Low-cost franchises
The cheapest franchises are usually services you can run from a van or from home: cleaning, repairs, tutoring, mobile care. There is no rent, which removes the largest fixed cost. It does not mean the start is free — a vehicle, tools, insurance, training and several months without paying yourself all count.
The phrase “no entry fee” usually means the fee moved somewhere else: into compulsory material purchases, a monthly platform charge, or a royalty taken from the first invoice. So each profile here asks what you actually pay in the first months, and who finds the work — the network or you.
31 in this category
A Spanish chain of affordable „equivalent“ perfumes and home fragrances — own scents inspired by familiar profiles at a fraction of the price, filled right in the store.
A Bulgarian network of coding academies for kids and teens — a ready-made curriculum and management platform, where the franchisee doesn't need to code.
An Italian chain of toasteries — gourmet grilled toasties as fast food, built on simple operations with a small team.
A Portuguese network of professional home and business cleaning — trained teams, standardized procedures, and a unified brand.
Mobile science and STEM experiences for kids — an instructor brings the experiments to the school, kindergarten, camp, or party, with no physical premises.
A network of smart fridges and unmanned micromarkets with AI and RFID — food and drinks to grab right where people spend their day.
A concept of hand-decorated gourmet donuts and specialty coffee — colorful, Instagrammable treats finished right in front of the customer.
Frequently asked
?Are there franchises with no franchise fee?
Yes, but the fee almost always reappears elsewhere: in a compulsory starter package, a monthly system charge, or a royalty on every invoice. Add up a full first year rather than the entry line alone, and only then compare networks.
?Which franchise can I start alongside a full-time job?
Service franchises with evening and weekend demand are the easiest to run in parallel: cleaning, repairs, tutoring, mobile care. The constraint is time, not money — once bookings arrive you cannot do both, and the decision usually comes sooner than people expect.
?Is a cheap franchise just self-employment with a logo?
Often, yes. You still do the work yourself, only following someone else's manual. It earns its keep when the network genuinely brings you jobs or real know-how. If you have to find every client yourself, you are mostly paying for the brand.