Best Franchise Opportunities to Own in Houston

From a Franchise Broker Who Knows Beltway 8, Buc-ee’s, and How to Build a Scalable Business where it feels more than 100 degrees every day in July. 

There’s no doubt about it. Houston’s business climate creates certain business opportunities and takes away others. For instance, you probably don’t want to run a snow shoveling business there, whereas you might in Chicago. 

Houston is not just big, it’s Texas big. With it comes a lot of opportunities, but also things you need to carefully consider. However, if you do, there could be enormous potential. 

Houston presents a lot of opportunities as fast-growing as it is, and for that reason, I’ve chosen to write about the best franchise opportunities to own in Houston.

Don’t be afraid if you’re not seeing an opportunity that’s right for you. As a franchise consultant, I get on calls with aspiring franchisees all the time to find the one that’s right for them. Make sure to book a call! 

Nothing Bundt Cakes

In this article, I’ll touch on a number of different opportunities that exist, but Nothing Bundt Cakes is a big one. 

The reason Nothing Bundt Cakes made it to the top of my list of best franchise opportunities to own in Houston is that it has both good margins and easy operations, and taps into Southern hospitality. 

The market seems ripe for the franchise because the franchisor offers a great combination of cakes and charm. Doesn’t that just scream Houston? 

So, if you’re considering reading about FDDs, territory rights, and royalties as a consequence, hear me out. It’s not just a dessert shop! The concept is more of a celebration headquarters providing the necessary amount of celebration to all life’s big events! 

In addition, they come in a beautiful pink box that’s sure to keep customers stunned. 

People in Houston do things the Texan way – bigger! And that means everything gets celebrated. It could be quinceañeras. It could be retirement parties. Every event deserves a cake. It could also just be a random Tuesday where you’re looking to celebrate. 

Nothing Bundt Cakes’ favorite demographic – families and working professionals – can be found in great numbers there.

If I was setting up this franchise, I would specifically look for places like Sugar Land (no pun intended), Katy, or Houston suburbs. You’re not just selling something that tastes great but also a considerable amount of convenience. When was the last time you were throwing a party and thought you wanted to bake the cake yourself? 

It may be something people tell themselves they’re going to do, and then the day comes around, and it doesn’t happen.

Houston doesn’t come without its challenges. The traffic can be some of the worst in the country, so make sure you consider this when you’re looking for the location to set up at. You want good access and parking so it’s not too inconvenient to get those sugar cravings satisfied. 

Hydrate IV Bar

Hydrate IV Bar is a great concept in an industry that’s taking off very quickly. IV therapy clinics are popping up everywhere, and even if you think of California when you think of prime wellness, there’s also a fitness-minded crowd in Houston.

You just have to be a bit more selective with where you choose your location. 

Hydrate IV Bar’s product offering is interesting by providing things like vitamin C injections that can be life-changing after having one too many cocktails. The franchisor offers a spa-like setting that makes sure everyone coming through the doors feel very welcome. 

However, the broad range of recovery drips and various health-focused products appeals to more than just the affluent bar hoppers. It’s also a great place to go if you’re feeling dehydrated and want a dose of liquid goodness.

There’s no denying that Houston’s heat can be grueling. However, when you consider that there’s a core group of fitness nuts too, you may have just found your target audience. 

Hydrate IV Bar could become the talk of the town for those who party hard, work out hard, and enjoy a good brunch on Sunday. Sundays are just more fun if you’re not having to spend it with a headache. 

On top of that, there’s a group of high-income professionals who are willing to drop some serious cash on feeling well. 

For this franchise to be a success, I would look at places like the Heights, West U, and Midtown. They’re all places that draw in the high-income professionals you’re looking to go after. 

Black Bear Diner

Maybe you don’t open up just one location, but maybe you open up 2. If you can get a Black Bear Diner going in the right part of town and have your Hydrate IV Bar right next to it, your affluent customer group can first go to get their IV drips before they go and consume an omelet. 

Black Bear Diner offers up big portions of exactly the type of food you’re prone to eating when it’s Sunday and the headache is kicking in. If you’ve been to Houston, you know that the brunch scene there is as big as it is in Raleigh, where I live. You’re easily looking at 45-minute waits during the weekend as people are trying to get their fix in. 

Black Bear Diner is a substitute to a fast food joint. It’s actually real food that comes out of here. My biggest concern with something like a Black Bear Diner is that it’s not the simplest choice to operate, and scaling to multi-units is challenging. 

Without restaurant experience, you’ll be at a considerable disadvantage with this business, so it’s heavily encouraged. 

Pearland is also a place where you could set up shop. Unlike Hydrate IV Bar, this concept isn’t quite as dependent on an affluent crowd. In all honesty, it’s a pretty forgiving concept in terms of the location for as long as people can either walk there or there’s enough parking around. 

DexaFit

Like Hydrate IV Bar, here’s once again a concept that requires a special type of location to truly be successful.

Houston has many things going for it, and those people with keen fitness interests will also have an interest in tracking everything under the sun. That’s where the DexaFit franchise comes in handy! 

You’ll learn about things like body composition analysis, VO2 max, and metabolic testing, if you choose to go down this fitness route and open up a Dexafit franchise in Houston. 

Houston’s an interesting city when it comes to the various industries at play. Finance, tech, medicine. It feels like the city has everything. DexaFit is a great contribution in an area that’s very performance-obsessed. 

You know men in the fitness space will compare their results when it comes to DEXA scans. Whereas Black Bear Diner is operationally harder to run, Dexafit’s main challenge is the fact that it requires a very specific demographic. 

However, if you can get partnerships with medical pros, health coaches, and others who are around the fitness-focused community, you could have a great business.

Factors to consider

Any place – whether it’s Chicago, North Carolina, or Georgia — will have specific factors to consider, and Houston is no different in that regard. Certain franchise concepts just do considerably better with one demographic than another. 

Whereas you may not have much luck setting up a DexaFit on Chicago’s southside, there are places in Houston where this business could thrive. Considering the demography of the location you will presumably rent is crucial for your successful franchise selection. 

Houston is huge, and the sprawl is a factor not to be overlooked. Some franchise concepts have harder logistical challenges than others. For that reason, you’ll need to know if the business you’re getting started with relies on car-centric suburbs or lots of foot traffic and skyscrapers. While walkability is good for some business concepts, it could also come with rents so high it would render a concept unfeasible for others. 

Traffic is bad in Houston. What that means is if you can cut down on commuting while still offering your services, you become more enticing to your target demographic. Find a location that’s near complimentary offerings, and you’re well on your way to success!