• Buying a franchise chain location can be a smart business and financial decision. There are expenses to owning your own company, including payroll, insurance, products and more. However, some franchise chains keep growing in spite of recession and hardship. Initial start-up fees for franchises are not always expensive. None are more than $500,000 as of 2010, and the revenue generated by the relationship with the franchise chain can cover that initial cost quickly.
  
  

Subway

• Subway has more than 33,000 locations around the world, making it the largest sandwich franchise in the world. The franchise serves sandwiches such as the sweet onion chicken teriyaki and the spicy Italian; it also serves salads and cookies. In addition to the popular restaurants, the franchise also sells merchandise such as shirts and keychains. Subway's initial start-up fee as of 2010 is $15,000.
  
  

7-Eleven

• 7-Eleven has more than 36,000 stores worldwide, not including Canada. The stores sell 7-Select products, Slurpees, Big Gulp fountain drinks and other products found in convenience stores. As of 2010, the start-up fee for a 7-Eleven franchise is $50,000 to $350,000 depending on the size of the store and location. If gasoline is to be included for sale, an additional start-up fee of $10,000 to $40,000 is added.
  
  

Supercuts

• Some franchises might take a bite during a recession, but people will always be in need of haircuts. Supercuts has more than 2,100 locations worldwide. The salons offer haircuts, coloring, waxing and styling, and sell a variety of hair care product lines, such as Biolage. As of 2010, the start-up fee for Supercuts is $116,850 to $189,250 depending on the size of the salon and location.
  
  

Jani-King

• Cleaning can be a lucrative business, and Jani-King has proven that. The cleaners have more than 11,000 locations worldwide. Jani-King practices green cleaning to clients such as stadiums, retail businesses, schools, offices and clinics, and a cleaning crew is available 24 hours every day. The initial start-up down payment can be as low as $3,000 as of 2010.