Franchises Under $10,000

Jazzercise:

If you are outgoing and love to stay in shape then Jazzercise may be the perfect fit if you are looking for a franchise under $10,000. Jazzercise is also a long standing franchise with a proven track record and great brand awareness. Jazzercise offers training at your location and also a 2-3 week home study course.

A Jazzercise franchise can be started for as little as $3,000. They also have co-op advertising support with both national and regional campaigns. To learn more about a Jazzercise franchise visit http://www.jazzercise.com/become_franchise.htm

Stratus Building Solutions:

Stratus offers commercial cleaning franchises to individuals for a very reasonable price. They do require a net worth of at least $10,000 and liquid cash of $5,000. A basic franchise can be started for a total investment of only about $3,500. Stratus also provides financing of nearly everything required to operate a franchise including equipment, franchise fee, startup costs, inventory, and others. More info can be found at http://stratusclean.com/

System4:

System4 commercial cleaning tries to bring more to the table than the average cleaning franchise. Many commercial cleaning franchises stress the fact that they acquire accounts to get you started and leave their responsibilities at that. System4 is trying to re-invent the cleaning franchise. The founders have successful backgrounds in starting franchises.

System4 provides very affordable franchise packages starting with a total investment of only about $6,000. They provide you with accounts to service based on your investment level. System4 also will provide billing and customer support for additional fees. They also provide training at your location and allow absentee ownership which makes this an ideal part time franchise. You can learn more here http://www.system4usa.com/

CruiseOne:

Taking a cruise is still one of the most popular vacations. CruiseOne has been riding this popularity for many years now by providing an affordable franchise which allows owners to work from home if they choose. A CruiseOne franchise can be started for a total investment of just $4,500 for a basic starter package; however, you must have liquid cash of $15,000 on hand. You must also be an owner operator. Training requires an 8 day stay at CruiseOne headquarters. However, as a bonus they do offer seminars at sea as additional training. More info on CruiseOne can be found at http://www.cruiseonefranchise.com/

This is just a small sampling of the franchises under $10,000 out there. As with any business venture make sure to read everything you receive from a franchise thoroughly. Franchises are not permitted to make claims about earning you may expect to make in your franchise. Your success and how much you make is up to how hard you work and the decisions you make in your business. A franchise can greatly increase your chances of success; however, it is not a guarantee for success.

First of all, a Subway franchise is actually a very affordable investment. In fact, if you are thinking of a franchise in the fast food industry it is probably the best option out there in terms of capital outlay to return on investment. An average Subway franchise cost is between $115,000 and $260,000 in the US. The following chart shows a breakdown of the different costs involved in opening a Subway.

As you can see one of the biggest expenses involved in opening a Subway restaurant is the real estate improvements. All other costs are actually very reasonable. They even break down the costs involved into three sections. As you can see it’s probably twice as expensive to open a Subway in a large metro area as opposed to a rural location. On the other hand, your location in the metro area may receive 2 to 3 times the traffic a rural location might get.

If after reading the Subway franchise information you decide that this is an investment for you it should be quite easy to get financing even in today’s tough market. A small business loan to open a Subway can be a lot easier than trying to get financing for an independent startup. Lenders are familiar with the success of Subway and trust the company’s judgment on the viability of a franchise in a specific area. Also, there are a number of loan programs in place to stimulate small business growth. Many traditional banks are willing to make these loans because the SBA is willing to guarantee the loan. Also, Subway itself will finance a large portion of the investment in a new restaurant.

Instead of trying to start a Subway franchise from the ground up, another option is to find a Subway franchise for sale. Just because a franchise is for sale does not mean it is struggling. There are a myriad of reasons why an owner wants to sell including retirement, divorce, or a death in the family. Sometimes it can be a great deal to be able to move right into a functioning Subway and take over.

If you do decide a Subway franchise cost is within your means and you want to move forward with purchasing a franchise it is advisable to speak to your attorney. A franchise disclosure document can often times be thicker than most novels and requires a professional to translate the information within. If you decide to buy a Subway franchise for sale from another owner it is also wise to speak with your accountant to make sure is a wise investment.

Why choose to buy a franchise?

Buying a franchise allows you to borrow a proven method of doing business. Most franchisors have been around for many years and have perfected the art of doing business in their sector. A franchisor will provide you with everything you need to get up and running. These franchises will also allow you to utilize their marketing materials. Most franchises will allow you to use their brand name which is typically more recognized and has more value. They will also share with you what types of marketing work for the industry and what does not. Finally, most franchises have online forums and even regional meetings were you can meet and network with other franchise owners. This can be one of the best resources that you can utilize inside the franchise. Even with the franchise providing you with guidance sometimes you will learn more from other franchisees who are actually out running their own businesses.

Is a franchise right for you?

If you are a free spirit who likes to do things your own way then a franchise may not be the best choice. Almost all franchises have a strict set of guidelines which you must follow in order to utilize their business model. They put these guidelines in place in order to protect their overall brand image. Could you imagine if a McDonald’s franchisee started serving a totally different burger and fries from everyone else? Franchises intend for you to follow their business model if you buy into their system. They will tell you what you can say in your marketing and even possibly where you can advertise.

How much do you have to spend?

Many people start to look for franchise before they even determine how much they can spend. This is a big mistake. You can make your search much easier if you narrow down how much investment you are willing to make. There are a number of cheap franchises which are just as good as the big boys. By determining how much of an investment you are willing to make you can focus your search on industries with the most bang for the buck. For instance, if you would really like to own a fast food restaurant such as a McDonald’s but you only have about $40,000 to invest, you can go ahead and cross that off the list. Most major fast food chains and hotels require net worth in the millions and available cash of $4-$500,000. However, you may be able to open a restaurant such as subway with that type of investment. Also, remember that all of your available cash should not go into a down payment on a franchise. You will need money for other startup costs and marketing to get going.

Are you looking at industries which interest you?

When buying a franchise many people simply focus on franchises that they think will produce the most money. This can be a big mistake when you are looking to buy a franchise. Remember, you should be looking for a business that you either have knowledge or passion about. Many times, an individual starts a franchise which they have no interest in and end up hating it. If there are no franchises in industries which interest you try to find something similar. Before purchasing a franchise talk to current franchisees and ask if it would be possible to shadow them for a day or two to get a feel for the business. This may help to keep you from making the mistake of purchasing a franchise which may not be a good fit.

These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself when you are looking at buying a franchise. Starting any type of business is an important step in anybody’s life. Always make sure to thoroughly research any franchise you are thinking of buying and talk to a competent attorney about the franchise disclosure document in order to know exactly what you are purchasing.

The professional franchising consultant has boundless expertise in terms of assessing the best franchise available in the market today. He or she is also well informed with what is happening in the current trade as well as the trends in the entrepreneurship which would ultimately help you probe your prospective type of franchise you may want to apply.  With a one on one consultation with a trained franchise consultant, he can pinpoint your direct strengths of the specific business franchise in line with the target market and the current financial trends.  He would also let you know of his own apprehensions with regard to choosing some of the options and opportunities in business franchise in a professional way, so as to warn you that choosing a franchisor is not as easy as randomly picking from a long list in a business catalog.  The franchise specialist would be there to help you choose the reputable franchisors, and evade the tricky and mischievous ones that are likely to be scams.

If you want to hire the best franchising specialist, the first thing to do is to ask some of the people who own the most well established franchises near you.  Explore and get tips from them with regards to how they found their franchise consultants.  Although this method of finding franchise specialists would be a tiring one, you are assured of a direct communication for the information that is likely to be guaranteed, if not accurate.  Another method to find business consultants is through browsing the internet but it is highly recommended to be wary of online transactions as there are lots of scams brewing in the internet today.  If you prefer finding the consultants in the internet because it is fast and convenient, get the address and the contact number of the chosen financial and business consultant and schedule a meeting to discuss matters with them personally.

Always remember that the most reputable franchising consultant is the one that is goal oriented and a team player.  The right candidate should also be aware of the great deal of opportunities in franchising.

A great resource to use when looking for a cheap franchise is a franchise consultant. These consultants have the experience and knowledge to help align you with franchise opportunities which are closely related to your resources and goals. These franchise consultants can be contracted for short terms in which you can receive consultation over the phone or through email.

As the scope is mostly based on what line of business are you planning, however, there are still cheap franchise opportunities that have been established countrywide but are still fairly affordable and cheaper than you might expect.  Regardless of any type or form of business franchise, these business ventures and cheap franchises have expanded so well because of the ability of the on-site managers and business owners to provide the utmost business training in the areas of management, financing and professional service to its prospective customers and clients.

Here are 5 franchises in different sectors which might make for the best cheap franchises.

PosiGrip – This business venture is all about safety for businesses against customer slip and falls that may result to injury.  The limited competition is in this line of business makes it an interesting choice in cheap franchises to start with great upside. With about $8000 liquid capital requirement, the franchise package includes national advertising, a complete marketing program, training and support.

Revive Energy Vending – This business franchise deals with distribution of healthy energy mints for all types of consumers including athletes and professionals.  Total investment would cost $12,500 and the business package already includes the necessary marketing materials, vending machines, business plan and a personal coach.

Matco Franchise – this business deals with the distribution of Matco tools and products directly to professional workers, technicians, automotive, truck and aviation facilities.  This business does not require any royalty fee or franchise fee, just a cash investment of $30,000.

Lawn Doctor Franchise – as the name implies, this business venture is all about lawn mowing – a team of professional lawn contractors ready to serve customers with their landscape and mowing skills.  Liquid capital only requires $40,000 and you are assured of top notch training and support as well as financial assistance making this one of the best cheap franchises to open.

Mr. Pita Food Franchise – First established on 1993 and first franchised in 1994, Mr. Pita businesses have been in the entrepreneurial world long before franchising became a world wide business option.  The business offers a fresh and healthy approach to burgers, pizza, salad and hearty soups.  The total investment is between $60,000 and $100,000 with a franchise fee of $25,000.

A Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning franchise can be operated part time. It takes some investment in equipment; however, Chem-Dry offers patented equipment and solutions that will allow you to differentiate your business from the competition. To start, you can clean carpets in the evenings and on weekends and still work a regular job. You could hire an employee to do the cleanings; however, you should have plenty of experience on a truck before training an employee.

Keeping in the home improvement category, Mr. Sandless Wood Floor Refinishing is another franchise that can be operated part time and from home. Mr. Sandless allows you to refinish wood floors with no dust and no odor. One of the reasons many people hesitate to refinish their floors is because of the amount of dust that is generated and scattered throughout the home. Another great benefit of Mr. Sandless is the price. The process costs about half the price of traditional sanding and refinishing; that is a huge selling point.

If you love to plan parties then there is a franchise for you. One Hour Parties is a franchise that provides complete party themes for customers. Clients include corporate parties, children’s parties, and reunions to name just a few. With today’s busy schedules this concept is great for those individuals strapped for time but wanting to throw a complete and thorough party.

With the huge elderly market in this country new franchises are developing to meet new challenges. Caring Transitions is one of those franchises. Like the others this franchise can be operated part time and from home. Caring Transitions handles all aspects of moving and downsizing seniors. They coordinate moves, provide household liquidation, estate sales, and clean out services. Many baby boomers need these services for elderly parents that they no longer live near.

A commercial cleaning business is perfect for someone that wants to work part time in a franchise while still working their regular job. Jan Pro is one of these franchises that allow you to do just that. Cleaning commercial accounts is usually performed overnight and on weekends. This makes this type of franchise a perfect choice for the part timer.

No matter what type of franchise you choose make sure it is an industry you have some interest in. There is nothing worse than purchasing a franchise and ending up hating it. If you do find one that looks promising, try to locate a location near you and offer to work for free for a while to see if it is something you will really enjoy.

Subway is a perennial top vote getter in several categories. This is no different from the cheap franchise list. A Subway franchise is one of the most versatile franchises available. Because of the small space requirements, a subway can be placed in a variety of locations. The best part is that a Subway franchise can be quite inexpensive to open. Prices range from $80,000 to $250,000.

RE/MAX is another franchise that is consistently in the top. With the current conditions of the real estate market, some may be a little cautious about buying a franchise in this industry. However, real estate like anything else moves in cycles. Eventually the real estate market will level back out and stabilize. Much of the price of a RE/MAX franchise will be determined by the location. The size of your office space will be the biggest factor. Franchise prices can range from $40,000 to $200,000.

Jani-King is a cheap franchise in the commercial cleaning business. For many years this has been a popular choice for individuals looking for low-cost franchises. Total investment in a Jani-King franchise can range from $11,000-$35,000. This franchise sets up your initial customer base for you and charges you a fee for the size of the customer base. This is a great franchise opportunity for someone who hates to sell but is a dependable hard worker that wants to own their own business.

With all the problems in our educational system these days, Kumon Math and Reading Centers have become a very popular cheap franchise. Kumon uses their own brand of learning techniques utilizing worksheets and self-paced advancement to build a solid base of learning. A Kumon center can be opened for between $33,000 and $131,000. This franchise requires good reading, math, and communication skills.

Finally, if you’re into exercise and you’re looking for a cheap franchise opportunity, a Jazzercise franchise may be for you. This company has been franchising since the early 1980s. You must be trained and certified before becoming a franchisee. The costs involved in opening a Jazzercise run between $3000 and $75,000.

There are many more low-cost franchises available in a variety of different industries. However, these five have proven, consistent results over many years. Do not let the low-cost investment fool you. These franchises can be very successful for the owners. The success of an individual franchise has more to do with the drive of the owner and not so much the purchase price.

With convoluted tax laws making it nearly impossible to do your own taxes, tax preparation franchises have been gaining steam for the past few years. Franchises such as H&R Block have dominated this market for quite some time. However, there are some newer franchises, such as Instant Tax Services, that are nipping at their heals. Also, Liberty Tax service has many franchises and has been growing very fast. Most of these tax preparation franchises can be opened on average for about $50,000 to $60,000.

Another popular field for cheap franchises is the commercial cleaning industry. Most low cost franchises are in service industries because of the lower overhead. These industries are perfect for someone with limited funds and the cleaning business is a prime example. With little more than some cleaning supplies and minimal equipment you can be on your way to a successful business. Some of the leading franchises in this field include Jani-King, Jan Pro, Service Master, and Stratus Building Solutions. Some of these franchises even actively pursue accounts for you. The drawback with commercial cleaning franchises is the fact that you must work overnight. Often times it is hard to find employees that will work these shifts. The cleaning industry has one of the highest turnover rates of any industry.

Finally, the last popular franchise industry is the cruise line agency. Like the others, these franchises can be started with very little money. Most full service travel agencies have closed over the years because airlines cut the commissions paid to these agents. The cruise line industry has bucked that trend and there are some very successful cruise travel agencies. Cruising has been one of the most popular vacation activities in recent times and should continue well into the future. Cruise One, Cruise Holidays, and Cruise Planners are three of the best low cost cruise franchises.

So there are three industries that should continue to provide a solid franchise business opportunity going into the future. Tax preparation, commercial cleaning, and cruising have proven track records as viable businesses. All three of these industries can provide a rewarding business experience.

Coffee franchises seem to be popping up everywhere. The immense success of Starbucks has fueled this growth. Many people enjoy relaxing with a good book and in a coffee shop. Also, many coffee shops have incorporated food items into their menus. These establishments can be great for lunchtime business meeting because of their quiet surroundings. Some popular coffee franchises include Scooter’s Coffeehouse, the Bear Claw Coffee Company, Mocha Delites, and Mountain Mudd Espresso to name just a few of the lower-cost franchises.

In addition to coffee shops, there are a number of vending and other related food franchises. Some of these include traditional vending services offering things like snacks and soda. However, these franchises can be rather hard to become successes. Most good locations for vending have been taken by big corporate vending businesses. These companies are hard to beat since they have advantages on bulk pricing. In addition to traditional vending, you may also consider food kiosks. Mall locations and street corners still offer great potential for new and fresh ideas. Candy franchises and other impulse buying products can offer great opportunities in the right locations.

Speaking of candy, Candy Bouquet has become a rather popular choice in the food franchise world. Candy Bouquet makes edible arrangements made out of candy to send as gifts. This can be a great alternative to other gifts such as flowers that end up dying within a few days. The candy arrangement offers a gift that looks and tastes great.

Finally, there are traditional cheap food franchises. These include sit down and quick service restaurants. Your definition of cheap franchises may have to be expanded to include these as low cost food franchises. Restaurants are expensive to open and run because of equipment costs and location requirements. You can get around some of these by going non-traditional. These would include things like hot dog stands, snack trucks, and food kiosks. However, there are traditional restaurants that will be significantly cheaper to operate than most. Companies like Subway, Quiznos, and Pizza Inn offer low cost options for franchisees. Much of the cost of a food franchise will be determined by the area you are considering. Rents, taxes, and labor costs will have a huge impact on your overhead costs.

So there are many cheap food franchises available. You may not have the money to purchase a McDonald’s or an A&W Restaurant; however, there are ways to get into the food business with limited funds. It just takes determination and lots of market research to find the perfect fit for you.

One of the main reasons for purchasing a franchise is the fact that the business has already been proven and streamlined. Just because a franchiser charges a low price for their business does not mean you are going to be receiving an inferior plan and process. Many of these low-cost franchises happen to be in fields that do not require a large amount of inventory and other overhead. Typically, overhead is what drives the price of a franchise higher. The brand recognition also has a big impact on the price of a franchise. McDonalds can charge significantly higher prices for their franchises because their brand is so popular. You rarely hear of a McDonalds failing, so in turn their franchises command a premium.

Cheap franchise opportunities are normally found in industries that are service oriented. Small service businesses can often be operated by one person and many times part time. These businesses are ideal for low cost franchises. They can often be tough businesses to break into without proper guidance. These franchises include services such as carpet cleaning, building maintenance, and even real estate. These franchisers can often times provide the training and processes necessary to be successful in these fields.

No matter what where your interests are there is sure to be a cheap franchise that caters to that industry. The most important thing to remember when buying a franchise is to do tons of research before purchasing. A franchise is a big investment; however, many people jump headlong into a business without the proper due diligence and end up losing everything. This can be avoided by studying your market and determine if you have the skills necessary to make the business a success.