You don't have to be a millionaire to open one of these franchises. Some require only a $50,000 investment.
Fast-food joints, which once felt like an accessible way to buy into a franchise, can now require millions of dollars in initial investment.
Entrepreneur David Hack is typically drawn to tech ventures, but he decided a few years ago he wanted to build a brick-and-mortar business his family could get involved in. While researching potential options, he found opportunity in a fast-growing trend: pickleball.
In late 2023, he opened Crush Yard in Charleston, S.C., a recreation and event space with pickleball courts and a bar and lounge. The endeavor was successful enough to be franchised in several other states, using abandoned big-box stores to help offset high costs that come with new construction.
Hack wanted to expand the business quickly on a large scale, and franchising proved to be an "opportunity to essentially bring this kind of fun across the country," he told MarketWatch.
But buying into the pickleball franchise isn't cheap: Franchisees invest about $6 million total to build out a 30,000-square foot space, with $95,000 required up front and a 6.5% fee on sales. Hack expects Crush Yard franchisees to recoup their investment in less than four years - a shorter time frame than seen in many major franchises - but many aspiring business owners simply don't have the capital to buy in.
Pickleball gets its largest-ever investment: $225 million. 'It's still a growth sport - it's not just a fad.'
Crush Yard is just one franchise feeling the pressure from high inflation and a sensitive interest-rate environment. Franchise startup costs rose 34% on average between 2019 and 2024, according to market-research firm FRANdata, with some sectors jumping as much as 69%. As a result, fast-food franchises that once felt like an accessible way to get into the restaurant business are now out of reach for many. For example, the total cost of opening a McDonald's $(MCD)$ location ranges from $1.4 million to $2.8 million, while a Taco Bell $(YUM)$ requires an investment of between $1.8 million and $4.3 million, according to Franchise Inspectors, a site that analyzes franchise disclosure documents.
While those numbers are eye-popping, you don't necessarily have to be a millionaire to invest in a franchise. Startup costs, liquidity requirements and total investment vary greatly depending on the brand, sector and assets required to run the franchise.
"There are franchises you could buy into for $10,000, and there are franchises that you can pay $14 million plus," said Edith Wiseman, president of FRANdata. "While maybe someone's dream of owning a Taco Bell might be out of reach for them because that's a multimillion-dollar investment, owning a maid-services franchise is within reach."
Below are five growing franchise sectors that don't require a brick-and-mortar storefront, along with brand examples for each from Franchise Business Review's "Top Low-Cost Franchises" list, which is based on a survey of 35,000 franchisees.
5 franchise models that aren't fast-food joints - and don't require a million-dollar investment
1. Health and wellness
Health and wellness franchise employment is expected to grow 7.9% in 2026, according to FRANdata's 2026 economic outlook. This surge aligns with a broader economic trend, as the healthcare industry has accounted for much of the new job creation in the U.S. over the last two years. Health and wellness franchises include home health aid services, medical and dental products and services, healthcare equipment sales, fitness centers and cosmetic services. Output for the sector - the total value of sales of goods and services - is expected to grow 2.1% to $66.4 billion this year.
-- Franchise: Synergy HomeCare
-- Description: Provides home care services for seniors, including support for conditions such as Alzheimer's and stroke recovery
-- Minimum cash requirement: $50,000
-- Net worth requirement: $150,000
-- Total startup investment: $52,000 to $208,000
2. Commercial and residential services
Commercial and residential services include maintenance, home decor, remodeling and building and construction services. The sector tied with childcare for strongest expected output gains in 2026, with projections showing a 3.2% jump to $143.3 billion in 2026, according to FRANdata.
-- Franchise: Surface Specialist
-- Description: Repairs and refinishes kitchen and bathroom surfaces
-- Minimum cash requirement: $25,000
-- Net worth requirement: $100,000
-- Total startup investment: $43,000 to $56,000
3. Business services
This sector includes services for accounting, taxes, advertising, research, consulting and shipping. FRANdata expects business services employment to grow 1.5% in 2026 after two years of decline, and output to rise 1.6% to $79.9 billion.
-- Franchise: Sandler
-- Description: Provides business-to-business sales and management training
-- Minimum cash requirement: $75,000
-- Net worth requirement: $250,000
-- Total startup investment: $77,500 to $102,000
4. Personal services
Personal services include dry cleaning and laundry services, maid services, movers, pet-related services and travel agencies. Franchise output is expected to grow 1.8% to $21.4 billion in 2026.
-- Franchise: Tip Top K9
-- Description: Dog training
-- Minimum cash requirement: $50,000
-- Net worth requirement: $20,000
-- Total startup investment: $53,000 to $105,000
5. Real-estate franchises
Brokerage services, property inspectors and property-management companies are all examples of real-estate franchises. The sector is expected to grow year over year, but at a more conservative pace than those mentioned above. Projected output is $11.8 billion in 2026, a 0.4% year-over-year increase.
-- Franchise: United Country Real Estate
-- Description: Provides real-estate marketing services
-- Minimum cash requirement: $15,000
-- Net worth requirement: none listed
-- Total startup investment: $11,000 to $50,000
Here's what lenders look for when you apply for a franchise loan
Getting a lender on board early can make or break your plan to own a franchise.
"We like to be involved early, so that once you've signed on with the franchise, we have already had a really good head start," said Maggie Wilson, head of general franchise lending at Live Oak Bank. "Once you sign the franchise agreement, it kicks into gear."
When reviewing an application, Wilson said, lenders prioritize liquidity over net worth. So even if you own a home worth $1 million, banks are more interested in accessible cash, savings or stocks to ensure you can cover payroll, rent and other expenses.
Small Business Administration loans typically require a 10% cash down payment, which can help lower startup costs as compared with 20% down for conventional loans.
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-Genna Contino
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 23, 2026 12:04 ET (16:04 GMT)
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