E-2 Visa Franchises in Florida Under $250,000 (2026 FDD Costs)

By The Franchise Browser Editorial

The 12 franchises below all report franchised units in Florida at the end of 2025. Each one's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) puts the total initial investment for a single unit at $250,000 or less, from about $50,700 (Oxi Fresh) up to $244,302 (Real Property Management). Whether any of them would support your E-2 case depends on your facts, not on the brand. No official source sets a minimum E-2 investment.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. It is not legal, immigration or investment advice. E-2 decisions are made case by case by consular officers and USCIS. Talk to a qualified U.S. immigration attorney before you commit funds, and have a franchise attorney review any agreement.

How we chose these brands

We started from a shortlist of brands in our franchise directory with listed costs of roughly $50,000 to $250,000. We then checked each one against its current FDD on the Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS database on October 20, 2026. A brand stayed on the list only if its FDD showed:

• an Item 7 total initial investment range for one unit that ends at or below $250,000;
• franchised outlets in Florida at the end of 2025 in Item 20; and
• an Item 5 initial franchise fee we could cite.

Every figure below comes from the FDD, not from any directory. We also looked for a statement on the franchisor's own website or in its FDD that it accepts E-2 investors. We found none we could cite, so the table says "Not stated" for every brand. That doesn't mean a brand turns E-2 investors away. It means you should ask. We did not use sales or earnings figures.

The list: 12 franchises with Florida units under $250k

Brand notes (from each FDD)

• Oxi Fresh has the lowest range on the list. The $47,900 fee covers your first franchise, with lower fees for additional ones (Item 5). Florida went from 42 franchised outlets to 39 in 2025.
• Frios Gourmet Pops gives two Item 7 ranges, one for a van and one for a trailer. The $37,500 fee covers a territory of up to 150,000 people (Items 5 and 7).
• Goosehead Insurance charges a single-franchise fee of $50,000, paid before initial training (Item 5). Florida had 79 franchised outlets at the end of 2025, the most on this list.
• Tippi Toes sets its fee by territory population, starting at $49,500 for a territory of about 300,000 people (Item 5).
• Soccer Stars charges $49,500, and you also buy a starter equipment kit from an affiliate (Item 5).
• Caring Transitions charges $58,900 for a territory of 175,000 to 200,000 people, plus $500 for each additional 1,000 people (Item 5). Florida grew from 22 to 25 outlets in 2025.
• DoodyCalls charges a base fee of $39,900 for a territory of roughly 100,000 to 150,000 households. Fees it collected in 2025 ranged from $27,930 to $44,000 (Item 5).
• Right at Home charges a standard fee of $49,500. Florida rose from 66 to 69 franchised outlets in 2025 (Items 5 and 20).
• Assisting Hands charges $55,000 for a first franchise. Its Item 7 notes say E-2 visa candidates may face extra state-required costs and costs tied to the visa process that the totals don't include (Items 5 and 7).
• Real Property Management sets a minimum fee of $69,900. Its Item 7 high end, $244,302, is the closest to the $250,000 cap (Items 5 and 7).
• The Maids charges $60,000 for one territory, with higher fees for multi-territory packages (Item 5). Florida grew from 51 to 56 outlets in 2025.
• PatchMaster charges $54,500 for one service area of up to 350,000 people. Larger areas cost more (Item 5).

What "under $250k" means for an E-2 investment

An Item 7 range is the franchisor's estimate of what it costs to open. It isn't an E-2 threshold. The State Department says "no set dollar figure" is the minimum for a "substantial" investment (9 FAM 402.9-6(D)). Officers instead apply a proportionality test that works like an "inverted sliding scale": the cheaper the business, the larger the share of its cost you're expected to invest. USCIS frames it the same way (USCIS). For a new unit, the cost that counts is what it actually takes to get the business operational, so keep your invoices and contracts (9 FAM 402.9-6(D)).

Two more rules affect how you use these ranges. First, your money has to be at risk and irrevocably committed. The State Department notes that "uncommitted or revokable funds in a bank account or similar security are generally not considered an investment" (travel.state.gov), and loans secured by the business's own assets don't count toward the investment (9 FAM 402.9). Second, the business can't be marginal. It needs the capacity to earn more than a minimal living for you and your family, generally within five years (9 FAM 402.9-6(E); USCIS). Our guide E-2 visa franchise investment: how much is substantial? goes into more detail, and how to choose an E-2 franchise covers the rest of the process.

Florida checklist

1. Confirm open territory in writing. Florida units in Item 20 don't mean a territory is still available near you. Ask the franchisor, or your franchise broker, which Florida territories are open, and get the boundaries in writing.
2. Ask about the Florida exemption filing. Florida doesn't register franchises. Franchisors instead file an annual exemption notice with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Fla. Stat. 559.802). FDACS confirms that franchise sellers no longer file registration documents, but the annual exemption filing still applies (FDACS). Ask whether the franchisor's current filing is in place.
3. Call Florida franchisees. Item 20 lists current and former owners. Ask them what they actually spent and how long it took them to open (FTC).
4. Get the FDD 14 days ahead. You must receive it at least 14 days before you sign or pay (FTC).
5. Ask each franchisor directly whether it works with E-2 investors, and what its process and timeline are.

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. E-2 rules and agency guidance can change, and every case depends on its facts. See a qualified U.S. immigration attorney about your eligibility, and a franchise attorney before you sign or pay.

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