---
title: "The 2026 Multi-Unit 50: A Snapshot of Scale"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/350fdc7b-cbb2-423a-9491-7a3d0e9cb5da
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260829_the_2026_multiunit_50_a_snapshot_of_scale.html
author: "Ambika Oberoi"
category: "Franchise Industry"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-10-03T07:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:23.933Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/10673_plate.jpg
---

# The 2026 Multi-Unit 50: A Snapshot of Scale

**TL;DR:** The 2026 Multi-Unit 50 rankings show Subway leading with 1,945 multi-unit franchisees, while iFoam has 100% multi-unit penetration and McDonald's has 83% multi-unit penetration. The rankings offer a snapshot of where franchisee scale is most concentrated across the industry.

*By Ambika Oberoi, originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-10-03. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260829_the_2026_multiunit_50_a_snapshot_of_scale.html).*

## Key facts

- Subway has 1,945 multi-unit franchisees
- iFoam has 100% multi-unit penetration
- McDonald's has 83% multi-unit penetration

## Story

## Multi-unit rankings

The 2026 Multi-Unit 50 rankings offer a clear snapshot of where franchisee scale is most concentrated across the industry. As with any living dataset, ongoing refinements to how FRANdata classifies franchisee data have made this year’s rankings a more complete picture than ever. Measured by sheer volume of multi-unit operators, Subway leads with 1,945 multi-unit franchisees across a total system of 5,605.

McDonald’s follows with 1,630 multi-unit franchisees and a notably high concentration: More than 83% of its franchisees operate multiple locations, placing it fifth on the percentage-based list as well. The UPS Store, AFC, and Dunkin’ round out the top five by count. Each has multi-unit operators numbering in the hundreds, reflecting the depth of experienced operators within these mature systems.

The percentage-based rankings tell a different story about brand architecture and operator strategy. iFoam tops this list with 100% multi-unit penetration. It’s followed by Panera Bread at 96% and Dave’s Hot Chicken at 95%.

## Service-based concepts

Several service-based concepts, like Servpro, ServiceMaster, RooterMan, Koala Insulation, and America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP), appear across both lists. This reflects a strong appetite among multi-unit operators for recurring-revenue, service-based models that scale well across territories. ***Ambika Oberoi** is director of information management for FRANdata.

* **Rank** **Brands** **Multi-Zees** **Single Zees** **Grand Total** **1** Subway 1,945 3,660 **5,605** **2** McDonald’s 1,630 323 **1,953** **3** The UPS Store 883 2,410 **3,293** **4** AFC 822 1,945 **2,767** **5** Dunkin’ 741 1,015 **1,756** **6** Re/Max 581 766 **1,347** **7** Ace Hardware 571 2,333 **2,904** **8** Health Mart Pharmacy 558 3,188 **3,746** **9** Great Clips 552 244 **796** **10** H&R Block 522 624 **1,146** **11** Domino’s Pizza 492 227 **719** **12** Liberty Tax Service 477 678 **1,155** **13** Little Caesars 455 285 **740** **14** Servpro 444 287 **731** **15** Vision Source 422 2,027 **2,449** **16** HisshoSushi 376 497 **873** **17** Budget Blinds 374 373 **747** **18** DQ Grill & Chill 366 1,057 **1,423** **19** ServiceMaster 344 208 **552** **20** Jackson Hewitt Tax Service 340 166 **506** **21** Chick-fil-A 335 1,557 **1,892** **22** Century 21 316 640 **956** **23** Baskin-Robbins 314 918 **1,232** **24** JimmyJohn’s 311 669 **980** **25** Jersey Mike’s Subs 301 223 **524** **26** Chem-Dry 267 307 **574** **27** Burger King 245 157 **402** **28** Anytime Fitness 235 1,315 **1,550** **29** Firehouse Subs 235 242 **477** **30** Edible 212 285 **497** **31** Coldwell Banker 209 424 **633** **32** Smoothie King 205 237 **442** **33** Merry Maids 198 115 **313** **34** Snowfox 193 700 **893** **35** Massage Envy 191 187 **378** **36** Taco Bell 189 181 **370** **37** Wendy’s 183 68 **251** **38** PapaJohn’s 172 337 **509** **39** Cold Stone Creamery 169 385 **554** **40** Huntington Learning Center 166 70 **236** **41** MilliCare 160 25 **185** **42** Keystone Insurers Group 154 234 **388** **43** Right at Home 152 130 **282** **44** DQ Treat 149 716 **865** **45** KFC 149 231 **380** **46** Lawn Doctor 147 92 **239** **47** Supercuts 146 101 **247** **48** Wingstop 143 66 **209** **49** Fantastic Sams 142 240 **382** **50** Mathnasium 141 397 **538** Source: FRANdata Disclaimer: Due to ongoing changes within this system and FRANdata’s continuous data verification process, the total number of multi-unit franchisee owners may be subject to updates. Top 50 Brands by % of Multi-Unit Franchisees **Rank** **Brands** **% Multi-Unit Zees** **Multi Zees** **Single Zees** **Grand Total** **1** iFoam **100.00%** 25 0 **25** **2** Panera Bread **96.

00%** 24 1 **25** **3** Dave’s Hot Chicken **95.00%** 57 3 **60** **4** Five Guys **94.19%** 81 5 **86** **5** Palm Beach Tan **93.

10%** 27 2 **29** **6** 7 Brew **93.10%** 27 2 **29** **7** RooterMan **92.19%** 59 5 **64** **8** Jack in the Box **90.

36%** 75 8 **83** **9** Koala Insulation **89.52%** 94 11 **105** **10** Signal **89.51%** 128 15 **143** **11** America’s Swimming Pool Co.

(ASP) **88.62%** 109 14 **123** **12** Freshii **88.00%** 44 6 **50** **13** Smartstyle **87.

32%** 62 9 **71** **14** MilliCare **86.49%** 160 25 **185** **15** ShelfGenie **86.44%** 51 8 **59** **16** Miracle-Ear **86.

27%** 88 14 **102** **17** The Patch Boys **83.93%** 94 18 **112** **18** Lime Painting **83.87%** 26 5 **31** **19** Hello Garage **83.

87%** 26 5 **31** **20** McDonald’s **83.46%** 1,630 323 **1,953** **21** Temporary Wall Systems **81.58%** 62 14 **76** **22** Michelin Commercial Service Network **81.

48%** 22 5 **27** **23** Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers **80.77%** 42 10 **52** **24** Pest Authority **80.65%** 25 31 **31** **25** PacLease **80.

49%** 33 8 **41** **26** Frontier Adjusters **80.00%** 104 26 **130** **27** Tide Cleaners **80.00%** 20 5 **25** **28** Smash My Trash **79.

85%** 107 27 **134** **29** Miracle Method **79.49%** 31 8 **39** **30** Buddy’s Home Furnishings **76.92%** 20 6 **26** **31** Godfather’s Pizza **74.

05%** 137 48 **185** **32** Wendy’s **72.91%** 183 68 **251** **33** Playa Bowls **70.97%** 22 9 **31** **34** Huntington Learning Center **70.

34%** 166 70 **236** **35** Buddy’s Home Furnishings **70.00%** 21 9 **30** **36** Sola Salon Studios **69.70%** 92 40 **132** **37** Great Clips **69.

35%** 552 244 **796** **38** Domino’s Pizza **68.43%** 492 227 **719** **39** Wingstop **68.42%** 143 66 **209** **40** Jet-Black Asphalt Sealcoating and Repair **68.

29%** 28 13 **41** **41** Blaze Pizza **68.18%** 45 21 **66** **42** USA Insulation **67.65%** 23 11 **34** **43** Barberitos **67.

57%** 25 12 **37** **44** Jackson Hewitt Tax Service **67.19%** 340 166 **506** **45** Bojangles **66.67%** 38 19 **57** **46** Valvoline Instant Oil Change **66.

67%** 32 16 **48** **47** Budget **66.67%** 24 12 **36** **48** Penn Station Sandwiches **66.20%** 47 24 **71** **49** N-Hance **66.

06%** 72 37 **109** **50** Sotheby’s International Realty **65.93%** 89 46 **135** Source: FRANdata Note: Brands with fewer than 25 franchisees were excluded. Disclaimer: Due to ongoing changes within this system and FRANdata’s continuous data verification process, the total number of multi-unit franchisee owners may be subject to updates.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- McDonald's (company)
- Multi-Unit (sector)
- Subway (company)
- FRANdata (company)
- multi-unit franchisees (topic)
- Ambika Oberoi (person)
- industry rankings (topic)
- iFoam (company)
- franchisee scale (topic)

---
Originally reported by Ambika Oberoi, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260829_the_2026_multiunit_50_a_snapshot_of_scale.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/350fdc7b-cbb2-423a-9491-7a3d0e9cb5da).