Home services franchises under $100K.
Of the 191 home services franchises that publish a full investment range, 43 start under $100,000. Here is every one, side by side, with the part of the price the low number doesn't show.
By ServiceStake Research · Updated October 5, 2026 · 8 min read
About one in five starts under $100K. Few stay there.
43 of 191 start under $100K.
That is 23% of the home services franchises that publish a full range. Only 5 start under $50,000.
Only 7 stay under $100K.
For the rest, the top of the published range is higher. 21 of the 43 reach $150,000 or more at the high end.
The fee is a bigger slice.
In this group the franchise fee is a median 61% of the starting figure, against about 40% for all home services franchises.
Most are service routes, not shops.
Inspection, painting, handyman, lawn care, cleaning and closets lead the list. Many run from a van and a home office.
All 43, from the lowest start.
Each bar runs from the brand's low estimate to its high estimate. The gold line marks $100,000. Tap a name to see the source and the date we checked it.
The low number is where the range starts, not what you'll spend.
Every franchisor publishes a low and a high estimate. The low end assumes the cheapest version of the business: the smallest territory, a used or leased vehicle, no office and the minimum launch spend.
Across these 43 brands the median start is $86,150 and the median top of the range is $148,100. Where you land depends on your market, your territory and the choices you make at the start.
Build your budget from the high end. If that number is out of reach, the brand probably is too.
Whole range under $100K
- LawnValueLawn & Landscape$24K–$83K
- Decorate With LightsOutdoor Lighting$36K–$70K
- TidyTaskCleaning & Maid Service$37K–$68K
- WIN Home InspectionHome Inspection & Testing$41K–$50K
- HomeTeam Inspection ServiceHome Inspection & Testing$65K–$92K
- TruBlueHandyman & Remodeling$73K–$99K
- DDH Home Organizing & Move ManagementMoving & Storage$80K–$99K
What the starting figure includes, and what it doesn't.
The number comes from Item 7 of the franchise disclosure document. U.S. federal rules require it to include the costs to open plus at least three months of “additional funds” to operate (16 CFR 436.5).
Usually inside
- The franchise fee
- Vehicle, wrap, tools and equipment
- Launch marketing the brand requires
- Travel for training
- Three or more months of operating cash
Not inside
- Royalties and marketing-fund fees after that first period (Item 6)
- Your own living costs while the business grows
- Loan payments and interest, if you borrow
- A second truck or more staff when you grow
How buyers usually pay for a lower-cost franchise.
SBA loans need a listed brand.
SBA-backed loans can be used only for franchises on the SBA Franchise Directory. Ask the brand to confirm it’s listed before you apply.
Expect to put in at least 10%.
Under SBA rules in effect since June 1, 2025, a new business generally needs at least a 10% equity injection from the buyer (summary of SOP 50 10 8).
Keep cash outside the budget.
Lenders look at what you have left after the deal. Living costs for the first months come from you, not from the initial investment.
Already in the trades? Price a dealer program.
If you have a crew, a dealer program adds a product line, usually with no franchise fee. ServiceStake lists 34. Dealer program vs. franchise.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Lenders decide each loan on its own merits.
Eight questions for any franchise under $100K.
Is the vehicle in the number?
Whether the van or truck is bought, leased or yours, and whether the wrap is extra.
How many months of cash is that?
Item 7 must cover at least three months of “additional funds.” Ask how many this brand assumed.
What's the royalty, and is there a minimum?
A flat monthly minimum costs the most in your first year, when revenue is lowest.
Is there a required launch spend?
Many brands require a set grand-opening budget. Check whether it's inside the range.
How big is my territory?
A lower price can mean a smaller area. Ask how many households or ZIP codes you get.
Can I run it from home?
No office or warehouse is often how these models keep the starting figure down.
Who does the work?
Some are built for an owner-operator, others for a manager with a crew from day one. That changes your payroll.
What's at the high end?
Ask what pushes an owner toward the top of the range. That's usually your real budget.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us your budget, experience and how soon you want to start. We compare it against 329 franchises and dealer programs and send you the ones that fit.
Help me find my next opportunityFree. Your details go to a program only when you say yes.
Your budget
Programs that start within the capital you have.
Your experience
Already in the trades, or starting fresh.
Your timing
Ready now, or planning for later this year.
Frequently asked questions.
What is the cheapest home services franchise?
Of the 191 home services franchises on ServiceStake that publish a full investment range, the lowest starting figure is $24,000 (LawnValue, lawn & landscape). 5 start under $50,000 and 43 start under $100,000.
Can I really open a home services franchise for under $100,000?
43 brands publish a starting figure under $100,000, but only 7 have their whole published range under $100,000. For the others the top of the range runs higher; the median top is $148,100. Budget from the high end.
How much is the franchise fee on a lower-cost franchise?
Among the 26 franchises in this group that publish a fee, the median is $49,750. That's about 61% of their starting figure, compared with about 40% across all home services franchises.
Can I use an SBA loan for a franchise under $100,000?
SBA-backed loans can be used for franchises listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, and under SBA rules in effect since June 1, 2025, a new business generally needs at least a 10% equity injection from the buyer. Lenders decide each loan; talk to an SBA lender about your situation.
What does the initial investment include?
The franchisor's estimate in Item 7 of the franchise disclosure document: the fee, equipment, vehicles, opening costs and at least three months of additional funds to operate. Ongoing royalties and your own living costs are not included.
How we built this list.
ServiceStake lists 295 home services franchises. 191 publish a full low-to-high initial investment range, on the brand's own website or in a franchise disclosure document filed with a state regulator. This guide includes the 43 whose low figure is under $100,000. Brands that publish no figures, or only a fee, are left out.
Figures are the brands' own estimates, checked on the date shown on each program page. They are not quotes. Your costs depend on your market, territory and choices. This guide contains no earnings claims and is not financial or legal advice.