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Research

Franchise Research: Original Data on US Franchising

This franchise research uses public records that most franchise content never opens: SBA loan files, Census business surveys, Federal Reserve household data and state regulator filings. Every number links to its source, and every table can be downloaded.

51 reports975 unique sources438 downloadable datasetsData: CC BY 4.0
Documentary photograph of an empty modern hair salon in soft morning light, a row of styling chairs facing large mirrors, no people, no logos, no readable text
Index

Beauty Salon Franchise Statistics: Salons, Barbers, Nails, Spas and Weight Loss

How franchised U.S. personal care is, how big franchise units are, how much SBA lending reaches them, and what 2025 to 2026 FDDs charge and require.

27.2%of U.S. employer beauty salons were franchises (21,462 of 78,887), 2017, the latest Census count

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after the 2024 Annual Business Survey (scheduled December 3, 2026) and SBA's next FOIA file
Documentary photograph of a convenience store and fuel canopy at night, unbranded fuel pumps under white canopy lights, empty forecourt, no people, no readable
Monitor

Convenience Store Franchise Statistics: Gas Stations, Fuel Brands and SBA Loans

A quarterly monitor of SBA lending to franchised gas stations and convenience stores (FY2015 to June 2026), with Census franchise counts, the PMPA fuel brand split and 11 franchise filings from 2025 to 2026.

18.0%of U.S. gasoline stations with convenience stores were franchises (2017, latest Census count)

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FY2026 Q4 FOIA file (data to September 30, 2026; SBA posts about one month after quarter end) and the 2024 ABS (December 3, 2026)
An empty, bright classroom with small tables, colored chairs and a blank whiteboard, soft daylight from tall windows, documentary photo, no people, no readable
Tracker

Education Franchise Statistics: Tutoring, Child Care and Kids Enrichment Brands Tracked

A registry of 104 SBA-coded children's education and child care franchise brands, with Census franchised shares since 2007, SBA lending through June 2026 and the terms in 17 recent FDDs.

37.1%of US exam preparation and tutoring establishments were franchised in 2017 (rank 10 of 267 industries)

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file with data through September 30, 2026 (expected about one month after quarter end)
A quiet suburban street of single-family houses in late afternoon light, each front lawn holding an empty metal for-sale sign frame with no panel, documentary p
Data study

Real Estate Franchise Statistics: Offices, Fees and SBA Loans (2026)

Census office counts, 11 brokerage FDDs issued in 2026, RE/MAX and Anywhere filings, and SBA loan records, read side by side.

17.7%of U.S. real estate brokerage offices were franchised in 2017 (21,529 of 121,906)

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after Census's next Annual Business Survey release (listed for 2026-12-03) and the SBA FOIA file for FY2026 Q4
Documentary photograph of a tidy retail shipping counter with stacked plain cardboard boxes and a parcel scale, soft daylight, no people, no logos, no readable
Fact sheet

Shipping Store Franchise Statistics: Mail, Copy and Print Centers

Census, SBA, BLS, FDD and 10-K data on how franchised U.S. shipping, copy and print businesses are.

67.5%of U.S. private mail centers (NAICS 561431) were franchises in 2017, the latest Census count

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after the 2024 Annual Business Survey release (2026-12-03) and SBA's FY2026 Q4 FOIA file (about late October 2026)
Documentary photo of an office desk with stacked blank tax forms, a desktop calculator and reading glasses in soft window light; no people, no readable text or
Evidence review

Tax Preparation Franchise Statistics: Franchise Share, Seasonality and Paid Preparer Trends

An evidence review of Census, IRS, BLS, SEC and franchise disclosure data on how franchised, how seasonal and how exposed the U.S. tax preparation business is.

26.7%Franchise share of U.S. tax preparation establishments, 2017 (latest Census tabulation)

Updated October 14, 2026. Next update: after the IRS Data Book 2026 (spring 2027) or a national 2022 Economic Census franchise release
A clean, empty automotive service bay with a two-post vehicle lift raised slightly, a red rolling tool chest against a pale wall, polished concrete floor, soft
Tracker

Automotive Franchise Statistics: Dealers, Repair Shops, SBA Loans and FDDs

Census franchise counts by NAICS code, SBA franchise lending FY2020 to June 2026, a registry of SBA-coded automotive brands and the automotive slice of 259 FDDs.

100%of US new car dealer establishments franchised, 2017

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (expected late October 2026)
An empty boutique fitness studio with rows of equipment in soft morning light, wooden floor, large windows, no people, no logos, no readable text
Fact sheet

Fitness Franchise Statistics: Census, SBA Loan and FDD Data (2026)

How many gyms are franchised, what fitness franchisees borrow, how gyms came through the pandemic, and what 18 fitness FDDs charge and require.

26.6%of U.S. fitness and recreational sports centers were franchise establishments (2017)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 and the Census ABS for reference year 2024
A marketing planning wall covered with blank sticky notes and paint color swatches in an empty office, soft daylight, no people, no readable text, no logos
Evidence review

Franchise Advertising Fund Spending, Audits and Franchise-Sales Use: Item 11 in 259 FDDs (2025 to 2026)

A measured review of what franchisors disclose about the brand or advertising fund franchisees pay into: spending mix, administration, audits, reporting, councils and use for selling franchises.

56.8% to 66.3%Average share of fund spending on media placement, digital and production: lower figure counts only lines labelled that way, higher adds combined lines such as 'production and media placement' (166 funds with a breakdown)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (late summer 2027)
Two sets of keys passed across a plain wooden table between two pairs of hands, hands cropped at the wrist, no faces, no readable text, soft daylight, documenta
Fact sheet

Franchise Transfer Fee Fact Sheet: What 259 FDDs Charge to Sell or Renew

Transfer, broker, buyer-training and renewal fees from Item 6 of franchise disclosure documents issued 2025 to 2026.

$10,000Median franchise transfer fee for a full sale (245 FDDs)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after the next annual Minnesota FDD renewal cycle (spring 2027)
Interior of a white service van seen from the open rear doors: neatly organised shelving with tool cases, coiled hoses, a wet-dry vacuum and labelled bins, soft
Index

Home Service Franchise Statistics: Franchise Share, Unit Size, SBA Loans and FDD Terms

An index of 22 home service industries built from the 2017 Economic Census, the Annual Business Survey through data year 2023, SBA loans through June 30, 2026, and 34 home service FDDs issued in 2025 and 2026.

3.2%of establishments in 22 home service industries were franchised (US, 2017)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after the SBA FOIA file with data through 2026-09-30 and the ABS release scheduled for 2026-12-03
Documentary photograph of a mid-size hotel exterior at dusk, rows of lit windows, an empty covered portico with warm light, no people, no readable signs, logos
Data study

Hotel Franchise Statistics: Ownership, SBA Lending and FDD Terms

A study of U.S. hotel franchising from the Economic Census, the Annual Business Survey, SBA loan files from FY2010 to June 2026, and 18 hotel FDDs issued 2025 to 2026.

57.9%of U.S. hotel and motel establishments were franchises (2017, latest Census count)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FY2026 Q4 FOIA file (expected late October 2026) and the 2024 ABS release (December 3, 2026)
An empty small business office desk at dawn with a closed laptop and a set of keys resting on it, soft window light, no people, no readable text
Index

Semi-Absentee Franchise Index: What Item 15 Allows in 259 FDDs

Who must run the business, brand by brand, from 2025 to 2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed in Minnesota.

78.0%of 259 FDDs let a hired manager run the unit day to day (202 brands)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after the next round of annual FDD renewals (spring 2027)
A bright home living room with an armchair, a reading lamp and a cup of tea on a side table, soft daylight, documentary style, no people, no readable text, no l
Monitor

Senior Care Franchise Statistics: SBA Lending Monitor, Census Data and FDD Terms

A quarterly monitor of SBA lending to senior care franchises, with Census franchise counts and the senior care slice of 259 current FDDs.

77Senior care franchise SBA loans, April to June 2026 (-12.5% vs 88 a year earlier)

Updated October 9, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of 2026-09-30 (expected late October 2026) and the 2024 ABS release (2026-12-03)
A single new storefront in a small strip center, paper still covering the windows, an aluminium ladder leaning beside the door, morning light, no people, no rea
Index

Emerging Franchise Brands: How Young and Small Are Franchisors? (2026 FDD Index)

Franchising age, outlet counts and company-owned units for 259 franchisors, read from their 2025 and 2026 disclosure documents.

18.0%of franchisors had been franchising under 5 years

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: After the next full year of Minnesota FDD renewals (mid 2027)
A row of empty retail units in a newly built strip center, blank white sign bands above each glass storefront, fresh asphalt and unpainted parking lines, clear
Monitor

Franchise Development Pipeline Monitor 2026: Signed but Not Opened Units and Projected Openings

An annual count of FDD Item 20 Table 5 in 258 franchise systems: the backlog of sold units, next-year projections, and how both compare with last year's openings.

5,097Franchise agreements signed but outlet not opened at fiscal year end, 258 systems

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after the 2027 FDD renewal season (mid 2027)
A stack of plain manila legal folders on a wooden table beside a stone column in soft focus, warm window light, no readable text, no people
Fact sheet

Franchisor Litigation History: What 259 FDDs Disclose in Items 3 and 4

A hand-coded count of every lawsuit, arbitration and government action in Item 3, and every bankruptcy in Item 4, across franchise disclosure documents filed in Minnesota in 2025 and 2026.

57.1%of 259 FDDs list at least one Item 3 action (148 FDDs)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after the 2027 FDD renewal season (mid 2027)
A row of bound state statute books on a wooden library shelf in soft daylight, spines worn and unreadable, a brass bookend at one end, shallow depth of field, n
Tracker

Franchise relationship laws: the 2026 state tracker

Termination, renewal, transfer and venue rules for every state, DC and Puerto Rico, read from the statute text on October 8, 2026.

19Jurisdictions with a general franchise relationship law: 18 states plus Puerto Rico (October 2026)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: Monthly; next check early November 2026 (after Maryland Ch. 414 guidance and any New York S3643 movement)
A commercial supply warehouse aisle with plain unbranded cardboard boxes stacked on wooden pallets under high shelving, cool daylight from skylights, no people,
Data study

Franchise Supplier Rebates and Required Purchases: What Item 8 Shows in 259 FDDs (2025 to 2026)

A measured read of FDD Item 8: supplier restrictions, the franchisor as supplier, revenue and rebates from franchisee purchases, and the share of a franchisee's purchases that is restricted.

99.2%FDDs requiring purchases from the franchisor or approved suppliers (257 of 259)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (late summer 2027)
A paper street map spread on a wooden desk with colored pins and a clear ruler laid across it, soft daylight, shallow depth of field, no readable labels, no peo
Fact sheet

Franchise Territory Rights: What 259 FDDs Grant and Reserve

Measured from Item 12 of 259 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed in Minnesota and issued 2025 to 2026: who gets a protected area, how it is drawn, what franchisors keep inside it and what can take it away.

81.1%of 259 Minnesota-filed FDDs issued 2025 to 2026 promise some protected area (210 FDDs)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after the 2027 FDD renewal filings (mid-2027)
A printed balance sheet and a basic calculator on a worn wooden desk in soft daylight, pages slightly curled, no readable numbers, no logos, no people, no text
Evidence review

Franchisor Financial Statements: What 259 FDDs Show (2026 Review)

Audit opinions, equity, losses, parent guarantees and state fee deferral orders, read from Item 21 of Minnesota-filed FDDs and Minnesota registration orders.

28.6%of 259 FDDs show negative total equity (74 FDDs)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 renewal season (Minnesota orders refreshed quarterly; next check January 2027)
A wall calendar with blank date squares hanging beside a glass storefront window; through the glass, an empty retail unit under construction with exposed studs,
Index

How Long Does It Take to Open a Franchise? Item 11 Data From 259 FDDs

A sector index of franchisor-disclosed opening times, contract deadlines and training, from 2025 to 2026 Minnesota filings.

5.9 to 9 monthsMedian disclosed typical time from signing to opening, 223 brands

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (mid 2027)
A long boardroom table with closed binders stacked at each seat and a city window view at dusk, empty chairs, no people, no readable text, no logos
Data study

Private Equity Franchise Ownership: Who Owns 259 Franchisors (2026 Study)

Owner types read from FDD Item 1 parents and affiliates, checked against owners' own statements, and compared on published FDD fees, size, territory and outlet turnover.

21.2%of 259 franchisors have a stated private equity or fund owner (55 brands; 34.8% of the 158 with a stated owner type)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (spring 2027); owner changes checked quarterly
A row of varied small storefronts on a commercial street at dusk, warm window light, wet pavement reflections, no people, no readable signs, no logos
Tracker

Publicly Traded Franchise Companies: Openings, Closures and Net Unit Growth

A registry of 39 US-listed franchisors built from their latest 10-K unit tables, with every figure linked to the filing.

22 of 39public franchisors with more units at the end of their latest fiscal year (mostly FY2025)

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after the Jack in the Box and Valvoline FY2026 10-Ks (November 2026)
Aerial view of a small-city downtown with mixed low-rise storefronts and a main street at golden hour, documentary style, no people, no readable signs or text
Index

SBA Franchise Loans by State: Per-Resident and Per-Business Index, 2021 to 2026

Franchise-coded SBA 7(a) and 504 approvals in all 50 states and DC, measured only in the months when SBA's Franchise Directory was in force, and normalized by residents and employer establishments.

2.09Franchise 7(a) loans per 100,000 residents per year, US, Oct 2021 to Apr 2023 and FY2026 through June 30, 2026

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after SBA posts the FOIA file as of 2026-09-30 (expected about late October 2026)
A blank loan application form, a pen and a small wooden storefront model on a plain desk in soft daylight, documentary style, no people, no readable text
Data study

Average Franchise Loan Amount: SBA Start-up Loans vs FDD Item 7 Investment, FY2020 to 2026

2,773 SBA start-up loans matched to 164 franchise brands and their 2025 to 2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents.

84.2%Median start-up SBA 7(a) loan as a share of the Item 7 midpoint, 68 brands, FY2020 to FY2026

Updated October 8, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (expected about one month after quarter end)
An empty ground-floor retail unit mid build-out: framed metal stud walls, stacked flooring boxes, a stepladder and work lights on a bare concrete floor, dayligh
Data study

Franchise Initial Investment: What 259 FDDs Say It Costs to Open, by Sector and Cost Category

A line-by-line study of the Item 7 tables in Franchise Disclosure Documents issued in 2025 and 2026 and registered in Minnesota.

$265,372 to $573,000Median Item 7 low and high estimate, 259 FDDs issued 2025 to 2026

Updated October 7, 2026. Next update: With the next annual FDD sample (2027); BLS context figures after the 2026-10-15 PPI release
A state capitol building at dawn seen from a quiet plaza, soft early light on stone steps, no flags with text, no seals, no people
Tracker

Franchise Registration States: Rules, Fees and 2026 Changes in All 50 States and DC

A state-by-state registry of who must register or file before selling a franchise, verified at each statute and regulator on October 7, 2026.

14Franchise registration states on the FTC and NASAA list (as reported by GAO, 2023), each confirmed at its statute in October 2026

Updated October 7, 2026. Next update: Monthly; next check early November 2026
Documentary photograph of a laptop open on a small cafe table at night, the screen showing a soft, blurred line chart with no readable text, a cup beside it, wa
Monitor

Franchise Search Trends: Google Interest in Buying a Franchise, 2004 to September 2026

A monthly monitor of US Google search interest in buying a franchise, franchise consultants and brokers, and franchise costs, with seasonality, state interest and a check of how much the numbers move between samples.

2.84x'franchise consultant' search interest, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026 average vs 2004 to 2024 average, United States

Updated October 7, 2026. Next update: First week of November 2026, adding October 2026 Google Trends data and September 2026 Census business applications (released October 14, 2026)
A quick-service restaurant counter at opening time, empty queue lanes with stanchions, a blank dark menu board, stainless steel and morning light, documentary s
Index

Restaurant Franchise Statistics: A State Index of Franchise Share

Census establishment counts for all 50 states and DC, with firm-level, SBA lending and FDD cross-checks, and a plain account of where the data stops.

57.3%of U.S. limited-service restaurant establishments were franchises (2017)

Updated October 7, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of 2026-09-30 (expected late October 2026) and the Census ABS release listed for 2026-12-03
A folded United States flag in a wooden display case on an office shelf beside a new, closed business planner, soft morning light, no people, no text
Fact sheet

Veteran Franchise Discounts: What 259 FDDs Offer, and What It Covers (2025 to 2026)

A measured count of franchisor incentives for veterans, their form and size against the total investment, eligibility rules, VetFran tiers and SBA veteran fee relief.

50.2%FDDs with a veteran incentive (130 of 259)

Updated October 7, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (late summer 2027), or sooner if SBA changes FY2027 fees
A long printed contract with colored signature tabs and a fountain pen resting on a dark wood table, soft window light, shallow depth of field, no readable text
Data study

Franchise Agreement Terms: What 259 Current FDDs Disclose

A brand-by-brand reading of Item 17 on term, renewal, termination, transfer, non-competes and dispute resolution, with Minnesota's state overrides.

65.6%of FDDs set a 10-year initial term

Updated October 6, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (mid 2027)
A strip-mall storefront mid-changeover: a blank white sign panel above the door, an aluminum ladder leaning against the facade, empty display window, overcast d
Index

Franchise Closure Rates and Turnover by Sector: FDD Item 20 Index

Terminations, non-renewals, buybacks, closures and transfers as a share of franchised outlets, from the Item 20 tables of 220 US franchise systems' 2025 and 2026 FDDs.

4.7%Median share of franchised outlets that exited a system in one year (terminations, non-renewals, reacquisitions, ceased operations)

Updated October 6, 2026. Next update: after the 2027 FDD renewal season (mid 2027)
A laptop on a kitchen table in late evening light showing a blurred, brightly colored web page layout with no readable text, a mug and a notepad beside it, no p
Evidence review

Franchise Fraud in the US: What Complaint and Enforcement Records Show

An evidence review of FTC complaint data, federal and state enforcement records, and the rules that separate a regulated franchise from a business opportunity scheme.

3,858Franchises & Distributorships reports to Consumer Sentinel, US, 2024 (up from 2,673 in 2022)

Updated October 6, 2026. Next update: when the FTC posts the 2025 Consumer Sentinel Data Book (not posted as of 2026-10-06)
An open franchise disclosure binder on a wooden desk, pages of blurred tables, reading glasses resting beside it, soft window light, no people, no readable text
Fact sheet

Franchise Item 19 Disclosure: What 259 FDDs Report and Leave Out (2025 to 2026)

A measured count of which franchisors make an Item 19 financial performance representation, which measures they use and how many outlets the figures cover. No earnings figures are reproduced.

77.2%FDDs with an Item 19 financial performance representation (200 of 259)

Updated October 6, 2026. Next update: After the 2027 FDD renewal season (late summer 2027)
A row of unbranded bank branch facades on a downtown street at dusk, warm window light, wet pavement, documentary photo, no people, no text, no logos
Monitor

SBA Lenders for Franchises: 7(a) and 504 League Table, FY2024 to June 2026

A quarterly monitor of which lenders make SBA 7(a) and 504 loans to franchise businesses, how concentrated that lending is, and how lenders differ in loan size, startup share and states served.

486Lenders with at least one franchise-coded SBA 7(a) loan, FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026), United States

Updated October 6, 2026. Next update: After SBA posts the FOIA files as of September 30, 2026 (expected late October 2026)
Documentary photograph of a bank branch interior after hours, warm lamp light, empty teller counter and a wall-mounted rate board whose figures are blurred and
Monitor

Franchise Loan Interest Rates: SBA 7(a) Rates vs Prime, FY2020 to June 2026

A quarterly monitor of the initial interest rate on every franchise-coded SBA 7(a) loan, its spread over the prime rate, and the SBA maximum in force on the day it was approved.

9.00%Median initial rate, franchise-coded SBA 7(a) loans, FY2026 Q3 (Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2026), United States

Updated October 5, 2026. Next update: After SBA posts the FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (expected late October 2026)
Documentary photograph of a quiet restaurant dining room in 2020: chairs turned up on tables, soft window light, a blank closed sign on the glass door
Data study

Franchise PPP Loans and Restaurant Revitalization Grants: What the Final SBA Files Show

A full-file count of franchise-flagged Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, how those loans performed, and how many franchise loans the flag misses.

150,086Franchise-flagged PPP loans, both draws, US, April 2020 to July 2021 ($25.45B)

Updated October 5, 2026. Next update: When SBA posts a newer PPP or RRF FOIA file (none since October 21, 2024); checked quarterly
A thick tabbed franchise disclosure document lying open on a wooden desk next to a desktop calculator and a printed fee schedule, soft window light, documentary
Index

Franchise Royalty Rates and Fees: 259 Disclosure Documents by Sector (2025 to 2026)

A document-level index of royalties, brand funds, initial fees and recurring Item 6 charges, built from franchise disclosure documents on file with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

6%Median standard royalty, 239 FDDs with a percentage royalty (middle half 5% to 7%)

Updated October 5, 2026. Next update: After the spring 2027 Minnesota renewal filings (planned for June 2027)
A corporate headquarters lobby with an unbranded reception desk and a wall of blank framed panels, daylight, documentary photography, no people, no text, no log
Fact sheet

How Do Franchisors Make Money? Royalties, Fees and Units in 26 Public 10-Ks

Royalty revenue, franchise fees, advertising funds, unit counts and refranchising at 26 US-listed franchisors, from their latest annual reports to the SEC.

23.5%median share of total revenue from the royalty line, 26 US-listed franchisors, latest fiscal year

Updated October 5, 2026. Next update: after calendar-2026 10-Ks are filed (February to March 2027)
A federal office building entrance in early morning light, stone steps and columns, flags on poles moving in light wind, empty plaza, no people, no readable tex
Tracker

SBA Franchise Directory Tracker: Listed Brands, Removals and SBA Loans

Five SBA Directory files from January to September 2026, joined to every SBA 7(a) and 504 loan approved from FY2020 to June 30, 2026 by franchise code.

2,401Brands with an SBA franchise code on the September 29, 2026 Directory file

Updated October 5, 2026. Next update: Weekly with each new SBA Directory file; loan join after SBA's September 30, 2026 FOIA file (late October 2026)
A wall calendar and a stack of annual reports with colored tabbed pages on an office shelf, soft daylight, documentary style, no people, no readable text
Evidence review

Franchise Industry Growth: How Fast It Really Is and How Accurate the Forecasts Have Been

An evidence review of 16 editions of the Franchising Economic Outlook (2010 to 2026), scored against later estimates and checked against Census Bureau data.

832,521US franchise establishments, 2025 estimate, up 1.3% on 2024

Updated October 4, 2026. Next update: after the 2027 Franchising Economic Outlook (expected February 2027); Census ABS calendar release 2026-12-03
An empty federal courtroom with wooden benches and a raised judge's bench in soft daylight from tall windows, no people, no seals, no flags with text, no signag
Monitor

Franchise Litigation in U.S. Federal Courts: Filings, Outcomes and Duration, FY2006 to June 2026

An annual monitor built from the Federal Judicial Center's case-level Integrated Database: every federal franchise case (nature of suit 196) since the code began in December 2004.

289Franchise filings in federal district courts, 12 months to June 30, 2026 (up 40.3% from 206)

Updated October 4, 2026. Next update: After the FJC posts the IDB civil file with data through September 30, 2026 (FY2026 year end)
An empty small-business back office in early morning light, several different coffee mugs on a shared desk, a whiteboard with a blank weekly shift grid, documen
Fact sheet

Franchise owner demographics: who owns US franchise businesses

Sex, race, ethnicity and veteran status of franchise owners from Census survey data, tested against published standard errors.

19.1%of US franchise employer firms were female-owned in 2023 (vs 23.8% of all responding firms)

Updated October 4, 2026. Next update: after the Census 2024 Annual Business Survey release listed for 2026-12-03
A set of brass and steel keys resting on a wooden shop counter next to a closed dark folder with a few signed-looking pages peeking out, warm interior light, sh
Index

Franchise Resale Index: Which Brands and Sectors Resell Most, SBA Loans FY2020 to 2026

A brand, sector and state ranking of SBA 7(a) loans that bought an existing franchise, built from 46,582 loan records.

14.9%of franchise-coded SBA 7(a) loans financed a resale (6,962 of 46,582), FY2020 to June 2026

Updated October 4, 2026. Next update: after SBA's FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (expected late October 2026)
Documentary photograph at dusk of two neighbouring small restaurants on the same street: one with a uniform, modern, unbranded facade and identical light fixtur
Data study

Franchise vs Independent Business: How Franchise Establishments Compare on Sales, Size and Pay in the Same Industries, 2007 to 2017

An industry-level study of the 498,234 franchise establishments counted in the 2017 Economic Census, compared with non-franchise establishments in the same 6-digit industries, with 2007 and 2012 trends and an Annual Business Survey firm cross-check for data year 2023 (2024 ABS).

15 of 24Top franchise industries where franchise units had higher average sales than non-franchise units, 2017, US

Updated October 4, 2026. Next update: After the next Annual Business Survey release on data.census.gov (listed by Census as '2024 Annual Business Survey', scheduled 2026-12-03) or a new Economic Census franchise table
Documentary photograph of a kitchen table in evening light: an open household budget binder, a few bank statements with no readable text, a desk calculator and
Fact sheet

Franchise Affordability: How Many US Families Can Meet Franchisor Requirements

Federal Reserve household data matched to the published liquid capital and net worth minimums of 50 franchise brands, with an SBA equity comparison.

11.6%of US families held $250,000+ in liquid assets (2022)

Updated October 3, 2026. Next update: Brand minimums rechecked quarterly; household figures when the Federal Reserve publishes the next Survey of Consumer Finances
A state government office counter in soft morning light, wire filing trays holding blank forms, a rubber stamp and a pen on a chain, empty waiting chairs, no pe
Tracker

Franchise Broker Registration by State: 2026 Tracker

Which states make franchise brokers, consultants and referral sources register, what each rule requires, and every change from 2024 to 2026, with a source and evidence level for each entry.

2 statesFranchise broker registration in force (New York and Washington), checked 2026-10-03

Updated October 3, 2026. Next update: 2026-11-03 (monthly registry check)
A small-town commercial street at dusk: one storefront with papered-over windows and a dark interior beside an open storefront with warm interior light, no sign
Evidence review

Franchise Failure Rate: What the Research Actually Shows

An evidence review of every study we could open, new SBA loan-outcome data for FY2010 to FY2019, and the origin of the 95 percent success claim.

+5.1 ptsFirst-year survival edge for franchised startups after controls (US, 2002 and 2007 startups)

Updated October 3, 2026. Next update: After SBA's FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (expected late October 2026) and the next BLS BED survival release
Aerial view of a suburban commercial strip at golden hour, a long row of small single-story storefronts with plain unbranded signs, parking lots and a few trees
Index

Franchise Statistics by State and Metro: The 2023 Franchise Density Index

Where businesses are most likely to operate as franchises, measured with Census Bureau survey data and its published standard errors.

4.7%US employer firms (responding) that operated all or partly as a franchise, 2023

Updated October 3, 2026. Next update: After the Census Bureau's 2024 Annual Business Survey release, scheduled for 2026-12-03
Documentary photograph of a bank loan officer's empty desk at dusk: a closed loan file folder, a desk lamp, a calculator; through the window, a small single-sto
Data study

SBA Franchise Loans: How Much 7(a) and 504 Lending Goes to Franchises, FY1991 to FY2026

A loan-level study of 1,961,455 SBA 7(a) approvals and 229,049 SBA 504 approvals, with monthly coded shares that test what happened when SBA stopped and restarted its Franchise Directory.

13.8%Franchise-coded share of SBA 7(a) loans, FY2026 (Nov 13, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026)

Updated October 3, 2026. Next update: After SBA posts the FOIA file as of September 30, 2026 (SBA updates the files quarterly)
The data behind the research

Where Our Franchise Research Comes From

We start from primary records and say plainly where the data stops. Market-research estimates are shown as estimates, and copyrighted rankings are cited, never republished.

  • SBA 7(a) and 504 loan filesEvery SBA-guaranteed loan since FY1991, with the franchise brand on the record. Updated quarterly.
  • Census Annual Business SurveyWhether employer firms operate as franchises, by state, metro, owner and firm size.
  • Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer FinancesHousehold liquid assets and net worth, used for affordability analysis.
  • State franchise regulatorsRegistration orders, disclosure documents and broker rules from state agencies.
  • FTC recordsThe Franchise Rule, public comments and enforcement actions.
  • Peer-reviewed and Census researchSurvival and performance studies, graded for quality before we use them.
Our research standard

No Source, No Number

  • Every figure comes from a source we opened, and the source is linked next to it.
  • Sources are graded: Tier 1 primary and government data first, trade and company data second, journalism third.
  • Our own calculations show the formula and inputs, and the CSV lets you check them.
  • We never publish earnings claims about any franchise, and we do not rank or rate named companies.
  • Corrections: email hello@franchiseconsultantsandbrokers.com and we will review the record.
Update calendar

When Each Report Is Refreshed

How to cite

Cite the report title, “Franchise Consultants and Brokers”, the URL and the update date. Each report has a ready-made citation line. Data tables and charts are licensed CC BY 4.0.

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