Franchises offer great opportunities for investors who can rely on a company’s strong reputation to grow their investment. Popular franchises are a great place to start, as long as the business is likely to be profitable in your location. While many of the most popular franchises are restaurants, you’re sure to be surprised by a few of these top franchise companies in the US.
1. McDonald’s
It should come as no surprise that fast food chain McDonalds is one of the most popular with customers and franchise owners. Everyone recognizes their “Golden Arches” and familiar favorites such as the Big Mac, which may be why the company made over $118 billion in sales in 2023.
2. Taco Bell
Visual Capitalist rated this Mexican-American fast-food restaurant as the best franchise to open in 2023, in part because it requires a lower initial investment to open than McDonald’s on average. This might be why there are nearly 8,000 stores in the United States. Of course, Taco Bell is sometimes combined with other stores, including KFC, which shares the same parent company and may be a more sound investment.
3. The UPS Store
For those who have a smaller franchise budget but want to buy a franchise, The UPS Store might be a good option because it costs as little as $122,000 to open, according to Visual Capitalist. This is likely due to the needing a smaller space than most restaurants, which also need kitchens and all their accouterments. There are also plenty of opportunities for profit as individual and consumer clients need to ship goods. And now that they have a contract with Amazon, UPS ensures its franchise stores have a steady stream of customers with product returns.
4. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
The next restaurant on our list focuses on flavorful chicken, which many find hard to resist. Even though there are far fewer Popeyes restaurants in the United States than McDonald’s or Taco Bell locations, a comparatively lower startup cost can make investing a smart choice. Plus, Popeyes doesn’t dominate the entire country like some of its competitors, so there’s plenty of room to grow.
5. Pearle Vision
The top health and wellness franchise choice in the country combines both medical and retail in the same location, which contributes to its profitability. Customers appreciate the convenience of only having to visit one location for all their eye care needs. Pearle Vision stores are often in malls or shopping centers, which means they get a lot of foot traffic, too.
6. Ace Hardware
Many people might be surprised to realize that Ace Hardware is a franchise at all, but it is! Although franchise owners need to secure a larger location than some options on this list, some big-ticket items, such as appliances, can net quite a profit, making it all worthwhile. According to the company website, investors need at least $350,000 in liquid capital to start.
Other franchise options, across fast food and beyond, can also be profitable in some locations, even if they’re not the top in the nation.
