Price Is Right

Reasons not to buy a franchise? You could probably drum up a few. But (surprise!) not having enough money shouldn't be one of them. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a millionaire to own a franchise. The beauty of franchising is that it allows the everyday entrepreneur to operate a business that banks on a big name. And to dispel the money myth once and for all, let's just point out that this year you can buy a franchise for as low as $1,000. In fact, name almost any industry, any type of business, and we can probably find a franchise in that category with a price tag of less than $50,000.

But we'll do more than make that promise--our Low-Cost Franchise listing delivers information on more than 350 low-investment opportunities. This listing is not intended to endorse a particular franchise company. Rather, it should provide you with a starting point in your search for the right franchise, a search that also includes a thorough investigation and analysis of a franchise's Uniform Franchise Offering Circular and other literature, visits with existing franchisees, and consultation with an attorney and an accountant.

This article was originally published in the October 2003 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Price Is Right.