Move over McDonald’s; 7-Eleven and Subway are the new leaders of the franchise world. A look into the top franchises, separated by industry.
Move over, McDonald’s; 7-Eleven and Subway are the new leaders of the franchise world. A look into the top franchises, separated by industry, shows that the largest percentage of franchises in America come from the food industry, followed by business services, health & beauty, auto repair & tools, and then hospitality.
The top 3 franchises within the food industry are 7-Eleven, at 32,701 locations in America, startup costs and franchise fees vary; Subway at 29,612 locations, $78K-$238K startup costs and $15K franchise fees; and McDonald’s at 24,799 locations, $950K-$1.8M startup costs and $45K franchise fees. The other most popular food industry franchises are as follows:
- KFC, at 12,980 locations in America, $1.2M-$1.8M startup costs and $45K franchise fees;
- Pizza Hut at 10,239 locations in America, $63K-$3M startup costs and $25K franchise fees;
- Dunkin’ Donuts at 8,092 locations in America, startup costs vary and $40K-$80K franchise fees;
- Dominos Pizza at 8,053 locations in America, $119K-$461K startup costs and up to $25K franchise fees;
- Baskin-Robbins at 5,889 locations in America, $121K-$419K startup costs and $15K-$35K franchise fees;
- Dairy Queen at 5,619 locations in America, $700K-$1.3M startup costs and $25K-$35K franchise fees;
- Quiznos at 5,111 locations in America, $24K-$341K startup costs and $5K-$25K franchise fees;
- Taco Bell at 4,516 locations in America, $1.3M-$2.5M startup costs and $45K franchise fees;
- Circle K at 4,085 locations in America, $161K-$1.4M startup costs and $15K franchise fees;
- Sonic Drive-In at 2,768 locations in America, $1.2M-$3.2M startup costs and $45K franchise fees;
- Arby’s at 2,558 locations in America, $336K-$2.4M startup costs and $25K-$37K franchise fees;
- AM/PM at 2,768 locations in America, $2.4M-$7M startup costs and $30K-$70K franchise fees;
- Papa John’s at 2,615 locations in America, $135K-$491K startup costs and $25K franchise fees;
- Cold Stone Creamery at 1,508 locations in America, $292K-$438K startup costs and $42K franchise fees; and
- Hardee’s at 1,397 locations in America, $1.3M-$1.9M startup costs and $35K franchise fees.
The top 3 franchises within the business services industry are as follows: Jani-King, at 12,980 locations in America, $11K-$34K startup costs and $8K-$16K+ franchise fees; Jan-Pro at 8,875 locations in America, $3K-$54K startup costs and $2K-$44K franchise fees; and the UPS Store at 5,982 locations in America, $171K-$280K in startup costs and $29K in franchise fees. The other most popular business services franchises are as follows:
- Service Master Clean at 4,597 locations in America, $21K-$126K startup costs and $2K-$44K franchise fees;
- Chem-Dry at 4,131 locations in America, $25K-$120K startup costs and $12K-$34K franchise fees;
- Clean Net USA at 3,582 locations in America, $5K-$91K startup costs and $2K-$83K franchise fees;
- Liberty Tax Service at 2,615 locations in America, $135K-$491K startup costs and $25K franchise fees;
- Bonus Building Care at 2,119 locations in America, $8K-$14K startup costs and $7K franchise fees;
- Cartridge World at 1,696 locations in America, $130K-$204K startup costs and $30K franchise fees;
- WSI Internet at 1,681 locations in America, $60K-$166K startup costs and $49K-147K franchise fees;
- Serv Pro at 1,420 locations in America, $100K-$159K startup costs and $39K franchise fees;
- Stratus Building Solutions at 1,339 locations in America, $3K-$57K startup costs and $3K-$47K franchise fees; and
- Anago Cleaning Systems at 1,233 locations in America, $8K-$1.2M startup costs and $4K-$1M franchise fees.
Within the health and beauty industry, the following franchises are at the top:
- Curves at 9,468 locations in America, $38K-$44K startup costs and $29K franchise fees;
- Jazzercise at 7,578 locations in America, $2K-$38K startup costs and $500-$1K franchise fees;
- Great Clips at 2,688 locations in America, $109K-$202K startup costs and $20K franchise fees;
- GNC at 2,115 locations in America, $130K-$232K startup costs and $30K-$40K franchise fees;
- M. Norman Cosmetics at 1,779 locations in America, $33K-$168K startup costs and $0 franchise fees; and
- Fantastic Sam’s at 1,335 locations in America, $118K-$230K startup costs and $30K franchise fees.
For the auto repair and tools industry, the following franchises rank as the most popular:
- Ace Hardware at 4,693 locations in America, $243K-$1M startup costs and $5K franchise fees;
- Snap-On Tools at 4,318 locations in America, $16K-$278K startup costs and $5K-$25K franchise fees;
- Midas at 2,449 locations in America, $265K-$365K startup costs and $30K franchise fees;
- Novus Auto Glass at 2,025 locations in America, $14K-$200K startup costs and $7K franchise fees;
- Jiffy Lube at 2,001 locations in America, $214K-$273K startup costs and $35K franchise fees; and
- Matco Tools at 1,480 locations in America, $81K-$183K startup costs and $0 franchise fees.
The hospitality industry names the following franchises as ranking at the top:
- Choice-Hotels at 5,709 locations in America, $2.5M-$5.3M startup costs and $35K franchise fees;
- Intercontinental Hotels at 3,498 locations in America, startup costs vary and franchise fees vary;
- Super 8 Motels at 2,095 locations in America, $274K-$3.1M startup costs and franchise fees vary;
- Days Inn at 1,876 locations in America, $392K-$6.4M startup costs and franchise fees vary; and
- Hampton Inn at 1,534 locations in America, $3.6M-$10.9M startup costs and $50K+ franchise fees.
Within the Etc. category, there are two franchises that rank at the top:
- Kuman Learning Centers at 25,191 locations in America, $30K-$129K startup costs and $1K franchise fees; and
- Re/Max at 6,988 locations in America, $35K-$200K startup costs and $12K-$25K franchise fees.
