Top Food Franchises 2016

SPECIAL INDUSTRY REPORT 

FranchiseBusinessREVIEW 

Ratings and Reviews of the Best Franchise Opportunities by Franchisees 

www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

2016 

Roy Bruno (right) runs his 

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans 

franchise in New Orleans, LA 

with the help of his brother 

Stephen Bruno Jr. (left). 

TOP FOOD FRANCHISES 

Rated by the Franchisees Who Own Them 

How to Select 

the Best Food 

Franchise For You 

PAGE 9 

Top Food Franchises 

with the MOST 

Satisfied Franchisees 

PAGE 10 

Trends 

in Food 

Franchising 

PAGE 8

“ I WAS NEVER 

NERVOUS. 

NOT EVEN 

A LITTLE.” 

–BRIAN CRUMLEY 

Multi-unit Franchise Partner 

Donatos was named one of 2015’s Best Franchise Deals by QSR Magazine, 

with an AUV over $1,058,263 net sales. 

As a Donatos franchise partner, you get a great brand and proven product with a 50-year history of growth 

and success. Along with all the support you need to build a successful business. Talk to us. Get details. 

Be a piece of something bigger. 

For more information, visit 

or call (248) 647-1989. 

DONATOSPIZZAFRANCHISE.COM

We’re one of the 

fastest growing sports 

restaurant chains 

12.5% AUV GROWTH FOR 

9 YEARS IN A ROW 

Learn more at ownabuffalo.com 

or give us a call at 513-680-2247 

564 OLD STATE RT. 74, CINCINNATI, OH 45244

SPECIAL REPORT: Top Food Franchises 

Features //2016 

7 

13 

14 

5 Letter from the Editor 

Americans Are Cooking Less 

7 Food Franchises Serve Up 

a Variety of Opportunities 

A Look at the Top Brands and What it Takes to Be Successful 

10 THE LIST 

Best of the Best: Top Food Franchises 

16 Marketplace 

More on the award-winning 

franchise opportunities for 2016 

+ 

Reviews, interviews, satisfaction awards 

and more resources are available at: 


BE YOUR OWN BOSS. 

Choose your franchise business today from 

ones rated highest by the franchisees who own them. 

Visit FBR50.com 

For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com | 3

"Denny's is an iconic American brand that 

delivers on the American dream. When I 

started with Denny's at 16, I was a food 

server. Today, I'm one of the largest 

franchisees in the system. If that's not the 

American Dream, I don't know what is." 

Dawn Lafreeda 

Denny's Franchisee, Owner/Operator of over 

70 restaurants in 6 states 

"As a new franchisee, I was drawn to the 

leadership position Denny's has in family 

dining. I love the food, the people and the 

growth potential. No other brand has this 

much to offer!" 

Donnell Thompson 

Denny’s franchisee, former McDonald’s 

franchisee, 12-year NFL veteran 

“As a multi-concept owner with over 200 

restaurants, I am very happy with the 

performance of Denny's since I became 

a franchisee. Denny's is the perfect 

complement to my restaurant portfolio." 

Anil Yadav 

Largest Jack in the Box franchisee in the U.S. 

and Largest Denny's franchisee in California 

Denny’s is celebrating over 60 years of growth and 

today, more than 90% of Denny’s restaurants are 

owned and operated by franchisees. Our commitment 

to long-term market share growth is supported by 

the industry’s leading program offering up to 

$1 MILLION OF INCENTIVES FOR 

NEW & EMERGING MARKETS. 

BE A PART OF 

AMERICA'S DINER. 

BECOME 

TODAY'S FRANCHISEE. 

DENNYSFRANCHISING.COM 800 304 0222 

©2016 DFO, LLC 203 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29319. This advertisement is not an offer to sell a franchise. The savings estimate of up to $1 million is based on the potential savings of developing, opening 

and operating six Denny's restaurants under the New and Emerging Markets incentive program, in comparison to developing, opening and operating six Denny's restaurants without the incentive program. The 

estimated savings include reduced royalty fees calculated using the $1,550,000 average unit volume of franchised Denny's restaurants nationwide in 2015, as published in Item 19 of Denny's 2016 Franchise 

Disclosure Document. Of the nationwide franchised outlets whose data was used in arriving at the 2015 franchised restaurant sales figure, 613 franchise units, or 44% of the franchised restaurants, actually attained 

or surpassed the indicated sales results. Individual restaurant sales performance will vary. There is no assurance that you will do as well or achieve the estimated potential savings. You must accept this risk. See 

Denny's Franchise Disclosure document for complete program details, including restrictions such as applicable geography and development time frames. Limited time only.


Americans Are Cooking Less 

My colleagues and I probably order take-out once or twice weekly whether for lunch or to take 

home as dinner for our families. We are clearly part of the trend of fewer people cooking at 

home. Men and women are spending less time at the stove. On average, the genders combined 

spend roughly 110 minutes cooking each day, compared with about 140 minutes per day in the 

1970s and closer to 150 minutes per day in the 1960s. 1 

Americans cooking less at home is fantastic news for the food franchise industry, which provides 

a strong business opportunity to many. Instead of having to start a food concept from 

scratch, food franchises deliver a proven successful business model and brand reputation that 

people trust. 

When it comes to selecting a top performing food franchise, the number of options can be 

overwhelming. One of the best places to start is the list on page 10 of this report. Our annual 

Top Food Franchises report features only franchises ranked highly by those who know best— 

the franchisees who own them. Many of these brands offer investors a wealth of information on 

their systems including what their training, culture, and financial performance is like by sharing 

their full franchisee satisfaction reports at www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 

Instead of having to 

start a food concept 

from scratch, food 

franchises deliver a 

proven successful 

business model and 

brand reputation that 

people trust. 

Happy franchising is informed franchising, 

Emma Pearson, Editorial Director 

1 

Trends in US home food preparation and consumption: analysis of national nutrition 

surveys and time use studies from 1965–1966 to 2007–2008 by Smith, Wen Ng, and Popkin. 

Franchise Business Review is the leading national franchise market research 

firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise 

buyer experiences. Before you invest in any franchise opportunity, read our reports 

to get the facts from those who know best—franchisees. We publish six annual 

research reports: Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, Top Senior and Child Services 

Franchises, Top Low-Cost and Home Based Franchises, Top Home Services 

Franchises, Top Food Franchises, and Top Franchises for Veterans. All are available 

for free at FranchiseBusinessReview.com. To see our list of the top 200 

franchises according to the franchisees who own them, visit FBR50.com. 

Eric Stites, CEO & Managing Director 

Michelle Rowan, President & COO 

Emma Pearson, Editorial Director 

C.J. Fleck, Senior Web Developer 

Michael Kupfer, Online Marketing Manager 

Ali Forman, B2B Marketing Manager 

Nicole Kenney, Client Services Manager 

Linda Lorrey, Client Consultant 

Amy LaLime, Office Manager 

Margot Doering, Accounting 

The Secret Agency, Design and Production 

Call us at 866-397-6680 

ABOUT OUR RESEARCH 

Participation in Franchise Business Review’s franchisee satisfaction 

research is free for all North American franchise systems with 

a minimum of 10 franchisees. For this report, we surveyed 

approximately 5,800 franchisees representing 89 franchise brands 

between November 2015 and April 2016. We asked each franchisee to 

answer 33 benchmark questions ranking their franchise in the areas of 

financial opportunity, training and support, leadership, operations and 

product development, core values (e.g., honesty and integrity of 

franchisor), general satisfaction, and the franchisee community. We also 

asked them to answer an additional 16 questions about their market 

area, demographics, business lifestyle, overall enjoyment running their 

franchise, and role in the franchisee community. From this data, we 

identified our list of top food franchises with the highest franchisee 

satisfaction. Surveys to determine the Top Franchises for 2017 are 

underway. If you are a franchisor and would like to participate, please 

call 866-397-6680 or contact info@FranchiseBusinessReview.com. 



Annya Becerra (right) clearly enjoys owning her Kona Ice franchise of South Orem/Provo in UT. 

Food Franchises Serve Up 

a Variety of Opportunities 

A Look at The Top Brands and What it Takes to Be Successful 

Food franchises have come a long way since 

Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s in 1955. 

They are everywhere! At highway rest stops, 

off of most major roads, in mall food courts, in 

strip malls, in airports, in office complexes, on 

college campuses, in large cities, and in small 

towns. Food franchise concepts will always 

be in demand since eating is a necessity and 

Americans are increasingly not cooking at 

home. In March 2015, sales at restaurants and 

bars surpassed those at grocery stories for the 

first time since the Commerce Department 

started collecting data in 1992. Between the 

mid-1960s and late 2000s, low-income households 

went from eating at home 95 percent 

of the time to only 72 percent of the time, 

middle-income households went from eating 

at home 92 percent of the time to 69 percent 

of the time, and high-income households went 

from eating at home 88 percent of the time to 

only 65 percent of the time. 2 

2 

Trends in US home food preparation and consumption: analysis of national nutrition surveys and time use 

studies from 1965–1966 to 2007–2008 by Smith, Wen Ng, and Popkin. 

3 

Franchise Business Economic Outlook for 2015, International Franchise Association Educational Foundation 

This explains why in 2016, the 261,923 

food-related franchises (quick service restaurants, 

full service restaurants and retail food) 

account for an estimated $336 billion of 

economic output in the United States. In addition, 

food franchises employ 8,581,300 people. 3 

If the variety of food franchises seems 

overwhelming when it comes to choosing the 

best option for you, don’t worry. This report 

sheds light on the different kinds of food 

franchises and how to go about selecting one 

that best meets your criteria. In addition, it 

provides insight into what it’s like to be a food 

franchisee as well as the only industry list 



Average Initial Start-Up 

Investment for Concepts 

Full Service $1,200,000 

QSR/Fast Casual $430,500 

Other $117,000 

A franchise comes with a proven system. 

You’ll immediately receive training, checklists, 

forms, procedures, marketing and more. 

of top brands broken out by segment (page 10) 

based solely on franchisee satisfaction and 

performance. 

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN A 

FRANCHISE VS. STARTING 

A FOOD CONCEPT FROM SCRATCH 

Why do so many entrepreneurs who want to 

build a business around food enter franchising? 

“I am a huge fan of the franchise business 

model,” says Roland Spongberg whose 

company, WKS Restaurant Group, owns and 

operates 25 Denny’s in California, Nebraska, 

Missouri, and Illinois. “It allows us to focus on 

doing a few basic things very, very well, while 

leveraging the franchisor’s expertise to achieve 

sustained successful growth of our business. 

For example, we know a lot about managing 

teams of people to deliver excellent guest 

experiences every day, but do not need to be 

experts on menu or product development, 

advertising, public relations, or franchising 

law, etc. since Denny’s corporate team is.” 

Spongberg says his business is a family one. 

Several of his sons and other family members 

are equity members and have significant 

management responsibilities. 

The following is a break down of some of 

the advantages entering into the food business 

via franchising instead of implementing an 

idea from scratch offers. 

Get out of the startup phase faster. A franchise 

comes with a proven system. You’ll 

immediately receive training, checklists, forms, 

procedures, marketing and more. This helps 

you get out of the unprofitable startup phase 

and on the path to profitability faster than if 

you started a concept on your own. Keep in 

mind that you’ll still have costs such as loans, 

franchise fees, business expenses, payroll and 

other overhead, so just like with any small 

business you should thing long-term success. 

You’ll receive valuable guidance. Members 

of the franchisor’s corporate team are responsible 

for helping you be successful so will assist 

you with any challenges you may have. 

In addition, you’ll be able to tap into the 

experience of your fellow franchisees. Many 

franchisors also communicate best practices 

to franchisees on a regular basis as well as at 

annual meetings. 

Deliver on consistency. The franchisor’s 

proven and clear concept will make it possible 

for your team to consistently meet customers’ 

expectations. Consistency is essential when it 

comes to building a good reputation as well as 

repeat business. 

Increase the likelihood of attracting and 

keeping good employees. High caliber employees 

tend to seek out companies that are 

professional, well run, and have a good 

culture. Since franchisors have already worked 

out the business’s kinks, when you open your 

doors you should be able to deliver on all of 

these fronts. 

Be able to focus on growth vs. day-to-day 

operations faster. Depending on the food 

concept you choose, the system the franchisor 

provides should facilitate your removing 

yourself from the day-to-day operations faster 

than if you started a business from scratch. 

For example, the comprehensive training 

your franchisor delivers makes it possible for 

others to be quickly and effectively trained to 

fill your shoes. The franchisor will also help 

you with strategic marketing campaigns and 

material, sales support, software that helps 

you run your business, and more. The fact that 

the franchisor takes on so many of the roles 

an independent restaurateur would have to 

assume himself or hire many people to handle, 

frees you up to focus on strategically growing 

your business. 

Group Purchasing. Independent owners do 

not have the buying power to qualify for the 

discounted rates on purchases that franchisors 

negotiate and pass on to their franchisees. 

Improve the resale value of your investment. 

When you buy a franchise, you buy a brand 

name as well as a proven business model. 

These two factors combined, typically make 

franchises more valuable than an independent 

establishment. 

In case you are weighing investing in a 

franchise vs. starting a concept from scratch, 

consider the thoughts of Mateusz Dabrowski, 

who owns PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans in 

Gonzales, Louisiana with two silent partners. 

“Business ownership is wonderful, however 

oftentimes it is plagued with tons of barriers to 

entry. There are always things you don’t know, 

growing pains, consistency issues, sourcing 

problems etc.,” says Dabrowski. “A lot of 

these issues are completely avoided by being 

part of a tried and true franchise system. The 

franchisor helps you on all fronts including 

marketing that reaches new and old customers, 

corporate sourcing oversight to maintain 

the product’s long-term perception in the eyes 

of your consumers, training and more. Most 

independent businesses can’t accommodate 

for a specialist in every field to help you stay 

ahead of the game. This is where franchising 

truly shines.” 

SIZZLING FOOD INDUSTRY TRENDS 

Multi-Unit. Some food franchisors require 

multi-unit ownership because it is easier from 

a development standpoint to work with an 

owner who operates several locations. Even 

though the majority of brands do not have 

a multi-unit ownership requirement, many 

entrepreneurs are choosing to take this route 

due to the potential higher financial return. 

Multi-unit owners don’t typically prepare food 

8 | For more information on this report, visit: www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com


or handle the day-to-day operations at their 

locations, instead they manage a company 

with the help of a team including field and unit 

managers. This enables them to focus on strategically 

running and growing their business. 

“If you want to buy a job, one unit is great. 

If you want to build wealth, go for eight to ten 

units,” says David Newman, whose company, 

B.P. Newman Investments, owns 34 Church’s 

Chicken franchises located across Texas, New 

Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas. 

Millennials Are Overtaking Baby Boomers. 

Millennials now stand at 75.4 million vs. 74.9 

million Baby Boomers. 4 The National Restaurant 

Association describes them as tending to 

favor fast food, deli food and pizza restaurants 

over coffee shops, high-end dining and casual 

dining. It also says they are drawn to more 

ethnic restaurants as a result of their diversity 

and interest in new things. 

“We are seeing a trend toward a more 

focused menu with fewer items. Customization 

remains a big focus, especially in the 

Millennial generation. Also, new flavors and 

more global flavors are a big trend,” says Nader 

Masadeh, CEO of Buffalo Wings & Rings. 

Non-Traditional Formats. Traditional food 

franchises are within stand-alone locations 

or part of a strip mall. Many brands have 

branched out into non-traditional unit locations, 

such as hospitals, hotels, large office 

buildings, airports, college campuses, sports 

stadiums, or convenience stores at gas stations. 

The physical structure of franchise locations is 

also changing. While many remain brick and 

mortar, the number of food trucks, carts, and 

mobile kitchen options available is increasing. 

Each of the formats have greatly varying costs 

in terms of construction, equipment, and 

staffing needs as well as rent requirements. 

Health Awareness Continues. 83% of 

consumers want quick service eateries with 

healthier eating options. 5 This has led to an 

explosion of new healthy concepts and healthy 

menu changes at mature brands. 

“There is a higher demand for not only 

variety and value in our menu offerings, but 

also for more healthy choices and options to 

4 

U.S. Census Bureau 

5 

The National Restaurant Association 

tailor their experience,” says Jack Crawford, 

President & CEO of Ground Round. 

“Consumer attitudes about health and 

wellness continue to change at an accelerated 

pace. People no longer just “talk” healthy; they 

are altering their purchasing habits. But the 

view of what is “healthy” varies significantly, 

and it isn’t easy for brands to nail the right 

balance of attributes,” says Don Fox, CEO of 

Firehouse Subs. 

Minimum Wage Increases. Smart operators 

have identified ways to accommodate minimum 

wage increases with the least amount of 

impact to their business models. 

“We are working with our operators on 

technological advancements such as mobile 

pay and kitchen equipment that can take some 

pressure off labor and ease execution,” says 

Crawford. “We are also, like all brands, taking 

some price increases to help offset the higher 

labor costs where we can and still remain 

competitive.” 

“We are helping our franchisees in the 

face of rising costs by profitably driving top 

line sales,” says Fox. “This takes innovation in 

marketing, technology, and consumer insights 

as well as optimizing the operations systems.” 

Fox is also actively engaged in advocacy efforts 

to help moderate the impact government has 

on the business of the franchise community. 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FRANCHISE 

Choosing the right food franchise investment 

opportunity for you entails determining the 

lifestyle you want as well as extensive research 

on a strong model with financial opportunity. 

Are You a Good Fit? 

Before you even start analyzing franchise 

options, it’s important to take an honest look 

at yourself as well as what franchisors look for 

in franchisees to determine if franchising is 

right for you. 

“Franchisees need to be well rounded— 

a Jack or Jane of all trades,” says Paul McCulloch, 

who owns 11 Smoothie King locations 

with his wife, Paula, throughout Tennessee. 

“Although one might be a sensible business 

professional, it doesn’t necessarily mean that 

he or she is a people person. Franchisees need 

Continued on page 12. 

What Food 

Franchisees Are Saying 

Overall Satisfaction with Franchise 

say Excellent, Very Good 

or Good 

77% 

“I enjoy operating 

this business” 

87 % 

“I believe my franchisor acts 

with a high level of integrity” 

75 % Agree or Strongly Agree 

“I enjoy being part of 

this organization” 

84 % 

Agree or 

Strongly Agree 

“I respect my franchisor” 

79 % 

74 % 

would “do it again” 

knowing what they know today. 

77 % 

would recommend their 

franchise brand to others 



THE LIST 

Best of the Best: 

Today’s Top 40 

Food Franchises 

Bahama Buck’s 

Ice cream/Yogurt/Frozen treats 

Billy Sims Barbecue 

Fast casual 

Survey 

Date 

Sep. 

2015 

Oct. 

2015 

Startup 

Investment 

$223,346 – 

$720,825 

$169,000 – 

$433,000 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

$90,000 78 

$150,000 49 

Buffalo Wings & Rings 

Fast casual 

Jan. 


$1,224,000 – 

$3,085,000 

$300,000 48 

Captain D’s 

Fast casual 

May 


$771,000 – 

$1,003,000 

$350,000 514 

“Proud to be a part of 

an organization that cares 

so deeply about so many 

areas of our business. 

Food quality, marketing, 

financial success, etc.” 

– East Coast Wings Franchisee 

Caribou Coffee 

Beverages 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

Quick-service restaurant 

Church’s Chicken 


Culver’s 


D.P. Dough 


June 

2015 

June 

2015 

Jan. 

2015 

May 

2015 

Jan. 

2015 

$100,000 – 

$100,000 

$165,796 – 

$1,306,345 

$400,000 – 

$1,200,000 

$1,845,000 – 

$4,155,000 

$259,540 – 

$474,779 

$1,000,000 600 

$250,000 830 

$650,000 1184 

$350,000 – 

$600,000 

567 

$100,000 26 

Denny’s 

Casual dining 

Feb. 

2015 

$915,000 – 

$2,421,000 

$500,000 1672 

Dick’s Wings & Grill 

Casual dining 

Jan. 


$229,500 – 

$772,500 

$150,000 25 

“I was accompanied with 

support every single step 

of the way. Anytime a 

question came up or help 

was needed regarding 

any matter, I receivedthe 

right answers.” 

– Firehouse Subs Franchisee 

Donatos Pizza — more on p. 1 


* East Coast Wings & Grill — more on p. 20 

Casual Dining 

Farmer Boys 

Fast casual 

Fazoli’s Restaurants 

Fast casual 

* Firehouse Subs — more on back cover 


July 

2015 

April 


July 

2015 

Feb. 

2015 

April 


$361,360 – 

$697,400 

$658,875 – 

$1,133,502 

$1,028,500 

- $2,168,500 

$558,000 – 

$1,339,000 

$128,760 – 

$1,160,900 

$200,000 154 

$250,000 35 

$1,028,500 – 

$2,168,500 

80 

$250,000 220 

$80,000 – 

$100,000 

989 

* Ground Round — more on p. 21 

Casual dining 

April 


$450,000 – 

$2,200,000 

$350,000 28 

* Happy and Healthy Products 


Mar. 


$45,000 – 

$90,000 

$45,000 – 

$89,045 

65 

*This brand’s Franchisee 

Satisfaction Report is available at 


* Hungry Howie’s Pizza — 


* Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries 

Casual dining 

more on inside 

front cover 

Nov. 

2015 

July 

2015 

$253,075 – 

$453,850 

$191,255 – 

$385,155 

100,000 547 

$125,000 130 

10 | For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FBR50.com


Survey 

Date 

Startup 

Investment 

Cash 

Requirement 

Total 

Units 

Jason’s Deli 

Fast Casual 

April 


$905,891 – 

$1,277,868 

$1,000,000 261 

* Kona Ice 


June 

2015 

$117,125 – 

$135,925 

$20,000 776 

LaRosa’s Pizzeria 

Fast Casual 

April 


$600,000 – 

$750,000 

$250,000 66 

* Marco’s Pizza 


July 

2015 

$264,592 – 

$549,092 

$100,000 667 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Snack retailer 

June 

2015 

$392,875 – 

$545,475 

$150,000 168 

Penn Station 


Pizza 9 


Mar. 


Oct. 

2015 

$269,232 – 

$535,081 

$64,580 – 

$353,980 

$300,000 301 

$64,580 – 

$353,980 

18 

“I have had 110% 

support of the franchisor.” 

– Penn Station Franchisee 

PJ’s Coffee 

Beverages 

Aug. 

2015 

$171,400 – 

$474,500 

$75,000 71 

Planet Sub 


Feb. 


$182,500 – 

$402,000 

$100,000 42 

Repicci’s Italian Ice 


Oct. 

2015 

$155,000 – 

$165,000 

$50,000 50 

Smoothie King — more on p. 18 

Beverages 

April 


$188,200 – 

$414,050 

$95,000 688 

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe 

Fast Casual 

Sep. 

2015 

$323,000 – 

$819,000 

$500,000 56 

Teriyaki Madness 

Fast casual 

TGI Friday’s — more on p. 18 

Fast casual 

Toppers Pizza 


Tropical Smoothie Cafe 

Fast Casual 

Uno Chicago Grill 

Fast Casual 

Wingstop 


July 

2015 

Nov. 

2015 

July 

2015 

Oct. 

2015 

April 


April 


$255,199 – 

$560,850 

$2,600,000 – 

$4,200,000 

$262,663 – 

$490,649 

$210,550 – 

$478,550 

$736,000 – 

$1,850,500 

$227,888 – 

$650,790 

$52,500 22 

$500,000 – 

$1,000,000 

878 

$150,000 73 

$125,000 500 

$750,000 85 

$200,000 700 

“I find that operating a 

smoothie king is a very 

easy process … The 

product is the best out 

there and I do like the 

introduction of new 

smoothies. Even if it 

means changing up my 

old favorites. ” 

– Smoothie King Franchisee 

Zaxby’s 

Fast Casual 

Oct. 

2015 

$352,000 – 

$664,300 

$500,000 726 

Zoup! — more on p. 20 

Quick-service 

Dec. 

2014 

$386,860 – 

$576,250 

$150,000 92 

For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FBR50.com | 11


Continued from page 9. 

to make sure they can communicate clearly 

and manage a team as well as be a good 

listener. An array of problems will always 

arise, so they must be able to conquer those 

issues while dealing with day-to-day operations.” 

McCulloch suggests that prospective 

franchisees take a personality test to uncover 

their strengths and weaknesses. 

Food franchisors today tend to look for 

franchisees with strong financials and prior 

restaurant operating/ownership experience. 

“When we are vetting candidates, first 

and foremost they need to be someone who 

believes in our values and goals,” says Masadeh 

of Buffalo Wings & Rings. “We look 

for candidates who are financially sound, 

business-savvy and can follow a system. It’s 

also good if they have restaurant experience 

or the ability to hire someone with restaurant 

experience to cut down on the learning curve.” 

Many franchisors also seek less tangible 

traits in candidates. 

“First and foremost, we look for a dedicated 

owner-operator who enjoys the day-to-day 

restaurant environment and working with 

people on both sides of the counter,” says Fox 

of Firehouse Subs. 

“Our most successful franchisees are the 

ones who have strong people skills,” says 

Masadeh. “In this business, serving people 

comes first.” 

What to Look For 

When it comes to evaluating your options, 

look for food franchises that provide the 

following: 

• A unique customer experience. The most 

successful food franchises understand that 

good quality food is just the minimum 

threshold required to attract loyal customers 

today. Look for brands that not only deliver a 

consistent quality product, but also a unique 

and personal experience that is going to keep 

customers coming back. 

• Efficient operations. Operations include 

all functions that are necessary to prepare 

and serve your products to your customers 

such as activities that take place every day in 

the kitchen, dining area and bar if you have 

one. Seek out opportunities with a proven 

and cost effective system that addresses all 

aspects of operations. It will enable you to 

produce consistent results when it comes to 

food and customer experience without your 

constant, direct daily involvement over time. 

Simplicity is key. Brands that try to be all 

things to all people commonly fail. 

“I appreciate the overall simplicity of 

the operation, the low inventory and low 

food waste,” says Smoothie King franchisee 

McCulloch. 

• Effective marketing. The majority of franchises 

handle marketing for you. Marketing 

gets the word out about your brand via 

public relations, community involvement, 

advertising, and promotions. Be sure to find 

Average Pre-Tax Income by Concept Type* 

$160,000 

$140,000 

$148,000 

$120,000 

$125,000 

$132,000 

$100,000 

$95,000 

$80,000 

$86,000 

$82,000 

$60,000 

$64,000 

$40,000 

$54,000 

$20,000 

$0 

Bakery/Café 

Burgers 

Full Service 

Restaurant 

Mexican/ 

Southwest 

Sandwiches 

Pizza 

Smoothies 

Yogurt/ 

Ice Cream 

* Based on self-reported annual pre-tax income figures from 3,396 food industry franchisees. 



Left: Auntie Anne’s franchise employee providing service with a smile. 

Right: Ali Parsa of A&R Pars, Inc. owns two Checkers franchises in Atlanta, GA. 

out what the marketing fees are and what 

they include—just national or local marketing 

too? If local marketing is not included, 

ask the franchisor as well as franchisees who 

are in similar markets to yours how much 

they think you will spend so you can build it 

into your budget. 

• Innovative menu items. Menu options need 

to change often enough to keep customers 

coming back and attract new ones. The core 

menu, however, must have strong, lasting 

appeal in and of itself for those customers 

who enjoy consistency. 

“We evolve our menu offerings through 

the use of seasonal, limited time offer menus 

that constantly add new and fresh choices 

for our guests in addition to our core menu 

offerings, and these limited time menus 

provide constant change and freshness to 

our overall menu variety,” says Crawford of 

Ground Round. 

• Effective use of technology. Good technology 

can help restaurants run more efficiently 

and attract and retain customers. For example, 

automated table ordering helps reduce 

costs, financial dashboards help operators 

spot trends, and customer relationship 

management (CRM) applications can make 

running local marketing campaigns almost 

effortless. Be sure to find out how a brand 

leverages technology to benefit its franchisees 

and confirm with franchisees that the 

technology is actually effective. 

• A supportive culture. Being a part of a franchise 

is like being part of an extended family. 

You want to be sure you like the family before 

you join it. Find out how much support you 

will receive from the corporate office and if 

the leadership is strong. Ideally you’ll want 

the leadership to take an inclusive approach 

by involving franchisees in major decision 

so be sure to ask how the franchise you are 

considering involves franchisees. Also find 

out how interaction among franchisees is 

encouraged since input from your fellow 

franchisees will likely be an integral part of 

your success. 

“I think what brand you join as a franchisee 

is absolutely critical to your long term 

success and the quality, integrity and track 

record of the brand’s management team is 

a key element of that,” says Spongberg of 

Denny’s. When it comes to the importance 

of your fellow franchisees, he adds “As members 

of the franchisor’s management team 

change over time, franchisees tend to remain 

a constant. So in franchising, in a very real 

sense it is the franchisees, not the franchisor, 

who are the enduring heart and soul of the 

brand.” 

Determine the Type of Franchise 

That Interests You Most 

There are many types of food franchises. It’s 

important to decide which appeals most to 

you. 

• Quick Service: Most people associate quick 

service restaurants (QSR) with concepts like 

McDonalds, KFC and Chick-fil-A. Immediate 

consumption is the focus of QSRs. Meals 

are more often than not taken out, although 

people can dine on-site or delivery service 

may be provided. 

• Fast Casual: The concept unites the quality 

of casual dining with the speed of fast food. 

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Boston Market 

and Fazoli’s are fast casual concepts you’ve 

likely seen. Typically the food is more 

customized, freshly prepared, and higher 

quality and the environment more upscale 

and inviting than QSRs. Just like QSRs, 

customers typically order and pay at a counter, 

and then take food out or grab a tray to 

sit and eat, although sometimes minimal 

table service is provided. 

• Full Service: Full service restaurants serve 

food and drinks directly to the customers 

at their tables. They may sell alcoholic 

beverages; provide takeout, delivery or live 

entertainment. The term full service entails 

a wide array of concepts from family-style to 

upscale dining such as Applebees, I.H.O.P., 

and TGI Fridays. 

• Retail: Retail food concepts include convenience 

stores and vending machines as 

well as specialty dessert concepts such as 

7-11, Edible Arrangements, and Happy 

and Healthy Products. 



Tim and Katina McCartney own a Zoup franchise in Colorado Springs, CO. 

Is It a Good Choice For Your Market? 

It’s essential to ensure that the franchise concept 

will be a good fit for the market where 

you are thinking of opening it. Questions to 

ask yourself include: 

• Will the people in the community 

embrace the concept? 

• What does the area need/want in terms of 

food options? 

• Will I be able to find the staff I’ll need? 

Do the Financials Work? 

“Do I have enough money to purchase 

a food franchise?,” is probably a question 

that keeps running through your mind. The 

following provides an idea of typical costs 

you’ll incur. 

• Initial Investment: The amount necessary 

to open a franchise varies based on each 

concept. Initial costs include the franchise 

fee, land and build-out costs if a brick and 

mortar concept (sometimes franchisees 

lease, buy, or the franchisor owns the real 

estate), equipment, training related expenses 

(such as travel and living expenses while 

attending training sessions included in your 

purchase), grand opening marketing costs, 

and more. The average initial start-up range 

for the franchises we surveyed starts at 

$117,000 (see page 8). You can, however, 

invest in a food concept for far less. For 

example on page 10 of this report, you’ll see 

that you can open a Happy and Healthy 

Products franchise for $45,000. 

• Ongoing Costs: In addition to common 

ongoing costs including payroll, utilities, 

marketing, software and technology, franchises 

come with royalty fees. They allow 

you to use the franchisor’s trademarks and 

patented processes on an ongoing basis. 

• A Financial Cushion: Just like all small 

businesses, franchises take time to become 

profitable. It is crucial you have enough 

money to get your business going while 

enabling you and your family to live in a 

manner to which you are accustomed until 

your franchise is profitable. 

“Financially speaking every situation is different,” 

says Dabrowski of PJ’s Coffee. “There 

is a large range of potential profit margins and 

it’s important to understand the numbers. 

Know where your return on investment is and 

understand the potential profit margins for 

each business. Odds are the biggest variables 

you will come across will be rent and potential 

gross sales. It’s important to weigh them 

against the time to ROI.” 

You’ll have to ensure to the best of your 

ability that the return on investment (ROI) 

will meet your financial goals. How much 

you will make will depend on many factors 

including your investment level, your business 

acumen, the marketplace, and your location. To 

help you make realistic, personalized financial 

projections, we created a three-hour How 

Much Money Can You Make? online course, 

which is available via our Franchise Buyer’s 

Toolkit at www.FranchiseBusinessReview. 

com. Just from the brands we interviewed 

for this report alone, you can see how much 

revenue varies. The average current unit 

volume for Firehouse Subs according to Fox 

is $725,000 and $1,950,000 for Ground Round 

according to Crawford. Buffalo Wings & 

Rings reports that according to its most recent 

Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), a 

legal document that provides prospective 

franchisees with information about the 

franchisor, that the average gross sales for its 

franchised locations in 2015 was $1,842,000. 

Paul McCulloch’s 2015 gross sales revenue was 

$3.4 million, at which time he owned nine 

Smoothie King locations. Spongberg reports 

that the gross sales of his Denny’s restaurants 

was $35,959,750 in 2015. The chart featuring 

the average pre-tax income by concept type 

on page 12 shows it ranges from $54,000 for 

frozen yogurt/ice cream to $148,000 for Mexican/ 

Southwestern. Don’t forget that “average” 

means some franchisees within a system 

make far less, while some make much more. 

Also, keep in mind that the gross revenue of 

corporate run franchises, when applicable, is 

factored into the “average” figure as well. 

ADVICE FOR NEW FRANCHISEES 

Crawford of Ground Round, who has been a 

franchisee, and observed many franchisees, 

offers the following advice, “Franchise operators 

should pay the most attention to starting 

off with hiring the right team, particularly at 

the management level, and supporting them 

in every way they can. Initial focus should 

be to invest in proper staffing levels and fine 

tuning of quality execution and adherence to 

systems and follow through. Only this will 

lead to the sustained growth and profitability.” 

Smoothie King franchisee, McCulloch, 

echoes Crawford’s advice, “Focus on hiring 

trustworthy, inspiring and motivated general 

managers to run your stores. Also, set goals 

for your business, make your team aware of 

these goals, and have checkpoints throughout 

the year to hold yourself and your team 

accountable.” 



“Remember that you are building a business, 

and recognize at the outset that this may 

be a long-term proposition. If you don’t enjoy 

the business, be honest with yourself, and 

don’t pursue it. Remember that the strongest 

brand, in and of itself, is not a guarantee for 

success. It must be coupled with great execution, 

which is the domain of the franchisee,” 

says Fox of Firehouse Subs. 

“Have fun! That’s the first thing we want 

franchisees to focus on when they join our system. 

It should be an enjoyable business to work 

in and grow with,” says Masadeh of Buffalo 

Wings & Rings. “You have to make sure to take 

care of your guests, execute brand standards, 

and hire the right talent to be successful.” 

Dabrowski of PJ’s Coffee advises the following: 

1. Make calculated risk choices when choosing 

a franchise and location. If you aren’t afraid 

then you probably shouldn’t be opening a 

business. Fear is essential in decision-making 

as your gut speaks volumes about intangible 

variables. 2. Work from within the franchise to 

reach your goals. 3. Be prepared to work. 4. 

Know your customers! 5. LOVE the product. 

6. Take care of your employees! 7. Never get 

complacent. Nothing is forever, so be prepared 

to grow and shrink as needed. 8. Create an exit 

strategy should things not pan out. 

“The worst thing you can be is an oblivious 

owner. You must be really involved,” says 

Newman of Church’s Chicken. “Also, pay 

yourself last. Too many people see all this 

money coming in and think they can start 

spending it on stuff they do not need instead 

of investing it back into the business.” Newman 

also recommends buying the real estate 

where your franchise is located. This allows 

you to either sell a franchise along with its real 

estate or to sell a franchise, but keep the real 

estate and receive rental revenue. 

THE IDEAL OPPORTUNITY EXISTS 

Whether you choose to serve up burgers, coffee, 

sandwiches, pizza, smoothies, gourmet 

meals, or something else, the growing trend 

of Americans not cooking for themselves 

means your food franchise business has a 

good chance of being successful as long as 

you conduct thorough research into the best 

opportunity for your marketplace and for you. 

It’s clear that entrepreneurs who invest in the 

right food franchise are happy they did. 87% 

of the franchisees we surveyed said they enjoy 

operating their business. 

“I really love what I do, so these days 

I never have to ‘work’,” says Spongberg of 

Denny’s. “Franchising has provided me the 

opportunity to help people on my team 

achieve their own hopes and dreams over the 

years, starting from very little, often as a minimum 

wage employee. It is hard to describe the 

satisfaction helping someone else develop and 

achieve their full potential brings.” 

Perusing the brands ranked highly by their 

franchisees on page 10 is a smart place to start 

your franchise research. Once you’ve narrowed 

down your choices, be sure to analyze each 

franchisor’s FDD. An in-depth breakdown of 

how to do so is presented as on-demand video 

segments within our Franchise Buyer’s Toolkit. 

Also ask franchisors for third party franchisee 

satisfaction reports like those provided within 

the Franchise Reviews section of www. 

FranchiseBusinessReview.com. They will 

provide you with crucial and honest insight 

into what their leadership, training, culture, 

financial performance, and more is like. 

We Empower Entrepreneurs to Take That First Step 

Our full suite of funding options make it possible for you to find the method that best aligns with 

your needs. Many of our clients combine multiple types of funding to reach their desired capital. 

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SPECIAL REPORT: Top Food Franchises // MARKETPLACE 


TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 

Today’s leading brands based 

on FBR’s owner satisfaction data. 

*Full Satisfaction Report Available 

at FranchiseBusinessReview.com 

Has made FBR’s top franchises 

list for 10 or more years. 

ADVERTISING 

ADVERTISING & SALES 

Proforma 

* Our Town America — more on right 

Welcomemat Services 

Viamark Advertising 

AUTOMOTIVE 

* Christian Brothers Automotive 

* Snap-on Tools — more on right 

* Rent-A-Wreck 

Auto Appraisal Network 

Honest-1 Auto Care 

BUSINESS SERVICES 

* FASTSIGNS — more on right 

* Sandler Training 

Sanford Rose Associates 

Sir Speedy 

* YESCO 

Murphy Business & Financial 

Supporting Strategies 

Unishippers 

InXpress 

The @WORK Group 

BlueGrace Logistics 

City Wide Maintenance 

FPC National 

PIP Printing & Marketing Services 

CHILD SERVICES 

* JumpBunch 

* Soccer Shots 

Great Play 

CompuChild 

* Amazing Athletes 

College Nannies & Tutors 

Young Rembrandts 

KidsPark 

TGA Premier Golf & Tennis 

Goldfish Swim School 

TSS Photography 

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE 

Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning 

MaidPro 

* Office Pride 

Aire-Master of America 

Jan-Pro (master franchisors) 

Buildingstars 

Anago Cleaning Systems (master franchisors) 

Molly Maid 

* Image One 

The Maids 

City Wide Maintenance 

EDUCATION 

* The Goddard School 

* Mathnasium 

Huntington Learning Centers 

Best In Class Education Centers 

THE TUTORING CENTER 

FINANCIAL SERVICES 

American Prosperity Group 

Estrella Insurance 

* Payroll Vault 

4 Pillars Consulting 

* ATAX Franchise 

FITNESS 

The Exercise Coach 

Fit Body Boot Camp 

Baby Boot Camp 

* Crunch Fitness 

Fit4Mom 

The MAX Challenge 

Hard Exercise Works 

FOOD & BEVERAGE 

Culver’s 

* Kona Ice — more on right 

Zaxby’s 

* Ground Round 

* Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries 

* Checkers & Rally’s 

Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs 

* Firehouse Subs 

Penn Station 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe — more on p.19 

D.P. Dough 

Our Town America 

Startup Investment: $49,000 – $85,000 

Cash Requirement: $89,000 

Total Units: 59 

Our Town America is the nation’s premier New 

Mover Marketing franchise. Since 1972, we’ve 

been providing new movers with traditional 

hospitality by mailing them welcoming 

certificates from local neighborhood businesses 

in a premium welcome package that make them 

feel more at home than standard coupons. 

Thousands of satisfied business owners 

throughout the United States attest to the 

success and effectiveness of our program, while 

dozens of locally owned Our Town America 

franchises validate our concept as a viable 

business opportunity. 

For more information on Our Town America 

opportunities, call (727) 345-0811 x232 

or visit www.ourtownamerica.com. 

AUTOMOTIVE 

Snap-on Tools 


Cash Requirement: $30,164 – $80,246 

Total Units: 3,871 

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global 

innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of 

tools, diagnostics, and equipment solutions 

for professional users. Product lines include 

hand and power tools, and are sold through 

its franchisees, company-direct sales, and 

distributor channels, as well as over the internet. 

For more information on Snap-on Tools 

opportunities, call (877) 476-2766 

or visit www.snaponfranchise.com. 

See page 18 for additional top franchises. 

Visit FBR50.com for brand details. 


BUSINESS SERVICES 



FASTSIGNS 



Total Units: 600+ 

Signage has never been more important. Right 

now, businesses are looking for new and better 

ways to compete. Industries are revamping to 

meet compliance standards. And advertisers are 

expanding their reach into new media, like digital 

signage, QR codes, and mobile websites. Join the 

franchise that’s leading the next generation of 

business communication. Now more than ever, 

businesses look to FASTSIGNS for innovative 

ways to connect with customers in a highly 

competitive marketplace. Our high standards 

for quality and customer service have made 

FASTSIGNS the most recognized brand in the 

industry, driving significantly more traffic to the 

Web than any other sign company. 

For more information on FASTSIGNS 


or visit www.fastsigns.com. 

Fazoli’s 

Startup Investment: $558,000 – $1,339,000 



Fazoli’s ® , the largest fast-casual Italian concept 

serves innovative and traditional freshly 

prepared pasta, pizza, salads, and oven-baked 

Primo Submarinos ® . We are currently offering 

single and multi-unit franchise opportunities 

nationwide. Our franchisees are enjoying record 

sales with three years of same store sales growth. 

We offer a brand-new, modern prototype and 

flexible footprint with in-line, freestanding, and 

conversion options available. 

For more information on Fazoli’s opportunities, 

call (800) 446-4368 or visit 

www.ownafazolis.com. 

Kona Ice 




Here at Kona Ice, we know why we’ve succeeded 

and reached these ranks of the #1 New Franchise 

(Entrepreneur Magazine 2013), top in Franchisee 

Satisfaction (Franchise Business Review and 

Franchise Update), #1 in Category (Dessert 

Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine) and made 

the Fastest Growing List for the past five years. 

It’s the combination of a fresh concept, strong 

corporate support with a vision, and a desire to 

make the world a better place. Here are some 

reasons why Kona Ice is different: proprietary 

nutritional product, ancillary equipment, 

patented Flavorwave, established brand, quick 

startup, fixed royalty, low overhead. 

Contact us for more information today! 

(800)566-2423 www.ownakona.com 

WARNING: 

BUYING THE WRONG FRANCHISE 

CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH. 

When you invest in a franchise, you have only one chance to make the RIGHT choice — 

one that will give you and your family a bright future. Franchise Business Review can help. 

Our Franchise Buyer’s Toolkit provides all the resources you need to make an informed franchise 

investment. Learn the ins and outs of buying a franchise, get tips from the pros, and access insider 

insights that you won’t find anywhere else. 

Learn more at FranchiseBusinessReview.com/Toolkit 



2016 TOP 200 

FRANCHISES 


Food and Beverage continued 

Auntie Anne’s 

Fazoli’s Restaurants — more on p.17 

LaRosa’s Pizzeria 

Wingstop 

Toppers Pizza 

Denny’s 

Jason’s Deli 

Donatos Pizza 

* Marco’s Pizza 

* East Coast Wings & Grill 

* Happy and Healthy Products 

Dick’s Wings & Grill 

Planet Sub 

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe 

Billy Sims Barbecue 

Au Bon Pain 

Pizza 9 

* PJ’s Coffee 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Zoup! 

Bahama Buck’s 

* Your Pie 

Chicken Salad Chick 

Repicci’s Italian Ice 

Farmer Boys 

Deli Delicious 

Chopped Leaf 

Teriyaki Madness 

HEALTH & BEAUTY 

The Woodhouse Day Spas 

Palm Beach Tan 

Sport Clips 

Paul Mitchell School 

My Salon Suite 

HOME SERVICES 

Budget Blinds 

* CertaPro Painters 

* National Property Inspections 

Miracle Method Surface Refinishing 

ShelfGenie 

WOW 1 DAY PAINTING 

Surface Specialists Systems 

* DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen 

* Pillar To Post Home Inspectors 

* HouseMaster — more on p. 11 

ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Company 

Tailored Living 

* The Glass Guru 

AdvantaClean 

MarbleLife 

The Grout Doctor 

Closets By Design 

PET SERVICES 

In Home Pet Services 

Sit Means Sit 

REAL ESTATE 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 

Keller Willams 

* HomeVestors of America — more on right 

G.J. Gardner Homes 

Coldwell Banker 

Weichert Real Estate 

Help-U-Sell Real Estate 

PropertyGuys.com 

Realty ONE Group 

United Country Real Estate 

Showhomes Home Staging 

Epcon Franchising 

Coldwell Banker Commercial 

Harcourts USA 

RETAIL 

* Wild Birds Unlimited 

Rhea Lana’s 

Pinch A Penny 

Family Fare 

Just Between Friends 

Pro Image 

Learning Express 

* Big Frog Custom T-Shirts 

MODE 

Kid’s Closet Connection 

NYS Collection Eyewear 

* Vapor Shark 

SENIOR CARE 

* Home Instead Senior Care 

* Visiting Angels — more on right 

CarePatrol 

* Amada Senior Care 

Smoothie King 




Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. is a privately held, 

New Orleans-area-based franchise company 

with more than 780 units worldwide. By creating 

each smoothie with a purpose, Smoothie King 

makes it simple and pleasurable for guests to 

achieve their individual health goals as part of a 

low-calorie diet and regular exercise routine. The 

franchise also offers a number of healthy retail 

products, including sports beverages, energy 

bars, vitamin supplements and more. In 2015, 

Smoothie King was ranked No. 1 by Entrepreneur 

magazine in the juice bar category for the 23rd 

year and No. 92 overall on the 2015 Franchise 

500 list. 

For more information call (985) 635-6984 

or visit www.smoothiekingfranchise.com. 


TGIFridays 

Startup Investment: $2,600,000 – $4,200,000 

Cash Requirement: $500,000 – $1,000,000 


TGI Fridays has been America’s most iconic 

bar and grill for more than 50 years. Fridays 

delivers great experiences, food and beverages, 

holding true to our brand promise that “In 

Here, It’s Always Friday ® .” Today, 90 percent 

of our restaurants are owned and operated by 

franchise partners. We are always looking for 

energetic multi-unit operators who understand 

and appreciate the Fridays heritage, vision, and 

values to join our team, and to bring Fridays to 

new neighborhoods, communities, and markets. 

For more information call (972) 662-5400 

or visit www.tgifridays.com/franchise. 

See page 19 for additional top franchises. 




Tropical Smoothie 




Tropical Smoothie Café is the healthier quick 

casual restaurant with over 500 locations in 40 

states. Our balanced business model of 60% 

smoothie sales and 40% food sales allows us 

to service all day-parts and drive higher gross 

sales. We also have lower development costs as 

we do not utilize grills, deep fryers or hooding 

systems. High gross sales and lower development 

costs provide our franchisees with an over 2:1 

investment ratio. 

For more information on Tropical Smoothie Café 

opportunities, call (770)-580-2345 

www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com 

REAL ESTATE 

HomeVestors of America 




We’re America’s #1 home buyer, instantly 

recognized across the country as the “We Buy 

Ugly Houses®” company. This strong brand 

awareness, together with our powerful marketing 

strategy, generates a steady stream of leads. 

We offer financing for buying and rehabbing 

qualifying houses, and an initial five-day training 

class followed by ongoing support. HomeVestors 

offers a Full Franchise as well as an Associate 

Franchise, either of which may be operated on 

a full-time or part-time basis. 

For more information on HomeVestors of 

America opportunities, call (800) 704-6992 

or visit www.homevestorsfranchise.com. 

HOME SERVICES 

HouseMaster 




For the past 35 years, HouseMaster has 

been helping people from a diverse array of 

backgrounds realize their dreams of business 

ownership. A HouseMaster franchise is one of 

the most affordable ways to develop a successful 

business in the growing home inspection 

industry. As part of the HouseMaster team, you 

will receive all of the training, systems, tools, and 

support you need to be successful. Your passion 

will be rewarded when you give customers 

peace of mind about their purchase as well as 

knowledge to protect their greatest investment; 

their home. It is truly a great time to join the 

HouseMaster team! 

For more information on HouseMaster 

opportunities, call (800) 526-3930 or visit 

www.housemaster.com/fbr. 

SENIOR CARE 

Visiting Angels 




Visiting Angels has established over 500 nonmedical 

senior home care franchises in 48 states 

across the United States. Our national advertising 

and marketing generates thousands of home 

care leads that are distributed to our franchisees 

every month. Visiting Angels has been ranked #1 

in the home care industry and #3 in the Top 50 

Best of the Best franchises. 

For more information on Visiting Angels 


www.livingassistance.com. 

Senior Care continued 

Home Care Assistance 

* FirstLight HomeCare 

Right at Home 

* Homewatch CareGivers 

* BrightStar Care 

Interim HealthCare 

* Qualicare Family Homecare 

Assisting Hands 

Nurse Next Door 

SERVICES 

Precision Concrete Cutting 

Truly Nolen of America 

* Two Men and a Truck 

The Mosquito Authority 

* Window Genie — more on p.20 

Men In Kilts 

* Mosquito Joe 

A All Animal Control 

Linc Service Network 

Fish Window Cleaning Services 

Complete Weddings and Events 

Service Team of Professionals 

College Hunks Hauling Junk 

FRSTeam 

Creative Colors International 

The Traveling Photo Booth 

Critter Control 

* U.S. Lawns 

You Move Me 

Leather Medic 

* Mosquito Shield 

101 Mobility 

Boulder Designs 

Glass Doctor 

SPORTS & REC 

* Pinot’s Palette — more on p.21 

* Painting with a Twist 

American Poolplayers Association 

Kampgrounds of America/KOA 

Bottle & Bottega 

Sky Zone 

APEX Fun Run 

GameTruck 

TECHNOLOGY 

TeamLogic IT 

TRAVEL 

* Cruise Planners 

* CruiseOne 

Expedia CruiseShipCenters 




SERVICES 

Window Genie 




Window Genie is a nationally ranked mobile 

service franchise offering residential and light 

commercial window cleaning, window tinting, 

pressure washing and more. Our owners are 

able to establish repeat and referral clients that 

provide multiple streams of revenue year-round. 

Franchisees are drawn to the Window Genie 

opportunity because it’s simple, scalable and 

offers entrepreneurs a chance to go into business 

for themselves but never by themselves. Our 

owners are successful because they believe in 

their business and trust the system Window 

Genie has worked to develop and improve for 

over 20 years. 

For more information on Window Genie 


or visit windowgeniefranchise.com. 

It’s All About the EBITDA 

EAST COAST 

WINGS+ 

grill 

Celebrating 12 years of same store 

sales growth 

Contact Brett Larrabee, CFE 

1-800-381-3802 or 

brett@eastcoastwings.com 

www.EastCoastWings.com 

E 

Unparalleled Unit Level Support includes: 

- an entire division dedicated to Unit Economics 

Full Service Restaurants - listed 

as Top Franchise Value 

Our Franchisees Averaged 

$305,088.81 in 2015 

- data-driven profitability analysis 

- assistance with local store marketing 

“Future 50” in growth for 

small chains in America 

*This advertisement is not an offering of a franchise. An offering can be made only by prospectus. We only 

sell franchisees in states where our offering is registered. “EBITDA as submitted by our full service franchised 

restaurants operating in 2015 as published in item 19 of our April 2016 Franchise Disclosure Document. 

Individual financial performance will vary.” 

©2016 East Coast Wings & Grill All Rights Reserved 

2Lead generation ad 6.13.2016.indd 1 

6/13/16 2:32 PM 


SPORTS & RECREATION 

Pinot’s Palette 




Pinot’s Palette is a pioneer of the paint and sip 

experience – a revolutionary way to enjoy art and 

wine, meet new people and bond with friends. 

With 147 locations open or under development 

across 33 states and Canada, and new locations 

popping up monthly, Pinot’s Palette is the world’s 

fastest growing paint and sip franchise. Guests 

enjoy a no-experience-required art class—all 

supplies included— that is directed by trained, 

local artists who guide them step-by-step 

through a featured painting. By bringing fun, 

modern and creative ideas to their events, Pinot’s 

Palette curates a unique, rewarding experience 

while providing a worthwhile contribution to the 

community. 

For more information on Pinot’s Palette 


www.pinotspalette.com/FBR50. 

YOU GET MORE THAN JUST A FRANCHISE 

WITH GROUND ROUND 

DEBT FREE BRAND, OWNED BY ITS FRANCHISEES 

• Flexible 5 and 10 year term options 

• Membership Option offers a stake in the brand with preferred royalty rates and terms 

• No National Ad Fund – you control your marketing dollars locally 

• Single or Multi-unit Development available and Conversions are welcome 

• Choice of Two Brands: Ground Round Grill & Bar (Full Service) 

and Ground Round Sports Grille (Non-Traditional) 

• Ground Round ranked #3 In FBR Top 40 Food Report - (Sept.2015) * 

• Five Consecutive Years of Positive Comp Sales Growth ** 

*Satisfaction Survey of Ground Round Franchisees – April 2015, Conducted independently by Franchise Business Review (FBR). 

**Comp Sales Growth data includes only full service restaurants with full year, comparative sales through December 2015. Sales from new, non-comp locations not included. 

For More Information on Our Brand & Franchise Opportunities 

Visit www.groundround.com 

FROM $2,000 TO $20 MILLION 

Financing that’s quick, easy and affordable. 

I found Direct Capital to be professional, 

timely & competitive. 

– Dawn Lafreeda, Denny’s Franchisee 

New Stores 

Development Lines 

Remodels 

Relocations 

Working Capital Loans 

Acquisitions & 

Partner Buy-Outs 

Equity Advances 

Equipment & 

Technology Upgrades 

Get started now: 

Franchise.DirectCapital.com or 888-501-6846 

© 2016 Direct Capital, A Division of CIT Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

Top Food Franchises 2016

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