Fastest Growing Business Franchises for 2010 Prospective business owners and investors often focus their money on franchises to avoid the difficulties of new businesses. To get a head start on your career as an entrepreneur, you should look at the fastest growing business franchises in the near future.

	Explaining Business Franchise Growth You have likely seen advertisements in newspapers and magazines for franchising opportunities. These advertisements point out the high earning potential of owning a franchise. In theory, owning a franchise can be more lucrative than starting a business from scratch. A franchise owner has access to preexisting products and services that are familiar to the consuming public. Owning a franchised restaurant, hotel or convenience store does not mean an easy path to profit. Franchise owners need to put up significant amounts of money to own their businesses. To make the most out of your investment, you need to figure out how the fastest growing business franchises are so successful. The primary factor in the success of a business franchise is the demand for a specific product or service. You can restrict your franchise search to businesses selling impulse items, necessities and services purchased by millions of consumers. The strength of the franchising company is also critical to your success as an owner. Without an organized franchising program, the issuing company is doing a disservice to its franchise owners. The familiarity of the corporate brand is an indicator of how much return you will get on your investment. By investing in a known quantity, you attach your investment money to a successful business. You should also look at how profitable current franchises are before you pursue the following franchises. Subway© The top business franchise for 2010 according to Entrepreneur® is Subway©. This international sandwich chain is ubiquitous with franchises located in most malls, shopping centers and gas stations. The popularity of Subway© has come from a greater focus on health by consumers. The Subway© menu features low-fat options for breakfast, lunch and dinner that are alternatives to fatty fast foods. Savvy business people looking for reliable investments in the next decade should check out Subway’s© franchising opportunities. The Entrepreneur® list shows why Subway© is such a promising franchise opportunity. The minimum investment in a Subway© franchise in 2010 is $84,300. This investment can range up to $258,300 depending on building availability, store size and regional availability. Subway© has already penetrated deep into major markets throughout the United States, giving an advantage to small-town purveyors. Subway© listed 22,525 franchises in the United States in 2009 with all of them owned by franchisees. This tidbit shows that franchising opportunities available through Subway© can be quite lucrative. McDonald’s© Few businesses have the market saturation and franchise success of McDonald’s©. The Entrepreneur® list may have Subway© at the top but McDonald’s© is still seen as the gold standard for fast food. This restaurant chain started in 1955 with limited menus and quirky storefronts. McDonald’s© expanded from the heartland of America to penetrate cities around the world over the next four decades. You can jump aboard this restaurant giant by looking into franchise opportunities in your region. The barriers to entry are fairly high for franchisees interested in McDonald’s© stores. The minimum investment for a McDonald’s© franchise in 2010 is $995,900. The company may require investments up to $1.8 million for franchises to account for higher costs in major markets. Given the ubiquity of McDonald’s© franchises nationwide, it can be difficult for a franchise owner to break into the market. The rigid uniformity of employment and food services practices at McDonald’s© can be strenuous for new business owners. The network of McDonald’s© restaurants nationwide is not entirely run by franchisees. Of the 12,221 McDonald’s franchises in the United States, more than half (6,357) were owned by the corporation in 2009. 7-Eleven© Another commonly found business in the United States is 7-Eleven©. This convenience store chain is difficult to miss in places like Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York City. Consumers rely on 7-Eleven© for groceries, toiletries and fast food available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This popular chain is known for its frozen drinks and quick-grab food kept warm around the clock. Of the franchises in this list, 7-Eleven© is the oldest business thanks to its first store opening in 1927. Entrepreneur© finds that 7-Eleven© may be the least expensive of the fastest growing business franchises for 2010. The lowest investment for a 7-Eleven© franchise in 2010 is $40,000. This relatively small investment total accounts for the adaptability of the 7-Eleven© layout to commercial spaces. These stores pop up in former convenience stores, gas stations and groceries throughout the United States. The top investment in a 7-Eleven© franchise is $775,000, which may account for high lease costs and expenses. The company authorized 6,378 franchises in the United States in 2009. A small fraction of the franchises (462) were operated by the corporation, which shows the confidence 7-Eleven© has in its franchise owners. Hampton Inn© The fourth spot on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® list for 2010 is taken by Hampton Inn©. This hotel chain was recently purchased by the Hilton Hotels Corporation©, which gave it greater resources to serve customers. Hampton Inn© locations can be found throughout the United States especially near airports and large malls. These mid-budget hotels combine comfortable rooms with basic amenities to serve travelers from around the world. You can bring a Hampton Inn© location to your town by purchasing a franchise. The prospective profits of owning a Hampton Inn© franchise make this company seem like a sure bet. The Hilton Hotels Corporation© does not dole out Hampton Inn© franchises without significant investments. The minimum investment for a Hampton Inn© franchise in 2010 is $3.7 million. This investment takes into account everything from construction and maintenance to advertising and training. In major markets, Hampton Inn© franchises may cost upwards of $13.1 million. This variation also accounts for the difference between budget and luxury versions of Hampton Inn©. Hilton Hotels Corporation© oversaw only 1,595 franchises in 2009 with only 31 owned by the corporate office.

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