The Franchise 500's Top 10 Home-Based Franchises
Wondering what's the best franchise to start in your home? Entrepreneur counts down the top 10 choices.
Entrepreneur.com
No. 10: Snap-on Tools
In 1920, a particular wrench could only do one particular job, but Joseph Johnson had an idea to change that. Along with William Seidemann, he began manufacturing ten different sockets that would "snap on" to five interchangeable wrench handles, so that one tool could do the work of five. The Snap-on Wrench Company's representatives sold these new products by taking them to the customers at their places of business and demonstrating their use.
Today, Snap-on Tools franchisees sell far more than just wrenches. They offer over 19,000 products, including hand tools, power tools, diagnostic tools, tool storage and shop equipment, but the way they sell is much the same. Once a week they bring their "mobile stores"--trucks filled with their products--directly to their customers, which include car dealerships, mechanics, marinas and airports.
Number of franchises: 4,308
Franchising since: 1991
Startup costs: $17,619 - $281,959
2009 rank: #5
No. 9: Bonus Building Care
In 1969, Arleen Cavanaugh and then-husband Jim Cavanaugh founded Jani-King, a commercial cleaning franchise. When the couple divorced in the mid-'90s, Jim maintained control of the business.
Using the experience she gained with Jani-King, Arleen started her own commercial cleaning business, Bonus Building Care. The company currently serves businesses throughout the South and Midwest.
Number of franchises: 2,490
Franchising since: 1996
Startup costs: $9,000 - $15,000
2009 rank: #10
More Information
No. 8: ServiceMaster Clean
ServiceMaster was incorporated in 1947 as Wade, Wenger and Associates. Marion Wade got the idea for his company after a chemical accident left him temporarily blind in 1945.
Today, it is part of the Memphis, Tennessee ServiceMaster Co. franchise family, which includes AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services, Furniture Medic, Merry Maids and Terminix. ServiceMaster franchisees offer disaster restoration and residential and commercial cleaning services.
Number of franchises: 4,940
Franchising since: 1952
Startup costs: $20,926 - $132,623
2009 rank: #4
No. 7: Vanguard Cleaning Systems
Vanguard Cleaning Systems was founded in 1984 and began franchising the same year. The private company is based in San Mateo, California. Its franchisees serve approximately 1,000 commercial cleaning accounts. Vanguard offers a Master Franchise program for experienced businesspeople and a Unit Franchise program for beginning entrepreneurs.
Number of franchises: 1,516
Franchising since: 1984
Startup costs: $8,125 - $38,100
2009 rank: #9
No. 6: Matco Tools
Since 1979, Matco Tools, a subsidiary of Danaher Corp., has been manufacturing, distributing and servicing automotive equipment, tools and toolboxes. Today the company's line of products includes over 13,000 different items. Franchisees, who bring these products to their customers in trucks, number nearly 1,500, with locations in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada.
Number of franchises: 1,489
Franchising since: 1993
Startup costs: $79,926 - $187,556
2009 rank: #7
No. 5: Jazzercise Inc.
While teaching traditional jazz dance classes in Evanston, Illinois, in 1969, Judi Sheppard Missett turned her students away from the mirrors and started a "just for fun" class that incorporated dance moves to provide aerobic exercise. After moving to Southern California, she started training other instructors in the Jazzercise program in 1977. Six years later, the company began franchising. Now Jazzercise's CEO, she continues to teach weekly Jazzercise classes and choreograph new dance routines. Based in Carlsbad, California, Jazzercise has more than 5,000 instructors teaching its total-body conditioning program to almost half a million participants each year in the United States and more than 30 other countries. Jazzercise instructors are trained and certified before becoming franchised.
Number of franchises: 7,854
Franchising since: 1982
Startup costs: $2,980 - $75,500
2009 rank: #8
No. 4: Stratus Building Solutions
Utilizing their combined experience of over 20 years as executives in the commercial cleaning industry, Dennis Jarrett and Pete Frese founded Stratus Building Solutions in 2004. Franchisees offer cleaning services--including the company's environmentally-friendly Stratus GreenClean program--for office buildings, retail properties, medical facilities, schools and more.
Number of franchises: 2,148
Franchising since: 2005
Startup costs: $3,450 - $57,750
2009 rank: #6
No. 3: Jan-Pro Franchising Int'l. Inc.
Jacques Lapointe founded Jan-Pro in Providence, Rhode Island in 1991. Jan-Pro began franchising the following year, offering both master and single-unit franchises, and has since grown to over 10,000 units throughout the United States and Canada.
Jan-Pro franchisees offer commercial cleaning services to businesses such as car dealerships, gyms, banks, churches, schools and offices. The company's "Cleaning Greener" initiative emphasizes the use of cleaning products that require fewer chemicals to clean more.
Number of franchises: 10,099
Franchising since: 1992
Startup costs: $3,145 - $50,405
2009 rank: #2
No. 2: Servpro
Servpro started out in 1967 as a painting business. Two years later, founders Ted and Doris Isaacson began franchising it as a cleaning and restoration company. In 1988, they moved the company from Sacramento, California to Gallatin, Tennessee in order to be within 600 miles of 50 percent of the U.S. population.
Servpro franchisees specialize in disaster restoration, offering cleanup and repairs to both commercial and residential customers whose property has suffered fire or water damage. They also offer mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, air duct and HVAC cleaning, and other related services.
Number of franchises: 1,478
Franchising since: 1969
Startup costs: $102,250 - $161,150
2009 rank: #3
No. 1: Jani-King
As a student at the University of Oklahoma in 1968, Jim Cavanaugh worked as a night auditor at a hotel chain. He realized that there would always be a need for janitorial services as long as there were office buildings. He began marketing janitorial services by day and cleaning buildings with his friends by night. Within a year, Cavanaugh established Jani-King, and in 1974 he started franchising.
A commercial cleaning service, Jani-King sets up franchisees with a customer base and charges fees depending on the size of that initial base.
Number of franchises: 13,046
Franchising since: 1974
Startup costs: $11,400 - $35,050
2009 rank: #1
แปลโดย จักรพงษ์ เมษพันธุ์ : Robert T. Kiyosaki
กิจกรรม SET Junior Financial Club (SET JFC 2010) 
