About Our Awards
About Our Awards
AWARDS ENTRY KIT
Each year, Franchise Business Review honors franchise brands that received exceptional ratings from the people who know best – their franchisees.
What It Covers:
- Eligibility
- Award categories
- Selection process
- Deadlines and sectors
- Perks of winning
ABOUT OUR AWARDS
Since 2006, Franchise Business Review has been recognizing excellence in franchising with the Franchisee Satisfaction Awards. Our awards are considered the gold standard in franchisee satisfaction.
Each year, we survey thousands of franchise owners across North America to determine their levels of satisfaction with their franchise brand. We compile a list of the top franchisees each year based on our Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI) and publish a ranking of the top franchise opportunities based exclusively on owner satisfaction.
METHODOLOGY
Winners are selected based on survey data collected from their franchisees on 33 standard benchmarking questions. The brands that have the highest overall franchisee satisfaction scores are named a Top Franchise.
Scores for each benchmark question are determined using a weighted scale. For each franchise brand, the collective scores of the franchisees are used to determine an overall FSI (Franchisee Satisfaction Index) score to determine their ranking.
Other factors considered include: size of the franchise system, percent of franchisees participating in the survey, and the age of the survey.
ELIGIBILITY
The Franchisee Satisfaction Awards are open to all franchise brands that:
DEADLINES
All brands that have surveyed with Franchise Business Review in the 18 months prior will be considered for our awards.
The deadline for our overall Top Franchises awards is September 30. There are additional awards deadlines throughout the year for our semi-annual reports, which identify the top franchises in various sectors.
January 31
Top Low-cost Franchises | Top Franchises for Women | Best Franchise Culture
March 31
Top Recession-Resistant Franchises | Most Profitable Franchises
June 30
Top Franchises for Veterans | Top Food Franchises | Most Innovative Franchises
September 30
Top Franchises: Best of the Best
NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Franchise Business Review’s research and special reports are also regularly referenced by leading media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fox Small Business, CNBC, Bloomberg Businessweek, Franchise Update, Franchise Times, The New York Times, USA Today, and TheStreet.com.
Media Coverage of Award-Winning Brands
WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN A FRANCHISEE SATISFACTION AWARD
The brands that make up Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchises each year are more than just award winners. They’re the brands that support and train their franchisees and care enough to ask them what they really think.
Of all the franchisees we survey each year, only the very best make it onto our awards list.
Even more important than the brands on our annual awards list are the brands that aren’t. A franchise can’t buy its way onto our list through sponsorship or advertising dollars, and it’s not about the size of the system is or how fast it’s growing. What matters is performance and we measure it the only true way you can – by surveying the satisfaction of franchisees.
Ready to Talk?
Franchise Business Review’s awards aren’t based on nominations, judges, or sponsorships. They’re earned through independent research and real feedback from thousands of franchisees. Each year, brands are recognized solely for achieving exceptional franchisee satisfaction, measured through confidential surveys and rigorous benchmarking methodology.
If you want recognition backed by data, not marketing hype, let’s talk about how your franchise can participate and stand out for the right reasons.
Complete the form to schedule your free demo and see how your franchise can qualify for data-driven recognition.
Austin, TX | October 28-30, 2026
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