What Are the Best Bagel Franchises?

There are few breakfast items as versatile and beloved as bagels. Whether toasted with cream cheese, piled high with eggs and bacon, turned into a hearty lunch sandwich or enjoyed as an afternoon snack, bagels can satisfy just about any craving. They come in a variety of flavors, from classic plain and sesame to cinnamon raisin and savory everything, and can be dressed up with everything from smoked salmon to avocado.

Once considered a breakfast staple primarily, bagels have become an anytime favorite. In fact, Einstein Bros. Bagels’ (above) 2026 State of the Bagel report states that 55% of respondents eat bagels any time of the day.

The popular brand produces more than 200 million bagels annually, contributing to the $3.3 billion bagel market in the U.S. Other bagel franchises, such as PopUp Bagels and Jeff’s Bagel Run, have sprung up to meet demand, giving aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to get a piece of this lucrative industry and bring communities together with a feel-good product.

About: Founded in 2018, 101 Bagel Cafe is an Atlanta-area bagel-and-coffee-shop concept specializing in New York-style bagels. The brand boils and bakes its bagels fresh daily using traditional methods.

What Makes the Brand Unique: Beyond bagels and pastries, 101 Bagel Cafe offers soups, sandwiches, wraps and salads. According to its website, these menu items contain no artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Its coffee program features beans sourced worldwide and signature I-Cubez, iced coffee served with ice cubes made from real coffee to keep drinks from becoming watered down.

About: Since its founding in 1987, the Bagel Bazaar franchise has established itself as a staple in central New Jersey. Its diverse menu includes New York-style bagels, wraps, burgers, toast, coffee, breakfast sandwiches, salad bowls and more.

What Makes the Brand Unique: According to its website, the bagel franchise is minority-owned and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with women making up nearly 50% of the company. Bagel Bazaar also supports its community by offering discounts to first responders, youth organizations, local schools and churches.

About: Established in 1975, Bagel Boss has grown from a neighborhood bakery to a national franchise brand known for its famous artisan bagels, grab-and-go meals, hot sandwiches and fresh salads.

What Makes the Brand Unique: This is a brand for bagel lovers by bagel lovers. Boss Bagel is built on the expertise of fifth- and sixth-generation bagel bakers whose roots in New York bagel making date back to 1935.

About: Einstein Bros. Bagels was established in Lakewood, Colo., in 1995. The brand is known for its freshly-baked bagels, made-to-order hot sandwiches, shmears, specialty coffees and teas and baked goods.

What Makes the Brand Unique: The bagel franchise offers franchise owners a variety of flexible formats, including smaller footprints for inline, end-cap and free-standing restaurants, optional drive-thru and seating formats.

About: H&H Bagels opened its doors in 1972. The bagel franchise prides itself on only using quality ingredients, including unbromated and unbleached flour. According to its website, H&H Bagels contain no preservatives and are made with non-GMO ingredients.

What Makes the Brand Unique: H&H Bagels uses its original recipe and traditional water method to produce classic New York bagels. The brand has become a pop-culture icon, appearing in “Seinfeld,” “Sex and the City,” “The Office” and more.

About: Jeff and Danielle Perera began making bagels from scratch in 2019 after Jeff lost his job. Their passion project quickly grew into a thriving business, with the husband-and-wife team opening their first Jeff’s Bagel Run in Ocoee, Fla., in 2021. The brand began expanding through franchising in 2024 and has a focused menu of scratch-made, freshly baked bagels, handcrafted spreads and a full beverage program.

What Makes the Brand Unique: Jeff’s Bagel Run combines a commitment to freshness with a streamlined operating model designed for efficiency and scalability. With a single daily shift from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., franchise owners benefit from simplified staffing, more predictable labor costs and an attractive work-life balance. The brand’s proprietary Au-dough-mation technology integrates ordering channels into one seamless system, helping operators simplify daily operations while delivering a consistent guest experience.

About: Russell Grabow spent much of his working life in contracting and construction before opening the first Joe’s Bagel & Grill in West Long Branch, N.J., in 2016. The bagel franchise specializes in hand-rolled, boiled bagels with classic New Jersey breakfast sandwiches. Other menu items include omelets, wraps, paninis, salads, coffee and catering.

What Makes the Brand Unique: Joe’s Bagel & Grill stays true to its Jersey Shore roots with a fun, beachy logo and a menu of fan-favorite options, such as the pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich.

About: PopUp Bagels started in Connecticut in 2021 when Adam Goldberg began selling bagels out of his backyard. Word spread quickly, and the brand’s hot, whole bagels built an avid following as the business grew from backyard drops to storefronts across New York City and beyond.

What Makes the Brand Unique: The bagel franchise keeps customers coming back with its exclusive drop culture, introducing one new cream cheese and one new butter flavor each week. PopUp Bagels also collaborates with well-known brands on unexpected offerings, including schmears with Oreo cookies and Guinness beer.