5 Affordable Franchises For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Owning your own business has long been a big part of the American dream. To be free of that time clock, work on your own terms and within your own schedule – what more could anyone wish for in regards to a career?

One way to potentially make that dream come true is through buying a franchise. While often thought of as being too expensive for the average person, there are actually quite a few franchises out there that are both affordable and profitable.

Some require a very minimal investment, while others offer different purchasing tiers with both higher and lower prices. There are also franchises that operate as a “turnkey” business, where you purchase the business name and do not have to pay any royalties or be restricted by contracts. If you’re looking to cash in on that American dream, check out some of these franchise opportunities.

Dream Vacations

If you love travel and want to share that love with the rest of the world, consider becoming a cruise and vacation travel planner. A Dream Vacations franchise sets you up to run your own home travel business where you will sell travel packages, arrange shore excursions, and set up tours and hotels.

Their starting investment is as low as $495, depending on the tier of franchise you purchase. In addition to training and education, they provide ongoing marketing support such as social media and website development. They also offer special discounts for veterans, with discounts on both the franchising fees and training.

Space Walk Inflatables

Everybody wants to be the life of the party, and you will be as an owner of Space Walk Inflatables! These cool bouncy slides and houses are always popular for birthdays and other events. The company provides the inflatables for you to rent out, along with training and education.

They also have great perks like a computer program for reservations, marketing promos and bookkeeping assistance. You will need a vehicle that has towing capacities and a trailer to haul the inflatables. Initial minimal investment is just $5,000.

Lil’ Angels Photography

If you love taking photos of those special moments with friends and family, your own photography studio franchise might be the way to go. Consistently making the top 500 franchises list by Entrepreneur magazine, Lil’ Angels has a low cash investment of $10,000 and plenty of perks for owners.

They provide professional photography equipment and laptops with the latest in pro software packages, as well as training and ongoing education, all with the goal of setting you up for success. Franchise owners can work in schools, sporting events, festivals or family parties, making it a profitable and convenient business.

Wag’n Tails Mobile Pet Grooming

The pet industry is booming and with Wag’n Tails Mobile Pet Grooming, you can be part of it. Offering what they call a turnkey program as opposed to a traditional franchise, they do not require a 10-year contract or royalty fees, nor do they have territory restrictions.

Costs start at just $10,000 and include education and marketing training, personalized branding and access to grooming schools where, for an additional fee, you can train as a professional groomer. They also offer the opportunity to purchase their mobile pet grooming vehicles at a reasonable price.

Hot Beverage Company

Vending machines can be one of the easiest low-maintenance businesses to own, and coffee is one of the fastest-growing industries out there. Combine the two with a machine from the Hot Beverage Company.

They offer commercial grade coffee vending machines with a turnkey business package and machine placement service. Training and ongoing support is provided, with no royalty fees. Initial investment starts at $14,000.