The Top 10 Franchises in Every Industry in 2026
This story appears in the
May 2026
issue of
Entrepreneur.
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The best thing about franchising is also the worst thing: There are so many options to choose from.
This is great because, if you’re looking to buy a franchise, you’re guaranteed to find one you’re passionate about. There are thousands of options out there for every budget and skill set. But that also makes the search exhausting — you could spend years investigating every franchise opportunity!
That’s why we produced this list for the first time ever. It’s designed to shorten your search. We’ve taken our comprehensive Franchise 500 ranking — which evaluates franchises based on more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability — and given you the highlights by industry. Now you can see the top 10 franchises in every conceivable category, from tried-and-true sectors like Quick-Service Restaurants and Fitness to emerging categories like Health & Wellness.
This approach allows you to focus your search on the industries that interest you most, while ensuring you’re looking at only the highest-performing brands in each space. Whether you’re drawn to food service, home improvement, business services, or any other sector, you’ll find the cream of the crop right here.
Remember as you explore these rankings that this list is based on our analytical criteria and is not intended as an endorsement of any particular company. These are simply the top performers based on our methodology, but you’ll have your own criteria for deciding what would be the best franchise opportunity for you. It’s always important to do your own homework before investing in any brand — carefully read the company’s legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant, and talk to current and former franchisees about their experiences.
*All stats are based on data submitted for Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® Ranking.
Top 10 Franchise Sections by Category
• Automotive
• Business Services
• Children’s Business
• Financial Services
• Fitness
• Full-Service Restaurants
• Quick-Service Restaurants
• Health & Wellness
• Home Improvement
• Lodging
• Maintenance
• Personal-Care Business
• Pets
• Recreation
• Retail
• Senior Care
• Services
Top 10 Automotive Franchises
Valvoline Instant Oil Change • Ranked 1
Tommy’s Express Car Wash • Ranked 2
Midas • Ranked 3
Jiffy Lube • Ranked 4
Take 5 Oil Change • Ranked 5
Big O Tires • Ranked 6
Ziebart • Ranked 7
RNR Tire Express • Ranked 8
AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care • Ranked 9
Carstar • Ranked 10
Automotive Industry Snapshot:
→ 52 total brands, with 25,664 units open as of 7/31/25
→ Net growth of +849 units over one year (+3.42%)
→ Net growth of +1,890 units over three years (+7.95%)
→ Startup costs range from $2.2K (for dance fitness classes) to $6.7M (for a gym)
→ Largest brand (by no. of units worldwide): Jazzercise (7,073 units)
→ Largest social following: Planet Fitness (5.5M+ followers)
Top 10 Business Services Franchises
Transworld Business Advisors • Ranked 1
Minuteman Press • Ranked 2
Express Employment Professionals • Ranked 3
Real Property Management • Ranked 4
Spherion Staffing & Recruiting • Ranked 5
The Entrepreneur’s Source • Ranked 6
ERA Group • Ranked 7
FastSigns • Ranked 8
Signarama • Ranked 9
Allegra Marketing Print Mail • Ranked 10
Business Services Industry Snapshot:
→ 72 total brands, with 13,873 units open as of 7/31/25
→ Net growth of +305 units over one year (+2.25%)
→ Net growth of +814 units over three years (+6.23%)
→ Startup costs range from $2K (for a monthly neighborhood publication) to $3.4M (for a coworking business)
→ Largest brand (by no. of units worldwide): BNI (1,308 units)
→ Largest social following: Express Employment Professionals (927K+ followers)
Top 10 Children’s Business Franchises
Kumon • Ranked 1
The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education • Ranked 2
The Goddard School • Ranked 3
Goldfish Swim School • Ranked 4
Mathnasium Learning Centers • Ranked 5
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools • Ranked 6
KidStrong • Ranked 7
Sylvan Learning • Ranked 8
British Swim School • Ranked 9
Kiddie Academy • Ranked 10
Children’s Business Industry Snapshot:
→ 100 total brands, with 40,998 units open as of 7/31/25
→ Net growth of +589 units over one year (+1.46%)
→ Net growth of +991 units over three years (+2.48%)
→ Startup costs range from $9.95K (for a STEM enrichment program) to $10.1M (for a childcare center)
→ Largest brand (by no. of units worldwide): Kumon (23,400 units)
→ Largest social following: School of Rock (698K+ followers)
Top 10 Financial Services Franchises
Estrella Insurance • Ranked 1
Freeway Insurance • Ranked 2
GreatFlorida Insurance • Ranked 3
Padgett Business Services • Ranked 4
BooXkeeping • Ranked 5
H&R Block • Ranked 6
Liberty Tax Service • Ranked 7
Goosehead Insur