2026 Franchise Industry Report: A Tale of Two Franchise Economies
Franchise Business Review unpacks the findings from our 2026 Franchise Industry Report, the only research study that combines insights from franchise leaders, franchisees, and frontline employees to deliver a complete picture of the year ahead. Understand the trends shaping the franchise landscape, from shifting economic conditions and labor dynamics to operational priorities, growth strategies, and the evolving expectations of franchise owners and employees.
Whether you’re leading development, operations, HR, or finance, this session provides the forward-looking intelligence you need to make smarter strategic decisions.
What it covers:
- Executive insights from hundreds of franchise leaders: including growth expectations, top challenges, and investment priorities for 2026
- Franchisee sentiment trends: what owner satisfaction, performance, and system confidence tell us about brand health and future scalability
- Employee engagement patterns: how corporate and frontline teams feel about leadership, culture, training, and career pathways (and how that impacts unit performance)
- Labor market and economic trends: what’s changing, what’s stabilizing, and where franchisors should adjust plans now
- Emerging opportunities and risk indicators: what every franchisor should watch in the year ahead
With insights drawn from three critical stakeholder groups, this research provides a uniquely holistic view of what’s driving—and hindering—franchise performance in for both large systems and emerging brands.