Across America there's a total of 792,014 franchises employing 8.5 million people. Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list ranks the crème de la crème based on everything from brand recognition and fees to growth potential, training, and support.
Read on to see the top 30 and find out what it costs to own one of America's best franchises
Founded in 1993, this walk-in barber shop chain features screens showing the biggest sporting events and offers men and boys quick, affordable haircuts, each of which come with a hot-towel treatment.
Sport Clips now has 1,895 locations, making it America's number one barber franchise. Startup costs are from $296,300 and ongoing fees are competitive, with the company providing everything necessary to launch and operate a prosperous business.
Fitness franchise F45 Training offers functional high-intensity workouts in sessions lasting 45 minutes, hence the name. Since its birth in Australia in 2011, the company has amassed 1,749 units and continues to enjoy strong growth. Franchisees benefit from a proprietary business model, dedicated support, and access to additional equipment.
Startup fees are a minimum of $400,200, but F45 offers a generous 50% discount for vets.
Planet Fitness takes a different approach, targeting casual gym-goers, and promoting its inclusive ethos, which is summed up in its “Judgement Free Zone” slogan. This approach has served it very well indeed and the company now has more than 2,000 locations, most of which are in the US.
While the workouts may have less intensity, there is a much steeper initial investment of $1,645,600. However, gym brands are some of the country's most popular franchises, and those with existing facilities have the option to convert to the Planet Fitness concept.
One of three Hilton brands to make the top 30, Home2 Suites is a stylish mid-price extended-stay hotel concept that currently boasts 551 franchises. Startup costs are substantial, ranging from $14 million to $20 million, but worth every cent given the prestige of the brand, comprehensive training program, outstanding support and bumper returns.
America's top residential cleaning franchise, The Maids was founded in 1979 and offers house cleaning services across 45 states. Franchisees require zero prior experience and setup costs aren't excessive, starting at $57,500, with ongoing fees from 8.9%.
Training and support are extra-thorough, and franchisees have the potential to make serious money, with the average unit generating revenue of almost $1 million a year.
The second of Hilton's brands to make the top 30, the middle-market DoubleTree is all about home comforts, and is known for spoiling guests with fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies when they check in.
Setup costs are the most expensive in the top 30, starting at $27 million and running to as much as $97 million, but the hefty outlay is matched by an exemplary franchise program and abundant financial rewards.
A more established hair salon brand, Great Clips has been around longer – it launched in 1982 – and has more franchised units at 4,447. The chain caters to women, men and children, meaning the potential customer base is a lot wider.
Its franchises are cheaper to set up as well, though ongoing fees are identical to Sport Clips' at 11%, while training and support are just as good, if not better.
One of the most well-known fast food chains, the first Burger King opened in 1954 selling 18 cent broiled hamburgers in Miami. Now its famous Whopper burgers can be purchased from one of 19,247 locations around the world.
The initial investment for a Burger King franchise starts just shy of $2 million, plus you need to have a net worth of at least $1 million. However, this does give franchisees access to extensive on-the-job training and marketing support.
This popular pet store chain has been in business for more than 30 years, and has more than 500 franchised locations in the US. Startup costs range from $500,000 to $1,500,000, and royalty fees are less than 7%.
The only pet store in the top 30, Pet Supplies Plus saw tremendous growth during the pandemic, reporting that franchise stores average $2.7 million a year. For pet lovers there's plenty of potential as the wider industry is projected for continued growth.
The only oil change chain to make the top 30, Valvoline dates way back to 1866, though its Instant Oil Change business came into being in 1986. Today, there are more than 1,275 locations across the US.
Franchisees need a net worth of $1 million, but the minimum investment is only $208,025, which includes a dedicated support team.
Snap-on Tools is the country's premier franchiser of tools for the auto and transportation industries. Its business model targets professional automotive repairs and extends to supplying mechanics in many different fields.
Minimum startup costs and income requirements add up to around $285,000 but royalties are set at a flat rate of $135 per month, unlike most franchises which take a percentage cut.
Budget Blinds was created in 1992 by a group of five friends in Orange County, California, who started franchising the concept in 1994. Since then, the bespoke blind-making firm has opened more than 1,300 locations.
Its top-rated program costs from $160,450 to join, with ongoing fees starting at $1,300 per month.
The world's largest convenience store chain has been franchising since 1964, and these days counts more than 13,000 locations in America alone and more than 68,000 across the globe.
Its program has been perfected over the years and the training, support and products that franchisees receive are terrific. Minimum startup costs are just $125,250, making this a fantastic budget option, though royalty fees vary.
The smoothie was invented in the early 1970s by lactose-intolerant entrepreneur Steve Kuhnau, who set out to create a super-healthy dairy-free milkshake. Fast-forward 50 years and the chain he founded in 1973 has 1,373 locations.
Its franchise program, which provides world-class training and support, costs from $278,600 to join, while ongoing fees come in at 9%.
Servpro has been coming to the rescue of businesses and homeowners since 1967. The company, which specializes in clean up and restoration, has more than 2,050 locations in America and is the leader in its field – as is its franchise program, which has been ranked number one in its category over the last a decade.
Setup costs start from $296,000 and minimum ongoing fees are between 6-13%.
When founder Dave Thomas started his burger chain in 1969, he named it after his daughter, inspiring its plucky redhead mascot, and hoping to evoke a sense of nostalgia with adult customers. He quickly developed a franchise program only two years later and the business took off, with more than 5,500 units today in the US alone.
A newcomer to the Top 30, in 2022 Wendy's launched a new restaurant design to move away from in-store dinning and accommodate the growing demand for fast food delivery. Franchisees must have a net worth of at least $1 million, but initial investments start as low as $380,000, with fees at 8% annually.
McDonald's needs no introduction. The most powerful brand in the top 50, it's America's leading franchise in terms of outlets, boasting more than 13,000 in the US.
Praised for its training and profit potential, the fast food giant's franchise program is envied by companies the world over. Setup costs start from $1.4 million, while royalties, including ad royalties, begin at 8%.
Another big name in the fast food realm, Colonel Sanders opened the first KFC franchise in Salt Lake City in 1952, and a majority of the chicken chain's 3,900 US locations are franchises. Startup costs begin at $1.5 million, assuming you have a net worth of $1.5 million, with ongoing fees from 9%.
Franchisees benefit from a mega-strong brand, exhaustive training, premier operational and marketing support and a whole lot more besides.
Serving up roast beef sandwiches, salads and wraps, Arby's franchises offer a popular fast food brand with menu alternatives to the traditional burger. The chain is popular among franchisees too, with flexible store layouts and exclusive territories to avoid saturating the market.
Similar to others in the industry, there's a net worth requirement of $1 million, and the minimum setup cost is $635,200, with a 50% discount for vets.
Smoothie King may have invented the smoothie and been around for a lot longer, but Tropical Smoothie Cafe outclasses its venerable rival in terms of franchising. The chain, which offers sandwiches, salads, and other savory treats alongside smoothies, started franchising in 1997 and now has 1,142 locations.
Franchisees gush about the program, which provides them with sterling training and support. Packages start at $300,000 and royalties range between 6-9%.
Now with more than 1,600 US locations, Wingstop really came into its own during the pandemic when sales hit the roof as stay-at-home Americans ordered the chain's buffalo-style chicken wings in droves.
Needless to say, the chain's acclaimed franchise program is key to its success and costs from $335,000 to join, with a net worth requirement of $1.2 million.
America's best hotel franchise, Hampton is Hilton's leading brand, with 2,800 hotels around the world. Minimum setup costs are lower than the other two Hilton brands in the Top 30 but, at $12 million, are massive nonetheless, which is to be expected given the quality of the training and support on offer and the potential to make enormous sums of money.
This Midwestern restaurant chain specializes in scrumptious butter-laden burgers and frozen custard, so isn't the most salubrious, but the returns it offers franchisees, who receive fantastic training and support, are exceedingly healthy.
Startup fees begin at $2.3 million, assuming a net worth of $1.25 million, none of which is cheap, though ongoing fees are on the low side at 6.5%.
Established in the 1920s, Ace Hardware began franchising in 1976 and the firm now has more than 5,700 stores around the world. Packages start from $297,000 and, in contrast to most programs, the company doesn't take royalties, allowing franchisees to maximize their profits.
In fact, Ace Hardware is considered a retailer-owned cooperative rather than a franchising entity per se.
This network of math and reading centers uses the revolutionary method devised by Japanese educator Toru Kumon during the 1950s, and there are now 1,625 franchised Kumon Centers in the US alone.
Franchisees, who benefit from excellent training and support, can invest with as little as $70,000 to get their business up and running, with royalties starting at $36 per student, per month.
The world's largest donut chain, Dunkin' is owned by Inspire Brands, which is also the parent of Sonic Drive-In, Baskin-Robbins, Jimmy John's, and Arby's. It's no surprise Dunkin' is the firm's top rated subsidiary when it comes to franchising. Its winning formula has been making franchisees big bucks for decades.
Setup costs start from $477,500, while ongoing fees represent 10.9% of revenues.
The UPS Store chain, which provides shipping, printing, packaging, mailbox, and other mail services, now has 5,400 locations. Its franchise program wows with everything from reasonable startup costs and fees to a competitive pricing model and exceptional training and support, so it comes as no surprise the company has been rated so highly by Entrepreneur.
With 2,400 locations and counting, Jersey Mike's is one of the country's leading submarine sandwich chains and among the fastest-growing. Franchises cost from a relatively affordable $212,000 to set up and royalties amount to 11.5%. Support is outstanding, providing franchisees with a whopping 500 hours of on-the-job training.
Beating rival KFC in the franchising stakes, fried chicken chain Popeyes excels with industry-leading training and support, plus the minimum cost to set up a franchise is much lower at $433,500. And while the brand isn't as powerful as KFC, it nonetheless enjoys extremely strong recognition in the US.
Holding on to the number one spot this year, Taco Bell offers a franchise program that's second to none. According to Entrepreneur, the secret of its success is the company's willingness to allow its franchisees to drive innovation, but the magazine is also effusive about the Tex-Mex chain's peerless training and support.
Set up costs start from $600,600 and royalties total 9.75%, though it has the steepest net worth requirement at $5 million.
Now take a look at what the average American gets paid for doing your job