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12 Best Retail Store Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a retail business by buying a franchise? If YES, here are 100+ best retail store franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. It is a fact that an estimated two-thirds of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP) comes from the general retail industry. This is why the United States of America’s economy is measured with the yardstick of how well the retailing business is fairing.

When there is an unstable economy, purchasing power drops and it impacts the retailing industry negatively which may result in the closure of some retail stores. A retail store business might be one of the easy to run businesses especially if you position the business in a location that is prone to high volume of both human and vehicular traffic. But beyond that, if you do not get other indices right, you will sure struggle with your retail business.

Hence the need to adopt the franchise business model when seeking start a retail store business. So, if you want to buy a retail store franchise, in no particular order, here are the 12 best retail store franchises to buy in the United States of America;

Retail Store Franchise Opportunities

A. Grocery Store Franchises

B. Vending Machine Franchises

C. Sex Toy Franchises

D. Candy Store Franchises

E. Healthy Vending Machines Franchises

F. Jewelry Store Franchises

G. Wine Store Franchises

H. Gift Basket Franchises

I. Toy Store Franchises

J. Supermarket Franchises

K. Consignment Shop Franchises

12 Best Retail Store Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost

  1. 7-Eleven

7-Eleven’s origins date back to 1927, when an employee of the Southland Ice Company in Dallas, Texas, began selling milk, bread and eggs in addition to ice blocks. They started franchising in 1964. Joe C. Thompson was an employee then, he eventually bought the Southland Ice Company, turned it into the Southland Corporation, and began opening convenience stores.

The first stores went by the name Tote’m, since customers “toted” away their purchases, but in 1946, when the stores’ hours were extended–from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.–they got a new name. Although 7-Eleven stores are now open 24 hours a day, the name stuck.

7-Eleven Inc. offers in-house financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and payroll

Financial Requirements and Info

  • Initial investment – $37,550 to $1,149,900
  • Initial franchise fee – $10,000 to $1,000,000
  • Veteran Incentives – 10 to 20 percent off franchise fee; special financing up to 65%
  • New units as at 2017 – 3,336 (5.7 percent)
  1. The UPS Store

The UPS Store is a top-ranked franchise in the business services industry. It boasts of financial stability, brand recognition, and dedicated training and support — and 84% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a The UPS Store.

Serving the small business community for more than 35+ years, The UPS Store, Inc. is the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, printing and business service centers. The UPS Store provides convenient and value-added business services to consumers nationwide.

Most people don’t realize all the things that can be done at The UPS Store. What started in 1980 as a convenient alternative to the post office has grown into one of the premier franchising networks in the world. Their franchise development team will assist you in selecting a location, negotiating the terms of the lease, designing your store and getting it up and running. They provide guidance every step of the way.

Financial Requirements

  • Franchise fee – $29,950
  • Initial investment – $177,955 to $402,595
  1. Circle K

The Circle K convenience store chain was established in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay’s Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Now owned by parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard, Circle K franchises can be found in more than 20 states, as well as more than 10 other countries. Circle K has their corporate head office at 1130 W. Warner Rd. Tempe, AZ 85284.

Circle K has become one of the most widely recognized convenience store brands, known worldwide for quality products and great customer service. During the next few decades, Circle K grew its retail network through a series of acquisitions, which were incorporated into the Circle K brand.

By 1975, there were 1,000 Circle K stores across the U.S. In 1979, Circle K entered the international market when a licensing agreement established the first Circle K store in Japan. The company’s growth continued and, by 1984, sales had reached $1 billion.

In 1999, a franchise program was introduced to support operators looking to build a business with a leading convenience store brand. Circle K offers in-house financing to cover equipment and they have relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to interested investors.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – Low – $186,500 High – $1,924,500
  • Net-worth Requirement – $500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000 – $25,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 3 to 7.5%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 1.5%
  • Veteran Incentives – 10% off franchise fee
  1. ampm

Ampm whose parent company is BP West Coast Products LLC is a chain of convenience stores and gas stations that was established in 1975 and have been franchising since 1979. They have their corporate head office at 4 Centerpointe Dr. La Palma, CA 90623 and the current CEO is Donna Sanker.

The first ampm location opened in Southern California in 1978. There are now hundreds of combination gas station and convenience stores across the U.S., offering nearly 2,200 different hot and cold snack food and drink items.

The company is seeking new franchise units from Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Interestingly, ampm offers in-house financing to cover startup costs, and equipment

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $430,698 – $10,073,895
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $800,000 – $1,200,000
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Investment) – Low – $430,698 and High – $10,073,895
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 2 to 14%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 5.5%
  • Veteran Incentives – 50% off franchise fee
  1. Street Corner

After Peter LaColla and Daniel McCabe opened a restaurant called Street Corner Cuisine in a mall in Topeka, Kansas, they noticed there was no place to buy cigarettes, newspapers or aspirin in the shopping center. To meet the need, the partners opened Street Corner in 1988, a convenience store with the look of an old-fashioned newsstand. They started franchising in 1995, that is 24 years ago.

The new store was popular with both mall customers and employees, and the partners decided to sell their restaurant and concentrate on franchising Street Corner. Street Corner locations sell snacks, beverages, newspapers, magazines and other items.

Becoming a Street Corner franchise owner is a proven way to affordably build your own business, and you’ll gain access to high-quality design plans, vendors, and hands-on training. It might interest you to note that Street Corner has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and payroll. The company is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – Low – $45,645 High – $1,479,800
  • Net-worth Requirement – $100,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $30,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $19,900 – $24,900
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 4.95%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – $899 /yr.
  1. SPAR

With a history that goes all the way back to 1932, SPAR is a convenience store ‘run by locals, for locals’. Entrepreneurs who choose to open their own SPAR branch will draw customers in as a result of the brand’s positive reputation.

In fact, franchisees will join a huge network of SPAR retailers, totaling over 12,000 stores in over 34 countries. This makes it the largest food store chain on the planet. In the uk alone, 50,000 attentive staff members serve the public daily, helping to generate a revenue of over £3 billion.

Investors who join the brand via buying their franchise can benefit from SPAR’s store development service and online Guild Training Academy. By utilizing these valuable tools, franchisees can gain key retail management qualifications which will enable them to progress further in the retail sector.

Once on board, franchisees can develop one of a range of store formats that are adaptable to suit the locality and will be allocated a business development advisor who will conduct regular visits to discuss sustainable business growth. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website.

  1. Londis

With its instantly recognizable branding, Londis stores have become a fundamental part of our high streets. Since 1959, Londis has built on its brand model to establish more than 1,900 separate branches. The store boasts of a range of over 5,000 product lines, offering customers huge variety.

Starting a franchise with Londis couldn’t be easier. You don’t need experience in the retail sector or the ability to pay expensive franchise fees – but you should be committed to Londis and upholding its reputation. If you’re willing to agree to a five-year Fascia and Supply agreement, support national promotions and stock products from each of the four store ranges, you’re the business partner Londis is looking for.

To remain competitive, Londis has developed simplified promotional and marketing support programs to encourage and improve customer loyalty. As a franchisee, you’ll be provided with free marketing support through personalized leaflets and promotional and seasonal point of sale kits.

When you’re on board, you’ll get access to free online training and support, as well as free membership to the Association of Convenience Stores. You can also take advantage of Londis’ Spend & Save discount scheme; the more stock you order, the more you save. Lower wholesale prices will help improve your profitability so that you can continue to invest in your business.

  1. Budgens

Budgens was established in 1872 by John Budgen and this company is one of the oldest supermarkets in the country. Today, there are 150 Budgens stores across the UK alone. These are staffed by a workforce of over 6,000 people, who serve 80 million customers a year.

Budgens has a number of measures in place to ease the franchising journey in the United States. The most notable way in which this retailer distinguishes itself from the average one is by eliminating regular franchise fees. Instead, franchisees must agree to purchase a minimum of £10,000 of branded stock per week from Budgens’ distributions depot.

The store has also introduced a rebate scheme, allowing franchisees to save money when purchasing stock in bulk. What’s more, investors can select their own location for their future store or choose to take over an existing one. When building a Budgens from scratch, there are several store formats available – from petrol station forecourts to large supermarkets.

When a new franchisee joins the Budgens network, they are allocated a New Store Opening Manager who can advise on everything from stock to staff recruitment.

All Budgens units can use the brand’s national, seasonal deals to entice new customers and reward loyal ones, and investors gain access to free marketing support through social media, leaflet schemes and a free online ‘Retailer Toolkit’. Will all this support available, there is no reason why a franchisee shouldn’t see success with Budgens.

  1. Dash In Food Stores

Dash in Food Stores is another retail store franchise that is based in La Plata, MD and seeking to expand via franchising. They started franchising as far back as 1979 and they can boast of having 54 active franchise units spread across the United States of America.

Financial Requirements and Info

  • Cash investment – $27-95K
  • Total investment – $138.6 – 187.2K
  • Royalty Fee – 5.5 percent
  1. Fully Promoted

With approximately 300 stores across the globe, Fully Promoted is a proven business model. Their B2B paradigm affords owners the opportunity to develop repeat business relationships with volume-based clients while selling a product with a high perceived value.

Coupled with their online stores and to further streamline ordering, this model maximizes earning potential with minimal overhead. They are excited to now offer an office-based business model as well. Fully Promoted is the leading franchise provider of custom apparel and promotional products to printing services and digital marketing franchise.

Financial Requirements and Info

  • Minimum Cash Required – $49,500
  • Veterans – We offer a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee for qualified military veterans.
  1. Mainstream Boutique

Mainstream Boutique is a proven women’s clothing and retail franchise opportunity that sells unique, fashion-forward women’s clothing, accessories and gifts. The organization’s mission is to empower, strengthen, and celebrate the women in their communities.

A Mainstream Boutique franchise can reward you with the power you deserve, enabling you to leverage what you’ve accomplished and learned. With a recognized brand and a committed home office and field staff, we have the resources and business model to make your goals, owning your own Boutique, a reality.

Mainstream’s proven business model and increased media presence has made starting a business a very rewarding experience for their franchise owners. Their valuable experience has been assembled into a dynamic franchise opportunity for enterprising individuals. Mainstream Boutique was born around the kitchen table and now has over 85 stores in 20+ states nationwide.

Financial Requirements and Info

  • Available Locations – Single, multi-unit opportunities available in the US.
  • Minimum Cash Required – $50,000
  1. Savi Provisions

Savi Provisions is a neighborhood destination that markets locally sourced gourmet and organic foods, fine wines and spirits, with a generous environment to sample and celebrate the fruits of everyone’s labors. The mission of Savi Provisions franchisees is to be a neighborhood destination selling locally sourced organic foods and housing a plentiful stash of hard to find wine and spirits with a generous environment to sample the wines.

Since its commencement in 2009, Savi Provisions has developed and implemented a model that is based upon a flexible growth strategy. Founded by entrepreneur, developer, and investor, Paul Nair, Savi Provisions revisits the role of the original purveyors who built generational relationships with farmers, vineyards and distilleries to serve their local communities.

At present, the six locations in Atlanta, GA have been selected in markets where the current customer demographic is in line with territory guidelines. Franchisees will mimic this environment and will look for locations ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 square feet (depending on the model).

Financial Requirement and Info

  • Available Locations – Single, multi-unit opportunities available in the United States. Excludes: CA, IL, MD, VA.
  • Minimum Cash Required – $300,000