RANKED · STRONG & STEADY ONLY · 8 BRANDS
Best real estate franchises that can start 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.
Only the cheapest disclosed format is below this budget — the upper end of the range may be far above it. These are filing estimates, not a quote for your location.
$119K–$244K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +38% · 2026 FDD
$99K–$244K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +7% · 2026 FDD
$102K–$166K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +8% · 2026 FDD
- 4. NEXTHOMESteady
$17K–$242K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -2% · 2026 FDD
- 5. SVNSteady
$36K–$129K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -1% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old
$41K–$55K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -7% · 2026 FDD
$184K–$336K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -7% · 2026 FDD
- 8. RE/MAXSteady
$37K–$337K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -11% · 2026 FDD
| # | Units · latest run | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Keyrenter Property Management $119K–$244K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDProperty management2026 FDD | Strong | +38% | |
| 02 | REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $99K–$244K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDProperty management2026 FDD | Steady | +7% | |
| 03 | Property Management Inc. $102K–$166K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDProperty management2026 FDD | Steady | +8% | |
| 04 | NEXTHOME $17K–$242K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDResidential real estate brokerage2026 FDD | Steady | -2% | |
| 05 | SVN $36K–$129K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCommercial real estate brokerage2024 FDD · 1+ year old | Steady | -1% | |
| 06 | NATIONAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS $41K–$55K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHome & property inspection2026 FDD | Steady | -7% | |
| 07 | Keller Williams Realty Market Center $184K–$336K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDResidential real estate brokerage2026 FDD | Steady | -7% | |
| 08 | RE/MAX $37K–$337K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDResidential real estate brokerage2026 FDD | Steady | -11% |
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.