G
rowth is the purpose of franchising. So while it’s only
one of many factors that we look at in our comprehen-
sive yearly Franchise 500 ranking, it’s certainly worth
putting a magnifying glass to this one important mea-
sure of franchise success. That’s why every year we put
together this list of franchises that have expanded rap-
idly in North America. The companies on this list are
ranked based on their net franchise unit growth in the
U.S. and Canada between July 2018 and July 2019, with ties bro-
ken based on percentage growth.
Altogether, these 150 companies added a total of 9,537 new
franchise units in North America during that time period. They’re
an eclectic mix of concepts, from traditional services to newer
trends. But looking at them as a whole provides some interesting
insights: Although quick-service food franchises typically reignsupreme in every ranking we do, personal-care brands actually
dominate this list, starting with Supercuts in the #1 spot. There
are a total of 30 personal-care franchises ranked here, a fifth of
the list, and they account for more than a quarter of the total
units added. That’s not to say that quick service isn’t still a strong
category—it comes in second, with 27 companies representing
almost 20 percent of the units added. But the growing strength
of the personal-care category, along with others like maintenance
and children’s services, is evident.
Whatever industry you may be considering buying a franchise
in, keep in mind that growth—though it can certainly be a sign of a
healthy brand—is only one of many factors to consider. Remember
as you read that this ranking is not intended as a recommendation
of any particular company, and make sure you do your own thor-
ough research to find the opportunity that’s right for you.March 2020 / ENTREPRENEUR.COM / 85PH
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The List
BLAST OFF!
Our annual ranking of the 150 fastest-growing franchises.
by TRACY STAPP HEROLDPH
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