Cyber Week Sale! 50% Off All Access

5 Affordable Franchises You Can Start for Less Than $10,000 You don't need to be rich to start your own business.

By Matthew McCreary

relif | Getty Images

Everyone says that starting a business is expensive and risky, but it doesn't have to be. One approach, which some consider safer, is owning a franchise. It has a proven business model, a built-in brand and corporate support. And not every franchise will cost you millions. In fact, you can start some franchises for less than five figures -- and not just random, bargain-bin franchises. These companies made it onto Entrepreneur's 2019 Franchise 500 list.

Check out this list of five franchises you can start in your area for less than $10,000.

Dream Vacations

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 101

Initial investment: $3,245 to $21,850

New units in 2019: 212 units (+18.9 percent)

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dream Vacations deals in travel packages such as hotels, tours, travel protection and more. The company was founded in 1991 and started franchising the following year.

Related: Here Are 5 Restaurant Franchises Perfect for the Beach Season

Buildingstars International

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 199

Initial investment: $2,245 to $53,200

New units in 2019: 148 units (+20.1 percent)

Buildingstars, a commercial cleaning company founded in 1994, is headquartered in St. Louis. The company began franchising in 2000 and now has regional offices in Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, New York and more. Services include carpet and floor care, as well as green cleaning and consulting.

Cruise Planners

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 60

Initial investment: $2,295 to $23,367

New units in 2019: 6 units (+0.2 percent)

Cruise Planners is a network of remote travel agents who sell packages such as cruises, travel insurance, car rentals and more. The company is based in Coral Springs, Fla., and it offers in-house financing to cover the franchise fee.

Related: 5 Low-Cost Franchises You Can Start for as Little as $4,000

Town Money Saver

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 490

Initial investment: $5,700 to $17,000

New units in 2019: 3 units (+6.1 percent)

Town Money Saver is a monthly direct-mail advertising flyer distributed to homes and businesses. The company was founded in 1992 and began franchising in 2005.

Jazzercise Inc.

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 94

Initial investment: $2,405 to $17,155

New units in 2019: -147 units (-1.6 percent)

Founded in 1969 and franchising since 1982, Jazzercise Inc. pairs dance moves with aerobic exercise in its trademark total-body conditioning program. The company is based in Carlsbad, Calif., but franchises exist in more than 31 countries.

Related: 5 Tech Franchises You Can Start Now for as Little as $25,000

Matthew McCreary

Entrepreneur Staff

Associate Editor, Contributed Content

Matthew McCreary is the associate editor for contributed content at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

You Have 1 Month Left to Prepare for These 5 AI-Powered Marketing Changes — Act Now Before It's Too Late.

Big changes in 2025 will redefine marketing as AI evolves rapidly, offering growth opportunities but also risks. Learn how to stay ahead in this week's video, covering new search platforms and avoiding over-automation.

Side Hustle

'I Just Hustled': She Earned More Than $300,000 Wrapping Gifts Last Year — and It All Started With a Side Hustle

When Michelle Hensley lost her husband to cancer, she needed to figure out how to earn an income for her family.

Growing a Business

This Breakthrough Technology is Poised to Accelerate Your Company's Growth

Discover a breakthrough technology stacked on top of generative AI, now poised to revolutionize businesses across nearly every sector. Unlock unprecedented growth and profitability potential, achieving levels once thought unattainable.

Leadership

How to Master the Art of Delegation — Lessons From Andrew Carnegie's Legacy

Here's what Andrew Carnegie can teach today's entrepreneurs about leadership, teamwork and effective delegation.

Business News

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says 'You'll Be Surprised' By How Google Search Changes Next Year

AI has already changed the look of search, but Google's CEO says there are more changes to come.