Freshest New IDEAS

What's coming next in franchising? Check out these eight innovative brands, which started franchising recently—and might reach the Franchise 500 soon.

- JASON FEIFER

Get ambience on demand!

Weddings have become a $70 billion industry in the U.S. A huge portion of that is rentals-tables, chairs, linens, and more. But when Mindy Halley started SoCal Candle Rentals in 2022, she'd never heard of anyone supplying luxury candles and design services for parties and events, she says. Halley says. She now has five franchises and two affiliate locations throughout Southern California and Arizona.

Sports for all abilities!

Inclyousion Sports’ mission is right there in the name: It’s to create inclusive sports programming for children of all ability levels. Since small class sizes and highly trained coaches are key to the model, cofounder Kristen Perkins says she saw two paths to keep growing-either keep bringing on employees, or Perkins developed a “turnkey model” for franchisees to start up quickly and easily. But success will always require deep engagement with local communities to ensure that Inclyousion is meeting everyone’s unique needs.

Have your corn and eat it too!