UNDERSTANDING THE RANKING

This is how Entrepreneur creates the Franchise 500 -and how all these brands are evaluated.

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The Franchise 500 is more than just the world's first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Now in its 47th year, this ranking is a snapshot of the franchise industrycapturing what has changed, what has stayed the same, and why franchising continues to be such an attractive model both for business owners looking to grow their brands and entrepreneurial hopefuls looking for a business to start.

In this year's ranking, you'll find brands and industries of all types.

Some have been around since our first Franchise 500 (and even earlier!). Others are innovative newcomers, including companies in novel industries such as virtual reality, hormone replacement therapy, and indoor air-quality services. They're all proof that franchising is still a powerful engine for growth, and that, for prospective franchisees, the possibilities are almost endless.