What Is the Biggest Trend in Franchising Right Now?

The word "trend" should perhaps be replaced with "carpeting effect". From food to home based businesses, franchising has increased its number of offerings to well over 3,000 branded concepts in just the past few years. In recent years we have seen the annual growth of new offerings in the 100 plus range, whereas new franchisors were not that common even 15 years ago.

Now, if pushed to mark one franchise industry segment as the newest "trend", I would, of course, have to state the obvious – high tech. Technology always trumps in the "new" category, and it is no different in franchising. Did we have computer, Internet service, or software gaming offerings a short time ago? Of course not; so what leads in the general economy will always represent the newest in franchise opportunities as well.

The question however, is not "what's new", but "what's best for the investor", and that will always be a function of the best "fit" between the investor/franchisee/owner operator and the "type" of business chosen.