Starting a business can be an exciting prospect, but it can be a bit tough, especially if you start from scratch with a good idea, but there is no guarantee that your business will survive. One way to get close to a business is to consider a model that has successful driving ability to buy an existing business, and the best way is probably to open up a franchise.
Consider it: Suze Orman: Let this emergency money now "before it's too late"
Find out: $750K plus the distance to retire in every region of the United States
To help, GobankingRates analyzed the top 100 franchises for franchise Direct 2025 to identify the most profitable people based on their track record, startup costs and ongoing expenses. If you are considering buying a franchise, find out which ones are more likely to make you rich.
Classic franchises like Golden Arches are an established business model with many locations across the country where things are done in a standard and consistent way, giving you a template for how to run a successful fast food chain. Here are some key takeaways from one of the most popular franchises that can help you become rich.
Initial franchise fees: $0 to $45,000
Open inventory cost: $14,000 to $39,000
Service fee: 4% of total sales (depending on the situation)
Advertising and promotional fees: 4%
In most cases, you just need to provide startup capital and employees, and you may be able to make money relatively quickly compared to starting a brand new business, but you can also know what to expect when starting a famous franchise like the UPS store. Here are some considerations:
Initial franchise fees: $9,950 to $29,950
Initial training fee: $5,400 to $8,500
Royalties: 5% str (STR includes all total sales as well as total commissions for the center, less allowable exclusions)
Initial marketing plan fee: $4,000 to $7,500
Given the failure rate of new businesses, it is no surprise that many aspiring business owners choose to be franchisees instead of starting their own business. Since pizza is often a family favorite, a recognizable name like Domino may be a reliable business.
Initial franchise fees: $0 to $10,000
Open inventory and supply costs: $2,750 to $6,500
Royalties: 5.5% weekly royalties
Advertising and promotional fees: 4% of your store’s weekly royalties. Non-traditional stores may receive partial credit or reduce their contributions.
Before investing in a franchise, consider the franchise carefully. Because costs vary greatly, you want to make sure you get the most out of your money. In the age of DIY home renovation projects, ACE hardware can be a huge investment in your first small business.
Initial franchising and affiliation fees: $5,000
Open inventory cost: $210,000 to $1 million
Capital Inventory Subscription $5,000
Initial Brand Evaluation and Advertising Fees: $6,000 to $12,000 (regional advertising costs vary)
Comfortable food is a hard dinner plan for everyone to spend a tough day, a week, a month, or even a year. As you increase economic volatility, given their built-in visibility, comforting fast food chains like Popeye can really kill people financially.
Initial franchise fees: $50,000
Open supply cost: $13,000 to $26,000
Royalties or Service Fees: 5% of total sales
Advertising donation fee: 4% to 5.5% of total sales
If you purchase a franchise, you will get the benefit of having an established brand with a verification system. But, as the FTC warns, buying a franchise does not guarantee success, even in high demand industries, such as those that will make you a quick and cheap lunch. But the privilege of being a sandwich manufacturer can bring in a generous passive income.
Initial franchise fees: $18,500
Open inventory cost: $2,698 to $37,850
Continuous royalties or service fees: 6.5% of total revenue from standard franchise agreements
Grand advertising fees: $12,500 ($5,000 for transfer or relocation)
Cameron Huddleston contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: The data is the top 100 series ranking sources for franchise Direct in 2025, and as of April 25, 2025, the data is accurate.
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This article originally appeared in gobankingrates.com: McDonald's and 5 other franchises that may make you rich