Franchise Top Suppliers 2024 by EntMedia

CHECK OUT THE TOP FRANCHISE SUPPLIERS IN

• Accounting

• Finance

• Public Relations

• Consulting

• Marketing

• Merchant Services

• Technology

• Brokers

• Real Estate

• Events

THE FRANCHISE INDUSTRY’S TOP SUPPLIERS

Looking

for the right supplier to help your franchise?

are the industry’s favorite banks, accountants, PR agencies, and more—picked by the 1,100 franchises that love them!

by TRACY STAPP HEROLD

When you think of the franchise industry, you probably think of two groups: franchisors and franchisees. But there’s a third group that’s just as important—the franchise suppliers. These are the service providers that help make it possible for franchisors and franchisees to succeed and thrive, by o ering funding solutions, consulting, education, marketing, technolo gy, and more.

There are a lot of them! So how do franchisors and franchisees decide which suppliers to work with? To help with that, we present our seventh annual ranking of the top franchise suppliers. This year’s list honors 162 top service providers across 11 categories.

To create this list, we conducted our annual survey of franchisors. We received responses from more than 1,100 brands

this year, from newly emerging franchisors to those that have been at it for decades. These brands told us which suppliers they and their franchisees work with, and rated their satisfaction with those suppliers in the areas of quality, cost, and value. Each supplier was scored based on the survey results, and the top-scoring suppliers are ranked within their respective categories.

For franchisors and franchisees wondering which suppliers to work with, this list can be a helpful jumping-o point, but it is not intended as a recommendation of any particular company. To nd the suppliers that will best serve the needs of your unique business, it’s always important to do your own research. To learn more about these and other suppliers, check out our online directory at entrepreneur.com/franchises/ directory/suppliers-directory.

ACCOUNTING

A GOOD ACCOUNTING FIRM is essential for franchisors, which are required to include audited nancial statements in their Franchise Disclosure Documents annually. On our list, you’ll nd rms of all sizes, from the “Big Four” to smaller ones focused on the franchise industry.

BDO USA

“BDO’s proactive approach and personalized service have significantly streamlined our financial processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Their ability to provide insightful, strategic advice has not only helped us optimize our financial performance, but also supported our growth and expansion eorts.” —JACQUELINE BOERS, VP controller, Sculpture Hospitality

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Farris Chief Development Ofﬁcer

BANKING/ FINANCING

MOST FRANCHISEES will need nancing in order to successfully launch and grow their businesses, so franchisors are wise to form relationships with trusted banks and other funding providers to which they can recommend their owners for assistance.

401(k) rollover funding, SBA loans, and equipment leasing

401(k) business ﬁnancing, SBA loans, unsecured business loans, business valuations and appraisals, payroll, bookkeeping, and taxes

FranFund

“FranFund is our go-to resource for franchisee ﬁnancing. They are professional, prompt, diligent, and creative. FranFund has a tremendous track record of securing ﬁnancing for our franchisees, and I highly recommend them to any franchisor.”

—JORDAN MEINSTER, CEO, Pickup USA

FRANCHISE BROKER/ REFERRAL NETWORKS

FRANCHISE BROKERS (sometimes called franchise consultants or franchise coaches) are like industry matchmakers: They help franchisors nd new prospects, and help prospective franchisees nd the opportunity that best matches their needs and skills.

1 IFPG Membership-based

3 BAI Business Alliance Inc.

2 Franchise Brokers Association Franchise broker training and membership organization

4 FranServe Consulting

“Our experience working with IFPG has been nothing short of exceptional. Their network is unparalleled, providing us with qualiﬁed, well-prepared candidates who align perfectly with our vision and values. Their ability to foster meaningful relationships and deliver outstanding results truly sets them apart.”

—KELLI KLINE, senior franchise development director, Bishops Cuts/ Color

5 FranNet

7 FranChoice

6 Franchise Sidekick

9 The You Network

8 FCC, The Franchise Consulting Company

10 The Perfect

IFA Convention

“Within franchising, no event shines brighter than the IFA Convention. It’s an annual celebration gathering the industry leaders together to help foster community and camaraderie. This allows for conference-goers to tap into the collective wisdom of the franchise ecosystem assembled each year.” —Kristopher Stuart, cofounder and COO, Bloomin’ Blinds

FRANCHISE LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

October 16-18 | Atlanta, GA

Partnership event with Franchise Update Media

IFA Annual Convention

February 10-13 | Las Vegas, NV

International Franchise Show London

April 11-12 | London, England

Partnership event with MFV NSE

Legal Symposium

May 4-6 | Washington, DC

IBA/IFA Joint Conference

May 6-7 | Washington, DC

THE IFA WORLD FRANCHISE SHOW

May 9-10 | Miami, FL

Partnership event with Fortem International

EMERGING FRANCHISOR CONFERENCE

November 18-20 | Austin, TX

Events

Franchise Customer Experience Conference

June 24-26 | Atlanta, GA

Partnership event with Franchise Update Media

IFA ADVOCACY SUMMIT

September 15-17 | Washington, DC FRANCHISE LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

October 7-9 | Atlanta, GA

Partnership event with Franchise Update Media

EMERGING FRANCHISOR CONFERENCE

November 10-12 | Nashville, TN

Top Suppliers

FRANCHISE EVENTS

LEGAL SERVICES

a complicated industry with its own set of rules and regulations, so having an attorney who

“With FisherZucker, I don’t just get legal advice, but also business and life advice from people who really care about my success long term. I get more out of them in five minutes than I do with other firms in five hours. They are truly passionate about their clients and franchising.”

In Philly, ranking #1 is just what we do.

Fisher Zucker is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Top Franchise Supplier by Entrepreneur. Serving the franchise industry since 1996, our team has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, drafting FPRs, trademark matters, negotiating and documenting transactions, litigation and pre-litigation counseling

MARKETING

FRANCHISES MUST market to both prospective customers and prospective franchisees, and balance the consistency of national campaigns with personalization at the local level. A wide variety of marketing agencies, platforms, and solutions are available to help.

Reshift Media Inc.

“Reshift Media stands out because they understand the unique needs of the franchise industry. They don’t just oer cookiecutter solutions; they take the time to understand our speciﬁc goals and develop a customized strategy that empowers both franchisors and franchisees.”

—MARIA PIA BRITO, marketing manager, PropertyGuys.com

MERCHANT SERVICES

RELIABLE MERCHANT SERVICES , or payment processing services, are vital for franchises and businesses in every industry. Franchisors often recommend, or even require, speci c merchant service providers for their franchisees’ businesses to use.

Swipesum

“Swipesum has played a very important role in our brand, from our corporate location to our franchisees. The process of making payments is very simple, and the feedback from franchisees and their client satisfaction is top-notch.” —CHARLES THURSTON, COO, Wisdom Senior Care

MERCHANT SERVICES

OTHER TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

an indispensable tool, both at the corporate level and in individual franchise locations.

“In the crowded ﬁeld of automated marketing and CRMs, ClientTether’s platform stands out with its architecture speciﬁcally designed for franchising. Collaborating with them to build our integration has felt like a boutique experience, marked by personalized attention, detailed implementation, and rich conversations to ensure our success.”—TODD LAMSON, director of franchise operations, The Junkluggers

PUBLIC RELATIONS

TO SUCCESSFULLY SERVE the franchise industry, public relations agencies need a keen understanding of the franchise model and must know how to increase awareness—not only of the brand’s product or service o erings, but of their franchise opportunities as well.

Fishman PR

“Fishman PR not only does a great job at securing coverage for the Dogtopia brand, but they also work hard to secure opportunities for our franchisees in their local markets. It’s great to work alongside a partner who really knows our business and takes the time to get to know our network so they can secure beneﬁcial coverage on a regular basis.”—TONI TEPLITSKY, senior director of marketing, Dogtopia

Top Suppliers

REAL ESTATE

GETTING THE RIGHT LOCATION at the right price can be a critical step in the startup process for franchise businesses that require retail, o ce, or warehouse space. These are the companies that franchisors trust most to get their franchisees o on the right foot.

LocateAI

“I like that LocateAI is committed to franchising and focused on supporting our franchisees through the entire process of a commercial real estate search and lease negotiation. I love their software and how they can help ﬁnd the best locations based on many factors.”

—DAN COLLINS, senior vice president of franchise development, Stretch Zone