Best Franchise Lists
Data-driven rankings from official FDD filings across 25 curated lists.
Rankings
Franchises ranked by a single performance metric.
Cheapest Franchises to Open
Franchise opportunities with the lowest minimum investment, ranked by startup cost.
Fastest Growing Franchises
Franchises with the highest net unit growth rate over the past year. Growth rate vs. absolute units added — why they tell different stories.
Highest Revenue Franchises
Top 20 franchises by average gross revenue from Item 19. Chick-fil-A leads at $9.3M — but the revenue/investment ratio tells the real capital efficiency story.
Highest Rated Franchises by Health Score
Top franchises ranked by our composite Health Score — growth, fees, scale, and data quality.
Lowest Royalty Franchises
Franchises with the lowest ongoing royalty percentage, keeping more revenue in your pocket.
By Investment Range
Find franchises that fit your budget.
Franchises Under $50K
The most affordable franchise opportunities — home-based, mobile, and low-overhead concepts.
Franchises Under $100K
The SBA-friendly bracket. Enough brands to compare seriously with manageable capital requirements.
Franchises Under $150K
Home services, real estate, and education dominate. Mosquito Authority, Kumon, and Five Star Painting all enter here.
Franchises Under $200K
Adds Domino's, Huntington Learning Centers, and home health. The most SBA-loan-eligible bracket.
Franchises Under $250K
The single-unit sweet spot — from mobile services through brick-and-mortar retail and studios.
Franchises Under $300K
Adds The UPS Store, Jiffy Lube, and automotive. The broadest bracket with the most category diversity.
Franchises Under $400K
Major QSR brands enter: KFC, Jimmy John's, Firehouse Subs. Boutique fitness (F45, Pure Barre, Club Pilates) also starts here.
Franchises Under $500K
Established QSR chains, full-service fitness, and automotive — higher ceilings, more complex ops.
Franchises Under $750K
Adds Dunkin', Panda Express, Pet Supplies Plus, Hand & Stone, and Nothing Bundt Cakes. 116 brands total.
Franchises Over $1M
Major QSR chains, hotel brands, and premium concepts with proven unit economics.
By Category
Top franchises in each industry, ranked by Health Score.