead gen is a skill anyone can learn, including you.
So if you want to start a business that will allow you to work from anywhere, will result in sustainable passive income, AND helps other small businesses to grow…
Then check out more information about how we can help you get started with lead generation here.
