By ,
Published May 03, 2016
Making it into Entrepreneur’s 2015 Franchise 500® is quite an achievement. But a select group of franchises have even more to brag about. They’re what we call the “best of the best”—the franchises that ranked at the top of their industry categories—and you’ll find all 101 of them listed on the following pages.
These companies were ranked based on Entrepreneur’s objective, quantifiable criteria, including system size, growth rate and financial strength and stability. But there are many other factors to consider in searching out the best franchise for you. This list is not intended as a recommendation of any particular company but as a starting point for your research. Always read a company’s legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant and talk to other franchisees before investing in any opportunity.
Ziebart
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #171
ziebart.com
Startup cost: $172K-$331K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 357/12
Jiffy Lube International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #27
jiffylube.com
Startup cost: $221K-$400K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,979/0
AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #124
aamcofranchises.com
Startup cost: $240.3K-$346.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 677/21
Big O Tires
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #158
bigofranchise.com
Startup cost: $238.2K-$1.1M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 362/40
Novus Glass
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #113
novusfranchising.com
Startup cost: $46.8K-$229.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,627/17
J.D. Byrider
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #223
franchise.jdbyrider.com
Startup cost: $675.5K-$5.3M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 135/30
Midas International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #35
midasfranchise.com
Startup cost: $203.1K-$424.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 2,190/6
Coffee News
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #137
coffeenews.com
Startup cost: $10.3K-$11.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 799/5
Money Mailer Franchise
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #185
moneymailer.com
Startup cost: $58.1K-$119K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 197/45
Transworld Business Advisors
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #219
discover.tworld.com
Startup cost: $57.2K-$74.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 174/0
FocalPoint Coaching
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #276
focalpointcoaching.com
Startup cost: $61.6K-$113.95K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 126/0
Real Property Management
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #148
realpropertymgt.com
Startup cost: $56.6K-$99.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 270/0
InXpress
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #250
inxpress.com
Startup cost: $55.3K-$120.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 262/0
Sign-A-Rama
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #71
discoversignarama.com
Startup cost: $92.1K-$234.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 949/0
Express Employment Professionals
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #66
expressfranchising.com
Startup cost: $110K-$195K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 702/0
Sandler Training
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #189
sandler.com
Startup cost: $88.2K-$105.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 255/0
Proforma
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #89
onlyproforma.com
Startup cost: $4.7K-$50.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 712/0
Goddard Systems
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #105
goddardschoolfranchise.com
Startup cost: $704.7K-$880K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 428/0
Bricks 4 Kidz
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #102
bricks4kidz.com
Startup cost: $33.8K-$51.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 625/2
Soccer Shots Franchising
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #180
soccershotsfranchising.com
Startup cost: $18.7K-$25.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 152/8
Once Upon A Child
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #140
onceuponachild.com
Startup cost: $242.3K-$373.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 293/0
Kumon Math & Reading Centers
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #20
kumonfranchise.com
Startup cost: $72.2K-$149.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 25,356/28
GameTruck Licensing
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #254
gametruckpartyfranchise.com
Startup cost: $118.3K-$318.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 70/0
Padgett Business Services
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #214
smallbizpros.com
Startup cost: $99.98K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 391/0
Estrella Insurance
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #226
estrellainsurance.com
Startup cost: $49.95K-$84K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 88/0
H&R Block
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #18
hrblock.com/franchise
Startup cost: $31.5K-$148.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 4,846/6,165
ACFN-The ATM Franchise Business
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #482
acfnfranchised.com
Startup cost: $40.4K-$67.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 233/0
Golden Corral Franchising Systems
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #100
goldencorralfranchise.com
Startup cost: $1.9M-$5.7M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 384/114
The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #390
thegreeneturtle.com
Startup cost: $1.5M-$1.8M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 25/12
Denny’s
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #8
dennysfranchising.com
Startup cost: $1.3M-$2.6M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,541/161
Great American Cookies
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #145
greatamericancookies.com
Startup cost: $183.4K-$317.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 343/0
Auntie Anne’s Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #34
auntieannes.com
Startup cost: $194.9K-$367.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,598/17
Cinnabon
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #65
cinnabon.com
Startup cost: $180.1K-$385.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,245/1
Buffalo Wild Wings
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #59
buffalowildwings.com
Startup cost: $1.4M-$3.3M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 585/495
KFC
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #16
kfcfranchise.com
Startup cost: $1.3M-$2.5M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 13,846/5,029
Dunkin’ Donuts
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #11
dunkinfranchising.com
Startup cost: $216.1K-$1.5M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 11,310/0
Menchie’s
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #111
menchies.com
Startup cost: $218.3K-$385.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 478/1
Baskin-Robbins
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #43
baskinrobbinsfranchising.com
Startup cost: $102.9K-$388.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 7,546/6
Rita’s Italian Ice
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #84
ritasice.com
Startup cost: $140.2K-$413.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 555/0
Jack in the Box
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #4
jackinthebox.com
Startup cost: $1.3M-$2.4M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,786/465
Taco Bell
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #19
tacobellfranchise.com
Startup cost: $1.2M-$2.6M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 5,157/896
Pizza Hut
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #9
pizzahutfranchise.com
Startup cost: $297K-$2.1M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 12,956/2,011
Charleys Philly Steaks
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #98
charleys.com
Startup cost: $152.2K-$451.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 489/47
Subway
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #3
subway.com
Startup cost: $116.6K-$263.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 42,227/0
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #6
jimmyjohns.com
Startup cost: $330.5K-$519.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 2,123/39
Smoothie King
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #79
smoothiekingfranchise.com
Startup cost: $176.3K-$403.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 666/17
Nathan’s Famous
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #151
nathansfamous.com
Startup cost: $276.4K-$1.1M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 315/5
Fresh Healthy Vending
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #357
freshvending.com
Startup cost: $119.3K-$206.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 185/35
Edible Arrangements International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #40
ediblearrangements.com
Startup cost: $156.99K-$276.98K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,148/4
Miracle-Ear
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #41
miracle-ear.com
Startup cost: $119K-$287.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1208/8
HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #114
healthsourcechiro.com
Startup cost: $57.7K-$253.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 366/0
Kitchen Tune-Up
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #203
kitchentuneup.com
Startup cost: $45.8K-$55.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 165/0
ShelfGenie Franchise Systems
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #220
shelfgenie.com
Startup cost: $70.1K-$131.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 132/40
CertaPro Painters Ltd.
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #101
ownacertapro.com
Startup cost: $129K-$161.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 453/0
N-Hance
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #125
nhancefranchise.com
Startup cost: $24.3K-$131.98k
Total franchises/co.-owned: 347/0
Budget Blinds
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #50
budget-blinds-franchise.com
Startup cost: $89.2K-$187.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 934/0
Hampton Hotels
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #1
hiltonworldwide.com/development
Startup cost: $3.7M-$13.5M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,963/1
Chem-Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #63
chemdryfranchise.com
Startup cost: $39.99K-$139.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 3,565/0
Jan-Pro Franchising International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #12
jan-pro.com
Startup cost: $3.1K-$50.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 11,676/0
Mister Sparky
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #285
mistersparky.com
Startup cost: $66.2K-$602.9k
Total franchises/co.-owned: 99/6
HandyPro International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #384
handypro.com
Startup cost: $69.2K-$127.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 36/0
The Glass Guru
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #234
theglassguru.com
Startup cost: $30.2K-$119.99K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 86/1
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #144
onehourheatandair.com
Startup cost: $79.3K-$707.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 266/38
Weed Man
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #91
weedmanfranchise.com
Startup cost: $68.1K-$85.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 556/0
Mosquito Squad
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #343
mosquitosquadfranchise.com
Startup cost: $14.6K-$62.1K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 141/0
Rooter-Man
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #94
rooterman.com
Startup cost: $46.8K-$137.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 498/21
The Maids
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #38
maids.com
Startup cost: $98.6K-$126K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,113/60
Servpro
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #7
servpro.com
Startup cost: $138.6K-$187.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,664/0
Fish Window Cleaning Services
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #154
fishwindowcleaning.com
Startup cost: $78.2K-$139.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 305/1
American Leak Detection
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #115
americanleakdetection.com
Startup cost: $76.8K-$259.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 365/27
Anytime Fitness
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #2
anytimefitness.com
Startup cost: $78.7K-$371.2K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 2,733/36
Supercuts
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #5
regisfranchise.com
Startup cost: $113.9K-$233.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,314/1,124
Massage Envy Spa
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #51
massageenvy.com
Startup cost: $412.6K-$938.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,055/0
Comfort Keepers
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #57
comfortkeepersfranchise.com
Startup cost: $83.1K-$114.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 798/0
Palm Beach Tan
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #159
palmbeachtan.com
Startup cost: $555.1K-$821.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 240/175
The Woodhouse Day Spa
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #374
woodhousespas.com
Startup cost: $499.1K-$658.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 39/2
Sit Means Sit Dog Training
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #293
sitmeanssit.com
Startup cost: $45K-$123.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 82/1
Dogtopia
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #363
dogdaycare.com
Startup cost: $318.4K-$496.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 26/5
Wild Birds Unlimited
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #149
wbu.com
Startup cost: $104.2K-$172.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 288/0
American Poolplayers Association
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #271
poolplayers.com
Startup cost: $16.7K-$19.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 307/6
Fleet Feet Sports
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #246
fleetfeetsports.com
Startup cost: $178K-$335K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 107/22
Cruise Planners
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #22
cruiseplannersfranchise.com
Startup cost: $2.1K-$21.99K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 1,757/1
Results! Travel
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #69
resultstravel.com
Startup cost: $25-10.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 656/0
Plato’s Closet
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #108
platoscloset.com
Startup cost: $233.4K-$387.9K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 408/0
Batteries Plus Bulbs
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #72
batteriesplus.com
Startup cost: $208.5K-$385.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 586/42
7-Eleven
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #10
franchise.7-eleven.com
Startup cost: $37.2K-$1.6M
Total franchises/co.-owned: 53,027/489
Cellairis Franchise
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #82
cellairis.com
Startup cost: $43.1K-$397K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 577/51
Snap-on Tools
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #25
snapon.com
Startup cost: $152.7K-$318.98K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 4,581/210
GNC Franchising
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #23
gncfranchising.com
Startup cost: $167.9K-$294.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 3,188/3,419
Aaron’s
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #15
aaronsfranchise.com
Startup cost: $275.7K-$782.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 782/1,326
Martinizing Dry Cleaning
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #399
martinizingfranchise.com
Startup cost: $305K-$593.7K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 422/0
EmbroidMe
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #143
discoverembroidme.com
Startup cost: $93.7K-$246.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 460/0
Pillar To Post Home Inspectors
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #109
pillartopost.com
Startup cost: $33.4K-$41.6K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 460/0
Two Men and a Truck International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #164
twomenandatruckfranchising.com
Startup cost: $178K-$548.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 248/1
Painting with a Twist
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #260
paintingwithatwist.com
Startup cost: $94.3K-$131.8K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 152/4
The UPS Store
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #21
theupsstore.com
Startup cost: $150.2K-$420.3K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 4,793/0
Minuteman Press International
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #73
minutemanpress.com
Startup cost: $63.6K-$185.96K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 931/0
RE/MAX
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #75
remax.com
Startup cost: $37.5K-$259K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 6,665/21
Pop-A-Lock Franchise System
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #96
popalock.com/franchising.php
Startup cost: $99.99K-$133.4K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 437/3
CPR Cell Phone Repair
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #175
cellphonerepair.com
Startup cost: $24.6K-$228.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 169/3
CMIT Solutions
2015 Franchise 500 rank: #232
cmitfranchise.com
Startup cost: $129.2K-$171.5K
Total franchises/co.-owned: 143/0
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