2009 franchise 500 top 10

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2009 Franchise 500 Top 10Read up on this years franchise power players.

Franchise 500 Top 10

After dedicating the past several months to painstakingly calling, e-mailing, researchingand analyzing hundreds of franchise companies--not to mention the three decades wevespent perfecting out ranking procedure and top-secret formula--were proud to presentEntrepreneurs 30th Annual Franchise 500, the worlds first, best and most comprehensivefranchise ranking.

Illustration Alan Kitching/debutart.com

#1: Subway

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#3: Liberty Tax Service

In 1997, after selling Jackson Hewitt Inc.--the tax-preparation service company he founded15 years earlier--John Hewitt acquired a Canadian tax franchisor and established LibertyTax Service. A year later, Hewitt expanded into the U.S. with five offices; at the close of2008, the number of U.S.-based Liberty Tax Service franchises had grown to nearly 2,500.

Number of franchises: 2,579Franchising since: 1973Startup costs: $53,800 to $66,9002008 rank: #23

Franchise details

#4: Sonic Drive-In
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/libertytaxservice/282901-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/libertytaxservice/282901-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/libertytaxservice/282901-0.html

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In 1953, Troy Smith purchased Top Hat, a root beer stand in Shawnee, Oklahoma, wherecustomers would park, buy food and eat in their cars. He expanded that concept into arestaurant with partner Charles Pappe, introducing the Sonic name in 1959. Today, the $3billion company operates more than 3,000 drive-ins in the U.S. and Mexico.

Number of franchises: 2,678Franchising since: 1959Startup costs: $1.2 million to 3.2 million2008 rank: #6

Franchise details

#5: InterContinental Hotels Group

In 1988, U.K.-based Bass Brewers (founded by William Bass in 1777) moved into thehospitality industry with the purchase of Holiday Inns International. The company focusedon expanding its hotel properties and finally sold the brewery business off in 2000. TheInterContinental Hotels Group now owns seven brands and operates more than 4,000 hotelsspanning nearly 100 countries.

Number of franchises: 3,498Franchising since: 1954Startup costs: Varies

2008 rank: #8

Franchise details
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/sonicdriveinrestaurants/282811-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/sonicdriveinrestaurants/282811-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/intercontinentalhotelsgroup/282428-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/intercontinentalhotelsgroup/282428-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/intercontinentalhotelsgroup/282428-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/sonicdriveinrestaurants/282811-0.html

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#6: Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware began in 1924, when Richard Hesse banded together with other Chicago-area hardware retailers to increase their collective buying power and profits. The companywas incorporated in 1928, and 80 years later has evolved into one of the largest hardwarecooperatives in the world, with more than 4,600 stores in seven countries.

Number of franchises: 4,693Franchising since: 1976Startup costs: $243,500 to $1 million2008 rank: #12

Franchise details

#7: Pizza Hut
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/acehardwarecorp/324961-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/acehardwarecorp/324961-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/acehardwarecorp/324961-0.html

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While college students in Wichita, Kansas, Frank and Dan Carney were inspired to open apizza parlor. So the brothers borrowed $600 from their mother and opened the first PizzaHut in 1958. Now there are approximately 6,200 locations in the U.S. and more than 4,000restaurants in 100 countries.

Number of franchises: 10,239Franchising since: 1959Startup costs: $638,000 to 2.97 million2008 rank: #4

Franchise details

#8: The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc.

Herb Goffstein and Pat and Mimi Senn founded Mail Boxes Etc. as an alternative to theU.S. Postal Service in 1980, and opened their first store in Carlsbad, California. In 2001,Mail Boxes Etc. became a subsidiary of The UPS Store and now runs a network of almost6,000 franchises located in the U.S. and more than 40 other countries.


Franchise details
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/pizzahut/282696-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/pizzahut/282696-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/upsstorethemailboxesetc/282553-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/upsstorethemailboxesetc/282553-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/upsstorethemailboxesetc/282553-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/pizzahut/282696-0.html

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#9: Circle K

Circle Ks roots go back to 1951, when Fred Hervey purchased three Kays Food Stores inEl Paso, Texas. Hervey expanded the retail network over the next few decades and enteredthe international market in 1979. A franchise program was introduced in 1999, and nowmore than 6,000 Circle K sites operate around the world.

Number of franchises: 4,085Franchising since: 1995Startup costs: $161,000 to $1.4 million2008 rank: #17

Franchise details

#10: Papa Johns
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/circlek/329152-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/circlek/329152-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/circlek/329152-0.html

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In 1984, John Schnatter knocked out a broom closet in the back of his fathers tavern andbegan selling his pizzas to the taverns customers. Due to their popularity, he was able toexpand into an adjoining space and open the first Papa Johns restaurant in 1985. Today,there are more than 3,000 Papa Johns restaurants worldwide.


Franchise details
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/papajohnsintlinc/282662-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/papajohnsintlinc/282662-0.htmlhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/papajohnsintlinc/282662-0.html

2009 franchise 500 top 10

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