Why Fast Service Restaurants Are Claiming Market Share

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Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Everybody desires to know: How do you win in franchising? And every year, Business owner publishes the world's biggest answer to that.

This year, Business owner examined 1,354 overall franchise brand names. Five hundred of them made the ranking and those 500 represent an outsized 89% of all units from the brands that applied.

The brand names on the Franchise 500 are really the biggest representation of what's working in franchising today. From July 2024 to July 2025 (which is the timeframe we tracked data), overall franchise expansion slowed but the finest companies still pulled ahead.

New Growth Updates for Regional Milestone Gains

Ranked companies included 14,562 new units, while all companies integrated added 15,631 significance ranked business represented 93.16% of all development. U.S. franchise unit growth in fact ticked up for ranked companies: +8,620 U.S. franchises (2.81%), compared to +8,140 (2.73%) the prior year. Company-owned units saw practically no change a net boost of just 80 throughout the whole data set.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Corporate-owned expansion is slowing, which could indicate a chance: Lots of franchisors appear to be offering business places to franchisees. Quick-service dining establishments remain the biggest category in franchising, however even here, change is underway.

However the category continues to dominate the upper tier, representing half of the leading 10 and 34 of the top 100 companies. Beyond QSR, other classifications are reshaping the landscape: We're seeing development in Financial Solutions, Kid's Organizations, and Personal Care Companies. Health & Health held stable at 34 ranked business, but 8 landed in the top 100evidence of strong need.

We included three brand-new subcategories there hormone replacement treatment, mobility items & services, and urgent/primary care centers to represent the specific growth in those locations. Here are some other emerging locations we're seeing, which we've developed brand-new subcategories for: networking groups, sign maintenance/installation, indoor air quality services, skin care, leisure tours, virtual reality, and senior transition/relocation services.

Comparing Local and Global Expansion Success

Some are longstanding brand names fine-tuning tested systems. Some are brand-new ideas capitalizing on fresh demand.

It's a map of where franchising is, where it's going, and where chance might lie specifically for novice purchasers browsing for the best fit. Sign up for our weekly Franchise newsletter to get the latest franchise news, recommendations and chances.

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