Ideally, you should not take part in a low cost franchise opportunity until you have thoroughly evaluated the target audience, and marketability of the companies products.  That said, it is best to invest when the franchise is fairly new, so that you can negotiate lower initial investment payments and commission fees.  This is especially important if you need to rent store space, or you plan on owning property and building on it.  It would also be advisable to study the climate and economic situation in the area that you are planning to open your business in.   As an example, if you want to open a store on the east coast of the United States, it might be better to choose a location that is not at so much risk for hurricanes.