
2019 Franchising Trends and Predictions
Franchisors face challenges in a full-employment economy, including decreased franchisee recruitment and labor costs.
FRANdata is a company in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 2015. 299 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. * FRANdata ranks the 50 largest multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operators in the US, with Flynn Group holding the top spot and notable brands including Nothing Bundt Cakes and Dave's Hot Chicken [[2026-07-31 2026 Multi-Brand 50 Scale Evolves into Strategy (4f31e8)]]. * The pet industry has seen significant growth with 107 active brands and 4,600 units, driven by increased demand for pet-related services during the COVID pandemic [[2026-10-30 Paws, Profit, Potential Pet Industry Comes With Promises and Challenges (c3ed45)]]. * FRANdata has identified 1,296 new brands that have begun franchising from 2023 through 2025, with 61% operating outside of food [[2026-06-14 From Demand to Development Shifting Consumer Priorities are Reshaping Franchisin (54d8d1)]]. * Mountain Mike's Pizza has been named the 2026 TopScore FUND Award winner in the Food category by FRANdata, recognizing its strong access to capital and lender confidence [[2026-03-27 Mountain Mike’s Pizza Wins FRANdata 2026 TopScore FUND Award (6eeb65)]]. * The International Franchise Association (IFA) forecasts 12,000 new franchised units in 2026, with economic output expected to rise by 1.6% to over $920 billion [[2026-02-25 IFA Forecasts 12,000 New Franchised Units in 2026 (7ad92b)]]. * Marco's Pizza has earned a top 10 FUND Score nationally and is ranked No. 1 among all QSR and pizza brands, according to FRANdata [[2026-02-11 Marco’s Pizza Earns Top 10 FUND® Score Nationally, Ranked No. 1 Among All QSR an (019090)]]. * The franchise financing ecosystem is changing with new models emerging, including nontraditional lenders, private equity firms, and fintech platforms, which are reshaping the foundation of franchise funding [[2026-02-07 Show Me the (Smart) Money The franchise financing ecosystem is changing fast (d6a315)]]. * The International Franchise Association (IFA) released a report highlighting the benefits of the franchise model, including better benefits, stronger wage growth, and greater business ownership opportunities [[2026-01-14 IFA Report Highlights Franchise Model Benefits (799636)]]. * The 2025 Dominators analysis shows a steady but evolving franchise landscape, with top markets remaining stable and secondary markets experiencing growth [[2026-01-16 2025 Dominators Emerging Hot Spots and Shifting Growth Patterns (4e6ebd)]]. * The SBA has changed its loan rules for franchise buyers, including a new cumulative cap of $10 million for 7(a) and 504 loans and a reinstated Franchise Directory that lists eligible brands for SBA-backed financing [[2026-09-09 Can You Still Get an SBA Loan for a Franchise (1ab01b)]]. * Franchisors are using royalty relief as a strategic tool to drive portfolio expansion, as multi-unit operators now control nearly 60% of franchised locations [[2026-08-15 Royalty Relief Is Franchise Filed under Franchise Industry / Suppliers.

Franchisors face challenges in a full-employment economy, including decreased franchisee recruitment and labor costs.

Franchisees can evaluate new unit growth potential using the sales-to-initial-investment ratio (S-II ratio) to forecast future growth.

The 2018 Multi-Unit 50 rankings provide data on the most multi-friendly brands, with franchises like Subway and 7-Eleven seeing high levels of multi-unit franchisees.

FirstLight Home Care ranked among top 10 franchises to invest in under $150,000 by Forbes.

School of Rock debuts on Forbes's best franchises list at number two

Forbes ranks School of Rock as the second-best medium-investment franchise in 2018, citing system sustainability and franchisor support.

The 2018 Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference focused on the customer journey and brand promise, highlighting the importance of technology and marketing in the franchise industry.

Batteries Plus Bulbs ranked sixth best franchise by Forbes in 2018.

Franchises are well-positioned to prosper in inflationary times, but unit performance and expansion decisions may be affected.

Penn Station East Coast Subs ranked among top franchise opportunities by Forbes and Entrepreneur.

Absent an economic shock, we should have continued expansion this year and into next.

The 2018 edition of Franchising.com featured news on Snapchat's ad revenue sharing and the Franlebrity of the month.

Forbes ranks the top three best franchises to buy in 2018, including Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

Sylvan Learning's multi-unit franchisees have followed the proven business model, leading to immense success, with two of its California franchisees growing their respective businesses to five or more territories.

Inflation is expected to slow system growth and force price increases for franchises.

Each year we work with FRANdata to compile a list of the country’s largest multi-unit franchisee organizations.

The White House announced a program to widen the scope of apprenticeship and skills training programs.

The 2017 Multi-Unit 50 ranks the most multi-friendly brands, with data supplied by FRANdata.

A couple shares their experience of finding and funding a senior care franchise, highlighting the importance of research and due diligence in selecting a franchise opportunity.

The franchise business community's growth in 2017 may not be sustainable in 2018 due to economic factors.

Senior care franchising is a winning proposition for many entrepreneurs on several fronts.
Multi-unit, multi-brand operators continue to expand through acquisitions and new unit openings.

Six multi-unit operators share their stories of success and overcoming challenges in the franchise industry.

Senior care service franchises are in high demand due to the aging population.