Top Innovative Franchises

View the full guide to the Top Innovative Franchises in interactive format here:

A Look at the Brands Shaking Up the Franchise World

When you think of innovative companies, giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon probably spring to mind. You might think of disrupters like Uber, Blue Apron, Tesla, and AirBNB. Or maybe even some obscure companies like TaskRabbit, Alibaba, Slack, or Riot Games. These are the innovators of our time. All of them are pushing the envelope in their respective industries.

Not many of you probably had Kona Ice on your list. This lesser-known, flavored ice company from Florence, Kentucky is quietly shaking up the franchise world. Led by founder, CEO, and “Chief Innovator” Tony Lamb, the Kona Ice team has built one of the fastest growing franchise companies in all of franchising. And they built it on a foundation of innovation.

“Kona Ice has always been on the forefront of innovation,” said Lamb. “In fact, our very brand was born out of a need for innovation in the ice cream truck industry.”

Kona’s innovative roots helped land the company in the #1 spot on this year’s first annual innovation ranking. Kona’s huge strides in innovative products, marketing, operations, and culture have propelled the company to nearly 1,000 Kona Ice trucks on the road in under 10 years of franchising — while raising over $42 million for local charities in the process.

What You Need to Know to Succeed as a Franchisee

Whether you are new to franchising or in one system and ready to expand into another brand, our Top Innovative franchises report above is an ideal jumping off point for your franchising research.

The List: Top 50 Innovative Franchises of 2017

Look for these icons: Brand's franchisee satisfaction report offers insight into its leadership, financial opportunity and much more. Franchisee Q&A sheds light on the franchise lifestyle and experience.

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Logo	Zor	minInvestment – maxInvestment	reqLiquidCapital	Total Units
	ActionCOACH	Startup Investment $61,250 - $108,441	Cash Requirement $40,000	Total Units 240
	Amada Senior Care	Startup Investment $92,210 - $171,654	Cash Requirement $90,000	Total Units 75
	APEX Fun Run	Startup Investment $65,500 - $98,200	Cash Requirement $20,000	Total Units 80
	Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate	Startup Investment $65,170 - $540,000	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 293
	Budget Blinds	Startup Investment $99,240 - $202,070	Cash Requirement $59,950	Total Units 1,077
	Captain D's	Startup Investment $771,000 - $1,003,000	Cash Requirement $350,000	Total Units 844
	CertaPro Painters	Startup Investment $134,750 - $169,500	Cash Requirement $85,000	Total Units 479
	Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative	Startup Investment $10,495 - $22,667	Cash Requirement $10,495	Total Units 2,433
	CruiseOne/ Dream Vacations	Startup Investment $3,245 - $21,850	Cash Requirement $3,500	Total Units 1,093
	Expedia CruiseShipCenters	Startup Investment $150,000 - $250,000	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 225
	FASTSIGNS	Startup Investment $182,329 - $267,520	Cash Requirement $80,000	Total Units 673
	Fazoli's Restaurants	Startup Investment $883,000 - $1,399,000	Cash Requirement $250,000	Total Units 334
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	Fibrenew	Startup Investment $75,000 - $101,800	Cash Requirement $20,000 - $100,000	Total Units 250
	Home Care Assistance	Startup Investment $199,000 - $223,950	Cash Requirement $125,000	Total Units 153
	Home Instead Senior Care	Startup Investment $115,000 - $125,000	Cash Requirement $55,000	Total Units 1,017
	HouseMaster	Startup Investment $61,100 - $106,500	Cash Requirement $42,500	Total Units 309
	ILOVE KICKBOXING.COM	Startup Investment $206,500 - $301,500	Cash Requirement $50,000	Total Units 211
	JumpBunch	Startup Investment $45,800 - $59,300	Cash Requirement $15,000	Total Units 58
	Just Between Friends	Startup Investment $32,774 - $45,449	Cash Requirement $45,000	Total Units 159
	Keller Williams	Startup Investment $183,947 - $336,995	Cash Requirement $183,947	Total Units 730
	Kona Ice	Startup Investment $120,225 - $143,025	Cash Requirement $20,000	Total Units 908
	MaidPro	Startup Investment $74,560 - $204,450	Cash Requirement 75,000	Total Units 230
	Miracle Method Surface Refinishing	Startup Investment $75,000 - $138,000	Cash Requirement $55,000 - $120,000	Total Units 138
	Office Pride Commericial Cleaning Services	Startup Investment $59,500 - $107,200	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 134
	Orangetheory Fitness	Startup Investment $327,600 - $ 634,100	Cash Requirement $150,000	Total Units 722
	Our Town America	Startup Investment $63,300 - $86,250	Cash Requirement $70,000	Total Units 62
	Palm Beach Tan	Startup Investment $503,070 - $811,140	Cash Requirement $250,000	Total Units 438
	Pinch A Penny	Startup Investment $230,000 - $300,000	Cash Requirement $230,000 - $300,000	Total Units 238
	Pinot's Palette	Startup Investment $63,400 - $204,200	Cash Requirement $80,000	Total Units 188
	PIP Printing & Document Services	Startup Investment $275,000 - $350,000	Cash Requirement $275,000 - $350,000	Total Units 83
	PortraitEFX	Startup Investment $9,995 - $25,000	Cash Requirement $9,995 - $25,000	Total Units 55
	Proforma	Startup Investment $4,730 - $50,195	Cash Requirement $29,500	Total Units 700
	PropertyGuys.com	Startup Investment $45,000 - $90,000	Cash Requirement $55,000	Total Units 117
	Rhea Lana's	Startup Investment $19,050 - $38,950	Cash Requirement $10,000 - $13,500	Total Units 90
	Sandler Training	Startup Investment $88,150 - $105,750	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 263
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	Showhomes Home Staging	Startup Investment $45,300 - $78,000	Cash Requirement $10,000	Total Units 55
	Sir Speedy	Startup Investment $275,000 - $350,000	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 249
	Snap-On Tools	Startup Investment $169,503 - $350,000	Cash Requirement $100,000	Total Units 5,053
	Soccer Shots	Startup Investment $36,000 - $42,000	Cash Requirement $38,000	Total Units 190
	Sotheby's International Realty	Startup Investment $194,650 - $627,000	Cash Requirement $63,650 - $206,000	Total Units 607
	SRA - Sanford Rose Associates	Startup Investment $108,250 - $143,580	Cash Requirement $108,250 - $143,580	Total Units 77
	Truly Nolen of America	Startup Investment $50,200 - $293,000	Cash Requirement $35,000	Total Units 106
	Two Men And A Truck	Startup Investment $95,000 - $666,000	Cash Requirement $80,000 - $190,000	Total Units 387
	Visiting Angels	Startup Investment $77,985 - $102,285	Cash Requirement $43,950 - $51,950	Total Units 548
	Weed Man	Startup Investment $68,453 - $85,513	Cash Requirement $50,000	Total Units 656
	Wild Birds Unlimited	Startup Investment $146,693 - $228,406	Cash Requirement $40,000	Total Units 317
	Window Genie	Startup Investment $90,800 - $140,000	Cash Requirement $50,000	Total Units 241
	Wine and Design	Startup Investment $46,160 - $95,000	Cash Requirement $50,000	Total Units 76
	WOW 1 DAY PAINTING	Startup Investment $90,000 - $130,000	Cash Requirement $50,000	Total Units 41
	YESCO	Startup Investment $64,300 - $350,000	Cash Requirement $60,000	Total Units 164