5 Brands We Wish Would Franchise

Some prospective franchisees may be surprised to learn that some of their favorite brands aren’t available. Here’s a list of a few of our favorites that we wish would go on the market for franchising.

The fast-casual Mexican restaurant market has exploded over the last couple of decades, with major competitors such as Qdoba, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Del Taco slugging it out, but the leader has long been Chipotle. An innovator in the space, Chipotle has spread to nearly 3,000 stores in five countries, but has stayed completely company-owned the entire time. As they continue to be a revenue leader Chipotle hasn’t shown interest in franchising, but that hasn’t kept us from dreaming.

Speaking of innovators — Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, and the brand is so widespread and successful that the name “Starbucks” has become synonymous with the industry as a whole. But with over 32,000 stores in 83 countries throughout the world, Starbucks has never franchised, instead generating more revenue from its shareholders and partnerships. Evidently, they haven’t had a problem spreading their footprint, even without franchising.

The grocery store market is highly competitive and regionalized, but Trader Joe’s has stood out for its tremendous service and wide reach across the United States. But as it has evolved into an industry leader, Trader Joe’s has still never franchised. With a much wider footprint than many grocery store chains in the U.S., franchising could provide Trader Joe’s with a way to build further upon its already-impressive infrastructure.

If you’ve ever gone to the West Coast, you’d do well to stop by In-N-Out, a California staple that’s an institution in its home market. In the past, In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder has affirmed that her company will never franchise. However, should the brand one day change its mind, it could be the boost it needs to spread beyond its traditional borders and take over the rest of the country.

White Castle has formed its own strong identity and loyal customer base, with its distinctive branding and famous sliders. But as it passes its centennial year, White Castle has remained firmly in the hands of the Ingram family, its original founders. The brand’s refusal to franchise has led to a number of locations that doesn’t match its brand awareness, and deciding to franchise could prove a boon.