Franchise 500
What It Takes to Win In Franchising In 2026
Here's what we learned from the brands on this year's Franchise 500 ranking.
By Jason Feifer
Franchise 500
Franchise 500
‘We’re Faster Than Amazon’: How Ace Hardware Is Beating Big Tech While Selling Local
At #4 on our Franchise 500, the 102-year-old company is using a hyperlocal strategy with franchisees to drive digital growth.
Franchise 500
This 72 Year-Old Education Brand Is Staying On Top By Doing One Crucial Thing In-Person
Kumon invests heavily in learnings across regions. That landed it at #5 on our Franchise 500.
Franchise 500
With Zero Orders Placed, AI Says to Drop 50 Wings In the Fryer. It’s Cut Customer Wait Times In Half.
Wingstop's Smart Kitchen, which uses machine learning to predict exactly when to start preparing food, has helped the brand land at #6 on the Franchise 500.
Franchise 500
The UPS Store Gets 5x the Packages It Did In 2019. Here’s How They’re Handling the Growth.
Peer to peer learning among franchisees has helped The UPS Store land at #7 on the Franchise 500.
Franchise 500
How Hampton by Hilton Expanded to 46 Countries, Even As Hotel Prices Rose 20%
At #8 on our Franchise 500, their brand's strategy is simple: "It's about the feeling you get when you walk through the door."
Franchise 500
This CEO Ate 10 Chicken Sandwiches In a Day and Got ‘So Sick.’ But It Led to 30% Sales Growth.
After 18 months of culinary invention, their sales jumped, landing them at #9 on the Franchise 500.
Franchise 500
McDonald’s Sales Jump 2.4% After They Revived This Old School Strategy
How the Golden Arches landed back in the Franchise 500 Top 10.
Franchise 500
From Celebrity Investors to AI That Cuts Labor Costs by 90% — How 5 Brands Made Massive Leaps
What drove explosive franchise growth in 2025? Here are the five different growth strategies that helped these franchises rocket up in the Franchise 500 rankings.
By Kim Kavin
Franchise 500
‘Computers Can’t Tie Balloons’: 8 Innovative New Franchises
These franchises identified market gaps, and are turning unique ideas into scalable business models for our current moment.
By Jason Feifer
Franchise 500
A Day In the Life of a Franchisee Who Took His Store from $700K to $1.8 Million
Raul Larez now owns two Batteries Plus locations, but still has plenty of time for family. We asked him to keep a diary of one average day.
By Raul Larez
Franchise 500
Raise Prices or Cut Staff… How About Neither? Try The Strategy That Worked For These 5 Brands
When costs climb and consumers tighten budgets, most franchises raise prices or cut staff. But the smartest brands are reengineering value.
By Matt Haller
Franchise 500
I Took a Tiny Hometown Restaurant and Built It Into 235 Locations For Very Little Money. You Can Too.
Eddie Flores Jr. couldn't get a loan, so he built L&L Hawaiian Barbecue without much cash for traditional marketing. Here is his "impact marketing without spending money" strategy.
Buying a Franchise
This Family-Friendly Brand Is Snapping Up Vacant Stores — And Building a $600 Million Business in the Process
As national retailers shutter locations, Urban Air Adventure Park is transforming empty big-box stores into family destinations that drive foot traffic and revenue for retail centers.
Buying a Franchise
A Major Restaurant Operator Just Cashed Out of One of Its Biggest Brands — Here’s Why
The sale marks a strategic shift — and is a sign of how fast-food giants are rethinking growth.
Buying a Franchise
These Are the Top Retail Franchises for 2025, According to the Franchise 500
These retail brands are proving there's still a big opportunity in brick-and-mortar franchising.
Buying a Franchise
Franchise Success Isn’t Automatic — It’s Earned. Here’s How to Do It Right.
Many franchise candidates fall for the "it runs itself" myth. Here's why hands-on ownership is the only real path to success.
By Rob Lancit
Buying a Franchise
Most Acquisitions Fail — Here’s How to Make Yours the Exception
Buying a company is the easy part. The challenge is getting your new team to feel like part of the same firm.
Buying a Franchise
This Fast-Food Powerhouse Is Getting a Makeover. Here’s What Customers Can Expect.
Wendy's is rolling out Project Fresh, a consumer-focused overhaul that promises faster drive-thrus, smarter ordering tech and a refreshed menu.
Buying a Franchise
This Founder Lost Control of Her Cult-Favorite Brand — Here’s How She’s Making a Bold Comeback
After a turbulent stretch, Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole says she's back in full control — and pushing a disciplined "2.0" reset.
Buying a Franchise
The IFA Is Spending $5 Million to Counter This Major Franchising Myth
The IFA's new awareness campaign highlights real franchise owners whose work supports local jobs, charities and neighborhoods.
Buying a Franchise
This Brand Is Making a High-Tech Move That Could Change Your Food Deliveries Forever
Dave's Hot Chicken's drone delivery experiment could be the blueprint for how businesses deliver in the future.
Buying a Franchise
One of America’s Oldest Seafood Chains Just Got a Menu Makeover — and It’s Betting Big on Chicken
The brand that once defined fried fish in America is turning its focus to chicken.
Buying a Franchise
This 18-Year-Old Saved Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead
She bought her first store before she could legally sign a contract.
Buying a Franchise
Your Personal Brand Is Your Job Security — Here’s 3 Ways to Build It
Whether you're a corporate professional or have entrepreneurial goals, building your personal brand is critical.
By David Busker
Buying a Franchise
The Small Hiring Change That Built Stronger Teams at My Company
A slight mindset shift turned hiring from a fearful chore into a growth catalyst, teaching me that decisive action often beats waiting for perfection.
By Adam Povlitz
Buying a Franchise
Five Steps to Building a Strong Culture Across Franchise Locations
When it comes to franchise success, reliable systems and processes are essential, but a thriving company culture is the glue that holds it all together.
By Jeff Brazier