If you’re looking for a business opportunity but don’t have a lot of capital, low-cost franchises can be a great way to get started. Importantly, many bizop or business opportunity investments aren’t comparable to traditional franchises. The licensing and benefits you get from investing under $1000 will always be different from what you get for investing $30,000+.
That aside, there are plenty of ways you can buy into an established brand for less than $1000 investment. These top franchises under $1000 represent proven business models and allow you to start business under a brand that people already trust. That can greatly improve your ability to make money over launching with your own idea and no franchise.
The list below gives a quick price comparison of the top cheap franchises under $1000 investment level:
- 1040 TaxBiz – $599-$899
- AMSOIL – $49.95
- Cruises Inc. – $39.99
- Healthy Hands Cooking – $997
- Lime Licensing Group – $500+
- Motiply – $150 per month
- N2 Publishing – Free
- OrdersIn – $149 per month
- Personal Touch – $219-$1799
- SweepSurge – $149 (monthly)
*Note: We used various sources online to get franchise cost data. These are subject to change and are correct as of writing (Jan 2022).
Topics
1. 1040 TaxBiz – $599-$899
1040 TaxBiz is a tax consultancy firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm offers tax consultation as well as franchises. Here, you receive training, a business model, and tax preparation software to get you started making and filing tax returns. 1040 TaxBiz has been registered with the Better Business Bureau since 2010 and has been selling franchises since then.
Here, TaxBiz charges $599 for its base package and $899 for its business plus package. This includes 23 credit hours of training, which exceeds the IRS minimum of 15. You also get IRS PTIN/EFIN registration. In addition, unlike many similarly priced franchises, 1040 TaxBiz is designed around opening a physical store. The franchise includes support finding and registering an office as well as local marketing support.
Finally, in addition to offering personal tax filing services, 1040 TaxBiz offers audit protection, banking solutions, and technical support. You’ll have to purchase your own office equipment and rent your own space. Otherwise, costs are a flat-rate fee from $599.
2. AMSOIL – $49.95
If you already have a space to sell products, work in motor vehicles, or otherwise have a digital space in which AMSOIL fits, the brand is an established and very affordable franchise. You can license the right to sell AMSOIL products for just $49.95. While AMSOIL is not sold in stores, its direct-to-consumer model has kept it in business since 1969.
AMSOIL was also the first brand to meet the American Petroleum Institute’s standards for synthetic motor oils. That’s led to some popularity, especially with wind power and technical sales. In addition, while the brand primarily relies on its network of direct distributors (franchise owners), it also invests in sponsoring motorsports events and rallies.
Eventually, AMSOIL is not a great franchise opportunity for everyone. However, for those with access to a network or existing stores, $39.99 is an inexpensive way to get started selling a very popular brand of motor oil.
3. Cruises Inc. – $39.99
Cruises Inc. Charges a one-time fee of $39.99 to set up franchise agents selling cruises. You can do this as part of an existing travel agency or business or to start an online-only business or consultancy. The fee includes online training and coaching, tools, access to booking tools, and access to software. In addition, you can choose to join Cruise Inc Magazine’s travel agent brand or use its backend with your own brand.
While Cruises Inc is not the largest travel agent brand out there, it’s one of the cheaper franchises you can buy into. And, with full training and licensing, it’s a great way to get started if you want to be a travel agent. However, Cruises Inc only covers one type of travel.
4. Healthy Hands Cooking – $997
Healthy Hands Cooking charges a one-time fee of $997 to offer you everything you need to become a cooking instructor. The full franchise includes online training, certification, and the tools to help you build and market a cooking school.
Healthy Hands Cooking also offers smaller programs which cost less money. However, they do not include the full franchise. However, you can also get their business builder kit for free. This is included with the course and franchise as well – but in a more expanded form.
5. Lime Licensing Group – $500+
If you’re looking for international business opportunities, the Lime Licensing Group is a UK-based franchise consultancy. The organization has access to 600+ franchises and brands and offers consultation to match investors with potential brands and franchises. That’s an ideal way to get into consultancy. However, as a UK based business, it’s not the best-fit for many U.S. based investors.
On the other hand, with fees starting at $500 and scaling up to $30,000+, it offers a wide range of investment opportunities for many.
6. Motiply – $150 per month
Motiply offers a franchise and white label mobile app business for a flat rate fee of $150 per month. While monthly licensing is not traditional for many franchises, it does give you a low-cost way to get started. However, costs never stop so you’ll continue to pay for as long as you want to sell the franchise.
On the other hand, Motiply offers franchise tools, training, marketing leads, an app building platform, and lead generation tools. You also get scripts and presentations, which you can use to market your new business – which can help you to drive sales.
7. N2 Publishing – Free
N2 Publishing has been one of the lowest cost franchises in the U.S. since it launched in 2004. The franchise offers local publishing and print opportunities, with local magazines and newspapers. The idea is that every local franchise can promote and build its own local communities, businesses, and residents – for whatever purpose they want. While N2 previously charged a franchising fee, it’s now free to join.
While this business opportunity has less opportunity for direct turnover and making money than others if you choose to focus on magazines, it’s also free. However, with training and help in selling advertisement and ad space, building social events, and collecting content, N2 has a lot to offer. And, you can charge for and sell magazines and print products. N2 has also made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies 8 times – making it one of the largest opportunities on this list.
8. OrdersIn – $149 per month
OrdersIn works similarly to Motiply in that it charges a monthly fee. It also allows you to build local networks to help support and keep small businesses like restaurants and fast-food running. With OrdersIn, you can offer white label online ordering systems, integrated into brand websites, so they make more money. In addition, without having to rely on large-scale food-delivery websites like Uber Eats or spend time and money developing their own websites and ordering systems, OrdersIn can help local businesses make more money.
Plus, OrdersIn doesn’t specialize in just food. If businesses can take orders or make sales online, you can build a functioning site for them, with a drag and drop system and merchant accounts. However, OrdersIn also scales up pricing based on the number of Merchant Accounts you set up, so pricing starts at $150 per month.
9. Personal Touch – $219-$1799
Personal Touch Products is a business opportunity rather than a traditional franchise, like most franchises under $1000. However, it also offers the full software, setup, and marketing material you need to make and sell personalized and customized gift items and products. That’s ideal whether you’re already selling gifts and products in a mall or a web shop or want to get started with making sales.
In every case, Personal Touch is a franchise that works best if you either have an existing audience, can market a Shopify or similar type of store, or are looking to open a physical store. Personal Touch offers high quality base materials and customization software. The basic software starts at $219.
10. SweepSurge – $149 (monthly)
SweepSurge is another white-label business opportunity rather than a true franchise. However, it does offer the opportunity to market digital marketing tools and support to local businesses. SweepSurge starts at $149 per month – with access to email, SMS, and Instagram marketing tools.
While again, not a true franchise, it is an easy way to get started with a business opportunity with little upfront investment.
Summary
Unfortunately, there aren’t many cheap franchises under 1k. Most brands charge more to allow you to operate under their brand name. However, there are some interesting and good opportunities out there. Many involve direct sales, coaching, and training. Because most also offer sales, you can get started easily and without much investment other than your own time and the franchise fee.
If you are looking for cheap franchises under $1,000, make sure you research your opportunities and be careful. Many are business opportunities rather than true franchises. In addition, there are scams masquerading as franchise opportunities. We’ve done our best to vet the opportunities on this list but you should always do your own research and make sure you know what you’re getting into before you invest.
Good luck with your franchise investment.