Across the U.S., the economic landscape is improving after a rough downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the number of franchise locations is expected to increase by 15,000, bringing the total number of franchise establishments to 805,000. Additionally, this will bring in around 254,000 new jobs.
If you’re looking for a retail franchise of your own, there are many different types available across a wide variety of industries. As with any investment, starting a franchise comes with its own unique risks and rewards. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best industries for franchise opportunities below.
Pet Wants Retail Franchise
Pets are becoming more like family members in American households. In 2022, pet parents spent $136.8 billion on their furry family members. This number is expected to increase to $143.6 billion in 2023.
Pet Wants offers premium pet food that is manufactured with whole ingredients and no by-products. This food is then delivered directly to the customers.
One of the best things about a retail franchise with Pet Wants is that you can start out as a mobile delivery model before you expand into a retail location. You will need a minimum startup requirement of $50,000 with a total investment of $131,500- $202,500.
Postal Annex
Postal Annex is one of the most successful retail franchise options for good reason. They have over 30 years of experience in the industry and 300 locations across the U.S. for full-time franchise opportunities.
Postal Annex locations offer convenience for packing, shipping, and business services. Consumers can choose between popular shipping services like USPS, UPS, and FedEx for their shipping needs. Postal Annex even offers services like black and white and color copying, mailbox rentals, faxing, key duplication, notary service, office supplies, greeting cards, and gift items.
To open a Postal Annex franchise, you will need a minimum of $50,000 cash in hand. You will need a total investment between $196,800-$275,950. Third-party lender financing is also available.
Mathnasium
Math isn’t always an easy concept, especially for children. Mathnasium offers custom math curriculums and tutoring in math for students in grades K-12.
The enrollment works much the same as a gym membership. Parents pay an ongoing monthly fee and an upfront registration fee. Students can then attend tutoring in the center or online from the Mathnasium@home portal.
A Mathnasium franchise requires a minimum cash on hand of $50,000 with a total investment of $112,750- $149,110. You’ll also have access to a Field Support Specialist and a Franchise Business Consultant while you launch your franchise business. If you’re a veteran who is interested in opening a Mathnasium retail franchise, you can receive 25% off of the normal franchise fee.
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts is a turnkey retail franchise with big potential. The global Custom T-Shirt Printing Market grew to a worth of $7.21 billion in 2023. Custom t-shirts and other items are in high demand, so it is one of the best industries for franchising.
With $50,000 minimum cash on hand and a total investment between $182,984-$253,041, you can leap into ownership with Big Frog Custom T-Shirts. Big Frog also requires a net worth of $300,000. For veterans looking to jump on a Big Frog franchise, you will receive a 20% discount off the initial franchise fee.
Big Frog works with B2C and B2B markets so you have even more opportunities to expand.
Planta RX®
The legalization of weed in the U.S. has made it possible for dispensaries to be owned and operated as retail franchise opportunities as well. In 2023, legal weed sales are expected to exceed $35 billion. By the year 2030, these sales are expected to surpass $70 billion in revenue.
With Planta RX, you can run a plant-based medicine wellness clinic including hemp, cannabis, and CBD. With an on-site doctor to issue medical marijuana cards and a customer-centric approach, a Planta RX franchise is ideal in a society that is turning more towards an approach to natural medicine.
Planta RX® CBD and More is available for franchising in almost every state, except for CA, WA, IL, MN, MD, and NY. You will need a minimum cash on hand of $75,000 with a total investment of $120,100.
The Exercise Coach
Investing in a retail franchise like The Exercise Coach puts you in an often underutilized area. The Exercise Coach specializes in fitness specifically for seniors 50 years of age and over. This unique business model offers a way for seniors to stay fit that doesn’t require the hassle or the discomfort of a traditional gym setting.
To become a franchisee of The Exercise Coach, you will need a minimum of $50,000 with a total investment between $80,000-$300,000. You are also required to have a net worth of $200,000. For veterans, you can receive a 10% discount on your franchise fee.
Franchise opportunities are not available in AL, GA, HI, ID, IN, MD, MN, NE, NY, ND, OH, OK, MI, RI, SD, VA, and WA.
Mobility Plus
With increasing elderly populations as a result of the Baby Boomer generation comes a need to meet the demands of having mobility and accessibility aids. There is also a shift toward making further accommodations for the disabled community.
A Mobility Plus retail franchise allows you to serve the needs of the disabled and elderly communities and help them maintain their independence. A minimum of $50,000 cash on hand is required with a total investment between $149,700-$168,000.
You can find Mobility Plus retail franchise opportunities in many areas across the U.S. The exceptions are AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, HI, IL, MD, MN, MT, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, and WA.
Lapels Dry Cleaning
Dry Cleaning has always been a profitable industry. It was even mentioned in the TV show The Jeffersons as a successful business venture. You can start a dry cleaning franchise with Lapels for as little as $40,000 cash on hand with third-party lender financing.
Lapels Dry Cleaning offers several different investment and retail franchise opportunities at different price levels. For example, you can invest in the Pick Up and Delivery option with no store involved for $40,050-$68,200 or open a Satellite location which involves a brick-and-mortar store with a delivery aspect for $91,502-$206,212.
If you want to go even further, there are plant on-premises ($391,031- $710,122) and full-scale laundromat ($320,884-$592,210) franchise opportunities also available. You can even convert your current dry-cleaning operation to Lapels.
PayMore Electronics
PayMore Electronics gives consumers a place to safely buy, sell, and trade their electronic devices. PayMore follows a “Cash for Electronics” pawn shop business model.
Customers can sell their new, used, broken, and outdated electronics and smartphones for cash. Offering a place to repurpose electronics, can have a better impact on the environment since outdated electronic devices don’t go directly into a landfill.
To become a PayMore Electronics retail franchisee, you will need $35,000 minimum cash in hand with a total investment of $105,000-$158,000. Third-party lenders are available to help with financing. If you’re looking to convert your current business into a PayMore retail franchise, the cost will run between $35,000-$65,000.
Techy
In the modern technological era, you’ll hardly see anyone without some kind of smartphone or screen. But when these items break or malfunction, having electronic repair stores can be a blessing for smartphone users. It’s also a smart investment to make in a lucrative retail franchise.
Techy repairs electronic devices and sells certified pre-owned devices. They also sell accessories as well as smart home equipment and installs.
With a Techy retail franchise, you can take your pick of different packages that allow you to build your ideal store. Every store package includes location buildout, setup, fixtures, furniture, starter signage, and merchandise. A Techy van wrap is available for $55,000 for mobile repairs, advertising, and smart home installs.
You will need a minimum of $100,000 in liquid assets to start with a total investment between $55,000 to $250,000 depending on your package.
Big O Tires
The name Big O Tires alone is a name that is synonymous with trust and experience from over 60 years in the industry. It’s also one of the most successful franchise opportunities. Big O Tires ranked #91 on the Franchise 500 list for 2022.
To become a franchisee of Big O Tires, you will be required to have a $300,000 net worth along with a minimum cash on hand of $100,000. Your total investment starts at $311,000. The $35,000 franchise fee is waived for all First Responders.
A New Franchise Orientation guides you through the process. You’ll also have access to a state-of-the-art website, fleet program relationship opportunities, and award-winning multi-channel marketing.
Hounds Town USA
Hounds Town USA manages different aspects of doggy daycare and boarding such as confidence building, separation anxiety, obedience, and other behavioral issues. They believe in providing a fully interactive doggy daycare model that helps simulate the pack mentality for dogs.
A retail franchise with Hounds Town USA requires a net worth of $200,000 with $75,000 minimum cash on hand with third-party financing. Hounds Town USA also has a much lower initial investment than other doggy daycare and dog boarding business models at just $127,300 versus others at $500,000 or more.
Hounds Town has full-time multi and single-franchise opportunities available everywhere except SD, ND, RI, and HI.
Great Clips®
Great Clips® has over 35 years of experience in the salon industry. All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by franchisees with more than 4,400 salons across the U.S. and Canada. With a Great Clips® retail franchise, many salon owners go on to open 5-6 additional salons within 5 years after their initial opening.
If you want to open a Great Clips® salon of your own, you’ll need a minimum of $75,000 cash on hand and a net worth of $300,000 to $500,000. Your total investment will run between $183,400 and $394,400. Great Clips® also has a longstanding relationship with the top lenders who have helped finance thousands of locations all across the U.S.
Closet and Storage Concepts
A driving focus on organization and customization within American homes means that custom closet setups and storage options are in demand. Closet and Storage Concepts helps customers create the innovative space-saving organization and storage solutions they need.
They specialize in areas such as:
- Murphy Bed designs
- mudrooms
- home offices
- laundry rooms
- pantries
- garages
A franchise with Closet and Storage Concepts requires a minimum cash on hand of $85,000 and a net worth of $100,000. There is also a franchise fee of $19,500. You can expect a total investment of $95,800 which makes it an ideal franchising opportunity for many mid-range investors.
Closet and Storage Concepts offers full and part-time single and multi-unit franchise opportunities across the U.S. and Canada.
Meineke
Meineke is a name that earns the trust and respect of car owners while commanding an impressive 70% in brand awareness. Meineke has over 700 locations across the country. It was founded in 1972 before becoming a franchise-based business model in 1975.
Meineke Auto Centers pride themselves on being a one-stop, technology-focused, high-quality center for car owners. A Multi-Shop Operator Incentive Program gives license fee discounts, royalty rebates, and other advantages to business owners with more than one shop.
A Meineke retail franchise requires a minimum cash on hand of $100,000 with a total investment between $162,274 to $528,688. Third-party lenders are available to help with financing. There are full-time Meineke franchising opportunities available nationally within the U.S.
Créatif Art Studio
Créatif Art Studio is the first art studio to integrate technology and art together. Unlike some art studios that focus on child-only or adult-only business models, Créatif focuses on children and adults experiencing art together.
Créatif provides multiple revenue streams from painting workshops to DIY paint parties and more. For a retail franchise with Créatif Art Studio, you will need a minimum cash on hand of $100,000 with a total investment ranging between $183,667 to $307,311.
Third-party lenders are available to help with financing. Full-time franchise opportunities are offered in every state except for HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, VA, WA, and WI.
Find Even More Franchise Opportunities at America’s Best Franchises Today
A retail franchise can be a fantastic investment opportunity, as well as a successful business model. It is important to first weigh the risks and rewards involved before you make your final decision. You also need to make sure that you’re choosing the best franchise for your needs.
America’s Best Franchises has hundreds of available franchise opportunities. We can help you narrow down your search to find the perfect franchise. Search by investment amount, popularity, industry, and state.
If you’re ready to get into a franchise of your own, explore our franchise directory to find the right one for you.
