Entrepreneur Magazine Releases Top 10 Franchises for 2014

1851 Project: News of the Moment Entrepreneur Magazine Releases Top 10 Franchises for 2014  As franchising continues to grow, Entrepreneur magazine highlights 10 successful brands and their lucrative business strategies.  The results of Entrepreneur's 35th annual Franchise 500 confirm that franchising continues to rebound, with these top 10 franchises leading the way. Here we highlight their success strategies and plans for the upcoming year. No. 1 | Anytime Fitness Some 50.2 million Americans belonged to health clubs in 2012, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. Today, about 1.9 million are Anytime Fitness members--a huge piece of the pie that's getting bigger every year. And it's safe to say that the 24-hour gym's clients, employees and franchisees are among the most enthusiastic people in the fitness industry. That's because the roughly 2,500 Anytime clubs focus on people and culture. The company carefully selects its employees and treats them well, committed to the idea that a workplace should develop and challenge, not be stagnant or boring. Clients, meanwhile, appreciate the convenience of 24-hour accessibility to the small gyms--typically 2,500 to 5,000 square feet--whose staff and personal trainers take an interest and encourage them to push themselves. No. 2 | Hampton Hotels Consider Hampton the U.S. ambassador of the hotel business. The company, which counts more than 1,900 units worldwide, has become the hallmark of American friendliness, cleanliness and convenience in the value-price hotel sector, offering free Wi-Fi, hot breakfast and an audacious money-back guarantee. During the recession, when business travelers traded down and vacationers were looking for strong value, Hampton seized the opportunity to draw them in. And many of those customers never left. But most exciting is the brand's international extension, Hampton by Hilton, which is taking American hospitality to places it has never gone before. Last year, Hamptons opened in Poland, Russia, the Netherlands and Romania, in addition to setting up locations in 14 U.S. states. Read more by clicking: http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/230384