These Franchise Trends Are Hot!

If you're looking to buy a franchise, start with this list. We break down 10 of the industry's hottest trends, and more than 400 brands to choose from.

- TRACY STAPP HEROLD

Where are the hottest franchise opportunities right now? Every year, we at Entrepreneur like to try answering that question. To do so, we consider a few factors: What trends are we seeing in the world at large? In which industries are we seeing new franchisors pop up? Which industries are seeing high unit growth?

And what does our experience covering the franchise industry for over four decades tell us? We take those factors into account, and then we produce our predictions for the 10 categories we think will perform well in the near future. As always, this year's list includes categories that have been thriving for a while, such as chicken, wellness, and pets. But you'll nd some exciting newcomers to this year's list as well, including beverages, meal prep and delivery, and sports.

On the following pages, we share more than 400 franchise opportunities that are available within those categories-some that have been around for decades and others that are brand new. Keep in mind that inclusion on this list does not constitute a recommendation of any specific franchise.

Even-and maybe especially-when you're considering a franchise in a "hot" category, it's important to do your homework first. Read the company's legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant, and talk to current and former franchisees to decide if the brand and the opportunity are right for you.

BEVERAGES pg. 24

CHICKEN pg. 26

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS pg. 30