Fastest Growing Franchises to Watch in 2026

Growth matters in franchising because it can signal real demand, rising brand momentum, and a model gaining traction across more markets. Fast growth alone, however, does not make a franchise worth buying; startup costs, training, day-to-day operations, and revenue potential still matter.

That is why this list is not a simple ranking of the top five franchises by raw unit growth. Instead, we chose what we believe are some of the best options among the fastest-growing franchises in 2026 based on fees, provided training, and average gross sales per year.

Disclaimer: The information presented is based on the most recent Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) we were able to access at the time of writing. In some cases, this may not reflect the latest available version filed by the franchisor. Where applicable, data have been summarized or approximated to represent average gross sales for comparison purposes. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Fastest-Growing Franchises in 2026

*Unit totals shown with YoY net growth figures.

​Stratus Building Solutions​

The franchise: Stratus Building Solutions is a commercial cleaning franchise focused on B2B accounts and recurring janitorial service. That makes it meaningfully different from residential brands and restoration models; instead of depending on household cleanings or emergency remediation calls, the business centers on contracts, account relationships, and commercial service delivery.

The training: Stratus provides a multi-phase program totaling 133 hours of classroom training and 55 hours of on-the-job training, for a total of 188 hours. Phase I begins with a business overview, operations overview, inside sales, customer contract sales, and back-office functions.

Additional on-site phases cover unit franchisee training methods, operational and management aspects of the office, customer contract sales, franchise development, customer service training, and administration training. Portions of the training are held at designated sites in the Midwest, with later phases conducted at the franchisee’s office.

Why it stands out: Stratus is a fast-growing franchise because its commercial cleaning model is built around recurring B2B contracts rather than one-time consumer demand. While its current footprint sits at 67 units, the brand launched in 2022, making that level of market penetration particularly notable given the compressed timeline.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $109,550 - $345,950
• Franchise fee: $75,000
• Average gross sales: $2,934,782

Best for: Owners who want a commercial cleaning franchise with a strong B2B orientation, extensive training, and a model built around account-based recurring revenue.

​Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids​

The franchise: Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids is a child-focused salon concept built around a specialized customer experience. Its recent unit growth makes it one of the more notable expanding franchise brands in this group, and its niche positioning helps separate it from more general personal care concepts.

The training: Sharkey’s provides an initial training program for the franchisee and one additional person, for a maximum of two trainees. The franchisor states that the initial training program generally lasts approximately three days in person, or 2 to 3 days if completed virtually. This training covers areas such as computer software, hair stylists and general salon practice, retail and hiring, business planning, desk and reception functions, and sales and marketing.

All employees must complete an online training program through Sharkey’s Learning Portal within 14 days before the salon opens. In addition, a virtual manager training program covers topics such as sales, opening procedures, and end-of-day operations.

Why it stands out: Sharkey’s stands out because it combines a specialized family-oriented concept with strong recent unit expansion. That kind of growth is impressive in a category where customer experience and niche appeal matter.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $198,165 - $304,490
• Franchise fee: $45,000
• Average gross sales: $440,447

Best for: Buyers who want a consumer-facing retail service concept with a defined niche, a family-focused brand identity, and strong recent growth.

​Mathnasium​

The franchise: Mathnasium is an education franchise focused on math instruction through a specialized learning-center model. Its scale and continued expansion make it one of the most established names on this list, while its single-subject focus helps create a more defined operating model than broader tutoring concepts.

The training: A four-stage program completed within 180 days: self-paced online modules, two rounds of live virtual training, plus 3 days inside an operating center in Los Angeles. Monthly webinars continue through your first year.

Why it stands out: Mathnasium stands out as a fast-growing franchise because it operates in a focused education niche with a repeatable center model and recurring customer relationships. That combination can make expansion more sustainable, especially for a brand that has already shown it can scale across a large footprint.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $113,016 - $150,096
• Franchise fee: $49,000
• Average gross sales: $367,545

Best for: Owners who want an education-focused franchise with an established footprint, a structured operating model, and recurring customer relationships.

​Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee​

The franchise: Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee is a mobile coffee franchise built around route-based service and event sales rather than a traditional storefront. That flexible format has likely helped support rapid expansion and local market entry.

The training: Franchisees attend an initial training program called Tom’s Coffee Academy, held at the corporate office in Florence, Kentucky. The program totals 24 hours of training (14 hours of classroom training plus 10 hours of on-the-job training).

Why it stands out: Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee stands out because it posted the largest growth figure in this group, with 119 units. Its mobile format also reduces dependence on a fixed brick-and-mortar location, making the concept attractive to buyers seeking flexibility and local visibility.

Also, its mobile format gives franchisees a way to enter markets without the cost and constraints of a traditional storefront. That lower-friction model, combined with strong recent unit growth, helps make it one of the clearest momentum plays on this list.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $201,840 - $255,325
• Franchise fee: $15,000
• Average gross sales: Not listed

Best for: Buyers who want a mobile food-and-beverage concept with lower reliance on fixed locations and strong recent expansion momentum.

Zoomin Groomin

The franchise: Zoomin Groomin is a mobile pet-grooming franchise that brings its services directly to customers. Its model is more service-driven and scheduling-based than retail-oriented, which makes the day-to-day operation look different from many consumer franchise concepts.

The training: The brand provides 3 days of training.

Why it stands out: Zoomin Groomin stands out as a fast-growing franchise because its mobile convenience and repeat-service model are translating into real expansion. Although it had 46 locations in 2024, it was added here because the system grew from 11 outlets in 2022 to 46 by 2024, which makes its recent growth more notable than the raw unit count alone suggests.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $64,847 - $205,400
• Franchise fee: $45,000
• Average gross sales: $186,770

Best for: Owners who want a lower-overhead mobile service concept with repeat scheduling potential and a more hands-on operating model.

Questions Worth Asking about the Fastest-Growing Franchises

Fast growth can be exciting, but it is worth slowing down long enough to understand what that growth is actually telling you. A franchise adding units quickly may be riding strong demand, entering underserved markets, or offering a model that feels accessible to new buyers. It can also be growing in ways that look better on paper than they do in practice.

A few questions are worth asking before you get too attached to the growth story:

Is this franchise growing because of real consumer demand, or because it is easy to sell to franchisees?

Not all growth means the same thing. Some concepts expand because customers genuinely want the product or service, and operators are succeeding in multiple markets. Others grow because the buy-in sounds attractive, even if long-term performance is less clear. That distinction matters.

Does the business model still make sense once the early excitement wears off?

Fast-growing franchises often generate buzz, but buzz is not the same thing as operational durability. It helps to ask whether the concept solves an ongoing need, has repeat customer potential, or depends too heavily on novelty, convenience, or short-term momentum.

Can the franchisor support this level of expansion?

A growing brand needs more than demand. It also needs the systems to train owners well, support new openings, and maintain consistency across locations. Rapid expansion can be a positive sign, but it can also put pressure on support infrastructure if the franchisor is scaling faster than its operations can keep pace.

Am I choosing this because it is growing, or because I can actually run it well?

This is one of the most important questions in franchising. A fast-growing concept may still be a poor fit if the day-to-day work does not match your strengths. Some models require B2B sales. Others require scheduling, staffing, customer service, route management, or retail-style operations. Growth does not remove execution risk.

What do current franchisees say about the ramp-up period?

It is easy to focus on unit growth and overlook what happens after opening. Ask current owners how long it took to build traction, what surprised them, and whether the support matched what they were sold. That gives you a better sense of whether the growth is translating into real owner opportunity.

If your answers feel clear, that is a good sign. If they do not, that is useful too. The fastest-growing franchises in 2026 may be worth your attention, but they still need to make sense for your capital, your skills, and the kind of business you actually want to run.

Choose a Franchise You Can Run, Not Just Own

The fastest-growing franchises in 2026 can be attractive because they suggest momentum, demand, and brand expansion. But the best opportunity is not always the one growing the fastest on paper. It is the one where the economics, training, business model, and day-to-day work fit the kind of owner you want to be.

At Franchise.com, we help you compare franchise opportunities with more context. That means looking beyond unit growth and into the details that actually affect ownership, including startup costs, training requirements, operating model, and long-term fit.

If you are exploring the fastest-growing franchises in 2026, start with the numbers, but do not stop there. Reach out and start your search today.

Start your franchise journey today.