Company ranks top business franchise opportunities for 2010

Franchise Business Review, a national franchise market research firm, has announced the winners of its 2010 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards. Though the economy is still at a low, 133 franchise companies inspired strong franchisee satisfaction. The performances of these leading brands are demonstrating a slow but steady approach toward economic recovery because they are doing things right and putting their franchisees first.

“Franchisee satisfaction is the most critical factor for any prospective franchisee to consider before investing in any franchise opportunity,” said Eric Stites, President of Franchise Business Review, in a press release. “Even during challenging economic times, the very best franchise businesses maintain high franchisee satisfaction. This year’s award-winning franchises are in that elite group and represent the very best franchise opportunity investments in the marketplace today.”

This is Franchise Business Review’s fifth consecutive year of conducting this study, researching over 500 of today’s leading franchise brands representing over 100,000 franchisees.

Here were the top 10 franchises in "large," "midsize," and "under 50 units" categories:

Large franchises

1. Heaven's Best (Category: Cleaning & Maintenance). Total investment: $24,900-$60,000.

2. Home Instead Senior Care (Senior Citizen Care). Total investment: $95,000-$105,000.

3. Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates (Real Estate). Total investment: $140,970-$500,550.

4. Weed Man (Services). Total investment: not available.

5. Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership (Retail). Total investment: $163,679-$393,980.

6. Auntie Anne's Pretzels (Food). Total investment: $197,900-$444,100.

7. HouseMaster (Home Services). Total investment: $31,000-$69,000.

8. Computer Troubleshooters (Technology). Total investment: $35,000-$49,000.

9. Proforma (Advertising & Sales). Total investment: not available.

10. American Poolplayers Association (Sports & Recreation). Total investment: not available.

Midsize franchises

1. Paul Mitchell School (Category: Health & Beauty). Total investment: $75,000.

2. Miracle Method Surface Restoration (Home Services). Total investment: $55,000-$75,000.

3. Aire-Master of America (Cleaning & Maintenance). Total investment: not available.

4. Sit Means Sit (Pet Services). Total investment: not available.

5. Palm Beach Tan (Health & Beauty). Total investment: $368,300-$610,500.

6. Synergy HomeCare (Senior Citizen Care). Total investment: $49,240-$99,540.

7. Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning (Cleaning & Maintenance). Total investment: $27,900.

8. ColorGlo (Automotive). Total investment: not available.

9. Linc Network (Services). Total investment: not available.

10. Straw Hat Pizza (Food). Total investment: $129,400-$256,500.

Franchises with under 50 units

1. Precision Concrete Cutting (Category: Services). Total investment: $120,000.

2. TeamLogic IT (Technology). Total investment: $100,000-$120,000.

3. AdvantaClean (Cleaning & Maintenance). Total investment: $62,600-$97,800.

4. Personal Training Institute (Sports & Recreation). Total investment: not available.

5. Truly Nolen of America (Services). Total investment: $3,600-$226,500.

6. Showhomes (Real Estate). Total investment: $122,800-$326,100.

7. Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare (Senior Citizen Care). Total investment: not available.

8. Our Town America (Advertising & Sales). Total investment: $35,000-$50,000.

9. Anago Cleaning Systems (Cleaning & Maintenance). Total investment: $8,500-$120,000.

10. Cybertary (Business Services). Total investment: not available.

About the survey

Franchise Business Review’s survey questions cover everything from training and support, system quality issues, franchisor relationship, financial opportunity to overall satisfaction. Additionally, demographic and lifestyle questions give a 360-degree view of their franchise ownership experience.

“Paying attention to the satisfaction and profitability of the franchisees is of course critical to any franchise system,” Barrie Young says, President of Snap-on Tools. “Collecting and measuring the data regularly, and then sharing the results with the franchisees, helps everybody focus on improvement.”

Franchise Business Review publishes reports throughout the year on the top-rated companies and industry segments within the franchise marketplace. Many of the franchise companies that are researched use Franchise Business Review’s Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI)™ to benchmark their annual performance. Franchise Business Review consults with these franchise systems to assist them in improving their operational and franchisee performance by sharing industry best-practices.

About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. The firm’s services include commissioned franchise research projects, as well as industry-wide studies of franchisee satisfaction. Franchise Business Review is headquartered in Portsmouth, NH and can be reached at 1-603-433-2270.

Visit http://www.FBR50.com for more information.