FranchiseIQ Rankings 2026
The 30 franchise brands with the highest cash-on-cash return on investment. Ranked using real FDD Item 19 revenue data and Item 7 investment costs.
| # | Brand | Industry | Cash-on-Cash | Payback | Investment | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pop-A-Lock | 557.6% | 0.2 yr | $154K | $5.1M | |
| 2 | Jan-Pro Franchising International, Inc. | 542.5% | 0.2 yr | $276K | $4.9M | |
| 3 | Estrella Insurance | 530.1% | 0.2 yr | $67K | $4.4M | |
| 4 | Premier Pools & Spas / Pinnacle Pools & Spas | 457.6% | 0.2 yr | $89K | $2.5M | |
| 5 | Anago Franchising, Inc. | 351.9% | 0.3 yr | $279K | $3.5M | |
| 6 | Best Choice Roofing | 327.7% | 0.3 yr | $155K | $5.7M | |
| 7 | Precision Door Service | 188.6% | 0.5 yr | $262K | $4.1M | |
| 8 | Asi Sign Systems, Inc. | 184.5% | 0.5 yr | $318K | $2.0M | |
| 9 | Closets By Design | 184.2% | 0.5 yr | $332K | $7.2M | |
| 10 | Woofie'S | 183.1% | 0.5 yr | $238K | $3.2M | |
| 11 | Atc Healthcare Services | 182.7% | 0.5 yr | $156K | $2.0M | |
| 12 | Sandler | 180.6% | 0.6 yr | $90K | $738K | |
| 13 | Money Mailer | 175.5% | 0.6 yr | $70K | $686K | |
| 14 | The Maids | 171.7% | 0.6 yr | $129K | $764K | |
| 15 | Griswold Home Care | 161.2% | 0.6 yr | $140K | $1.7M | |
| 16 | Two Maids & A Mop® | 159.6% | 0.6 yr | $104K | $570K | |
| 17 | Frsteam | 154.9% | 0.6 yr | $346K | $2.0M | |
| 18 | Adventures In Advertising | 154.8% | 0.6 yr | $58K | $362K | |
| 19 | Pridestaff | 145.1% | 0.7 yr | $165K | $2.4M | |
| 20 | Skyrun | 144.6% | 0.7 yr | $130K | $1.3M | |
| 21 | Fundraising University | 141.1% | 0.7 yr | $82K | $824K | |
| 22 | Cmit Solutions | 135.7% | 0.7 yr | $133K | $1.1M | |
| 23 | Superior Fence & Rail | 134.1% | 0.7 yr | $206K | $2.1M | |
| 24 | Maid Brigade | 133.4% | 0.7 yr | $128K | $657K | |
| 25 | Sunbelt Business Brokers | 125.6% | 0.8 yr | $88K | $692K | |
| 26 | Weed Man | 124% | 0.8 yr | $95K | $1.1M | |
| 27 | Money Pages | 122.2% | 0.8 yr | $173K | $844K | |
| 28 | 360Clean | 120.5% | 0.8 yr | $51K | $175K | |
| 29 | Actikare | 119.4% | 0.8 yr | $45K | $489K | |
| 30 | Ar Homes® | 117.8% | 0.8 yr | $1.4M | $10.4M |
Cash-on-cash return is calculated as estimated annual franchisee net income divided by total initial investment (Item 7). Net income uses Item 19 median revenue with sector-average operating margins. Payback period is total investment divided by annual net income. Only brands with disclosed Item 19 financial performance data are included.
A $5M revenue franchise with $2M investment is not necessarily better than a $500K revenue franchise with $50K investment. Cash-on-cash return tells you how efficiently your money works. The best franchise investments combine high ROI with low SBA default rates, strong brand momentum, and manageable operational complexity.
Home services, commercial cleaning, and low-investment service franchises consistently show the highest cash-on-cash returns. These brands require less capital and generate strong margins. FranchiseIQ tracks ROI data for 5,800+ brands.
Most franchise brokers consider 25-50% cash-on-cash return strong. Exceptional franchises exceed 100%, typically in low-investment service categories. Anything below 15% may struggle to outperform passive investments.
The typical franchise payback period is 2-4 years. Service franchises with low startup costs can pay back in under a year, while QSR and hotel franchises may take 5-7 years.
Data sourced from FranchiseIQ analysis of FDD Item 19 revenue disclosures and Item 7 investment ranges. ROI calculations use sector-average operating margins where franchisee net income is not directly disclosed. Rankings are for informational purposes and do not constitute investment advice.