These Are the Top 150 New and Emerging Franchises in 2026
Taking a chance on buying a franchise from a newer franchisor can have some unique rewards.
This story appears in the May 2026 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Want to profit off the next big thing? Let this list be your guide: It contains franchise brands that you could buy today, and that could be huge tomorrow.
When people think of franchising, they often think of legacy brands like McDonald’s or Taco Bell. These companies have been around for decades — and while it’s still possible to buy one of them, brands like these often require already experienced and well-funded franchisees.
But there’s another way in, if you’re daring enough: Franchising is also full of new and emerging brands, which may come at a lower cost — and could be more open to influence from their earliest franchisees (maybe you!). And there are always new ones to choose from. In fact, when we looked through the applicants for our most recent annual Franchise 500 ranking, we saw that about a quarter of the companies that applied have only been franchising for five years or less!
The companies on our “New and Emerging” list all began franchising in 2021 or later, and we’ve evaluated them using the same formula that we use for the Franchise 500 ranking — which scores each brand based on more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. The 150 highest-scoring brands become our top new and emerging franchises.
This list can serve as a great starting point for anyone interested in researching the latest concepts in franchising, but it is not intended as a recommendation of any particular brand. Emerging franchises can offer both great rewards and great risks, so it’s essential that you do your due diligence. Before investing in any franchise, read the company’s legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant, and talk to other franchisees.
Want to profit off the next big thing? Let this list be your guide: It contains franchise brands that you could buy today, and that could be huge tomorrow.
When people think of franchising, they often think of legacy brands like McDonald’s or Taco Bell. These companies have been around for decades — and while it’s still possible to buy one of them, brands like these often require already experienced and well-funded franchisees.
But there’s another way in, if you’re daring enough: Franchising is also full of new and emerging brands, which may come at a lower cost — and could be more open to influence from their earliest franchisees (maybe you!). And there are always new ones to choose from. In fact, when we looked through the applicants for our most recent annual Franchise 500 ranking, we saw that about a quarter of the companies that applied have only been franchising for five years or less!
