To view our entire 2026 Franchise 500 list, including category rankings, click HERE.

Everyone wants to know: How do you win in franchising?

And every year, Entrepreneur publishes the world’s greatest answer to that. It is this, the Franchise 500 — the most robust survey of what’s working, what’s not, and how the most resilient and dynamic brands are pulling ahead.

So, what did we see this year? Let’s back up.

This year, Entrepreneur evaluated 1,354 total franchise brands. Five hundred of them made the ranking — and those 500 represent an outsized 89% of all units from the brands that applied. In raw numbers: The 500 brands in our ranking had a combined 550,929 units. Across the entire data set (all 1,354 brands), there were 618,945 units.

In other words: The strongest brands don’t just grow. They define the industry. The brands on the Franchise 500 are truly the greatest representation of what’s working in franchising today.

Growth in a cooling market

From July 2024 to July 2025 (which is the timeframe we tracked data), overall franchise expansion slowed — but the best companies still pulled ahead.

→ Ranked companies grew 2.71%, compared to 3.49% the year before.

→ The broader franchise     universe grew 2.56%,    down from 3.33% the       previous year.

→ Ranked companies added 14,562 new units, while all companies combined added 15,631 — meaning ranked companies accounted for 93.16% of all growth.

→ U.S. franchise unit growth actually ticked upward for ranked companies: +8,620 U.S. franchises (2.81%), compared to +8,140 (2.73%) the prior year.

→ Company-owned units saw almost no change — a net increase of just 80 across the entire data set. That’s growth of +0.18% total and +0.21% among ranked brands.

That last bullet is especially interesting. Corporate-owned expansion is slowing, which could signal an opportunity: Many franchisors appear to be selling corporate locations to franchisees. For newcomers or existing franchisees looking to scale, this may be a moment to acquire a unit that’s already operational.

What’s growing, and what isn’t

Quick-service restaurants remain the largest category in franchising, but even here, change is underway. Last year, 111 QSR brands made the ranking; this year, that number is 101. But the category continues to dominate the upper tier, representing half of the top 10 and 34 of the top 100 companies.

Beyond QSR, other categories are reshaping the landscape:

→ We’re seeing growth in Financial Services, Children’s Businesses, and Personal Care Businesses.

→ Health & Wellness held steady at 34 ranked companies, but eight landed in the top 100 — evidence of strong demand.

→ Health & Wellness is also diversifying. We added three new subcategories there — hormone replacement therapy, mobility products & services, and urgent/primary care clinics—to represent the specific growth in those areas.

Here are some other emerging areas we’re seeing, which we’ve created new subcategories for: networking groups, sign maintenance/installation, indoor air quality services, skin care, recreational tours, virtual reality, and senior transition/relocation services.

These new niches tell a story: Franchising continues to push into specialized, high-demand sectors — particularly those tied to health, home services, and emerging experiences.

What the best franchises look like

They are everywhere — expanding domestically, growing internationally, carving out new niches, and adapting to new consumer needs.

Some are longstanding brands refining proven systems. Some are new concepts capitalizing on fresh demand. Some are massive; some are just hitting their stride. But they all share one thing: They’ve built systems strong enough to scale and adaptable enough to stay relevant in a shifting economic climate.

This is why we publish the Franchise 500 every year. It’s a map of where franchising is, where it’s going, and where opportunity may lie—especially for first-time buyers searching for the right fit.

So what do the best franchises in America look like? In 2026, more than ever, the answer is simple: They look like possibility.

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