Sortable data table covering 25+ franchise brands — unit growth rate, total units, average unit volume, and royalty rate. Download the CSV for your own analysis. Source: FDD Item 20 disclosures, FranchiseStack database.
As of 2026, approximately 54% of franchise units in the US are operated by multi-unit franchisees. The fastest-growing franchise systems include Crumbl Cookies (+40%), Body Fit Training (+40%), Restore Hyper Wellness (+35%), and Take 5 Oil Change (+25%). In mature systems like Great Clips and Sport Clips, 70%+ of operators own multiple units. Growth rates are calculated from FDD Item 20 unit count disclosures.
| Franchise | Industry | Growth Rate | Total Units | New Units/Yr | AUV | Royalty % | Op. Model |
|---|
Source: FDD Item 20 disclosures, FranchiseStack database. Growth rates are year-over-year unit counts. AUV from Item 19 where disclosed; estimated from industry data where not. Data current as of May 2026.
Growth Rate is calculated from FDD Item 20 unit count disclosures — units opened minus units closed, divided by prior-year total. It measures system expansion velocity, not franchisee profitability. A high growth rate means the brand is adding locations fast; it doesn't guarantee strong returns at the unit level.
AUV (Average Unit Volume) is the annual revenue per location from Item 19. This is gross revenue, not profit. A $1.5M AUV brand with a 10% royalty and 30% COGS looks very different from a $500K AUV brand with a 6% royalty and 15% COGS. Run the full unit economics.
The biggest obstacle to multi-unit growth isn't capital — it's identity. Single-unit franchise owners are operators. They make decisions, they're on the floor, they know every employee. Multi-unit owners are managers of managers.
Before opening a second location: can your first unit run successfully without you for two full weeks? If no, you don't have a business — you have a job you own.
| ADA Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Development Schedule | Commit to opening X units by specific dates (e.g., 5 units over 5 years) |
| Development Fee | Paid upfront; credited against initial fees as units open (typically $5K–$15K per future unit) |
| Fee Discount | Initial franchise fee reduction, typically 15–30% off standard rate |
| Territory Exclusivity | Franchisor cannot open or license others in your defined area during the term |
| Default Risk | Miss the schedule → lose exclusivity on unopened territory |
| Units | Structure | Critical Hire |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owner-operator + shift leads | Shift manager who opens/closes independently |
| 2–3 | 1 GM per location + owner oversight | First true General Manager (not promoted shift lead) |
| 4–6 | GMs + Area Manager | Area Manager owning day-to-day across 4–6 units |
| 7–10 | 2 Area Managers + Ops Director | Ops Director owning systems, training, compliance |
| 10+ | Full regional structure | CFO or Controller for multi-entity financials |
Run 3-scenario P&L projections across 60 months before committing to an area development schedule.
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Get Match Report — $49 →Data sources: FDD filings (Item 6 / Item 19 / Item 20), US Census ACS 2023, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). Growth rates calculated from FDD Item 20 unit count disclosures. Last refreshed from FranchiseStack DB June 11, 2026. Unit counts reflect publicly disclosed FDD data; verify with current FDD before making investment decisions.
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