McDonald’s and 5 Other Franchises That Could Make You Rich

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Starting a business can be an exciting prospect, but also be a bit daunting, particularly if you’re starting from scratch with a good idea but no guarantee that your business will survive. One way to approach a business is to consider a model that has a track record of success-barring being able to purchase an existing business, the best way to do that may be opening a franchise.

To help, GOBankingRates analyzed Franchise Direct’s top 100 franchises of 2025 to identify those most likely to be lucrative based on their track records, startup costs and ongoing fees. If you’re thinking about buying a franchise, find out which ones are more likely to make you rich.

McDonald’s

A classic franchise like the Golden Arches is an established business model, with numerous locations around the country, where things are done in a standard and consistent way, providing you with a template for how to run a successful fast-food chain. Here are some key takeaways from one of the most popular franchises that could help make you rich.

• Initial franchise fee: $0 to $45,000
• Opening inventory costs: $14,000 to $39,000
• Service fee: 4% of gross sales (depending on circumstances)
• Advertising and promotion fee: 4%

The UPS Store

Most of the time, you just need to provide the start-up capital and the staff, and you might be able to earn money relatively quickly compared to starting a brand-new business, but it is still good to know what to expect when starting even a well-known franchise like The UPS Store. Here are some considerations: 

• Initial franchise fee: $9,950 to $29,950
• Initial training fees: $5,400 to $8,500
• Royalty fee: 5% of STR (STR includes all gross sales plus gross commissions from the center, less allowable exclusions)
• Initial marketing plan fee: $4,000 to $7,500

Domino’s

Given the failure rate of new businesses, it’s not surprising that many aspiring business owners opt to become a franchisee rather than launch their own operation. As pizza tends to be a family favorite, going with a recognizable name like Domino’s could be a solid business venture. 

• Initial franchise fee: $0 to $10,000
• Opening inventory and supply costs: $2,750 to $6,500
• Royalty fee: 5.5% of your store’s weekly royalty sales
• Advertising and promotion fee: 4% of your store’s weekly royalty sales. Non-traditional stores may receive partial credit or make a reduced contribution.

Ace Hardware

It’s important to consider franchise options carefully before investing in one. With costs varying widely, you want to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. In the era of DIY home improvement projects, Ace Hardware could be a great investment for your first small business.

• Initial franchise and affiliation fee: $5,000
• Opening inventory costs: $210,000 to $1 million
• Capital stock subscription $5,000
• Initial brand assessment and advertising fee: $6,000 to $12,000 (regional advertising costs will vary)

Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen

Comfort food is everyone’s go-to dinner plan when they’ve had a hard day, a week, a month or even a year. When you add in economic volatility, comforting fast food chains like Popeye’s can make a real killing financially, given their built-in popularity. 

• Initial franchise fee: $50,000
• Opening supply costs: $13,000 to $26,000
• Royalty or Service fee: 5% of gross sales
• Advertising contribution fee: 4% to 5.5% of gross sales

Jersey Mike’s

If you buy a franchise, you get the benefit of operating an established brand with a proven system. But, as the Federal Trade Commission cautions, buying a franchise is no guarantee of success, even in high-demand industries such as ones that will make you a fast and cheap lunch. However, being a sandwich maker has its perks and can lead to great passive income. 

• Initial franchise fee: $18,500
• Opening inventory costs: $2,698 to $37,850
• Continuing Royalty or Service fee: 6.5% of gross receipts for a standard franchise agreement
• Grand opening advertising fee: $12,500 ($5,000 for transfers or relocations)

Cameron Huddleston contributed to the reporting for this article.

Editor’s Note: Data is sourced via Franchise Direct’s Top 100 Franchises Ranking for 2025 and is accurate as of Apr. 25, 2025.

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