ATLANTA -- For the sixth consecutive year, Franchise Direct has published its Top 100 Global Franchises list, a ranking of the best franchises in the world. For the 2014 list, Subway retained its position as the top franchise, while McDonald's slipped back into the runner-up spot after a brief absence. KFC, Burger King and 7-Eleven rounded out the top five. Franchise Direct selected the Top 100 companies from hundreds of franchises that have grown their networks through international expansion.
The only other convenience store chains to make the list were Circle K (No. 14) and France's Carrefour (No. 38).
Thirty-five leading food franchises appear in the Top 100. Cleaning claims the second position with nine franchises, while automotive takes the third spot with eight franchises.
Click here to view the full list.
Franchise Direct selected the Top 100 Global Franchises from thousands of franchises that have invested in international expansion strategies and ranked them using an objective and measurable criteria including system size based on numbers of units, sales revenue for the system, stability and growth, number of years in operation and market expansion.
It also based the ranking on the implementation of best practice in the areas of franchisee support and training, environmental policy and social responsibility.
Given the present economy, it also gave consideration to the availability of financing to franchisees, and whether it was direct financing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-approved or third-party financing.
And it collected the most recent data on these franchise systems through self-reported company statistics, franchise disclosure documents (FDDs), U.S. Securities & Exchange (SEC) filings and published industry sources. It then subjected the data to a range of analytical criteria.
The Top 100 have overcome linguistic and cultural challenges to successfully replicate their concepts in different markets around the world. They serve as role models for other franchises looking for growth opportunities, and they are proof that quality products and services characterize successful business development everywhere.
In the United States, the franchise industry has emerged from the recession stronger than others, creating jobs at a faster rate than the economy as a whole, Franchise Direct said. Many franchises are growing through global expansion as huge new markets open up in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Brazil.
Atlanta-based Franchise Direct is a leading franchise portal, operating 11 franchise websites across five continents.
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