1851

Franchise brands often start with a dream, a shared vision between founders who envision creating something remarkable together. When those founders happen to be friends, their synergy can lead to extraordinary success stories and can inspire franchisees to reach for their entrepreneurial dreams as well. In honor of National Best Friends Day, here are four franchise brands that were founded by best friends, showcasing how their friendships fueled their entrepreneurial spirit and led to the creation of popular and enduring businesses.<a href="https://www.benjerry.com/about-us/open-a-franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben &amp; Jerry's</a> Unit Count:&nbsp;558 Investment Range:&nbsp;$112,700 - $474,300 <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-ben-jerrys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2721271#stories">Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data</a> In 1978, childhood friends&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cohen_(businessman)?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Cohen</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Greenfield?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jerry Greenfield</a> decided to turn their dream of running a food business into reality. With a modest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/01/ben-and-jerrys-founders-started-out-by-taking-a-5-dollar-ice-cream-class.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$12,000 investment</a> — $4,000 of which was borrowed — they opened their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Their commitment to quality ingredients, coupled with innovative and whimsically named flavors like "Cherry Garcia" and "Chunky Monkey," quickly made Ben &amp; Jerry's a local favorite. The brand's commitment to social and environmental causes further distinguished it in the marketplace.&nbsp; Today, as a franchise, Ben &amp; Jerry's operates globally, retaining its core values and community-focused ethos, a testament to the power of friendship and shared values in building a brand that stands the test of time. <a href="https://modernmarket.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Modern Market Eatery</a> Unit Count:&nbsp;31 Investment Range: $928,500 and $1,468,750 <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-modern-market-eatery-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725318#stories">Franchise Cost, Fees, Profit and Data</a> Modern Market Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant franchise that distinguishes itself by blending chef-inspired menus with sustainable practices, all while delivering meals with the speed and efficiency expected of quick-service restaurants (QSRs).&nbsp; The inception of Modern Market traces back to the unique journey of its founder,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mccolgan-cfa-274a8592?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob McColgan</a>, whose career transitioned from the high-stakes world of trading and investment management at Goldman Sachs to pioneering in the restaurant industry. Together with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-pigliacampo-2a4a572?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Anthony Pigliacampo</a>, his best friend in high school, McColgan embarked on a mission to reimagine fast food with a restaurant that could offer healthy, clean, and satisfying meals.&nbsp; "During my career in finance, I maintained close contact with my high school best friend, who was engaged in engineering work in California,” McColgan told 1851 Franchise. “We had always talked about collaborating on a project together, but it had to be something we were passionate about personally. He consulted for major restaurant companies, and we often discussed the stark contrast between the U.S. fast food culture and dining experiences abroad. We frequently dined at local, healthy bistros and cafes, leading us to ponder: what would our ideal everyday restaurant look like?" In 2008, fueled by their shared passion and vision, McColgan and&nbsp;Pigliacampo left their careers to lay the groundwork for what would become the first Modern Market in Boulder, Colorado, in 2009. Currently, Modern Market operates 31 restaurants across the country.<a href="https://1851franchise.com/shuckinshack">Shuckin’ Shack</a> Unit Count:&nbsp;19&nbsp; Investment Range: $471,750 - $1,416,420 <a href="https://1851franchise.com/shuckin-shack-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725205#stories">Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data</a> In 2007, friends&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-piccinin-5702ba96?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Piccinin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-cook-92b74891?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Cook</a> identified the need for an atmosphere-rich establishment that served fresh seafood in their sleepy beach town of Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The town had no oyster bars to speak of and only calabash-style seafood, meaning fried and heavy. Piccinin and Cook knew that a concept that served up fresh oysters on the half-shell and other high-quality seafood would flourish in the area; said simply, the market determined itself.Enter&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/shuckinshack">Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar</a>. The brand boasts a menu packed with unpretentious offerings like its bestselling lobster roll topped with a spicy mustard remoulade, cold crab dip, sharkbite shrimp, a fresh oyster sampler and bursting buckets of steaming shrimp, corn and clams for the truly hungry. The oceanfront-inspired menu rounds out with a wide selection of craft beer and cheers-worthy cocktails.Since Shuckin’ Shuck began franchising in 2014, the brand has grown to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theshuckinshack.com/locations/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp%3Butm_medium=article&amp%3Butm_campaign=shuckin-shack-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725205&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">19 locations in six states</a>.<a href="https://www.baskinrobbinsfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Baskin-Robbins</a>Unit Count: 7,682 Investment Range: $293,840 and $636,360 <a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-baskin-robbins-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2720917#stories">Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data</a> Another tale of ice cream empire-building friendship, Baskin-Robbins was founded by brother-in-laws&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Baskin?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Burt Baskin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irv_Robbins?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Irv Robbins</a> in 1945. The duo shared a passion for innovative ice cream flavors and a desire to create a fun, family-friendly ice cream experience. Starting from separate ventures, they combined their shops into the Baskin-Robbins brand in 1953, introducing the concept of "31 flavors" — one for each day of the month. This idea was revolutionary at the time and played a significant role in their success.&nbsp; Today, Baskin-Robbins has since become the world's largest ice cream franchise, with locations in over 50 countries, all thanks to the visionary partnership of two best friends. Check out some related 1851 Franchise stories, here:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/5-franchisees-on-why-they-chose-their-brand-2719236">5 Franchisees on Why They Chose Their Brand</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/5-ice-cream-franchises-we-love-2717634">5 Ice Cream Franchises We Love</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/modern-market-eatery/modern-market-eatery-franchise-offers-diversification-for-multi-unit-restaurant-owners-2725470">Modern Market Eatery Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theshuckinshack.com/childcare-entrepreneur-forges-new-path-in-his-70s-with-shuckin-shack-franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends-2725527" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Childcare Entrepreneur Forges New Path in His 70’s With Shuckin’ Shack Franchise</a></li></ul>

National Best Friends Day: Franchise Brands Started by Best Friends

1851 Franchise

Who says you can’t mix business with pleasure? These franchisors have used their friendships as a catalyst for creating businesses that resonate with millions of people worldwide.


B-F-Franchising: 4 Franchise Brands Started by Best Friends

4-franchise-brands-started-by-best-friends

petbar

petbar Franchise - Marc Hildebrand - Nicole Baptiste - San Antonio - 1851 Franchise

Spreading Bark-Side Joy: How Nicole and Marc Bring Trust and Canine Bliss to San Antonio

petbar-franchise-alamo-heights-san-antonio-nicole-baptiste-marc-hildebrand

Wild Bill's Craft Beverage Company

How Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. Built a 23-Year Brand That Empowers Veterans Through Franchising

wild-bills-craft-beverage-co-veteran-franchise-opportunity

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers Franchise - St. Louis Expansion - 1851 Franchise

Why St. Louis Is the Next Major Growth Opportunity for Comfort Keepers®

comfort-keepers-st-louis-franchise-opportunities

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Inside Keke’s Breakfast Cafe’s Hands-On Training System: How the Brand Sets Franchisees Up for Success from Day One

inside-kekes-breakfast-cafes-hands-on-training-system-how-the-brand-sets-franchisees-up-for-success-from-day-one

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Ranks No. 358 on the Franchise Times Top 400 List for 2025

caring-transitions-ranks-no-358-on-the-franchise-times-top-400-list-for-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Amazon outage, AWS outage, Amazon AWS logo

The Day the Cloud Stalled: How Amazon's Outage Impacted Franchise Economy

amazon-aws-outage-franchise-impact-travel-dining-failure

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Father-and-Daughter Team Bring Teriyaki Madness to Wichita, Kansas, With Big Expansion Plans

johnny-brayden-steven-teriyaki-madness-wichita

Top Education Franchises To Consider for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Education Franchises To Consider Investing In for 2025

top-education-franchises-investment-opportunities

B-F-Franchising: 4 Franchise Brands Started by Best Friends

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS