Carl Stoffers

1 week ago | entrepreneur.com | Carl Stoffers

Whether you're looking to run a side business from home or turn a passion into a full-time career, these brands stand out in the 2025 Franchise 500 as the top franchises you can start for under $5,000. They're ranked across a variety of industries — from commercial cleaning to travel planning to fitness — and offer entry points for nearly every budget. Related: Considering franchise ownership?

1 week ago | entrepreneur.com | Carl Stoffers

If you're serious about franchising — whether you're buying your first unit or expanding into international markets — you'll want to be in Miami this spring. The IFA World Franchise Show, taking place May 9-10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, will be one of the most high-impact franchise events of the year. Hosted by the International Franchise Association, this two-day event brings together hundreds of franchise brands, seasoned operators and investors from around the world.

4 weeks ago | entrepreneur.com | Carl Stoffers

When Richard Knight sold his tech company more than a decade ago, he didn't expect to end up running a fast-growing fitness franchise for kids. But one viral video sparked an idea that would eventually connect him with Olympic coaches and alter the future of the modern pentathlon. "About 12 years ago, my co-founder, Dale Grant, who ran a gymnastics studio for 20 years, sent a video of a child going over homemade obstacles," Knight says.

1 month ago | entrepreneur.com | Carl Stoffers

Casey Furtado has a business degree, but his passion for education unexpectedly emerged while teaching English in Taiwan after college. "Teaching found me," he says. "I didn't plan it, but I quickly realized how rewarding it was to help kids grow."When he returned home to California around 2010, he joined a private school, where he hoped to build a long-term career. But like many educators, he found himself at the mercy of enrollment numbers and shrinking budgets. Each summer brought anxiety.

1 month ago | businessandamerica.com | Carl Stoffers

To view our entire 2025 Franchise 500 list, including category rankings, click HEREPart-time doesn’t mean small-time — just ask the franchisees behind these top-performing brands. From mobile models like Kona Ice to high-ranked residential cleaning services like Anago Cleaning Systems, these franchises offer flexible ownership models and are growing fast, proving that you can build a successful business without giving up your full-time job.