Franchised businesses account for nearly 50% of all retail sales in the United States.

The International Franchise Association has reported that franchising is responsible for 760,000 businesses, 18 million jobs, 14 percent of the private sector employment, and over $500 billion in payroll!

From January, 2000 to December, 2004 the index that tracks the performance of the top 50 franchisors increased 34.5% compared to a drop of 20.1% in the S&P 500 over the same period.

A 1999 study by The United States Chamber of Commerce found that 86% of franchises opened within the last five years were still under the same ownership and 97% of the were still open for business.

A U.S. Department of Commerce study conducted from 1971 to 1997 showed that during that time less than 5% of franchise businesses were closed each year.

A U.S. Small Business Administration study conducted from 1978 to 1998 found that 62% of non-franchised businesses closed within the first 6 years of their existence due to failure, bankruptcy, etc.

Total sales by franchised businesses are projected to reach over $2 trillion this year.

1 out of every 12 businesses is a franchised business.

A new franchised business is opened every 8 minutes of every business day.

In 2000 the median gross annual income before taxes of franchisees was in the $75,000 to $124,000 range. Over 30% of franchisees earned over $150,000 per year.