When you first think of franchise opportunities, the big names probably come to mind: McDonald’s, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and 7-Eleven among others. Though these franchises can be great investments and quite lucrative, there are actually thousands of other franchising opportunities available in the U.S.
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Ultimately, profitability is more important than name recognition, and depending on your own analysis and preferences you might be better served by choosing a franchise that is less well known but has great upside. This list includes 20 of the more unique franchise opportunities growing across the country.
Kona Ice
Min Investment: $20,000
Kona Ice is a very profitable flavored ice franchise that is known for its rainbow colored ice cream trucks. Franchisees love the low startup costs, corporate support, focus on community involvement and the idea of being mobile. Not having to own your own building or property eliminates high overhead costs that can cripple profitability, and your Kona Ice business can adapt to changes in your area.
Fitness Revolution
Min Investment: $12,509
Fitness Revolution is on the cutting edge of health and fitness because of its built-in education program that utilizes the cooperative knowledge of its franchise owners who must be certified fitness professionals. Their franchisees work together to pool their various technical, management and coaching skills to contribute to the most robust knowledge resource library in the fitness industry.
Unishippers
Min Investment: $75,000
If you’re interested in the logistics industry, a $100 billion industry in America, Unishippers offers the chance to be your own boss, manage your own hours and work at home. Each member of the executive team at Unishippers is also a franchise owner, so they have a unique perspective and commitment that most franchise organizations don’t have. Today, there are more than 290 successful franchises in business nationwide.
Securis
Min Investment: $150,000
When you become part of a Securis IT asset destruction franchise, you have immediate access to a business model that has been developed, market-tested and continually refined over the years. As a new franchise owner, you leverage our complete lists of approved equipment and suppliers, plus fully documented standards, specifications and procedures for operations and management control. You will also benefit from all the training and assistance that the Securis team of well-rounded, support-minded experts provides.
Kono Pizza
Min Investment: $75,000
Kono Pizza is one of the more unique franchise opportunities serving a personal pizza that is wrapped in a cone and can be eaten on the go, was first established in Edison, N.J. in 2013 by David Ragosa and Carlo Ruggiero. What started as a traditional brick-and-mortar pizza place has since evolved into a franchise that includes three new prototype models — a kiosk, mobile cart and in-line store — which gives franchisees an added level of variety and flexibility.
Weed Man
Min Investment: $60,000
A nationwide lawn care franchise, Weed Man provides exceptional weed removal, pest control and fertilizer services. Weed Man serves over 500,000 lawn care customers in North America, thanks in part to the superior marketing systems we’ve developed for our franchisees over the years. As a Weed Man franchisee, you’ll enjoy exclusive rights to the territory or territories you purchase. And your franchisor is never more than a phone call away, and is always ready to provide you with expert consultation as your company takes off.
AvantaClean Systems
Min Investment: $75,000
The AdvantaClean Systems franchise model serves a new and emerging market—Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Light Environmental Services, including mold removal, air duct and dryer vent cleaning, water damage cleanup and HVAC coil restoration. AdvantaClean’s proven business model provides you with a roadmap to launch your business in each of these four service lines. It also helps you transition your business toward a healthy mix of both residential and commercial business over time.
Home Instead Senior Care
Min Investment: $45,000
With the over-65 population projected to double by 2030 in America alone, more and more families around the world are in need of in-home senior care. Home Instead Senior Care is fulfilling that crucial need community by community, with one of the industry-leading senior care franchise networks worldwide. All aspects of the business are devoted to its mission of helping seniors. With Home Instead, you’ll be affiliated with the leading provider of in-home, non-medical senior care worldwide and the most respected name in the industry.
Wild Birds Unlimited
Min Investment: $30,000
Wild Birds Unlimited is a successful franchise of stores that cater to bird lovers that specializes in bird feeders and bird seed. A common theme among our franchisees is their interest and love of birds and nature. As a franchise owner, you and your staff will serve the community by providing the best local advice on how to enjoy the hobby, which differentiates you from big-box stores and other competitors.
Sotheby’s International Realty
Min Investment: $51,500
As experts in the world’s most luxurious real estate, Sotheby’s International Realty has a worldwide presence, with more than 12,000 sales associates located in approximately 600 offices in more than 45 countries and territories worldwide. Sotheby’s International Realty franchisees benefit immensely from partnership with an association with a venerable, 250-year-old reputation worldwide. The Sotheby’s company supports its affiliate partners with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources.
Husse
Min Investment: $25,000
Founded in Sweden in 1987, Husse sells and markets a wide range of premium quality dog and cat food, cat litter and various accessories around the whole world. Husse delivers the products with Husse cars directly to customers’ doors with no extra charge. From the moment its franchising system was introduced, Husse has been growing approximately by 25 percent every year, adding new markets and consistently winning new market shares of the fast growing global pet food market.
Precision Concrete Cutting
Min Investment: $75,000
Precision Concrete Cutting provides high-quality sidewalk repair and management to city governments as well as homeowners and business owners across the country. Getting started doesn’t take breaking the bank. PCC’s low overhead cost model means less money out of your pocket. PCC Corporate provides everything needed to get you started, including equipment, training and marketing materials.
SuperGreen Solutions
Min Investment: $50,000
SuperGreen Solutions is a leader in the growing industry devoted to energy efficiency and home solar systems. SuperGreen is different because we look at energy creation and energy saving from a holistic point of view, to provide our clients with total solutions. As one of only a few companies having international training, experience and accreditation, the SuperGreen Solutions team is well educated to deliver the best advice and supply the latest products.
UFC Gym
Min Investment: $250,000
According to IBISWorld, revenue for the gym, health and fitness clubs generated $27 billion in sales in 2014, with a 2.3 percent annual growth rate from 2009 to 2014. The UFC GYM franchise leverages its branding to help franchisees tap into this market. UFC Gym is already the largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts network in the world, with more than 100 locations in the United States and Australia. Its turnkey and semi-absentee operation allows franchisees to quickly open and operate multiple locations.
Cruise Planners
Min Investment: $10,495
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network. As a Cruise Planners travel franchise owner, you have the flexibility to run your own travel agency business from anywhere. Cruise Planners provides you with access to award-winning, innovative marketing; cutting-edge mobile technology; dynamic, hands-on training; lead-generating tools, as well as professional coaching and development.
Visiting Angels
Min Investment: $40,000
Visiting Angels provides in-home care to seniors and others who need assistance with daily tasks or need to be checked on and monitored. Visiting Angels has established more than 500 franchised senior home care agencies across the U.S. No other franchised home care company in America has achieved stronger branding of its name and services. Visiting Angels has serviced hundreds of thousands of clients nationwide since its inception in 1998.
Polaroid Fotobar
Min Investment: $135,000
Founded in 2012, Polaroid Fotobar is the first-of-its-kind, fun and unique franchise opportunity that is changing the paradigm of how people “liberate” their photos and turn them into innovative and memorable products. Each location offers the ability to instantly print pictures utilizing the exclusive Polaroid Classic Border Logo picture format in five different sizes. In addition, customers can turn their favorite photos into an extensive selection of custom and unique photo products from a variety of materials including canvas, acrylic, metal, glass, bamboo and more.
The Original SoupMan
Min Investment: $61,000
The Original Soupman phenomenon started back in 1984, way before the classic punchline on Seinfeld, “No Soup for You!” The soup at Al’s legendary NYC store was soup worth waiting for, even in sub-zero winters. The innovative recipes, miraculously fresh ingredients and spices from Al‘s secret sources showed jaded New Yorker’s a whole new side of soup. The Original Soupman’s small-batch soups are still made with the craft and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines perfectionism and creates legends.
Junkluggers
Min Investment: $25,000
Since 2004, Junkluggers has been offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional junk removal for homes and businesses, saving millions of tons of junk from the landfill each year by donating usable items to local charities and recycling centers. No prior junk hauling experience is needed to join the Junkluggers family – its existing franchisees come from varied backgrounds ranging from finance to non-profits to politics. Junkluggers has an extensive training program that will prepare you to generate revenue and have an immediate positive impact on your community.
Pinot’s Palette
Min Investment: $80,000
Pinot’s Palette is another one of the more fun new, unique franchise opportunities that provides communal painting lessons and sells great domestic wines. Pinot’s Palette was developed during challenging economic times and has proven its ability to thrive. It has built a brand and business model that is scalable and replicable in multiple and diverse markets throughout the U.S. With technology being a key influencer in today’s customer decision making, Pinot’s Palette® has rolled out the most advanced management system in the industry.
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