What's Your Next?

How Much Money Do You Really Need to Buy a Franchise? (Hint: Not Millions!)

Stacey Riska Episode 105

💼 Money Talks: Demystifying Franchise Investment for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 💬

In this episode, our team dives into the big, scary M-word: Money — and how much of it you actually need to start a franchise. Spoiler alert: it’s not as much as you think. 😮💡

💸 How Much Money Do You Really Need?

The biggest myth? That you need a mountain of cash to invest in a franchise. Many people think they need to be millionaires. But the truth? Most franchises fall into the $100K–$150K total investment range — and you can get started with as little as $50,000 in liquid capital.

So what exactly is liquid capital?

 It’s not just cash sitting in your checking account. It could be:

💼 Savings

🏠 Home equity

📈 Retirement accounts (yes, your 401(k) can help fund your dream)

💰 Life insurance with cash value

Common funding sources include:

  • SBA Loans (Small Business Administration)
  • Require a cash injection (usually 20–30%)
  • Often offer flexible repayment terms
  • Payments may not begin until your business opens
  • 401(k) Rollovers Allows access to retirement funds without early withdrawal penalties
  • Must be done correctly with professional guidance

HELOCs (Home Equity Line of Credit)

  • Low-interest borrowing using your home's equity
  • Friends/Family Partnerships
  • Bring in someone to co-invest or support your vision

🚫 Avoid using credit cards — it's one of the most expensive (and riskiest) ways to fund a business.

📊 Know Your Numbers

Successful franchisees understand their financial runway. Before investing, be sure you:

  • Know your break-even point
  • Understand loan repayment timelines
  • Have a cushion to live on while your business ramps up

✅ Pro tip: Use our free ROI calculator (on their website) to plug in real numbers and project your return on investment.

🎯 It’s Not About Being Rich — It’s About Being Ready

Why franchisors require $50K+ in liquid capital:

  • To ensure you can pay your personal bills during ramp-up
  • To reduce the risk of early franchisee failure
  • To protect the brand and fellow franchisees

To prepare:

✅ Make a personal budget

✅ Decide how much you’re willing to invest vs. borrow

✅ Understand your comfort level with risk and outside funding

✅ Use “OPM” (Other People’s Money) wisely

🧠 Final Thoughts

Money is important, but it shouldn’t stop you from pursuing the freedom and lifestyle you crave. 💥

📚 [Resources]

📝 QUIZ: WHAT FRANCHISE CONCEPT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

https://www.nextlevelfranchisegroup.com/whats-your-perfect-franchise-quiz

💰 FREE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT CALCULATOR

https://www.nextlevelfranchisegroup.com/franchise-investment-calculator

📖 FREE E-BOOK: THE ROADMAP TO BUYING A FRANCHISE - IN 9 EASY STEPS

https://www.nextlevelfranchisegroup.com/files/the-roadmap-to-buying-a-franchise-in-9-easy-steps.pdf

📰 TONS OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND CONTENT

https://www.nextlevelfranchisegroup.com

CONTACT US

👍https://www.NextLevelFranchiseGroup.com/contact

📰https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-franchise-group/