
2026 Franchise 500 Rankings: Top 10 Brands & Market Trends
The 2026 Franchise 500 Rankings list Jersey Mike's as the No. 1 brand, dethroning Taco Bell, with familiar powerhouses and niche brands also featured.
Wingstop is a company in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 2015. 400 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. - Wingstop’s Q3 systemwide sales hit $1.4 billion, but same‑store sales fell 5.4 % year‑over‑year, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of decline [[2026-10-29 Wingstop leans on marketing, AI to end sale slide (d8fb22)]] [[2026-10-29 Wingstop Retools Marketing to Rebuild Transactions (37ad09)]] - The chain is overhauling its marketing approach, deploying AI‑driven personalized offers and menu suggestions, and revamping how it sells value, engages loyalty members, and measures restaurant performance to rebuild transactions [[2026-10-29 Wingstop leans on marketing, AI to end sale slide (d8fb22)]] [[2026-10-29 Wingstop Retools Marketing to Rebuild Transactions (37ad09)]] - Wing Filed under Restaurants / Chicken.

The 2026 Franchise 500 Rankings list Jersey Mike's as the No. 1 brand, dethroning Taco Bell, with familiar powerhouses and niche brands also featured.

Wingstop's franchise costs, fees, and ROI breakdown for 2026 includes a brand overview, company history, and financial information for potential franchisees.

Experienced development professionals offered their best advice during “Franchise Sales Basics,” a breakout session during the 2025 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference.

We’ve selected highlights from Bill Edwards’ biweekly Global Business Newsletter (#149, December 9, 2025).

Jeter Group expands Lola Beans deal to 120 units in Texas.

The Solis family, owners of petbar in Austin, Texas, built their business on ownership and shared values, creating a secure future for their family.

Jersey Mike's appoints Stacy Paterson as its new president and chief operating officer, leading U.S. operations and overseeing marketing and technology.

Kilwins has named Brad Williams as vice president of franchise operations, responsible for developing strategies and support systems to drive profitability, consistency, and long-term success across all franchise locations.

Franchising is becoming an attractive path for minority entrepreneurs, with many franchise systems offering inclusive ownership opportunities.

Matt started as a Subway employee at 13 — and by his twenties, he owned 12 locations.
During the grand opening week, guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, as well as a community focused mindset with various specials and giveaways.

Kirk and Coleen Jeter, a husband-and-wife team who operate multiple Crumbl and Wingstop locations, signed a 15-unit development agreement to bring Lola Beans to Collin, Denton, Tarrant, and Dallas counties, marking the brand's entrance into Texas.
Chicken Salad Chick expands to Del City and Norman with two new locations.
Lola Beans signs 15-unit deal with Crumbl and Wingstop franchisees.

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 15, 2025 // PRNewswire // -- KFC U.S. today announced Melissa Cash has been named Chief Marketing Officer, effective Sept.
Jersey Mike’s Subs, a leading franchisor of fast-casual sandwich shops, announced the appointment of Stacy Peterson as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Numerator's Retailer, Restaurant & Brand Snapshots provide a quick look at key shopping metrics and shopper profiles for a variety of U.S.
Chicken Salad Chick opens first Austin restaurant on August 26.

Paris Baguette signs 135 new franchise agreements in Q2 2025

For Payal Shah, franchising is a true calling. A tech-sector veteran turned restaurant powerhouse, Shah has built an empire of over 20 units by combining disciplined operations with a passion for people and community.

Sizzling Platter, a US restaurant franchisee, was acquired by Bain Capital in a deal reportedly worth over $1 billion, with 460+ Little Caesars locations.

bb.q Chicken is an international Korean fried chicken franchise with over 3,500 locations worldwide and a scalable opportunity for entrepreneurs.

Chick-fil-A leads QSR satisfaction for 11th year, while other chicken-focused chains like Raising Cane’s and Wingstop rapidly gain ground.

Kishan Patel launches Atomic Wings in Williamsburg, Virginia, alongside his business partner and co-owner, Jevin Patel.