Top Franchise Brands that Lend Themselves to Multi-Unit Ownership

With so much opportunity out there, it can be hard to narrow down where to invest — especially when it comes to opening more than one store. It is important to look for easily scalable models that come at the right price point.

Investment Range: $140,000–$342,000 Unit Count: 17,000+

FRANdata found that Subway was the top brand by the number of multi-unit franchisees in 2021, with a total of 3,669. In 2022, ??the brand even announced it was shifting its franchisee strategy from working with mainly single-unit operators to targeting multi-unit franchisees. The chain has been using a data-driven approach to ensure these stores are in the right locations and formats.

Investment Range: $438,000–$1,800,000 Unit Count: 3,700+

Because Dunkin’ franchises can be opened in convenience stores or non-traditional locations, it is fairly easy to scale compared to other brands. Several of the industry’s largest multi-unit franchisees have a significant amount of Dunkin’ stores in their portfolios.

Investment Range: $562,850–$1,008,550 Unit Count: 180+

Workout Anytime notes that its model lends itself to franchisees looking to delegate many of the day-to-day responsibilities of operating their gym to their trusted employees — making it ideal for multi-unit ownership. While there are, of course, some tasks franchisees need to handle personally, there is less obligation to be at one location on a daily basis.

Investment Range: $266,300–$439,500 Unit Count: 115+

With 283 multi-unit franchisees as of 2021, Sport Clips is among the most multi-unit-friendly brands in franchising. For entrepreneurs looking to build a business, Sport Clips is an easy-to-understand business model that’s simple to execute while offering a service everyone needs.

Investment Range: $330,000–$3,700,000 Unit Count: 1,400+

Wendy’s says that its focus is to recruit prospective franchisees who are interested in pursuing multi-unit opportunities through the acquisition of existing restaurants or the development of new restaurants. The brand’s global reputation and fast-food model make it easily scalable for owners.

Investment Range: $44,000–$79,000 Unit Count: 420+

Liberty Tax Service’s proven business model has attracted franchisees across the country who are looking to add more than one unit to their portfolio. Forty-one percent of Liberty Tax franchisees own more than one location, while 69% of Liberty Tax locations are owned by multi-unit franchisees.

Investment Range: $549,228–$737,635 Unit Count: 65+

With the global market for early childhood education growing at a compound annual rate of more than 10%, Lightbridge Academy, a 65-plus-unit early education and child care franchise, is positioned to see a significant increase in demand. Industry growth, paired with the support and scalable model Lightbridge offers, have made it easy for franchisees to make plans to grow.

Investment Range: $116,465–$141,815 Unit Count: 600+

Lawn Doctor, the 600-plus-unit lawn care franchise, is a great opportunity for multi-unit ownership in the booming home services sector. The brand offers a low-investment franchise opportunity compared to other concepts in its category, and its multi-unit franchisees praise its beneficial support network.

Investment Range: $122,000–$508,000 Unit Count: 360+

The UPS Store franchise system encourages its qualified franchisees to own multiple centers. In fact, approximately 52% of the brand’s franchisees own more than one center. Much of the reason for this is the variety of options available to store owners, such as on college campuses, military bases and more.

Investment Range: $159,342–$441,874 Unit Count: 80+

Every city in the U.S. experiences water, fire, mold or structural damage, so UWRG owners can thrive anywhere. Notably, 62% of franchisees are multi-unit operators. And now's a better time than ever to invest, with over 80 franchise territories open across the U.S. and Canada.