FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

RANKED · STRONG & STEADY ONLY · 135 BRANDS

Best franchises under $500K

Only brands we rate Strong or Steady appear — from a current FDD (no more than two years old), with enough history to judge, and a loan record that doesn't cap the rating. Strong first. Verdicts are our opinion from the filed record, not investment advice.

The full disclosed Item 7 investment range is below this budget. These are filing estimates, not a quote for your location.

  1. $50K–$134K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +64% · 2026 FDD

  2. 2. C12Strong

    $38K–$68K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +14% · 2026 FDD

  3. $80K–$84K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +53% · 2026 FDD

  4. $64K–$123K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +49% · 2026 FDD

  5. $263K–$386K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +7% · 2026 FDD

  6. $76K–$123K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +32% · 2026 FDD

  7. $112K–$287K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +74% · 2026 FDD

  8. $90K–$146K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +17% · 2026 FDD

  9. $122K–$438K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +77% · 2026 FDD

  10. $76K–$94K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +253% · 2026 FDD

  11. $115K–$229K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +16% · 2026 FDD

  12. $42K–$91K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +17% · 2026 FDD

  13. $63K–$109K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +28% · 2026 FDD

  14. $134K–$279K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +29% · 2026 FDD

  15. $328K–$424K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +27% · 2026 FDD

  16. $188K–$459K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +13% · 2026 FDD

  17. $169K–$378K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +32% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old

  18. $4K–$26K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +146% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old

  19. $98K–$181K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +35% · 2026 FDD

  20. $133K–$277K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +50% · 2026 FDD

  21. $70K–$264K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +38% · 2026 FDD

  22. $185K–$265K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +135% · 2026 FDD

  23. $80K–$164K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +25% · 2026 FDD

  24. $128K–$377K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +11% · 2026 FDD

  25. $143K–$287K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +22% · 2026 FDD

  26. $148K–$239K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +8% · 2026 FDD

  27. $94K–$311K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +21% · 2026 FDD

  28. $179K–$388K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +53% · 2026 FDD

  29. $22K–$31K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +9% · 2026 FDD

  30. $183K–$318K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +11% · 2026 FDD

  31. $65K–$136K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +24% · 2026 FDD

  32. $135K–$393K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +3% · 2026 FDD

  33. $78K–$147K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +117% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old

  34. $119K–$244K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +38% · 2026 FDD

  35. $143K–$287K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +10% · 2026 FDD

  36. $26K–$106K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +30% · 2026 FDD

  37. $83K–$342K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +5% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old

  38. $143K–$305K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +25% · 2026 FDD

  39. $114K–$413K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +9% · 2026 FDD

  40. $143K–$194K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +22% · 2026 FDD

  41. $97K–$122K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +30% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old

  42. $123K–$176K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +158% · 2026 FDD

  43. $121K–$175K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +15% · 2026 FDD

  44. $2K–$109K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +174% · 2026 FDD

  45. $209K–$391K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +23% · 2026 FDD

  46. $167K–$384K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +10% · 2026 FDD

  47. 47. WSISteady

    $76K–$107K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +3% · 2026 FDD

  48. $58K–$74K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +18% · 2026 FDD

  49. $121K–$360K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +4% · 2026 FDD

  50. $121K–$236K to open · Filed FDD

    Net units: +27% · 2026 FDD

Showing 50 of 135
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A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing the numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

Don Drummond, CPA — Virginia #43775 · what I charge

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Best franchises under $500K — ranked by verdict · Franchise Watch Desk