THE TOP
FRANCHISE SUPPLIERS OF 2025
Need an accountant, bank, lawyer, marketer, or other forms of support? Here are the suppliers that franchisors trust the most.
by TRACY STAPP HEROLD
If you think the franchise industry consists only of franchisors and franchisees, you’re missing an important third group of contributors—the suppliers. Also known as vendors or service providers, whatever you call them, these companies are just as vital to the industry’s success. They help franchisors and franchisees with everything from the legal services, financing, and real estate services they need to get started to the technology, marketing, and consulting services they need to operate day to day and keep growing into the future.
To help franchisors and franchisees discover some of the best companies to work with, we’ve put together our annual ranking of the top franchise suppliers—an ever-expanding list that this year recognizes 181 service providers across 13 categories.
Who decides who makes it on the list? Franchisors themselves! We surveyed more than 1,100 franchise brands, from emerging franchisors to companies that have been in the business for decades, to get their opinions on the suppliers they and their franchisees have worked with. They rated their satisfaction with each supplier on the quality, cost, and value of their products and services. Then each supplier was scored based on the survey results, and the top-scoring companies were ranked within their respective categories.
This list offers a great starting point for franchisors and franchisees looking for reputable suppliers to work with, but it should not be taken as an endorsement of any particular company. Always make sure you do your own homework to find the supplier that will best fit the needs of your business. You can learn more about these and other suppliers in our online directory at entrepreneur.com/franchise/ directory/suppliers-directory. LIST STARTS ON PAGE 56
Meet you there.
Where a bigger vision meets bigger capital.
Phil Bevis is the owner of Arundel, a beloved Seattle bookstore that’s been part of the community for 41 years. Now also an art gallery and indie publisher, Arundel is a local legend. When it came time to grow, a Square Loan helped Phil expand the publishing arm— opening a new chapter for a bookstore that’s always been about more than books.¹
¹All loans are issued by Square Financial Services, Inc. Actual fee depends upon payment card processing history, loan amount and other eligibility factors. A minimum payment of 1/18th of the initial loan balance is required every 60 days and full loan repayment is required within 18 months. Loan eligibility is not guaranteed. All loans are subject to credit approval. By doing so, we are at least calling out key minimum information about the product, such as around repayments, offer eligibility, and approvals.
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Top Suppliers
ACCOUNTING
FRANCHISORS ARE REQUIRED TO supply audited financial statements annually as part of their Franchise Disclosure Documents, so a good accounting firm is essential. You’ll find all the “Big Four” firms on our list, but smaller firms with franchise expertise are just as popular with franchisors.
Kezos & Dunlavy
“Working with Kezos & Dunlavy was a pleasure. They were precise, organized, and unflinchingly calm, even when we weren’t. At every critical juncture, they were ahead of us, not behind us. We’ll absolutely be using them again. They made one of the most painful annual obligations—the franchisor audit—feel almost civilized.”
–MARK VAN WYE, CEO, Zoom Room
BANKING
THIS YEAR, WE’VE SPLIT our previous Banking/Financing category into two separate categories. In this category, we recognize more traditional banks, which remain essential for both franchisors and franchisees not just for loans, but also for deposits, checking, payment processing, and other financial services.
1 Chase for Business
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Chase for Business
“In an industry dominated by large, impersonal institutions, Chase for Business makes it feel personal, like working with a local team that’s genuinely invested in our success.Their support has been instrumental in helping us scale from a single studio into a national franchise brand.They understand the unique challenges of franchising and offer solutions that actually move the needle.”
—COURTNEY YEAGER, founder and CEO, The Tox
FINANCING
MOST FRANCHISEES WILL NEED ACCESS to financing to start or expand their business, and banks aren’t the only source available. These financing solution providers advise and assist franchisees on a variety of options, including Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, 401(k) rollovers, unsecured loans, and more.
“What sets FranFund apart is not just their ability to secure financing, but the education and personalized support they provide through the process. They take the time to walk each candidate through all available options—both within FranFund and with external partners—to ensure they’re making the best financial decision. They genuinely care about helping people succeed.”
—DAVID DENKER, president and chief growth officer, Cookie Plug
FRANCHISE BROKER/ REFERRAL NETWORKS
FRANCHISE BROKERS, also known as franchise consultants, coaches, or advisors, help match prospective franchisees with the best brands for their business and lifestyle goals. Their services are typically free to the franchisee, with payment made instead by the franchisors whose systems they help to grow.
“IFPG consistently sends us top-quality leads. We look forward to many years of working with them and would certainly recommend them to any emerging brand looking to grow.”
—BRIAN BRINEGAR, director of franchise operations, Best Option Restoration
FRANCHISE CONSULTING/ DEVELOPMENT
EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS through franchising can be a daunting undertaking, but also a rewarding one. Here to assist are a number of franchise consulting and development companies that help businesses begin the franchising journey and help those already established to improve their operations.
“Franchising seemed overwhelming, until iFranchise Group made the process feel not only manageable, but exciting. What stood out most was the consistent communication and the way they genuinely cared about our success. We never felt like just another client. They didn’t just help us build a franchise model—they helped us build confidence in the process.”
—ILANA RACHELE KENNEDY, founder and CEO, B12 Rx & More
FRANCHISE CONSULTING/DEVELOPMENT
FRANCHISE EVENTS
FRANCHISE EVENTS OFFER the chance for franchisors, franchisees, and those curious about franchising to gather, network, and share best practices. There are events all across the country, including general industry events, trade shows, events for specific groups such as emerging franchisors or multi-unit franchisees, and more.
IFA Convention
“Attending the IFA Convention is like plugging into the power source of the franchise world.The energy, collaboration, and insight we gain from peers, partners, and thought leaders is unmatched. It’s not just an event—it’s where strategies are sparked, relationships are built, and the future of franchising takes shape.”
—LARISA WALEGA, chief growth officer, Ziebart
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UPCOMING EVENTS 2025
IFA ADVOCACY SUMMIT
Sept. 15-17, 2025 | Washington, DC
FRANCHISE LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
October 7-9, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
2026
IFA ANNUAL CONVENTION
February 23-26, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV
MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISING CONFERENCE
March 24-27, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV
INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE SHOW - LONDON
April 17-18, 2026 | London, England
LEGAL SYMPOSIUM
May 17-19, 2026 | Washington, DC
EMERGING FRANCHISOR CONFERENCE
November 10-12, 2025 | Nashville, TN
IBA/IFA JOINT CONFERENCE
May 19-20, 2026 | Washington, DC
FRANCHISE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE
June 2-4, 2026 | Atlanta, GA
THE IFA WORLD FRANCHISE SHOW
Sept. 25-26, 2026 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL Partnership event with Fortem International
FRANCHISE EVENTS
Top Suppliers
LEGAL SERVICES
THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST and most competitive categories on our list, as there are multiple law firms that specialize in franchise-related matters. That’s great news for both franchisors and franchisees, since an attorney who understands the unique rules and regulations of the industry is indispensable.
Internicola Law Firm
“Working with Internicola has been a game changer for our franchise growth. Their team doesn’t just provide legal documents—they help you think strategically about how to protect your brand while scaling it. They understand the mindset of modern franchisors, are incredibly responsive, and make what can be an overwhelming process feel clear and empowering.”
—FINN LOFTUS, cofounder and president, Goodness Bowls
MARKETING AGENCIES
that we have split up this year—into Marketing Agencies and
Services. The Agencies category includes full-service firms that help
execution. They didn’t just deliver campaigns—they delivered results. From compelling messaging about our franchise opportunity to targeted digital strategies, every initiative was aligned with our growth objectives. They’re proactive, responsive, and genuinely invested in our success.”
—MELISSA DAVIS, vice president of franchising, Express Employment Professionals
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MARKETING AGENCIES
Service descriptions come from respective
MARKETING PRODUCTS/SERVICES
THE COMPANIES IN OUR SECOND new marketing category offer a variety of tools, products, and services to aid franchisors and franchisees in their marketing efforts, including marketing platforms, social media tools, video production services, reputation management solutions, and more.
1 SOCi
Centralized digital marketing platform for multi-location brands
2 WebPunch
Customer and employee experience platform
3 Eulerity
AI-driven omni-channel marketing
4 FranchiseFilming
Promotional video production services, training videos, marketing
5 Consumer Fusion
Reputation management solution specializing in removing fake reviews
6 Netsertive Digital marketing technology for multi-location businesses
7 Rallio SaaS platform combining social media technology, artificial intelligence, and employee advocacy
8 Qiigo Digital marketing for multi-location brands
9 Emma by Marigold Relationship marketing solution
Top Suppliers
MERCHANT SERVICES
PAYMENT PROCESSING AND RELATED SERVICES are essential to the smooth operation of every modern business, and franchisors often prefer—or even require—their franchisees to use the same trusted vendor for these services. These are the providers that franchisors who voted in our survey trust and recommend the most.
1 Toast
Cloud-based restaurant point-of-sale and management system
2 Square
4 Intuit Quickbooks
3 Stripe
Toast
“With Toast, ‘easy’ is an understatement. Franchisees and their teams love how intuitive the ordering screens are, making every transaction smooth and training new staff remarkably simple. Plus, with outstanding back-end customer service always there, you’re set for genuinely effortless business operations in-store.”
—SUSAN TAYLOR, president and CEO, Juice It Up!
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRMS MUST understand the unique needs of franchisors in order to successfully serve them. The best firms need to provide support on at least two fronts: Building awareness of products and services and driving lead generation. These are our survey-takers’ favorite PR champions in another highly competitive category.
Fishman PR
“Fishman PR has been an incredible partner in elevating our brand over the past several years. From securing top-tier franchise development placements, including a proud moment in Forbes for our founder, to driving consistent local buzz through media coverage, TV segments, and influencer features, their team has helped us tell our story in all the right places.”
—BRITTANY GRAFF, co-CEO, Painting with a Twist
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Top Suppliers
REAL ESTATE
FOR FRANCHISE BUSINESSES that require retail, office, or warehouse space, finding the right location—at the right price—can make a huge difference to their success. Franchisors work with and recommend these companies to their franchisees to help them find the perfect place to plant their flag.
Morrow Hill
“Morrow Hill consistently delivers—because they not only grasp our real estate criteria, but proactively anticipate our franchisees’ needs. Their expertise, responsiveness, and deep franchising experience make them invaluable. We recommend them to any franchisor serious about strategic expansion.”
—JOSH PATRICK, senior vice president of franchise development, KidStrong
Top Suppliers
TECHNOLOGY
THERE ARE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS to help franchisees and franchisors run their businesses more efficiently in almost every area, including hiring, customer service, scheduling, business management, analytics, sales, and more. These are the tools franchisors find most useful.
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HubSpot
“We implemented HubSpot as our primary CRM and CMS four years ago, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The intuitive interface allows our team to easily track franchise leads through every stage of the franchise sales funnel, the automation features have saved us countless hours, and the customization options have enabled us to tailor the platform to our unique franchise process.”
—DUSTIN THOMPSON, director of development and marketing, Jack in the Box and Del Taco
