AllBusiness AllStar Franchises

While many retail concepts are going to face challenges this year from the recessionary economy, DirectBuy is one company that may actually benefit from tough times. The company's retail concept is right in line with the mind-set of today's penny-pinching consumer. In business since 1971,...

Allegra Network offers printing and graphic communications services for businesses, such as digital printing, signs, mailing services, and more. There are five printing brands under the Allegra umbrella: Allegra Print & Imaging, American Speedy Printing, and Insty-Prints in the U.S., and Speedy Printing and Zippy...

Super 8's low-priced motels are an American icon, with its ubiquitous brand ranking #13 in Web visibility (a measure of brand awareness) among the AllBusiness AllStars. The value the motels offer resonates with today's budget-minded travelers. While the company's growth in the U.S. hasn't been...

The economic downturn presents challenges for all hotels. However, Country Inns & Suites is well positioned for the times because its moderate pricing makes it attractive to both leisure and, increasingly, business travelers who are looking to cut costs. Corporate customers also like the hotel's...

Circle K convenience stores ranked very high in system size due to the company's strong presence in the U.S. and overseas. With more than 3,800 locations overall and franchises in Guam, Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Mexico, this company has staying power and brand awareness....

In a recession, one industry that's almost guaranteed to thrive is staffing services. With more people out of work, the need for the help Express Employment Personnel provides is greater than ever. "Our mission is to help people find jobs," says founder Robert Funk. "For...

In-home nonmedical care for seniors is one of the hottest concepts in franchising today. Comfort Keepers' overall rank of #6 in financial strength helped the company rank high overall within the nonmedical senior care category. The company's CEO, VP of business development, and VP of...

The nation's largest Italian ice and frozen treat store, Rita's Italian Ice has 521 open stores and over 350 stores in development. The franchise has grown steadily in the last few years and fits in well with the country's obsession with finding less fattening dessert...

The average U.S. home has 21 different battery-operated devices. And whether those devices are laptops, cell phones, or MP3 players, Batteries Plus can provide the proper power source -- the stores have access to more than 15,000 different batteries and related products. Last year, Batteries...

Knights Inn has been in business for more than 35 years and has the benefit of a strong parent company -- Wyndham Hotels Group -- backing it. The company showed strong growth, with a 25 percent increase in the number of franchise units between 2006...

A strong customer service orientation is a key part of Two Men and a Truck's company philosophy, and this focus on customers is required of its franchisees. Franchises consistently earn high customer service rankings and have a high rate of referrals. Last year, the company...

Formerly part of U.S. Franchise Systems (USFS), Microtel was acquired by Wyndham Hotels Group in 2008. Roy Flora, former president of USFS, still leads Microtel, along with a team that includes other franchising and hospitality industry veterans. For the last seven years, J.D. Power &...

A relatively new company, Massage Envy started franchising in 2003 and has quickly taken off. The company tripled its number of units between 2006 and 2008, earning it an impressive rank of #9 in growth. And, in a relatively short period of time, the company...

With the number of elderly Americans increasing, nonmedical in-home care is a booming franchise concept. Home Instead Senior Care's overall rank of #21 in financial strength in our AllBusiness AllStar Franchises gave this company a solid position within the nonmedical senior care category. Home Instead...

FASTSIGNS franchisees provide signage and graphics for business customers. The company was launched in 1986 by an entrepreneur, and in 2003 was acquired by Roark Capital, a private equity firm that owns several other franchise companies in widely varying industries. Since its inception, FASTSIGNS has...

Auntie Anne's has been in business for more than 20 years, but rebranded its system in 2006 to create a more magnetic, fun image that consumers could be passionate about. The logo and uniforms were updated and humorous store signs printed with slogans such as...

In business since 1970, Rooter-Man ranks #76 on our list in terms of longevity and #95 in overall system size. The plumbing, sewer and drain cleaning company added nearly 100 franchised locations between 2006 and 2008, giving it an impressive rank of #54 overall in...

Qdoba Mexican Grill is owned by Jack in the Box Inc., a company with longtime experience in franchise systems. Last year, Qdoba was named by Technomic as the fastest-growing restaurant concept with system-wide sales over $200 million. Ranked high in Web visibility at #34 on...

AAMCO ranked an impressive #25 in longevity and #69 overall. As a venerable and sizable system, this automotive repair company has strong brand recognition, giving franchise buyers an edge. Although it started out as a transmission repair company, AAMCO now offers brake, electrical and drivetrain...

The pet industry has been one of the hottest growth categories in American business for years. Aussie Pet Mobile is an example of this trend, ranking #57 in our growth category. Instead of lugging your dog or cat to the groomer, this mobile pet grooming...

ActionCOACH has been franchising since 1997, making it a pioneer in the business coaching industry, garnering the company recently a lot of attention. The largest business coaching franchise in the world, the company's presence is actually larger outside the U.S., but still maintains a strong...

Franchising for nearly 60 years, Baskin-Robbins has a rank of #5 in longevity and #26 in system size. The company's well-known brand helped it rank #32 in Web visibility (a measure of brand awareness). Baskin-Robbins' recognizable name is an especially valuable asset for franchisees in...

The car rental industry has gone through some changes in recent years, with some big names acquiring others. While some of the big companies have been turning their franchises into company-owned stores, U-Save has gone in the opposite direction, refranchising its corporate stores. The company's...

Although the retail category is one of the toughest in which to grow a franchise, HobbyTown USA has been around for nearly 30 years, and in a tough economy, has so far managed to maintain its presence and its size. Offering franchisees the option of...

This franchise has been franchising in Japan for more than 50 years. While it has a huge presence there, it's also got a strong presence in the U.S., where it has been franchising for more than 25 years. Kumon ranked very high in system size...