91³ÉÈË

The 10 Hottest Franchise Trends for 2025 Want to buy a brand that buzzes? Here's what to know.

By Tracy Stapp Herold

This story appears in the May 2025 issue of 91³ÉÈË. Subscribe »

Each year, we at 91³ÉÈË ask: What will be the hottest franchising trends in the year to come? To answer that question, we consider what's trending in the world at large, what types of businesses we're seeing launch new franchise programs, which types of existing franchises are experiencing growth, and more. All of those factors, along with our 40-plus years of experience covering the franchise industry, help us to come up with our annual list of the 10 categories we think have the most potential to thrive this year.

For 2025, we've see some food categories vooming—as we always do. But this year's, we're seeing major momentum in three budget-friendly categories: Beverages, Chicken, and Desserts. These appeal to both franchisees and customers who want to keep costs down, but still enjoy themselves. We've also seeing a lot of energy in "care" categories—from Childcare to Senior Care, along with Mental Health and Autism Services. Pets also makes an appearance; it's one of the longest-running categories on out trends list, consistently fueled by people's love of (and willingness to spend on) furry friends. Rounding out this year's list are Children's Fitness, Home Improvement, and another frequently included category thanks to its resilient nature, Restoration.

The following pages contain information on more than 400 franchises within these trending categories, from established brands to brand-new ones. Inclusion on the list is not intended as a recommendation of any particular franchise. It's always vital to do your own careful research before investing in an opportunity. Read the company's legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant, and talk to existing and former franchisees to find out whether the brand is right for you.

Related: What You Really Need to Look for When Considering a Franchise

Beverages

Chicken

Childcare

Children's Fitness

Desserts

Home Improvement

Mental Health & Autism Services

Pets

Restoration

Senior Care

Tracy Stapp Herold

91³ÉÈË Staff

Tracy Stapp Herold is the special projects editor at 91³ÉÈË magazine. She works on franchise and business opportunity stories and listings, including the annual Franchise 500.

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