Is There a List of All the Franchises in the U.S.?

With over 700,000 establishments in the U.S., from fast-food giants to boutique fitness studios, franchises are everywhere you look. But many aspiring business owners and investors might often wonder if there is one comprehensive list of all the brands to choose from. 

The reality is more complex than a simple, all-encompassing catalog, but the good news is that there are certainly plenty of great lists and tools out there to help you narrow down your search. 

As the industry’s leading publication in franchise news, we can’t go without mentioning ourselves. At 1851 Franchise, not only are we constantly updating rundowns of the best investment opportunities in franchising, but we also provide a franchise-opportunities search tool. Here, you can filter opportunities by industry, as well as investment range. We provide you with a link to the brand, an investment range, industry and a recent story on each franchise. 

Of course, when it comes to listing franchise opportunities, 1851 Franchise is not the only reliable player out there. Here are a few other resources for experienced and first-time franchise buyers looking for a new investment opportunity.

Franchising.com

Franchising.com is a solid resource for all things franchising. On the Franchises A-Z section of their website, you can find what the company says is a complete list of known franchise businesses. Though not all of the brands listed are actively recruiting new franchisees, the website has compiled this list to “provide vital information about the companies that franchise, and provide a clear representation of the reach the franchise industry has in the business community.” 

On the list, Franchising.com provides the country of operation for each brand, as well as the industry and founding year. Users can click on each brand for a more in-depth look at the opportunity. At the time of this publication, the total is 3,303 brands. 

Entrepreneur Franchise 500

Every year, business publication Entrepreneur ranks what it deems the top 500 franchises of the year in its “Franchise 500” list. To be eligible to rank, a franchisor must be seeking new franchisees in the U.S. or Canada. Additionally, the franchise must have had a minimum of 10 units open and operating as of a certain date each year, with at least one North American franchise location. 

Each eligible franchi­sor then gets scored based on more than 150 data points, and those with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 of the year. Although this list evolves, it only shows the best of the best, which can be even more helpful in your search. 

Franchise Direct

Franchise Direct is a website that connects potential franchisees worldwide to diverse franchise opportunities. Their user-friendly website offers a comprehensive directory of franchises for sale, catering to various budgets. With unique franchise profiles, articles and additional resources, Franchise Direct guides individuals in making informed decisions, facilitating direct communication with franchisors. 

If you’re looking for the best franchise, these resources are designed to empower aspiring business owners and investors to navigate such a vast landscape, ultimately helping you make well-informed decisions about your next investment opportunity.