These Are the Top Global Franchises in 2026

These brands are booming internationally. Ready to join them, and make money overseas? By Tracy Stapp Herold | Sep 22, 2026 This story appears in the September 2026 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe » You can buy and grow a franchise anywhere, but the fastest growth is happening outside the United States. There’s a global hunger for beloved American franchises and, of course, a lot more territory across the planet for brands to expand into. We see it in the numbers: Among all the companies that applied for Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 ranking, there was more growth internationally than there was domestically! So, want to get in on the global action, and open a franchise somewhere in the world? You need to buy a brand with international appeal. There are a multitude of options — and we identify the best ones here, in our annual ranking of the top franchises that are offering opportunities outside the U.S. To determine this list, we started with that pool of more than 1,300 companies that applied for the 2026 Franchise 500. Then we ran them through our Franchise 500 formula — which evaluates companies on more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, system size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability — but with one adjustment: For this ranking, we give extra weight to international system size and growth. In the end, the 200 top-scoring companies are crowned our top global franchises. But as you browse these great options, remember: This list is not intended as a recommendation of any particular brand. Always do your own careful research to discover whether a franchise opportunity is really right for you. That means reading the company’s legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to as many current and former franchisees as you can. See the full list here. Tracy Stapp Herold is the special projects editor at Entrepreneur magazine. She works on franchise... Read more