If you live in a rural area, you might wonder if small-town franchising opportunities are available for such locations. Luckily, certain types of franchise opportunities suitable for such places exist.

These include dry cleaning, funeral homes, tutoring, hair salons, and discount party stores.

Here the focus is on identifying these small-town franchise opportunities while providing basic details on what they’re about. You’ll need to go through the list to choose your preferred rural franchise.

To make your pick, you have to make comparisons while also researching further on each.

Before You Buy a Rural Franchise

In a bid to buy a rural franchise, there are lots of considerations to make. These help in identifying the best opportunity you’re most suited for.

Reviews to make include giving yourself a personality test. Veterans tend to perform exceptionally well in the highly regulated franchise system due to their military background.

Study the field, assess your strengths and determine your financial preparedness. It would be best if you also were wary of franchise consultants, who are mostly paid, salespeople.

It’s necessary to make inquiries about their financial arrangements upfront.

You also must understand that franchises fail at almost the same rates as other businesses. Is a franchise what it claims to be? You might want to investigate.

Consider speaking with franchisees to know their feelings about the franchise and if they’d recommend the business to newcomers.

It’s essential to read the entire financial disclosure document (FDD) as it holds valuable information about the company.

Professional help will be of immense benefit in interpreting balance sheets and documents on insurance. Some form of franchise experience will be helpful.

Best Small Town Franchises to Buy

Franchising in rural areas can be financially rewarding and personally satisfying when the right decision is made in selection. There are lots of options you’ll have to choose from.

What you go for will largely determine how well your operations become.

Some of the best small-town franchises include Lapels Dry Cleaning, Plato’s Closet, Tutor Doctor, and HealthSource.

Others include NEPAT Transport, Patrol Services International, Merry Maids, The Flying Locksmiths, uBreakiFix, Critter Control Inc., Pearle Vision, and Cash America.

There are more small-town franchise opportunities like anytime fitness, Service Corporation International, Great Clips, and Minuteman Press.

Your choice of a franchise will depend on where your interests lie.

i. Lapels Dry Cleaning

This dry cleaning franchise is well suited for rural areas. Its services have been structured so that they’re convenient for customers.

Lapels Dry Cleaning operates a highly successful business model. To join, you’ll need a total investment sum of $80,000 to $343,000.

ii. Plato’s Closet

This franchise specializes in the selling of used quality clothing amongst other used items like CDs, picture frames, books, games, etc.

If this sounds like something you want to do, you can make further inquiries. Prospective franchisees are required to have an initial investment sum in the range of $253,100 to $399,500.

iii. Tutor Doctor

Tutor Doctor is a franchise brand that provides in-home services plus one-on-one tutoring for students.

If you’re drawn to this field of business, you’ll find Tutor Doctor a worthy partner. The initial investment required by the franchisor is in the region of $68,500 to $101,700.

iv. HealthSource

With a total investment of $50,000 to $200,000, HealthSource is a small-town franchise opportunity that presents aspiring franchisees with the chance to own their own chiropractor business.

This is one of the world’s most extensive chiropractic and wellness franchise brands hence its attractiveness to franchisees.

v. NEPAT Transport

Have you ever thought about a business idea like non-emergency transportation? If you have, you might want to give NEPAT Transport a try.

This company provides transport services for accident victims and inmates of adult day care, conveying patients for post-surgery visits and taking patients home after discharge.

vi. Patrol Services International

Patrol Services International is a private security company that serves the needs of rural clients.

It provides various solutions like alarm response, armed & unarmed security as well as loss prevention, to mention a few.

To join the franchise, you’ll need a total investment sum of $109,500 to $233,500 for its single-unit operation.

vii. Merry Maids

Persons interested in starting a cleaning service might find Merry Maids a great business partner.

This company offers domestic and commercial cleaning services and is a member of the prestigious ServiceMaster Quality Service Network.

You’ll need an initial investment sum of $86,750 to $123,750 to join.

viii. The Flying Locksmiths

Locksmiths offer essential services wherever they may be located.

Flying Locksmiths is a reputable franchise company that provides solutions covering locks and keys, card access systems, panic device installation, total door replacements, etc.

ix. uBreakiFix

Accidents often happen, which result in damage to electronics and devices.

Smartphones are among the most affected. This company specializes in fixing and refurbishing gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.

A total investment sum of $44,600 to $197,950 is required to join this franchise.

x. Critter Control Inc.

Pest issues are among the most commonly encountered problems in households.

Critter Control Inc. is a solutions provider that also offers franchising opportunities. As a prospective franchisee, you need to find out details about the requirements for joining the franchise.

xi. Pearle Vision

Pearle Vision is an eye clinic that caters to all eye problems. Its total eye care solutions have won it the acceptance of a broad and growing client base.

Part of the requirements for joining the Pearle Vision franchise includes meeting its initial investment sum of $400,324 to $605,230.

xii. Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness is a successful fitness and wellness brand suitable for rural communities.

It offers franchising opportunities to interested investors who want to be part of the brand. Joining this franchise requires a cash investment of $80,000, amongst other requirements.

xiii. Great Clips

Great Clips is a hair salon franchise that’s suitable for small towns. An initial investment sum of $136,900 to $258,250 is needed to own this franchise.

Rural franchising isn’t a new concept.

This has been widely accepted and offers investment opportunities for persons seeking to explore their options within rural towns.

Take more tangible steps towards owning a small town franchise by considering the options above.