Jun 6, 2026
Even if you aren’t enduring the existential crisis that many workers are in the face of AI domination, it can bring substantial assurance to know that your means of earning an income isn’t under threat from new technologies.
And, there’s at least one future-proof career that isn’t getting as much attention as say a pilot or radiologist. That seemingly AI-free career is the less-than-glamorous path of becoming a franchisee.
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Sure, it doesn’t hold much esteem, and the day-to-day may be less than riveting. But, it’s a role untouched by artificial intelligence to date and, crucially, that presents the opportunity to rake in the big bucks if you are strategic, willing to invest the time, and have a bit of luck (and some cash on hand to start).
Franchising just got its first billionaire
Owning multiple franchises apparently has the potential to earn you a staggering $1 billion over time, as proven earlier this year by long-time franchisor Greg Flynn, believed to be the first to hit the milestone. The Flynn Group owns thousands of branded restaurants, including Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Taco Bell, across 44 states and three countries. His company also operates 140-plus Planet Fitness gyms.
As The Economist reported last week, franchising has “quietly made countless Americans rich,” and thus serves to represent, in many ways, the archetypical American dream.
Beyond Flynn’s success story, which could be shrugged off as an outlier, business owners and entrepreneurs — franchisees included — are said to comprise 88% of all millionaires, and 91% of people with a net worth over $5 million.
Before tech giants like Nvidia came along, McDonald’s was believed to have turned more people into millionaires than any other company, especially people of color.
Compared to founding and operating your own company, becoming a franchise involves far less high-level decision making. While this fact may make it a no-go for those with a vision and are interested in controlling every aspect of their own enterprise, it makes it a no-brainer for others.
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Risky business
Of course, it’s the ones who are able to master this particular calling and oversee multiple outposts who are most likely to see success. And we’re not talking about just a handful here: newly minted billionaire Flynn, who started out by purchasing eight Applebee’s restaurants, now boasts a portfolio of 3,000-plus locations worldwide, representing seven different restaurant chains.
If you’re able to field steep startup costs — which include initial franchise fees, real estate and equipment, raw materials and more — you will still have to pay regular brand royalty payments along with ongoing operating costs.
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This can all be partially offset by a lender and in-house franchiser loans, depending on the company, which are often pretty straightforward to secure if the franchise has a proven business model.
That being said, you must stick to that business model, even if you find ways to cut down on costs or improve anything else about the business. You will also be required to have a decent amount of capital on hand.
Franchising by the numbers
McDonald’s, for example, requires franchisee applicants to have no less than $500,000 in liquidity, and to face startup fees of more than $1 million. And in the end, the average take-home for a franchisee is $150,000 per location, according to the late 2010s figures.
As successful as McDonald’s locations are almost guaranteed to be, a big pro to working with the brand, this net profit could be considered low compared to other companies. Historically, this, and other factors such as “conflicting agendas between headquarters and store operators” has left franchisees of the ubiquitous fast-food stop exasperated.
Owner-operators of Chick-Fil-A franchises, meanwhile, only need to pay about $10,000 in launch fees, and tend to earn more; about $200,000 to $400,000 per location. So, picking the right company, and the right location to suit your goals (and means) is key. Buying an existing outlet can help you avoid some of the early costs and allow you to vet financials from previous years.
Horror stories from current or past franchisees are common online. Some tell stories to would-be entrants into the business that “each person I know who owns or at one time owned a franchise regrets it” and that success is “entirely dependent on location, operator skill, and lease status,” along with committing to multiple properties.
But, if you have the business acumen and stomach for it, profits can easily exceed the salary of many white-collar jobs.
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Becky Robertson is a senior staff reporter with Moneywise and a lifelong writer. Along with years in the journalism industry at outlets such as blogTO and Quill & Quire, she's participated in writing residencies at the Banff Centre and Writing Workshops Paris. With 33 countries visited, she finds travel to be one of her greatest inspirations.
