Franchise Prospect Insights — Franchise Insights

Texas, Illinois and New Jersey Gain the Most In Franchise Interest as California Decreases

November 20, 2024 – In a year-over-year analysis, interest in franchises migrated eastward and selectively southward according to new data from FranchiseInsights.com. By comparing quarterly shares by state of inquiries about franchises for the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024, there was a continuation of the shift in the mix of where aspiring franchisees were expecting to locate franchises

Prospects Sound Off on Their Satisfaction With the Franchise Sales Process

September 25, 2024 – Persons inquiring about franchises were mostly satisfied with their experiences, according to recent franchise prospect surveys over the five months ending in September 2024. Almost half (43.5%) said they were either “satisfied “or “very satisfied”, and only 19.2% said they were “unsatisfied or very unsatisfied.”

Many Franchise-Seekers Already Own Businesses

September 18, 2024 – Data from over five years of surveying aspiring franchise owners shows that about 15-20% already own at least one business. The percentage has varied month-to-month over this time span, which includes the pandemic-affected years, but consistently represents a significant slice of aspiring candidates for franchise development.

Franchises Preferred Over Startups from Scratch or Legacy Businesses For Sale

September 10, 2024 – Individuals interested in business ownership preferred the option to “buy a franchise” over acquiring an existing business by a significant margin in the August business buyer survey. While almost 60% indicated interest in the franchise purchase option, only 42.3% were interested in buying an existing business for sale.

More than Financial Rewards, ‘Being My Own Boss’ Motivates Franchise Seekers

August 14, 2024 – What motivates franchise seekers? Since we last reported on the motivations of aspiring franchise owners at the end of 2023, wars in Europe and the Middle East have continued, and concerns about political change have risen among individuals wanting to own their own businesses. But the primary drivers for business ownership have changed little.

While Easier Credit is Likely Ahead, Aspiring Franchisees Still Rely Most on Personal Savings for Their Business Startups

July 24, 2024 — With persistently higher interest rates and tighter credit, aspiring franchise owners look to diverse sources for financing their startups, especially from their own sources of capital, including personal savings, retirement funds, and home equity.

Today’s Franchise Development Prospects Desire to Follow a Proven System

July 2, 2024 — In our June 2024 survey, almost two-thirds (66.3%) of respondents claimed “willingness to follow a proven system”, an essential characteristic for succeeding at franchise ownership. Grit, or “persistence towards a goal despite obstacles” was cited by over half of respondents (50.6%) of respondents, followed closely by “team leadership experience” at 47%.

Franchise Interest Resumes Migration To The South and East for Franchise Development

June 26, 2024 – In a year-over-year analysis, interest in franchises shifted to the south and east according to new data from FranchiseInsights.com. By comparing quarterly shares by state for the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, there was a continuation of the shift in the mix of where aspiring franchisees were expecting to locate franchises.

Franchisee Prospects Continue to Focus on Just a Few Concepts for Research

June 19, 2024 – Franchise buyer behavior has changed in many ways in the four years since the global pandemic began. One aspect, however, has stayed the same: most prospects still only focus on a single concept when requesting information about franchises, despite the thousands of offerings across dozens of categories in the franchise directories of the FranchiseVentures lead generation platform.

What Are The Main Reasons Why Franchise Prospects Visit Franchisor Websites After Submitting Inquiries on Franchise Portals?

June 12, 2024 — Most prospects who request information on franchise portal sites end up visiting the franchisor’s website afterward. Why does this happen? To answer this question, we surveyed prospects who submitted an inquiry on a franchise portal and then visited the franchisor’s website.

What Kinds of Businesses Do Aspiring Franchisees Already Own?

May 8, 2024 – From over four years of surveying aspiring franchise owners, data show that between 15-26% already own at least one business. The percentage varied over the pandemic years and exhibits some seasonality, but consistently represents a significant slice of aspiring franchisees.

Best Practices For Initial Response to a Franchise Informational Inquiry

The optimal order for following up with franchise prospects is about playing the odds. Segments of the pool of franchise leads prefer one of the nine permutations of three contact methods (email, voice and text), but to have the highest expectations of fruitful contact, especially given the 24/7 nature of lead flow, it pays to listen to what prospects want overall.

It’s About More Than Money – Prospects Give Feedback on Most Desirable Characteristics of Franchises

March 20, 2024 — While “low cost of entry” and “higher earnings potential” were ranked most important by individuals seeking business ownership, more individual and nuanced drivers appear below the surface.

Aspiring Business Owners Choose Franchises Over Startups or Businesses For Sale

March 13, 2023 – In a February 2024 survey, aspiring business owners preferred the option to “buy a franchise” over buying an existing business by more than a two-to-one margin. While 65.3% indicated interest in the franchise purchase option, only 31.6% indicated an interest in buying an existing business for sale.

As Credit Tightens, Aspiring Franchisees Rely Most on Personal Savings for Business Startups

December 13, 2023 — As interest rates rose and lending standards tightened, small businesses and future franchise owners have been looking to unconventional sources to finance their growth plans. From available credit card balances to retirement accounts and crowdfunding, entrepreneurs are finding ways to move forward.

The Key Personal Strengths Claimed by Today’s Aspiring Franchisees

November 22, 2023 — Most franchise inquirers believe they demonstrate three important characteristics for succeeding at business ownership. Grit, or “persistence towards a goal despite obstacles” was cited by 53.0% of respondents in the October 2023 Startup Sentiment survey by Franchise Insights.

When Researching Franchises, Prospects Focus on Just a Few Concepts for Follow-Up

November 1, 2023 – As we have observed many changes in franchise buyer behavior in the three years since the global pandemic began, one aspect changed very little. Despite the thousands of offerings among dozens of categories in the franchise directories at FranchiseVentures online brands, most prospects still narrow their focus to a single concept on a visit to request further information about franchises.

Franchises Are Preferred Over Startups or Purchases of Existing Businesses

October 18, 2023 – In a September 2023 survey, aspiring business owners preferred the option to “buy a franchise” over buying an existing business by more than a two-to-one margin. While 65.5% indicated interest in the franchise purchase option, only 29.8% indicated an interest in buying an existing business for sale.

Controlling Their Own Destiny Remains Top Motivator for Future Business Owners

August 30, 2023 – As we’ve seen in four years of surveying small business startup sentiment, control over one’s destiny continues to propel entrepreneurs towards owning their own business in America.

Personal Savings Surpass Loans and Other Sources Expected for Funding New Franchise Units

August 16, 2023 — With higher interest rates and tightening credit, aspiring franchise owners expect “personal sources” to make up the majority of funding for their business launches, cited among the top three sources by 51.2% of respondents in a July survey.

Franchise Prospects Affirm Key Strengths for Successful Ownership

July 19, 2023 — The majority of franchise inquirers profess having two of the most important characteristics for succeeding at franchise ownership, according to the June 2023 Startup Sentiment survey by Franchise Insights. “Willingness to follow a proven system” was reported by 60.7% of respondents

Behavioral Insight: WHY Most Prospects Visit Franchisor Websites After Requesting More Information on Franchise Portals

June 21, 2023 — A substantial flow of leads to franchise development sites comes from prospects originating on portal websites that are used to discover and compare franchise opportunities. According to surveys over the past year, the most recent data, about 71% of prospects who submitted an inquiry on the portals subsequently visited the franchise website. Why?

A Dependable Source of Lead Referrals to Your Franchise Development Website

June 14, 2023 — When evaluating franchise directory websites (portals), cost per lead is often a key decision factor, assuming quality standards are met. But leads submitted at franchise portals also lead to substantial referral visits to franchisor websites, in addition to being a significant source of leads submitted at development websites, as we first reported in September 2022.

Five-Year View of the Changes in State Shares of Franchise Prospect Interest Through Franchise Lead Flow

May 17, 2023 -The top ten states by share of franchise prospects declined from 2018 (59.53%) to 2022 (57.78%), and then grew in 2023 to a multi-year high at 60.15%.By looking at January through March franchise lead flow data from 2018, 2020 2022, and 2023 as seen in the chart above, Texas took the largest share among the states with greatest interest in 2020 with 10.62% of total inquiries as the first shock of the pandemic suppressed prospect interest in March 2020. Texas then declined to third place by 2023, as Florida ascended to 11.07% of all prospects, just under California at 11.27%.

Franchises Are Preferred Over Purchases of Existing Businesses

In a recent survey of aspiring business owners, 18.4% indicated a preference for the option to “buy a franchise” over buying an existing business. While 39.5% indicated interest in the franchise purchase option, only 21.1% indicated an interest in buying an existing business.

The Top Prospect Motivations for Franchise Ownership in Q1 2023

April 19, 2023 – Control over one’s destiny continues to propel entrepreneurs towards owning their own business in America. Consistent with our large sample of interested franchise buyers over the past three years, “being one’s own boss” remains the primary motivator cited by entrepreneurs researching franchise ownership.

Post-Pandemic Migration Shifts Franchise Prospect Interest Northward and and Eastward

April 13, 2023 – By comparing the shares by state year-over-year by quarter, from January-March 2020 to January-March 2022, there was a shift in the mix of where aspiring franchisees were expecting to locate franchises – from south to north, and west to east, according to new data from FranchiseInsights.com.

Personal Savings Leads Increases in Major Shifts Expected For Franchise Funding as Loans Lag

March 29, 2023 – As March 2023 survey data arrives, aspiring franchisees now expect “personal sources” to make up the vast majority of funding for their business launches, with 47.4% including it in their top three sources. SBA loans and banks and other loan providers were second and third, included by 32.6% and 20.0% of respondents, respectively, to round out the top three choices.

Personal Savings Outpace Loans and Other Sources Expected for Funding New Franchise Units

March 23, 2023 — Amid news of bank failures and high interest rates, business startups expect personal sources to make up the vast majority of funding for their business launches. Those planning to take advantage of Small Business Administration loans and bank loans have dropped to 30.1% and 22.8% respectively, given forty-year highs in interest rates and tightening credit conditions.

Further Interest Drives Franchise Prospects to Visit Franchisor Websites After Requesting More Information on Franchise Portals

February 01, 2023 — Given three choices and the opportunity to enter their own “other” reason, over 56% indicated that they were “very interested and just wanted to learn more.” Another 28.4% “wanted to prepare before having a conversation with the franchise representative.”

One Sure Way To Get Bonus Franchise Lead Referrals to Your Development Website

January 25, 2023 — When evaluating franchise directory websites (portals), cost per lead is often the key decision factor, assuming quality standards are met. But leads submitted at portals also lead to substantial referral visits to franchisor websites, in addition to being a significant source of leads submitted at development websites, as we first reported in September 2022.

The Primary Motivations for Franchise Ownership in Q4 2022

December 28, 2022 – Headlines about war, surging inflation and interest rates, and imminent economic slowdown were no match for the entrepreneurial instincts of Americans in the final months of 2022. The control over one’s destiny continues to propel entrepreneurs towards owning a business in America.

Franchise Prospects Profess Key Strengths for Ownership Success

Willingness to follow a proven system, and ‘Grit’ are cited by most franchise prospects surveyed. By: Franchise Insights December 14, 2022 — Two-thirds of franchise inquirers profess having both of the two most important characteristics for succeeding at franchise ownership, according to the November 2022 Startup Sentiment survey by Franchise Insights. “Willingness to follow a …

Personal Savings Tops Sources Expected for Funding Business Startups

Norfolk, Virginia – November 9, 2022 — Most aspiring franchise buyers now plan to use their own personal sources of funding for their business launches. Those planning to take advantage of Small Business Administration loans and bank loans are at 39.8% and 35.3% respectively, despite forty-year highs in interest rates seen in the last few …

Vast Majority of Franchise Prospects Focus on a Few Concepts for Research and Contact

August 10, 2022 – While many changes in franchise buyer behavior were noted over the last few years during the height of the pandemic, some things remained relatively constant. Despite the availability of hundreds of franchise offerings among dozens of categories in the directories at FranchiseVentures digital brands, most prospects still narrow their focus to …

Franchises Are Increasingly Preferred Over Purchases of Existing Businesses

July 27, 2022 – In a June 2022 survey of aspiring business owners, 18% indicated a preference for the option to “buy a franchise” over buying an existing business. While 38.5% indicated interest in the franchise purchase option, only 20.3% indicated an interest in buying an existing business. While reasons for the preferences were not …

The Primary Motivations for Franchise Ownership Are Persistent

July 6, 2022 – Despite pandemic , war, and economic headwinds, the control over one’s destiny continues to propel entrepreneurs towards owning a business in America. In a very large sample over multiple years, “being one’s own boss” remains the main motivator cited by entrepreneurs researching business ownership across FranchiseVentures, the leading network of online …

Despite Interest Rate Rise, Loans Among Top Sources Expected for Funding Business Startups

June 22, 2022 — Most aspiring franchise buyers plan to take advantage of Small Business Administration loans and bank loans, at 48.9% and 45% respectively, despite the rapid rise in interest rates seen in the last few months. Another 14.3% are hoping to take advantage of in-house financing by the franchise they are purchasing. These …

Funding Grows as Top Concern For Franchise Buyers As Pandemic Impact Fades

April 27, 2022 – Taking a snapshot of each March since 2020, “funding or access to credit” has increased as the biggest consideration for franchise buyers over the next six months. Most recently in March 2022, 76.6% of respondents indicated that this was their biggest concern. From March 2020 when the total impact of the …

A Longer-Term Look at the Change in State Shares of Franchise Prospect Interest Through Franchise Lead Flow

April 13, 2022 – The southward and westward migration of franchise interest during the pandemic noted in a recent article begs the question – how does that fit into the longer-term trend? The top ten states by share of franchise prospects grew slightly as a percent of all states from 2018 (59.53%) to 2020 (59.65%) …

The Pandemic Migration Shifts Franchise Prospect Interest Southward and Westward

March 30, 2022 – By comparing the shares by state from January-March 2020 to January-March 2022, there was a shift in the mix of where aspiring franchisees were expecting to locate franchises – from north to south, and east to west, according to new data from FranchiseInsights.com. Increasing state share in that period is in …

Insights Into Franchise Buyer Personas from Rankings of Desired Franchise Characteristics

March 23, 2022 — There seem to be at least two market segments or distinct buyer groups reflected in the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment survey in their preferences for franchises. Respondents were asked to rank eight franchise characteristics in order of importance to their ultimate selection, along with a “not important to me” option …

SBA Loans and Personal Savings Are Top Two Sources Expected for Funding Business Startups

March 16, 2022 — Most aspiring franchise buyers plan to use Small Business Administration loans and personal savings to start their businesses, at 48.9% and 45% respectively, according to the FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment survey. Loans from banks or other lending institutions were identified as the third most common source at 39.8%. The percentages …

Prospects Rank Desirable Characteristics of Franchises, with Surprising Results

March 10, 2022 — In the February FranchiseInsights.com Small Business Startup Sentiment survey, respondents were also asked to rank eight franchise characteristics in order of importance to their ultimate selection, along with a “not important to me” option for each. On the surface, “low cost of entry” and “higher earnings potential” were ranked highest, on …

The Primary Motivations for Franchise Ownership are Resilient

January 20, 2022 — Despite the disruptions to normal human behavior due to the global pandemic, the control over one’s destiny and financial independence continue to be the most powerful motivations for owning a business in America. In a very large sample over multiple years, working for oneself remains the main motivator cited by entrepreneurs researching …

Desire for Work Flexibility and Self-Determination Is Driving Surging Interest in Franchises

October 20, 2021 — In September, we shared that the uncertainty and disruptions of the global pandemic did not significantly change the mix of drivers toward business ownership as seen in our large monthly sample set. Desire to “be your own boss” is consistently the top motivator. But what is it about being your own …

Surveys Say It’s a Better Time to Buy a Franchise than a Home

September 22, 2021 – Preliminary results from the University of Michigan’s September 2021 survey of consumer confidence as reported by Business Insider show that the lowest percentage of consumers in four decades think that “now is a good time to buy a home.” High prices and low inventory have taken a toll on consumer enthusiasm …

The Pandemic Had Little Impact on the Primary Motivations for Franchise Ownership

September 1, 2021 — Some things haven’t changed, despite the global pandemic. The control over one’s destiny and financial independence remain the most powerful motivations for owning a business. In fact, working for oneself remains the main motivator cited by entrepreneurs researching business ownership across the leading network of online franchise information directory brands. “Be …

Historic Changes in Franchise Prospect Demographics: Women’s Interest in Franchises, Suppressed During the Pandemic, Is Now Rebounding Disproportionately

July 21, 2021 – The largest multi-year data set of aspiring franchisees reveals historic changes in the makeup of the pool of future franchise owners. The percentage of women seeking information about franchise ownership dipped during the height of the pandemic in 2020. But if the first half of 2021 is any indication, women are …

Historic Changes in Franchise Prospect Demographics: Millennials Outnumber Boomers Seeking Franchises in 2021

July 21, 2021 – For the first time in history, more Millennials are seeking franchise ownership than Baby Boomers. While Generation X (ages 41-56 in 2021), has shown the greatest share of franchise interest for some years, that share may have peaked in 2020 at 48.2%, based on year-to-date data in 2021 through June. The …

Coming Wave of US Population Reaching Prime Startup Age Portends Decades of Franchise Growth Ahead

June 15, 2021 – While Generation X prospects (born 1965-1980) are currently the largest demographic group seeking franchise ownership, Millennials are a much larger cohort. Together, these two generations will combine to create the largest US population at the prime ages for business startup. The next two decades are projected to add over 12.9 million …

Franchise Prospects are Much More Likely to Have the Support of a Marriage Partner

June 9, 2021 – Nearly two-thirds of prospects interested in buying a franchise are married, an above-average rate that may factor into the readiness of individuals to take the plunge. Of entrepreneurs contacting franchises to explore ownership, 65.5% are married according to data from the FranchiseVentures network of franchise directory brands over the first four …

Women Outnumber Men in Pursuit of Franchise Ownership, Driven By Millennials and Generation X

May 25, 2021 – Among younger generations in particular, women lead in the number of investment inquiries made to franchises according to analysis of data from January to April 2021. Since we last reported gender demographics in September 2020, women have surpassed men in share of total prospects that are identified as male or female. …

How has the Pandemic Changed the Age Distribution of Franchisee Prospects?

May 19, 2021 — Entrepreneurs step forward at all ages, but the most common age may be older than you think. Analysis of January through April 2021 demographics of prospective franchise owners shows the most popular ages for exploring business ownership range from the mid-30s to mid-50s, peaking at age 51 thus far in 2021. …

Most Franchise Prospects Focus on a Few Concepts for Further Inquiry — Don’t Miss the Opportunity

May 12, 2021 – Despite the availability of dozens of franchise categories and hundreds of franchise options at FranchiseVentures digital brands, most prospects narrow their focus to a single concept when requesting further information. In looking at data for more than ten thousand prospects in April 2021, almost 46% selected a single franchise opportunity for …

‘Be My Own Boss’ Remains the Primary Motivation for Small Business Ownership

April 13, 2021 – A year of global pandemic has not significantly changed the primary drivers of business ownership. Financial independence and controlling one’s own destiny remain the most powerful motivations for owning a business. In fact, working for oneself remains the No. 1 reason cited by entrepreneurs researching business ownership across the leading network …

Survey Shows Increasing Preference for Franchise Purchase Among Options for Business Ownership

March. 31, 2021 – In a recent survey of aspiring business owners, almost two thirds indicated their interest to “buy a franchise” over the other paths to business ownership. Less than one third (32%) indicated an interest in buying an existing business. While reasons for the preferences were not solicited, the benefits of a network …

Funding Remains Top Concern For Business Buyers As Pandemic Restrictions Ease

March. 24, 2021 – As the vaccinated share of the population increases, and states ease restrictions on social distancing, respondents to a recent survey of aspiring small business owners chose “funding or access to credit” as the biggest barrier to buying a franchise over the next six months. The survey of future business owners was …

Even Amid Pandemic, Many Franchise Prospects Top Six Figures in 2020 Household Income

Feb. 24, 2021 – More than a third of prospective franchisees earned household incomes greater than $100,000 in 2020, a relatively stable percentage despite the pandemic’s effect on employment for the better part of the year. For this analysis, Franchise Ventures scored its pool of investment inquiries with demographic data from Alliant, a leading provider …

Younger Age Cohorts Grew Shares of Franchise Prospects in 2020, Even As Boomer Entrepreneurs Bolstered Pandemic Months

Feb. 17, 2021 – Millennial and Gen X entrepreneurs continued to grow their share of prospective franchise owners last year, but Baby Boomers showed strength during several quarters as the coronavirus pandemic pressured business plans across many categories. Millennials logged the greatest gain in relative share year over year, and Generation X remained the largest …

Top-Ranked States Grow At Slower Pace in 2020 As Mid-Sized States Heat Up in Franchise Interest Index™

Feb. 9, 2021 – Georgia and Nevada continued to generate the nation’s highest adult per capita interest in buying a franchise in 2020, according to the latest data from the Franchise Interest IndexTM , but that interest grew at a slower rate amid the pandemic. Meanwhile, smaller states in the Midwest and Mid-South saw double-digit …

2020 Q4 Review Shows Resilient Franchise Categories Compared to Pre-Covid Results

Home Services, Senior Health Care and Cleaning and Maintenance Franchise Development Categories Grow Share Over Prior Year Jan. 27, 2020 – As investment inquiries to franchises rose in almost all categories in December, the year end results also provide insight into which business categories are most resilient and grew their share of prospective franchisees’ interest. …

2020 Ends with Optimism as December Inquiries Rise In Almost All Franchise Categories

Computers, Home Services and Pet Services Lead Franchise Development Categories in Monthly Growth Jan. 20, 2021 – In a broad-based sign of small business optimism, aspiring business owners closed out 2020 on a positive note, with investment inquiries rising in almost every category of available franchises. Overall, inquiries rose 11.1% from November to December, according …

Two-Year Franchise Category Trends Show Pandemic Impact on Buyer Interest

Franchise Leads Ebb and Flow With Perceptions of Viability Dec. 22, 2020 – The roller-coaster year of 2020 has left its mark on categories of franchise interest, with winners and losers. The Home Services, Senior and Health Care, and Cleaning and Maintenance franchise categories grew significantly, despite already having large shares of interest prior to …

Which Business Categories Will Grow Most in 2021?

Coming Boom in Travel, Personal Care, and Restaurants Dec. 16, 2020 – Making a range of assumptions about recovery to interest levels prior to the pandemic, inquiries to Personal Care and Travel and Lodging franchises are likely to grow geometrically in 2021. Per the chart above, future owner interest in Travel and Lodging franchises and …

Southern States Maintain Top Rank in Q3 Franchise Interest Index™ As Midwestern States Lead Growth Rate

Nov. 4, 2020 – Georgia, Nevada and Florida continued to lead the nation with the highest adult per capita interest in buying a franchise in Q3 2020, according to the latest data from the Franchise Interest Index(TM), and all three saw per-capita franchise interest grow from Q2 to Q3 as the economy regained ground that had …

Financial Services Category Sets the Growth Pace in Franchise Lead Generation For 2nd Month in a Row

Real Estate and Pet Services Franchise Development Categories are Close Seconds Oct. 29, 2020 – Financial Services franchises led the list of growing franchise development categories for the second month in a row in September, as prospective franchise owners increased their investment inquiries among categories that also included Real Estate franchises, Pet Services franchises and …

As Pandemic Continues, Aspiring Franchisees Are Focusing Their Consideration on One or Two Concepts

October 8, 2020 – One clear trend this year is that prospective franchise buyers have become more focused on one or two businesses during the discovery phase of their search. The share of prospects narrowing their research to one or two concepts in any given month rose from Q1 2020 to Q2, and remained higher …

Among Millennials and Gen X, Women Outpace Men in Share of Franchise Interest

No Glass Ceiling: Women are a Greater Share of Franchise Inquiries than Men Sept. 24, 2020 – Owning your own business holds similar appeal to men and women alike, as both are fairly evenly represented among entrepreneurs who are exploring potential franchise ownership this year. Among younger generations in particular, women lead in the number …

Marital Status Appears as Key Factor for Aspiring Franchisees

Above-Average Marriage Rate May Signal Financial Stability, Value of Family Support Sept. 24, 2020 – Nearly two-thirds of prospects interested in buying a franchise are married, an above-average rate that may add extra financial flexibility and the value of family stability to the startup process. The current marriage rate is 63.2% for entrepreneurs contacting franchises …

What is the Best Age To Start a Business? 40s and 50s Are Golden Years for Future Franchise Owners

Step Aside Millennials: Most Common Age for Franchise Prospects May Be Older Than You Think – Success Can Come at Any Age September 17, 2020 – While successful entrepreneurs start businesses at any age, the most common age may be older than you think. A current analysis of prospective franchise owners shows the most popular …

Financial Services Category Leads August Growth in Franchise Interest

Other Franchise Development Growth Categories Include Health and Fitness, Home Services and Automotive September 10, 2020 – Aspiring franchise owners were focused on “taking care of business” last month, thinking ahead about seasonal changes in consumer needs as interest in Financial Services franchises led August growth of investment inquiries, followed by increased interest in Health, …

Georgia Reclaims Top Rank in Q2 Franchise Interest Index™

Southern States Lead in Above-Average Pace of Investment Inquiries September 3, 2020 – Georgia jumped back ahead of Nevada to lead the nation with the highest adult per capita interest in buying a franchise in Q2 2020, reclaiming the No. 1 rank that it held in the full year of 2019 according to the latest …

Hardest-Hit Franchise Categories Lead July Growth in Inquiries

August 19, 2020 – The volume of entrepreneurs contacting franchisors to explore owning a franchise strengthened for the third month in a row in July, with the highest growth occurring in categories most affected in prior months by social-distancing and uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Many categories also saw gains in the average …

Home Services Surge in Popularity, Rank No. 1 in Q2 Franchise Investment Inquiries

August 13, 2020 – Home Services surged past Food and Restaurant franchises to rank as the No. 1 most popular category for aspiring franchisees in Q2 2020, while Real Estate franchises experienced the greatest increase of investment interest over the previous quarter. The Franchise Insights rankings are proprietary data drawn from the Franchise Ventures’ demand-generation …

Amid Pandemic, Financially-Strong Baby Boomers Grow Share of Franchise Prospects

July 30, 2020 – As the coronavirus pandemic has strengthened many entrepreneurs’ desire to own a business, Baby Boomers in particular have grown in their relative share of prospective franchisees who are reaching out to franchise systems to explore potential investment. Generation X still ranks No. 1 with the largest share of prospects, but that …

‘Be My Own Boss” Continues to Rank as No. 1 Motivation in Small-Business Ownership Survey

July 22, 2020 – The pandemic has not changed the primary drivers of business ownership — independence and controlling your own destiny remain the most powerful motivations for owning a business. In fact, working for oneself is the No. 1 reason cited by entrepreneurs researching ownership across the leading network of online franchise information directory …

STATE PROFILE: South Carolina Ranks No. 4 in Franchise Interest Index™ with Strong Retail and B2B Interest

June 30, 2020 – Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in South Carolina, where potential franchisees were active enough to rank the state at No. 4 in per-capita Franchise Interest Index™ in 2019. The Palmetto State is the nation’s 27th largest by adult population, with 4.8 million adults over the age of 22. But it …

Google Searches Confirm Uptrend in Franchise and Business Startup Interest

June 18, 2020 – Interest in franchise and business ownership has been rebounding in Google search trends over the past two months, rising steadily after a steep slide during the early weeks of coronavirus uncertainty and mandated state and city shutdowns. The search gains are confirmed by positive sentiment and increased investment inquiries from prospective …

STATE PROFILE: Florida Ranks No. 3 in Franchise Interest Index™, Leads Large States in Travel

June 17, 2020 – As the nation’s third-largest state by adult population, Florida is a powerhouse of potential franchisees, ranking No. 3 for total investment inquiries made last year, and also No. 3 in per-capita Franchise Interest Index™ in 2019. With 19.8 million adults over the age of 22, Floridians generated 10.4% of U.S. franchising …

Franchise Inquiries Rise in Most Categories as States Reopen

June 11, 2020 – After months of economic uncertainty driven by the coronavirus, investment interest rose in May in most franchise categories in the United States. While the most growth occurred in categories that are less affected by mandated closures and social distancing, even some categories more directly affected by the pandemic saw positive signs …

STATE PROFILE: High Interest in Food, Personal Care Rank Nevada 2nd in Franchise Interest Index™

June 3, 2020 – Exceptionally high interest in discretionary-spending franchises like restaurants, spas and salons helped drive Nevada near the top of the Franchise Interest Index ™ in 2019 and again in the first quarter of this year. Nevada ranked No. 2 in adult per-capita interest in potential franchise ownership last year, accounting for 1.6% …

STATE PROFILE: Texas Ranks First in Share of Franchise Inquiries, Fifth in Franchise Interest Index™

May 27, 2020 – While Georgia leads the nation in per-capita interest in potential franchise ownership, another Southern state leads in total volume of interested franchise seekers. Texas ranked No. 1 in 2019 for its 11.3% share of inquiries through the FranchiseVentures demand-generation platform in 2019. That’s not surprising, since it also boasts the nation’s …

STATE PROFILE: Georgia Indexes Higher for Millennials, Interest in Senior Care, Business Franchises

May 20, 2020 – With the nation’s highest per-capita interest in owning a franchise last year, the state of Georgia also stands apart for its ratio of Millennial franchise prospects, and indexes higher than average for categories like Senior Care and Business and Financial services. Here is a demographic profile of Georgia prospects who contacted …

Boomers Lead Potential Business Buyers in Resources for Funding New Franchises

May 11, 2020 – Baby Boomers interested in buying franchises may not claim the same high growth rates of Millennial and Gen X entrepreneurs, but the sizable Boomer segment holds an attractive lead in assets to fund new franchise businesses. Baby Boomers accounted for 27% of prospects contacting franchisors through the FranchiseVentures demand-generation platform in …

Millennial Entrepreneurs Index High for Personal Care, Child-related Franchise Categories

May 6, 2020 – The Millennial generation saw a growth spurt in franchise interest last year, growing its share of franchise investment inquiries to 21% in 2019 from 16% in 2018, and leading the field with higher-than average interest in categories such as Personal Care, Child-related and Cleaning franchises. Here is a demographic profile of …

Top Franchise Categories Retain Relative Ranking in Q1

Food and Restaurants Maintain Most Popular Rank, as Automotive Leads Quarterly Growth April 28, 2020 – Despite coranavirus-driven volatility in key business sectors in March, the relative ranking of top franchise categories remained the same in Q1 of 2020, compared with Q4 of 2019. Food and Restaurant franchises continue as the most popular category drawing …

Nevada Edges Past Georgia To Lead Q1 Franchise Interest Index™

April 22, 2020 – Nevada edged past Georgia to lead the nation with the highest adult per capita interest in buying a franchise in Q1 2020, according to new data from Franchise Insights. Georgia had claimed the top spot in the The Franchise Interest IndexTM for the full year of 2019. The Franchise Interest IndexTM …

Coronavirus Drives More Interest in Some Franchise Categories, Less in Others

April 10, 2020 – As the sudden spread of coronavirus has changed so many aspects of daily business and personal life in recent weeks, entrepreneurial interest in different types of franchises has shifted as well. Franchise Insights examined how investment inquiries for different categories changed from February to March, and it seems that potential franchisees …

Mid-tier Metros Log Fastest Growth in Franchise Interest for Q4

Jacksonville, Tucson Lead Top 50 Metro Areas, as Springfield and Worcester Top Mid-Sized Metros March 25, 2020 – Mid-sized metropolitan areas under 1 million population showed some of the strongest year-over-year growth in franchise-buying interest, claiming 7 of the top 10 spots in latest business data from Franchise Insights. The rest of the top 10 …

58% Of Potential Franchisees Are Married, Boosting Average Income

March 18, 2020 – More than half of prospects interested in buying a franchise are married, which turns out to be an important factor in boosting average household income. In fact, half of married prospects have a household income of $100,000 or more in Q4 of 2019, according to the latest data analysis by Franchise …

Access to Funding Identified as Greatest Hurdle to Franchise Ownership

March 12, 2020 – Respondents to a February 2020 of aspiring small business owners cited “funding or access to credit” as the biggest barrier to buying a franchise. This level is just below the 68.5% seen in the month-earlier survey. Franchise buyers recognize that franchise fees account for a relatively small portion of the capital …

Southeastern Cities Lead Top 100 Metros in New Franchise Interest Index™

March 10, 2020 – Atlanta, Ga., enjoys the nation’s highest interest in buying a franchise, according to the latest analysis of the Top 100 metropolitan areas. Southeastern metros dominated the top 20 leaders in the Franchise Interest Index(TM), with multiple major metro areas ranked in Florida and Texas, as well as high-interest from mid-sized metros …

Smaller States Post Big Gains in Q4 Growth of Franchise Interest Index™

Alaska, Hawaii lead overall gains, Georgia tops growth among large-population states February 12, 2020 – Small- and mid-sized states with adult population under 5 million showed some of the strongest year-over-year growth in franchise-buying interest, according to the latest data from Franchise Insights. And among the largest states, Georgia tops the Franchise Interest Index™ for …

Gen X Claims Largest Group of Franchise Prospects, Ranks High for Income, Home Ownership

February 14, 2020 – While Millennials are the fastest-growing group of franchise prospects, Generation X was far and away the largest age group interested in buying a franchise last year. Generation X claimed 44.9% share of prospects contacting franchisors through the Franchise Ventures demand-generation platform in 2019. Here is a demographic profile of the 39- …

Georgia Leads the Nation in New Franchise Interest Index™

January 13, 2020 – Georgia, Nevada and Florida led the nation with the highest levels of interest in buying a franchise in 2019, according to new data from Franchise Insights. The Franchise Interest Index™ reveals the relative interest of entrepreneurs making an investment inquiry by indexing proprietary data with state population on a per capita basis. …

‘Side Business Income’ Motivates Half of Potential Business Buyers

Dec. 12, 2019 – Owning a small business is not always a full-time venture – in fact, half of potential business buyers say that one of their motivations is owning a “side business for supplemental income.” That’s according to an ongoing survey of potential business buyers across the Franchise Ventures demand generation platform. Side-business income …

Three-Quarters of Franchise Prospects Own a Home, Most for 5+ Years

Dec. 10, 2019 – Nearly 3 in 4 prospective franchisees own their own home, and more than three-quarters have lived at the same address for more than 5 years, according to the latest data analysis by Franchise Ventures. Those are important indicators of financial wherewithal and stability for franchisors recruiting new owners for their franchise. …

‘Lifestyle Rewards’ Rank as No. 3 Reason to Own a Small Business

Dec. 5, 2019 – Owning a small business can give you the freedom and flexibility to match different lifestyles, and that’s important to more than half of entrepreneurs answering a survey across the Franchise Ventures demand generation platform. More than half, or 56.5%, say “lifestyle rewards” are one of their top motivations as they think …

Education Is No Prerequisite To Entrepreneurship – Ambition Is Its Own Degree

Nov. 27, 2019 – The lure of entrepreneurship appeals to individuals across all levels of education, according to the latest data analysis by Franchise Ventures, which found most business-buyer prospects had at least some college experience, but not necessarily a completed degree. “In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re grateful for the opportunities that …