Companies

Subway offers a massive global footprint and a highly accessible entry point for franchisees, characterized by a low $15,000 franchise fee and a total investment starting under $250k. ✓ Despite the affordable scale, the brand is currently facing a significant contraction, with 835 outlets closing last year compared to only 396 openings. ⚠ This negative growth trajectory, combined with the absence of financial performance data in the Item 19 disclosure, presents a substantial risk for potential investors. ⚠

McDonald's represents a high-barrier entry into the QSR sector with a total investment ranging from $1.3M to $2.4M, though this is justified by a strong Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $3.4M ✓. The franchise demonstrates immense scale with over 13,400 outlets, but investors must note the recent net decline in footprint, as 338 closures outpaced 101 openings ⚠. While the brand offers financial stability and no bankruptcy history ✓, the presence of litigation and a shrinking outlet count suggests a highly selective and competitive acquisition environment ⚠.

KLJ Ventures, Inc. presents a massive footprint with over 10,000 units and a highly accessible entry point, featuring a low franchise fee of $2,925 and an Item 19 disclosure ✓. The brand is experiencing explosive expansion, having opened 1,592 outlets last year, though this is tempered by a significant churn rate with 1,118 closures ⚠. While the clean legal record is a positive indicator, prospective franchisees should carefully weigh the 10.0% royalty against the high volume of unit failures to ensure unit economics remain viable.

H&R Block operates as a massive, established player in the tax services sector with nearly 9,000 total outlets, offering a highly accessible entry point with a low $2,500 franchise fee and a total investment starting at roughly $32k. ⚠ The brand is in a state of significant contraction, having closed 222 outlets last year with zero new openings, which signals a stagnant or receding footprint for new franchisees. ⚠ Additional risks include the presence of litigation and the lack of an Item 19 financial disclosure, preventing a clear view of unit economics. ✓ The primary draw remains the low initial cost and the backing of a household name, though the lack of growth momentum is a major concern.

7-Eleven offers massive scale with over 8,000 outlets and a highly accessible $25,000 franchise fee, though this low entry point is countered by a steep 18% royalty and a total investment reaching $1.3 million. ✓ The provision of financial performance representations aids due diligence for prospective operators. ⚠ However, the brand faces a contraction in net growth, with 316 closures outpacing the 300 new outlets opened last year, signaling potential market saturation or operational headwinds.

Dunkin' offers a compelling value proposition anchored by its massive scale of over 8,100 units and a strong Average Unit Volume of $1.46 million. ✓ The franchise demonstrates healthy expansion momentum with a net gain of 145 outlets last year and a clean legal record. ✓ However, prospective franchisees face a steep total investment reaching nearly $1.8 million and ongoing royalty fees of 5.9%. ⚠

Body And Brain Center presents a compelling low-cost entry point with a modest $10,000 franchise fee and a total investment under $116k ✓. However, the absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure makes it impossible to verify potential returns ⚠. The most critical concern is the negative growth trajectory, with the system shrinking from a massive base of over 8,000 outlets as closures vastly outpaced new openings ⚠.

Burger King offers a massive scale of operations with over 7,100 outlets and strong unit economics, boasting an Average Unit Volume of $1.47 million ✓. The franchise demonstrates a healthy growth trajectory with a net positive expansion of 26 units last year and a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy ✓. However, prospective franchisees face a wide investment range of $230,000 to $4.1 million, requiring significant capital allocation and operational capacity ⚠.

BIMBO FOODS BAKERIES DISTRIBUTION, LLC demonstrates significant scale with over 6,600 outlets and a low minimum investment entry point of $14,350. ✓ However, the system is experiencing severe contraction, with 381 outlets closing last year compared to only 110 openings, signaling major operational or profitability risks. ⚠ The absence of financial performance data (Item 19) combined with disclosed litigation further complicates the investment profile despite the brand's overall market presence.

Domino's Pizza offers massive scale with nearly 6,600 locations and strong unit economics, evidenced by an AUV of $1.35 million and a 5.5% royalty rate. ✓ The system demonstrates robust growth, opening 204 new outlets last year against a minimal closure rate of 11, while the $0 franchise fee lowers the initial barrier to entry. ⚠ However, prospective franchisees must navigate a wide investment range of $107k to $682k and acknowledge the presence of active litigation within the system.

Scoop Soldiers Franchise Company LLC demonstrates massive scale with over 6,400 units, offering a low entry point of roughly $100k to $395k. ✓ The system is financially transparent with an Item 19 disclosure and a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy. ⚠ However, the 8.0% royalty fee is significant, and growth is sluggish with 33 closures offsetting the 61 openings last year.

Wendy's offers a stable investment opportunity backed by significant scale with nearly 6,000 outlets and a healthy net growth of 112 units last year. ✓ The franchise demonstrates strong unit-level economics with an AUV of roughly $1.9 million, supported by a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy. ✓ However, prospective franchisees face a wide total investment range reaching nearly $3.7 million, representing a substantial capital risk. ⚠

Circle K leverages massive global scale and a highly attractive $0 franchise fee with a low 3.0% royalty rate to offer accessible entry into the convenience store sector. ✓ The franchise demonstrates strong unit economics with an AUV of $1.34 million and maintains a clean legal record regarding litigation and bankruptcy. ⚠ However, the brand is currently facing a contraction in footprint, with 62 closures outpacing 50 openings last year, signaling potential operational or market saturation risks.

The UPS Store leverages massive brand scale with over 5,300 units and demonstrates strong demand through 192 net openings last year. ✓ Financial performance is solid with an Average Unit Volume of $719,842, offering a flexible entry point ranging from roughly $96k to $609k. ⚠ Prospective buyers should proceed with caution regarding the undisclosed royalty structure and the presence of historical litigation.

Jei Learning Centers, LLC operates a massive global network of 5,348 outlets, supported by a highly accessible total investment range of $61,000 to $111,000. ⚠ However, the system is experiencing a concerning contraction in scale, with 18 closures outpacing 12 openings last year. ⚠ Significant transparency and risk red flags exist due to the absence of financial performance data in Item 19 and the disclosure of ongoing litigation.

Jazzercise, Inc. operates a massive network of over 5,200 outlets, offering an exceptionally low barrier to entry with a total investment starting at just $2,130. ⚠ The franchise is undergoing a severe contraction, having closed 535 units last year compared to only 255 openings, signaling significant market struggle or consolidation. ⚠ Additional risks include the lack of an Item 19 financial disclosure and the presence of litigation, which creates uncertainty regarding profitability despite the low initial cost.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service leverages massive scale with over 5,000 outlets and offers an exceptionally low barrier to entry with a $0 franchise fee and a modest total investment starting under $15k. ✓ Despite a low 3.0% royalty rate and transparent financial performance data, the brand is facing a significant contraction, closing 311 units against only 102 openings last year. ⚠ Combined with disclosed litigation history, this sharp decline in outlet count suggests serious operational headwinds and market share challenges that outweigh the initial affordability. ⚠

Ace Hardware offers a highly accessible entry point into the home improvement sector with a low $5,000 franchise fee and no royalty fees, supported by a massive footprint of over 5,100 outlets. ✓ The brand demonstrates strong growth momentum, having opened 210 locations last year compared to only 84 closures. ⚠ Prospective investors must carefully navigate a wide total investment range spanning from $134,100 to over $2 million and address the presence of disclosed litigation.

ROYAL FRANCHISING INC presents a compelling low-barrier entry point with a total investment of $18,680 - $39,098 and a massive footprint of 4,872 outlets ✓. However, the absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure and the presence of litigation are significant transparency risks ⚠. While the network expanded by a net 43 units last year, the high closure count of 360 outlets against 403 openings suggests potential volatility in unit-level sustainability ⚠.

Frios Franchising Company, LLC exhibits explosive scale and momentum, growing by 1,321 outlets last year against only 9 closures. ✓ The franchise offers an exceptionally low barrier to entry with a total investment starting at roughly $41k and a strong AUV of $118,799. ✓ With no history of litigation or bankruptcy, the concept presents a low-risk, high-growth opportunity in the frozen treat sector. ✓

Great Clips represents a high-scale, stable investment in the value haircut sector, offering a low cost of entry ($183,950 - $394,400) and a proven business model with no current litigation or bankruptcy concerns ✓. While the Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $382,633 is solid relative to the initial investment, the brand is facing a contraction in physical footprint with 178 closures outpacing 98 openings last year ⚠. This negative net growth suggests market saturation or operational challenges that potential franchisees should weigh against the system's historical resilience.

Health Mart operates a massive network of 4,347 outlets with an accessible entry point due to a $0 franchise fee, though total investment varies widely. ⚠ The brand is facing significant contraction, having closed 602 locations last year compared to only 405 openings. ✓ The lack of royalty fees is a financial benefit, but the absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure and the presence of litigation create considerable risk for potential investors.

Do it Best Corp. presents a low-barrier entry with a minimal $1,000 franchise fee and massive scale via nearly 4,000 outlets, though the total investment remains substantial. ⚠ The absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure makes it difficult to assess potential returns, while the presence of litigation adds a layer of risk. ⚠ Growth trajectory is currently negative, as the franchise closed five more outlets (58) than it opened (53) last year.

REMAX leverages its massive scale of over 3,500 outlets and a highly competitive 1.0% royalty rate to offer an accessible entry point for real estate professionals. ✓ The low franchise fee and manageable total investment create a low barrier to entry, though the absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure makes potential returns difficult to benchmark. ⚠ Most critically, the brand is facing a significant contraction in net growth, with 247 closures outpacing 180 openings last year, signaling underlying market volatility or operational challenges. ⚠

Sonic operates a massive network of 3,461 units, supported by a strong Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $1.59M and a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy. ✓ However, the brand is facing a contraction in footprint, with 80 closures outpacing 30 openings last year. ⚠ Additionally, the total investment ranges significantly from $669k to over $3.1M, presenting a high barrier to entry despite the relatively low 5% royalty fee. ⚠

Snap-on presents a high-barrier-to-entry opportunity with a total investment ranging from $217,505 to $481,554, though it offers a highly accessible entry point via a low $8,000 franchise fee and no ongoing royalties. ✓ The system maintains significant scale with over 3,300 outlets and provides financial transparency through an Item 19 disclosure. ⚠ However, the brand is facing a contraction in footprint, as the closure of 192 outlets last year outpaced the 167 openings. ⚠ Additionally, prospective buyers must exercise caution regarding the disclosed litigation history.

TWR Car presents a compelling low-cost entry point into the automotive sector with a minimal initial investment of $56k–$108k and zero franchise fees ✓. However, the lack of an Item 19 financial disclosure prevents potential investors from validating profitability or ROI ⚠. The presence of active litigation further complicates the risk profile, suggesting potential operational or legal instability despite the brand's significant scale of over 3,200 outlets ⚠.

Papa Johns demonstrates strong unit economics with an AUV of $1.19M and a highly accessible $5,000 franchise fee, though the total investment range varies significantly up to $871,415. ✓ The brand maintains solid scale with over 3,200 outlets and positive net growth, opening 79 units against 44 closures last year. ⚠ Prospective investors should note the disclosure of ongoing litigation as a factor during due diligence.

L&S Service Solutions exhibits explosive expansion and massive scale with over 3,144 outlets and 822 openings last year, supported by a highly accessible total investment starting at $4,450. ✓ Despite the low barrier to entry and rapid growth, the franchise presents significant risks with 265 closures last year, active litigation, and no Item 19 financial disclosure. ⚠ The combination of high turnover and a lack of earnings transparency suggests potential volatility beneath the aggressive growth trajectory.

LepreGoat Ventures LLC demonstrates massive scale with over 3,000 outlets and rapid expansion, having opened 822 new locations last year despite a net closure of 265 units. The franchise offers a low barrier to entry with a $3,600 fee and a total investment range under $80,000, though the lack of an Item 19 financial performance disclosure is a significant drawback for prospective buyers. While the 5% royalty is standard, the presence of litigation and the high closure rate relative to openings suggest potential operational volatility that requires careful due diligence.

M & R Cleaning Solutions LLC demonstrates explosive scale and aggressive expansion with 3,144 total units and 822 openings last year ✓. The franchise offers a highly accessible entry point with a low $3,600 fee and a minimal starting investment of $4,450 ✓. However, the lack of an Item 19 financial disclosure prevents verification of earnings potential ⚠, while the closure of 265 units and active litigation indicate significant operational and risk management concerns ⚠.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. represents a high-performance opportunity within the QSR sector, marked by a robust Average Unit Volume of $1.7M and a healthy net growth of 130 outlets last year. ✓ The franchise demonstrates operational stability with no litigation or bankruptcy issues, supported by a standard 5% royalty fee. ✓ However, prospective franchisees must note the significant capital requirement, with total investment costs ranging up to $3.8M. ⚠

Jimmy John’s leverages massive scale with nearly 2,700 outlets and strong unit economics, boasting an Average Unit Volume of $986,095. ✓ The franchise offers a highly accessible entry point with a low $5,000 fee, though the total investment ranges widely up to $728,200. ✓ Growth remains positive with a net gain of 45 stores last year, and the brand presents a clean profile with no litigation or bankruptcy history. ✓

Cruise Planners operates as a massive, established travel agency network with over 2,600 outlets, offering a highly accessible entry point with a low franchise fee and minimal start-up costs. ✓ The franchise demonstrates aggressive recent expansion with 339 openings, though this growth is effectively neutralized by a concerning churn rate of 338 closures. ⚠ Potential investors should proceed with caution due to the absence of financial performance data (Item 19) and the disclosure of active litigation. ⚠

Planet Fitness demonstrates exceptional scale and aggressive recent growth, expanding by a net 99 outlets with a virtually non-existent closure rate of just one unit. ✓ The franchise is highly accessible to qualified candidates due to a $0 franchise fee, though operators must manage a standard 7.0% royalty against a substantial total investment reaching up to $5.2 million. ✓ While the presence of litigation warrants standard due diligence, the brand's proven financial performance (Item 19) and dominant market position offer significant stability for investors.

Panda Express demonstrates robust system health and significant scale, evidenced by a high unit count and substantial net growth of 90 outlets last year. ✓ The brand’s strong performance is further validated by a solid Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $1.58M, which helps justify the wide total investment range of $514k to $3.2M. ⚠ Prospective investors should note the 8.0% royalty fee and the presence of litigation disclosures as factors requiring careful review.

Jersey Mike's demonstrates exceptional market momentum, opening 301 units last year compared to only 9 closures, while maintaining a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy. ✓ The franchise offers a highly profitable opportunity with a strong AUV of $1,220,974, though prospective owners face a wide total investment range extending up to $1.35 million. ⚠ With over 2,300 outlets already operating, the brand combines established scale with aggressive expansion, supported by standard fees including a 6.5% royalty rate.

Good Neighbor Pharmacy represents a massive network of over 2,300 retail pharmacies, offering a highly accessible entry point for independent owners with zero franchise fees and no ongoing royalties. ✓ The investment range is flexible, and the lack of litigation or bankruptcy provides a stable foundation for prospective franchisees. ⚠ However, the system is experiencing a significant contraction, with 264 outlets closing last year compared to only 174 openings, signaling potential market headwinds or consolidation risks.

Split Rock Management, Inc. presents a high-risk profile despite its massive scale of 2,214 outlets and an exceptionally low barrier to entry ranging from $7,110 to $23,700. ⚠ Critical red flags include a net loss of 76 units last year (180 closures vs. 104 openings), the presence of litigation, and the lack of financial performance data in Item 19. ✓ While the low $4,000 franchise fee and 6.0% royalty are attractive, the shrinking footprint and absence of earnings transparency suggest significant operational instability.

Jack in the Box represents a high-barrier investment opportunity requiring significant capital, with total costs ranging from $1.9M to over $4M. ✓ The franchise demonstrates strong unit-level economics with an AUV of nearly $2M and a low 5% royalty fee, supporting steady net growth of 5 units last year. ⚠ Prospective buyers should note the active litigation disclosures and the high entry cost typical of established QSR giants.

Jiffy Lube demonstrates significant scale and market dominance with over 2,000 locations and strong unit economics, boasting an Average Unit Volume of $1,040,070 ✓. The franchise offers a stable opportunity with no history of bankruptcy or litigation, supported by a net positive growth trajectory of 12 new units last year ✓. While the total investment of $232k-$520k is substantial, the combination of a low 4.0% royalty fee and established brand power presents a compelling value proposition for qualified investors ✓.

ServiceMaster Clean presents a scalable opportunity with a low franchise fee and strong Average Unit Volumes of $1,042,460 ✓. However, the system is undergoing a significant contraction, with 151 outlets closed last year compared to only 45 opened ⚠. Combined with a high 10.0% royalty rate and a total investment reaching $365,310, this trend suggests considerable operational risk despite the brand's established history ⚠.

CruiseOne presents a low-barrier entry into the travel sector with a minimal franchise fee and total investment ranging from $2,590 to $21,870. ✓ The network demonstrates robust expansion and strong consumer demand, opening 383 units last year to significantly outpace the 133 closures. ✓ With a healthy Average Unit Volume of $467,816 and no history of litigation or bankruptcy, this franchise offers a scalable, low-risk opportunity for new operators.

Supercuts offers a low-cost entry into the hair care sector with a minimal $10,000 franchise fee and a reasonable total investment range, backed by the stability of a massive network of nearly 2,000 outlets. ✓ The franchise maintains a clean record regarding litigation and bankruptcy, and discloses a solid Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $305,514. ⚠ However, the brand is facing a severe contraction in scale, evidenced by a net loss of 130 outlets last year (145 closures vs. 15 openings). This significant negative growth trajectory suggests major operational headwinds or market saturation that potential franchisees must carefully evaluate.

CENTURY 21 offers a massive footprint of 1,870 outlets and accessible entry with a $0 franchise fee ✓, though the total investment varies significantly from $25k to $459k. The lack of an Item 19 financial disclosure is a notable transparency gap ⚠, making it difficult for potential franchisees to benchmark performance. Most critically, the brand is in a state of net contraction, closing 107 outlets against only 75 openings last year ⚠, signaling potential stagnation or market retreat.

Sport Clips leverages massive scale with over 1,800 locations and offers a low barrier to entry via a $15,000 franchise fee, though the total investment reaches up to $463,088. ✓ Financial performance is solid with an AUV of $423,055, and the absence of litigation or bankruptcy provides operational stability. ⚠ Growth is sluggish, however, as the brand opened only 28 units compared to 23 closures last year, indicating a plateau in market expansion.

Hissho demonstrates explosive scale and aggressive expansion, opening 548 outlets last year to bring its total count to over 1,800. ✓ The franchise offers an exceptionally low barrier to entry with a $0 franchise fee and a total investment potentially under $24k. ⚠ However, the model relies on a steep 25% royalty rate and lacks an Item 19 financial disclosure, preventing verification of unit economics. ⚠ The combination of high volume growth and absent performance data suggests a high-turnover, high-risk investment strategy.

Coldwell Banker leverages its massive scale of 1,814 outlets and a $0 franchise fee to offer a low-barrier entry point for qualified real estate professionals. ✓ However, the system is experiencing a significant contraction in footprint, with 76 outlets closing last year compared to only 34 openings, signaling a negative growth trajectory. ⚠ The absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure further complicates the investment thesis, making it difficult to validate potential returns against the variable total investment of up to $733,500.

Anago presents a low-barrier entry point into the commercial cleaning sector with a minimal $5,015 franchise fee and a total investment starting as low as $11,265. ✓ Despite operating at a massive scale with nearly 1,800 total outlets, the brand is flashing significant warning signs regarding unit economics, evidenced by a net loss of 39 outlets (443 closures vs. 404 openings) last year. ⚠ This negative growth trajectory, combined with the absence of an Item 19 financial disclosure, makes it difficult to assess potential returns against the 10% royalty fee. ⚠

Liberty Tax Service presents a low-barrier entry opportunity with a total investment of $49.7k to $71.4k and an established network of 1,764 outlets. ✓ However, the franchise exhibits severe contraction, closing 161 outlets against only 34 openings last year. ⚠ Significant risks are further highlighted by the presence of both litigation and bankruptcy disclosures, which overshadow the accessible fee structure. ⚠