Working from home while being your own boss is a big deal—and it’s a big reason home-based franchise businesses keep getting more popular. They can be a practical way to become a business owner without paying for a storefront or carrying the overhead that comes with it.
Just don’t assume every home-based option is automatically cheap. Many franchise businesses still come with startup costs, equipment needs, and ongoing expenses like royalty fees.
In this guide, we’ll cover five home-based franchise ideas for 2026. Some follow a mobile business model, while others can be run mostly from your laptop. Either way, the goal is the same: help you find a setup that can grow into a thriving business.
FAQs
The cash required is often lower than you’d need for a traditional business with a physical storefront. Many home-based options start with a minimal initial investment, and some can be as low as around $10,000. Your total cost depends on the franchise fee, equipment, and a bit of working capital.
Yes. When you invest in a home-based franchise, you’re still running your own business—you just follow a proven business model and brand system. You manage operations, sales, and customer relationships, with franchisor support behind you.
Usually, no. Most home-based franchises don’t require a physical storefront. Many franchisees handle admin, scheduling, and customer management from home, even if the service itself happens on-site.
They can be. Franchises that allow flexible scheduling are a great fit for working parents or anyone juggling other responsibilities. Running things from home can also help cut down on commuting time and childcare costs.
The best place to check is the Franchise Disclosure Document. Look at Item 19, which may include financial performance details, so you can better judge whether that business model fits your income goals before you commit.
What is a Home-Based Franchise Business?
A home-based franchise is a franchise you can run primarily from your home instead of a commercial storefront. You’re still operating under a franchisor’s brand and system, but your day-to-day work happens from a home office space—or sometimes out in the field if it’s a service-based mobile business.
Compared to traditional franchise businesses that need a physical location, home franchises can help you avoid many brick-and-mortar costs. Instead, you rely more on technology, remote communication, and efficient systems to serve customers and manage operations.
Just keep in mind: “home-based” doesn’t mean hands-off. You still need to follow the franchisor’s rules, use their processes, and keep brand standards consistent. And like most franchise businesses, you’ll likely pay ongoing costs—often including royalty fees—in exchange for the brand, training, and support that help you build a real, thriving business.
5 Home-Based Franchises
1. Travel Agency
If you’re looking for home-based franchise opportunities that feel flexible, low-overhead, and people-focused, a home-based travel agency is a strong option. A travel agency helps customers plan trips end-to-end—booking transportation, securing accommodations, organizing tours, and putting together itineraries that fit their needs.
Travel demand continues to grow, and many travel franchise models are built for at-home operations. That makes them a great fit for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to support clients without opening a storefront—especially compared to other small businesses with higher upfront costs.
What makes this model even more appealing today is how easy it is to personalize the experience. Many franchisors provide proprietary software and tools that help you research trips faster, manage bookings, track client preferences, and stay organized—so you can offer a more custom, high-touch service than a basic online booking site.
Why it can be a great fit
- Works with your skill set: If you enjoy planning, customer service, and details, this business can play to your strengths.
- Flexible and scalable: You can start small, learn as you go, and grow your client list over time.
- Location freedom: You can run it from home (or anywhere with reliable internet).
- Commission-based income: You earn based on what you book, so your earnings can grow as your sales grow.
- Travel perks: Some franchises offer discounts or travel benefits, which can help you learn about destinations firsthand.
What the franchisor typically provides
- Marketing tools: Digital resources and templates to help you attract clients and build a customer database.
- Business growth guidance: Coaching and strategies to expand services, improve performance, and grow your brand locally.
- Lead support: Help identify and target the right audience, depending on the franchise system.
- Training and ongoing support: Structured onboarding plus continued support to keep you current on trends, tools, and best practices.
This home-based franchise business can be a rewarding path if travel excites you and your skill set fits relationship-building and planning. With the right franchise system—and good use of the proprietary software and training—it can grow into a reliable business over time.
2. Online Tutoring Services
Investing in a home-based online tutoring service franchise can be a very appealing way to build a lucrative business – and that’s especially true in today’s world where the demand for online tutoring services has been skyrocketing.
The online tutoring industry is seeing some truly remarkable growth, with a projected market size of $12.8 billion by 2025 – that’s a 14.8% increase from where it is right now.
So what’s behind this explosion in growth? Well for starters:
- Students these days are more and more looking for that extra bit of personalized learning experience, something that can be tailored to their individual needs,
- The education sector has also seen a big shift towards embracing technology in recent years, which is only making learning easier and more convenient for just about everyone,
- and of course, there are all the e-learning platforms now offering flexible and super affordable tutoring options.
So if you are thinking about investing in a new business, then it’s worth checking out these benefits of this online tutoring franchise:
A Market That’s Really Taking Off
The fact that the market size for online tutoring services is going through the roof is a really clear sign that demand is on the rise. And it’s not hard to see why, when you think about it. More and more students and parents are now starting to see just how much of a difference one-on-one learning can make.
Flexibility
Another big plus with an online tutoring franchise is the flexibility it offers. Because you can take your services either online or in-person, you can give your students the freedom to learn however they like best. That’s especially important in a post-pandemic world where students may have their own strong preferences when it comes to learning.
Personalized Learning That Actually Works
With an online tutoring franchise based in your home, you can create a real one-on-one relationship with your students, which is just so much better than the sort of classroom-based learning that can be more predictable and less effective. When you tailor your teaching to the individual needs of each student, you’re much more likely to see some real progress and achievement.
Keeping Students Engaged
One-on-one video calls are a big part of online tutoring, and the personal interaction they provide really can help keep students engaged and motivated in a way that group video classes just can’t match. And then of course there are the tools that let you use a whiteboard in real-time.
This is great for those hands-on learning experiences that make education so much more fun and interactive.
Savings On Overhead Costs
By doing your tutoring from home, you save a small fortune on overheads – you don’t need a big office or lots of equipment or inventory to get started, so that’s a real plus. And with lower expenses comes higher profit margins – which is just what you want from a business.
Getting Started Is Affordable
Compared to other business opportunities out there, the cost of getting started with this online tutoring franchise is relatively low. Okay, you’ll need to invest a bit in the initial franchise fee, but the potential return on that investment is well worth it.
The Possibility of Expansion
With an online tutoring franchise, you can scale up your business without having to worry about finding new premises or dealing with loads of infrastructure costs. That means you can reach more students and build a bigger and better business, all without breaking the bank.
Long-Term Demand
And it’s not just a pandemic-related thing – the advantages of online tutoring are something that students and parents are going to keep on looking for long after the pandemic is over. Which is great news for franchisees – because it means a steady, reliable income stream that’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
3. Home Services
The home services market in the US is really heating up and that’s fantastic news for people looking to start a business that people depend on all 12 months of the year. As more homeowners are willing to pay for the convenience and expertise you bring to the table, the demand is sky high – making this a pretty enticing time for would-be entrepreneurs to take the plunge.
One of the simplest ways to get started is by running a business from your own home. When you operate out of your home office, you dodge the cost of renting a storefront or office space – which means less cold hard cash needed upfront, and plenty of room to breathe in your budget:
- for getting the right equipment,
- hiring some help,
- and keeping your customer base growing.
Home service models also work pretty well for small and medium businesses because you can start small. Many owners begin with a tiny team (or even solo) and then bring in more staff as the jobs pile up.
With fewer overhead costs and fewer daily headaches, it’s often a heck of a lot simpler to manage – especially for first-time business owners.
If you’re getting in on the action through a franchise, you’ve also got some built-in advantages like a stronger brand recognition, marketing support, and comprehensive training—which can make it way easier to land customers and deliver top-notch service.
Here are some in-demand home services in the U.S. that you can start right from your own home.
Home Cleaning Services
Loads of homeowners want a clean home but just can’t seem to find the time or energy to keep on top of it. Cleaning services pretty much always include dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and deep cleaning – making it a pretty popular, repeat business in many areas.
Plumbing Services
Plumbing is always in demand because problems pop up left and right – leaks, clogged drains, broken fixtures, pipe repairs, and installations. It’s one of those services homeowners usually need immediately, not some other time down the road.
Electrical Repairs
From wonky outlets and switches to panel upgrades and troubleshooting, electrical work is an absolute must for safety and functionality – so the demand remains pretty steady.
HVAC Maintenance
Heating and cooling systems need regular servicing, repairs, and replacements. And because this type of work is often seasonal, you can bank on strong earning periods throughout the year.
4. Fitness Coaching from Home
If you’re into fitness and want a home-based franchise-style option, online coaching is a great place to start. As an online fitness coach, you guide clients through their fitness journey using digital tools like websites and mobile apps.
With technology, you can easily:
- track client progress,
- give feedback and check-ins,
- share personalized nutrition guidance, and
- build custom workout plans based on each person’s goals.
The biggest win? You’re not limited to clients in your area. Online coaching lets you work with people anywhere, which makes it easier to grow faster and scale your business.
It’s also a lower-overhead model than in-person training. You don’t need to rent a gym or maintain a physical space, so your startup costs stay much lower.
Overall, a home-based fitness coaching business can be an affordable, flexible way to serve clients well—and build something that can grow over time.
5. Pet Care Franchise
Do you have a real, genuine love for animals? If pets are your thing and you’ve been looking to break out on your own, then take a close look at the pet industry.
It’s one of those sectors that just keeps on growing, with an annual growth rate of about 6%. What’s really impressive is that even when the economy takes a downturn, 92% of pet owners still manage to find money to spend on their pets. That’s a pretty clear sign that people are always going to want their pets taken care of.
If franchise is something that really interests you, it can be a pretty lucrative choice – especially with the low entry costs and flexible schedule it offers. Pet sitting, dog walking, and waste removal are all services that people are happy to pay for, and with a low initial investment. The franchise fee of under $10,000 to get you started.
Having a pet care franchise also means:
- you get the freedom to manage your own schedule
- and take care of your business from the comfort of your own home.
The thing is, a lot of pet owners are really particular about the brands they trust with their pets – so owning your own home-based business that taps into that is a great idea.
Final Thoughts
If you like the idea of working from home and calling the shots, a home-based franchise can be a really solid option.
Home-based businesses like online tutoring, home services, and pet care are growing fast because they match what people want right now. Many of these brands also offer low-cost franchise fees, which can make it easier for potential franchise owners to get started without a huge upfront investment.
And if fitness is your lane, going online can be a game-changer. You’re not limited to one location—you can work with clients anywhere.
The key is to pick something you actually enjoy, make sure it’s in a growing space, and choose a franchise that fits your budget and lifestyle. For help finding the right match, explore home-based opportunities through franchise business consulting with FranchiseCoach today.
