If you’re exploring franchise ownership, one of the first things you’ll likely ask is how profitable a franchise really is—and that’s a great place to start. Profitability isn’t the only factor, but it’s one of the most important when evaluating where to invest your time and capital.
If you’re wondering what the most profitable franchises to own are, we’ve curated a focused list across three of the top-earning sectors: food and beverage, health and fitness, and home and commercial services.
These industries have strong margins, market demand, and proven franchise models that create serious potential for long-term success.
Most Profitable Franchises to Own
Food & Beverage
The food and beverage sector—whether fast-food, fast-casual, or dine-in—offers many profitable opportunities thanks to high customer frequency, strong brand loyalty, scalable operations, and robust franchisor support. However, these businesses often involve greater operational complexity and higher labor costs compared to other franchise models.
| Profitable Food & Beverage Franchises Compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise | Average Annual Revenue | Key Strengths | Challenges |
| McDonald’s | $3M | Iconic brand, proven model, massive customer base | High startup costs, labor-heavy operations |
| Culver’s | $3.487M | Loyal customer base, high unit revenue, fast-casual appeal | Slower expansion outside core regions |
| Chick-fil-A | $9M+ | Exceptional customer loyalty, highest per-unit revenue | Franchise ownership is highly selective and limited |
McDonald’s
Everyone knows the golden arches. As one of the most recognizable brands in the world, McDonald’s offers unmatched visibility, customer traffic, and proven operational systems. That brand power directly translates into serious profitability for franchisees.
In 2024, the average U.S. McDonald’s franchise generates $3.65 million in annual sales, with top-quartile locations reaching $824,000 in pre-occupancy profit. After accounting for typical occupancy costs (≈10% of sales) and a 4% royalty fee, the average EBITDA margin settles at around 12%—roughly $348,000 per location. For investors seeking reliable, high-volume returns, McDonald’s continues to outperform most quick-service restaurant (QSR) competitors.
Culver’s
Known for its Midwest hospitality, Culver’s has quietly become a powerhouse in the fast-casual space, earning it a loyal customer base. That loyalty shows up in the numbers: With average franchise sales of $3.75M and company-operated locations showing net margins near 12% (~$450,000 EBIDTA), Culver’s offers one of the most compelling returns in QSRs. High-performing units that exceed $4.5M in sales can reach breakeven in as little as seven years, while typical franchises may often see a 10-year payback on a $4.5M build.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is one of the most beloved fast-food brands in America. It consistently ranks at the top for customer satisfaction and loyalty. This deep affinity translates directly into performance, with locations averaging over $9.23M in annual sales, with nearly half of all locations surpassing that benchmark, and a typical restaurant-level EBITDA margin of around 15%.
Chick-fil-A’s royalty structure, with 15% of gross receipts and 50% of net profits, suggests that operators take home a substantial share, particularly when performance exceeds expectations, which is common.
Health & Fitness
The health and fitness industry remains one of the most profitable franchise sectors, driven by recurring membership revenue, strong customer retention, and growing consumer interest in wellness. However, these opportunities often come with higher startup costs and increased competition in more saturated markets.
| Profitable Health & Fitness Franchises Compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise | Average Annual Revenue | Key Strengths | Challenges |
| The Joint Chiropractic | $561K | Walk-in model, recurring memberships, simple operations | Smaller revenue base, potential need for healthcare oversight |
| Fyzical | $956K | Rapid growth, diverse services, high patient demand | Requires licensed staff, more complex clinical operations |
| Planet Fitness | $1.7M | Strong brand, recurring revenue, high member retention | High initial investment, potentially saturated markets in urban areas |
The Joint Chiropractic
The Joint Chiropractic has emerged as a leader in the retail healthcare space because of its accessible, walk-in chiropractic care and membership-based model. Its streamlined approach requires minimum staging and lower overhead than many traditional medical practices.
Its efficiency supports strong profitability with sales averaging $624,600 and an average EBITDA of 21.8% (~$136,500). Franchises can expect a payback period of only 2.5 years on a typical initial investment of $346,000, faster than many outpatient healthcare concepts, which often take 4–5 years.
Fyzical
Fyzical is a rapidly growing healthcare franchise blending physical therapy, balance therapy, and wellness services to meet the growing demand for outpatient care. Its differentiated model and strong medical referral network have made it one of the fastest-growing franchises.
With an average franchise revenue of $604,438 and “mature” clinics averaging $788,254, we can apply a conservative 12% EBITDA margin and see that franchises can reasonably expect $72,000–$95,000 in annual EBITDA, depending on clinic maturity.†
A mid-range investment of ~$300,000 suggests a 2–5 year payback period, which is strong for the healthcare sector.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness is one of the most recognizable brands in the fitness industry. Driven by its affordable pricing, accessible “judgment-free” culture, and nationwide presence, it delivers consistent foot traffic and strong member retention.
This translates to exceptional unit economics, with franchises averaging $1.7M in annual value with an outstanding 41% EBITDA margin.
Home & Commercial Services
The home and commercial services sector offers recession-resistant demand, lean staffing needs, and lower overhead compared to many other industries. These businesses can often be launched on a small scale and expanded over time, making them a highly profitable option for growth-minded franchisees.
| Profitable Home & Commercial Services Franchises Compared | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise | Average Annual Revenue | Key Strengths | Challenges |
| All Dry Services | $376K | Year-round demand, essential services, high-margin emergency work | Requires quick response, emotionally intense work |
| JAN-PRO | $140K | Low overhead, recurring revenue, fast breakeven potential | Lower gross revenue, limited scalability without a team |
| SERVPRO | $1.5M | Well-known brand, insurance-driven demand, recession-resistant industry | 24/7 operational demands, more complex business model |
All Dry Services
All Dry Services operates in the essential and recession-resilient restoration industry. It responds rapidly to water, mold, and fire damage with year-round demand and no seasonal slowdowns.
With an average franchise revenue of $479,000 and using a conservative 15% industry average EBITDA margin, we can see that franchises can expect around ~$72,000 in annual EBITDA, yielding a 2.9-year payback on a mid-range investment of $208,000.†
Even at lower performance tiers ($180,000 in revenue), profitability remains possible, though this stretches the payback windows to around 7–8 years.
JAN-PRO
JAN-PRO is a leading commercial cleaning franchise known for low startup costs, flexible ownership models, and guaranteed client accounts. Its home-based model also keeps overhead low while delivering steady, recurring revenue.
This is exemplified by an AUV of $140K, making JAN-PRO stand out for low overhead profitability. Owner-operators often achieve 40–60% net profit margins and reach breakeven within 1–2 years.
SERVPRO
A dominant name in the restoration industry, SERVPRO is backed by decades of experience and robust brand recognition due to its consistent national advertising efforts and presents franchisees with a seven-figure revenue potential at a startup cost that’s only 30–40% of the capital required for traditional property repair franchises.
External benchmarking suggests median franchise sales at $1.69M. Applying a conservative, industry-standard EBITDA margin of 12%, this equates to ~$203,000 annual EBITDA on a mid-range investment, with a payback window of just 1.2–1.9 years.†
SERVPRO also has robust operation systems and corporate partnerships that offer franchisees the tools and visibility to build a high-performing, recession-resistant business. However, it can often require 24/7 responsiveness.
Why Profitability Matters–But Isn’t the Only Important Factor
While profitability is one of the most important and immediately visible metrics when evaluating a franchise, it’s not the only factor that matters. Long-term success also depends on how well the franchise aligns with your goals, strengths, and local market demand. Even a highly profitable franchise can become challenging if it’s not the right fit for you.
Key factors to consider in addition to profitability include:
- Personal Fit: Does the franchise align with your goals, skills, and lifestyle?
- Market Demand: Is there a strong local demand for the product or service?
- Franchisor Support: Are the training, marketing, and operational resources robust and reliable?
- Competition: Is the brand positioned to succeed in your region versus other players?
- Scalability: Can you grow with the brand through multi-ownership or expanded service lines?
- Sustainability: Is the franchise built to adapt to changing consumer preferences, regulations, and environmental expectations that could affect long-term growth?
To help find the best fit, franchisees turn to Franchise Ventures for our data-driven matchmaking process that connects franchisees with ideal franchises.
Choose Franchise Ventures
Profit and ROI are at the core of successful franchise ownership, and knowing the most profitable franchises to own is a smart first step. But even the most lucrative opportunity can have hiccups if it’s not the right fit. That’s where expert guidance makes all the difference.
For over 25 years, Franchise Ventures has helped thousands of aspiring franchisees go beyond the list and find the opportunity that truly fits.
Our personalized matching process doesn’t just save you time—it narrows the field to franchises that align with your experience, investment level, goals, and geographic preferences. No wasted pitches. No misaligned offers.
We don’t just send you franchises—we connect you with the right ones. So you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and a plan built for long-term success.
Skip the guesswork. With access to hundreds of vetted brands and over 25+ years of helping entrepreneurs find the right fit, Franchise Ventures is the most efficient way to turn interest into ownership.
Reach out and start your search today.
†Estimated EBITDA calculations are based on conservative industry-standard margins (e.g., 12–15%) applied to average or benchmarked revenue figures when profit data has not been disclosed.
EBITDA = Average Revenue × Estimated EBITDA Margin
E.G., $1,690,000 × 0.12 = $202,800 (EBITDA)
