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1851 Growth Club
15 Promising Young Franchises to Watch
These 15 brands are on the brink of taking the industry by storm.
In franchising, the McDonald’s, Domino’s and KFC’s of the world are usually the ones getting the most attention. But smaller, newer companies deserve some credit, too. By bringing unique concepts to the table, they’re helping to keep franchising fresh—and they’re all on the brink of taking the industry by storm.
To keep you in the loop, 1851 Franchise has compiled a list of 15 young companies to watch in the future. Here are a handful of brands you should keep an eye on:
When Josh York was just 25-years-old, he broke ground on his dream of building a fitness business. York started GYMGUYZ with $15,000 out of his parents’ dining room, and since then, this mobile in-home training franchise has grown to a multi-million dollar company in six states. GYMGUYZ’s model is the first of its kind—with this brand, the coaches come to you, and they bring with them all the equipment you need to get a great workout. They’re also committed to tailoring exercise routines to fit each client’s needs and goals.
Slim Chickens’ roots are planted in the deep South, where food is honest, meals are social and the door is always open. Their mission was to bring a dose of that Southern hospitality to a fast-casual setting—dishing up fresh, handmade soul food to their community. Now, this Arkansas-based brand has served thousands of happy and loyal customers with their special hand-breaded chicken tenders, fresh-never-frozen Buffalo wings and unique selection of hand-made dipping sauces. But this chain is so much more than your standard fried chicken joint—they also offer chicken and waffles, decadent desserts in a mason jar and all of your favorite Southern sides, like fried okra and mac and cheese. They also aim to elevate service beyond what’s offered at a traditional fast-food restaurant—they bring meals directly to their customers’ tables.
Cleaning homes these days is a far cry from the independent cleaning lady. When Maid Right emerged on the franchising scene in 2013, they introduced a unique take on the residential cleaning franchise arena. Maid Right is the first and only residential cleaning franchise in America with the Master/Unit business model concept. The brand is also committed to longevity—with an average customer retention time of only six months, Maid Right is set to change the landscape of the industry, thanks to their innovative products and services, like EnviroShield, the unique branded system that delivers 100 percent disinfection coverage.
Founded in 2008, the Tampa, Florida-based The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer and wine bar celebrated for its more than 300 varieties of imports, local craft beers and a large selection of premium wine and cigars. The brand’s search for the best beers from all regions around the world is never-ending, and they’re constantly rotating their taps to ensure customers can always expect to discover a new favorite. In addition to beer, The Brass Tap creates a unique and friendly atmosphere by treating its clientele with daily entertainment that’s carefully selected to fit their casual vibe.
Founded in 2005, The Roman Candle is a Wisconsin institution, offering its patrons a one-of-a-kind pizzeria that’s a slice above the rest. “Craft” might be a buzzword in the restaurant industry, but for this brand, they can truly walk the talk. The Roman Candle is quality-sourced, handmade and farm fresh—a true craft experience that is 100 percent local. The brand launched its franchise opportunity in 2015, meaning that its popular specialty pizzas, chicken wings, hearty pastas, crisp salads and Candlesticks (The Roman Candle’s answer to cheese breadsticks), will be making their way to more hungry customers than ever before.
Dave Sobelman launched his business with one goal in mind—to be the purveyor of the best burgers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It began with fresh-baked buns from a local bakery and snowballed from there—each dish was Sobelman’s chance to prove that quality ingredients and the right skills behind the grill could lift a simple hamburger joint into something extraordinary. His quest to be the best better-burger restaurant spilled over into his cocktails too, and today, Sobelman’s Bloody Mary’s are nothing short of legendary (stacked with fried chicken, cheeseburgers and more, these drinks are akin to a work of art). It’s only a matter of time before people across the nation get a taste of Sobelman’s authentic, simple and downright good cuisine.
After growing from one to 52 units across Canada in less than three years, Alair Homes, a custom home and renovation contractor business, made their U.S. debut in 2014. Founded in 2007, Alair Homes aims to create quality and value every step of the way by incorporating a customer-oriented and marketing-savvy model that is unlike the traditional approach taken by contractors. Utilizing Client Control, the brand builds a transparent partnership with its clients by allowing customers to maximize their involvement in the home building and renovation process.
Brunch isn’t just a meal—for many, it’s a way of life. And no one is doing it better than Famous Toastery. The brand itself has set itself apart in the better breakfast segment by combining new twists on culinary classics while using only the highest-quality ingredients. Everything they serve is fresh and prepared in-house every single morning. In just a few short years, Famous Toastery has emerged as the top breakfast spot for Charlotte, North Carolina—its hometown. And now, after having recently been named one of the top franchises to watch by CNBC, the brand is poised to bring their award-winning food to the rest of the country. It’s time for a brunch revolution.
Since 2008, Your Pie has prided itself on being the original down-the-line brick oven pizza concept. But it’s not just their unique spin on a classic that makes them stand out—Your Pie has never wavered from their commitment to Italian pizza tradition and regionally-sourced ingredients. The Georgia-based brand is focused on innovation—so chances are you’ll always have a new pizza concoction to choose from every time you visit, thanks to their Craft Pie Series. Every season, Your Pie introduces a specialty pizza, expertly paired with craft beers from a local brewery. In the past, the brand has served up unique flavor profiles, such as their New Gyro Pie, Sriracha Nacho pizza and their Peach and Prosciutto pie.
Mac and cheese is a quintessential comfort food for so many people. Mr. Mac’s found their niche by taking this much-loved dish and dedicating an entire restaurant to it. But this isn’t your homogenous mac and cheese out of a box—Mr. Mac’s has grown in popularity by infusing a gourmet spin. The menu boasts mouthwatering concoctions like the Blazin’ Buffalo Chicken Mac, the Jalapeno Popper Mac and the Pulled Pork Mac. Since opening in 2010, this New Hampshire-based brand has developed a cult-like following throughout New England. Now, with the help of SMB Franchise Advisors*, Mr. Mac’s is ready to spread their mac and cheese goodness with the help of franchising.
Sweet Kiddles is a flexible childcare center designed with real families in mind. Need childcare for a couple of hours while you run errands? No problem. Have a part-time job with shifting schedules? No sweat. Need a little escape on an evening or a weekend afternoon? That’s not a big deal, either. Since Sweet Kiddles began franchising in 2015, their caregivers can now bring that home-away-from-home option to more families throughout the country.
Created and implemented by one of the largest and most successful hair salons in the nation, Sport Clips*, Vent Blotique has had the unique opportunity to exceed all expectations of the typical blow dry bar. Their groundbreaking concept boasts affordability, style, efficiency and an unforgettable guest experience. Vent Blotique’s TryBar is just one unique feature—when customers walk in the store, they have the chance to not only buy the hottest products and tools available at a great price, but they can also test them out while they’re in the store before committing to the purchase. Founded in 2015, the brand has plans to open salons throughout Texas and Nevada.
WT Café (otherwise known as Wholesome Tummies) is a fresh, from scratch food franchise company that delivers meals to kids and families everywhere they learn and play. To do this, they establish kitchens right in the heart of the communities they serve. The brand’s goal is to provide children and families with the wholesome foods they need to live long, healthy lives. By preparing healthy food in creative ways, WT Café helps kids to discover the joy of fresh, natural foods—making them less likely to choose less-nutritious alternatives.
Originally founded in 2010 as CleanBeeBaby, Jennifer Beall’s company first started as a service to clean car seats for busy parents. After being in operation for three years, she wanted to expand. Backed by a strong investment, she decided to rebrand and redefine her company’s services to not only clean, but to repair car seats and strollers at shopping centers and baby boutiques for $20 to $40 a pop. Since then, Tot Squad has seen revenue double each year, and in 2015, the company began franchising.
Unlike other fitness centers, SOLDIERFIT’s top priority is character building. Owner Danny Farra is an 11-year U.S. Army veteran who launched the company with his business partner David Posin in 2007. Since then, SOLDIERFIT has grown to include multiple 10,000-plus square foot centers across Maryland. The military-inspired fitness program encompasses boot camp classes, mixed martial arts, personal training and functional fitness. Their franchise program, which launched in 2015, will initially roll out along the East Coast, with national expansion to follow.
*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.
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