Digital Rocket: 4.9/5 on Clutch · Research
We loaded the US franchise recruitment page of each of the top 100 brands in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and checked what a candidate sees. 69 pages could be scored. Every brand and every result is listed below, checked 31 October 2026.
Book my free diagnosticKey findings
A total investment range, startup cost or franchise fee in dollars, on the landing page as loaded. 44 of 69 did not.
A minimum liquid capital or net worth in dollars, in the page copy or inside a form question.
No investment figure and no capital requirement on the landing page.
33 send the candidate to another page or a button first; on 5 the form could not be read.
13 ask where the candidate wants a territory. Only 1 asks when they want to start.
Such as franchise.brand.com or a separate franchising domain, rather than a page of the customer site.
Base: 69 distinct pages from 72 brands (six Hilton hotel brands share one Hilton development page, counted once). 28 brands could not be scored: 10 have no official US recruitment page we could find, 13 were blocked or failed to load, and 5 led to a page that was not the brand's recruitment page. Counts describe these pages on 31 October 2026, not franchise performance.
Every brand
| Brand (rank) | Investment shown | Capital requirement shown | Inquiry form on page | Form asks capital | Form asks territory | Franchise-only address |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jersey Mike's Subs | Not scored: not a brand recruitment page or blocked | |||||
| 2. Taco Bell | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 3. Dunkin' | No | Yes $250,000 liquid assets / $500,000 net worth | No | – | – | Yes |
| 4. Ace Hardware | Yes $603,850 - $2,001,550+ (The Investment) | Yes $350,000 Minimum Liquid Capital | Not readable | – | – | Yes |
| 5. Kumon | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 6. Wingstop | Yes Initial Investment $298,200 - $1,013,500 | Yes minimum net worth of $5M of which $2.1M must be liquid | No | – | – | No |
| 7. UPS Store, The | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 8. Hampton by Hilton (shared Hilton page) | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 9. Culver's | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 10. McDonald's | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 11. Papa Johns | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 12. Servpro | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 13. Arby's | No | Yes $500,000 liquid assets / $1,000,000 net worth | No | – | – | Yes |
| 14. Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Yes Investment ranges from $275,500 – $770,500. | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15. Learning Experience Academy of Early Education, The | Yes $60,000 Franchise Fee / $650k-$800k Total Investment | Yes $250,000 Liquid Capital Required / $400,000 Net Worth Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 16. Planet Fitness | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 17. Smoothie King | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 18. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 19. Wendy's | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 20. Crunch | No | Yes $500,000 Minimum combined liquid assets of all partners | No | – | – | No |
| 21. Stratus Clean | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 22. Pizza Hut | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 23. Holiday Inn Express | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 24. Baskin-Robbins | No | Yes $100,000 liquid assets / $200,000 net worth | No | – | – | Yes |
| 25. Cinnabon | Not scored: page failed to load | |||||
| 26. DoubleTree by Hilton (shared Hilton page) | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 27. Snap-on Tools | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 28. Budget Blinds | Yes investment range to open a Budget Blinds franchise is between $100,500 - $211,250 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 29. Paris Baguette | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 30. KFC | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 31. Pet Supplies Plus | No | No | Not readable | – | – | Yes |
| 32. Valvoline Instant Oil Change | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 33. Kona Ice | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 34. Home2 Suites by Hilton (shared Hilton page) | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 35. Tommy's Express Car Wash | Yes total investment ... is $3,482,389 to $11,846,697 | Yes Full Size Ownership Liquid assets $2,000,000 Net worth $5,000,000 | Not readable | – | – | No |
| 36. Dream Vacations | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 37. Scooter's Coffee | No | Yes $250,000 Liquid Capital / $500,000 Net Worth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 38. Homewood Suites by Hilton | Not scored: not a brand recruitment page or blocked | |||||
| 39. IHOP | Not scored: not a brand recruitment page or blocked | |||||
| 40. Great Clips | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 41. Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings | Yes Initial Investment Range: $202,690 - $1,004,447 | Yes Net-worth requirement: $650,000 / Liquid cash requirement: $200,000 | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 42. Hilton Garden Inn | Not scored: not a brand recruitment page or blocked | |||||
| 43. Cruise Planners | Yes Our competitively priced initial franchise fee is $10,995. | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 44. Transworld Business Advisors | Not scored: not a brand recruitment page or blocked | |||||
| 45. Dairy Queen | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 46. Jimmy John's | No | Yes $200,000 liquid assets / $1,000,000 net worth | No | – | – | Yes |
| 47. Nothing Bundt Cakes | Yes Franchisee Fee $45,000 for single bakery | No | No | – | – | No |
| 48. Pearle Vision | No | No | Not readable | – | – | Yes |
| 49. Minuteman Press | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 50. Marco's Pizza | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 51. Little Caesars | Yes Estimated total investment: Starting from $376,500 to $1,769,200 | Yes Net worth requirement: $400,000 / Liquid asset requirement: $200,000 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 52. Signal | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 53. McAlister's Deli | Yes $1.3M – $2.6M Estimated Initial Investment for Freestanding Locations | Yes $425,000 Minimum Liquid Capital | No | – | – | Yes |
| 54. Midas | Yes $35K FRANCHISE FEE | Yes $200K MINIMUM CASH AVAILABLE | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 55. Auntie Anne's | Yes $158,000 - $836,000 Estimated Initial Investment for an Enclosed Mall | Yes $120,000 Minimum Liquid Capital | No | – | – | Yes |
| 56. Maids, The | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 57. Joint Chiropractic, The | No | Yes net worth of $500,000 with $250,000 in liquid capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 58. Hotworx | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 59. Tapestry Collection by Hilton | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 60. American Family Care | No | Yes financial requirements of $500K liquid assets and $1.2 million net worth | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 61. Palm Beach Tan and Wellness | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 62. Tru by Hilton | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 63. Jiffy Lube | Yes $35k Minimum Franchise Fee | Yes $250k Liquid Assets Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 64. Corvus Janitorial Systems | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 65. Dogtopia | No | Yes minimum of $300,000 in liquid capital reserves and a minimum net worth of $1,000,000 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 66. Matco Tools | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 67. Molly Maid | Yes The estimated Initial Investment range is $139,900-$197,200 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 68. Goddard School, The | No | Yes Meet financial qualifications ($350k+ liquidity & $500k+ net worth) | No | – | – | Yes |
| 69. Zaxbys | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 70. Take 5 Oil Change | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 71. Express Employment Professionals | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 72. Jan-Pro Cleaning & Disinfecting | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 73. Real Property Management | Yes The estimated Initial Investment range is $99,341 - $244,302 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 74. Firehouse Subs | Yes $379,650 – $795,600 Estimated initial investment for a traditional in-line restaurant | Yes $150K Minimum Available Capital | No | – | – | Yes |
| 75. Mountain Mike's Pizza | Yes TOTAL INVESTMENT $356,000 TO $994,000 | Yes LIQUID CAPITAL REQUIRED $150,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 76. Anago Cleaning Systems | Yes Minimum investment of $10.5k to $62k | No | No | – | – | No |
| 77. Golden Chick | No | Yes The minimum net worth required for Golden Chick Franchise opportunity is $350,000. | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 78. Goldfish Swim School | No | Yes Funds Available ($1.5M required)* ... Net Worth ($2.5M required)* | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 79. Club Pilates | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 80. Sola Salons | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 81. Sport Clips Haircuts | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 82. Anytime Fitness | No | No | Not readable | – | – | Yes |
| 83. Mathnasium Learning Centers | Yes total investment to open a new Mathnasium franchise ranges from $127,316 to $165,846 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 84. Mac Tools | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 85. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers | No | Yes Do you have at least $400K in liquid assets? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 86. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 87. Wireless Zone | Yes Total investments when starting a Wireless Zone® franchise range from $160,000 - $414,500. | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| 88. Embassy Suites by Hilton (shared Hilton page) | No | No | No | – | – | No |
| 89. Fairfield by Marriott | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 90. Cold Stone Creamery | Yes The total investment estimate ... ranges from $255,700 – $680,775. | Yes Minimum Liquid Capital: $125,000 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 91. PuroClean | No | Yes Do you have access to $150,000 capital?* | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 92. European Wax Center | Not scored: no official US recruitment page found | |||||
| 93. Paul Davis Restoration | Yes estimated initial investment for a Paul Davis franchise ranges from $298,800 to $804,900 | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 94. Superior Fence & Rail | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 95. Carvel | Yes $428,000 - $1,000,000 Estimated Initial Investment for a Full Shoppe | Yes $140,000 Minimum Liquid Capital | No | – | – | Yes |
| 96. KidStrong | Yes Initial Investment $476,400 - $671,200 | Yes $225K Liquid • $500K Net Worth | No | – | – | Yes |
| 97. Human Bean, The | No | No | No | – | – | Yes |
| 98. Sylvan Learning | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 99. British Swim School | Not scored: page blocked or empty when loaded | |||||
| 100. Kiddie Academy | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Download the full dataset with page URLs, check times and the quoted figures: franchise-recruitment-page-audit-2026-10-31.csv. Rank is the brand's position in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500. Figures quoted are as shown on each brand's page; we did not check them against disclosure documents.
How we checked
| Step | What we did |
|---|---|
| Sample | The top 100 brands in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 ranking, as listed on entrepreneur.com on 31 October 2026. |
| Page | Each brand's own US franchise recruitment landing page, found by search and confirmed on the brand's or its parent's domain. Portals, brokers and news sites were not used. |
| Capture | Each page loaded once in a desktop browser (1366 px wide) on 31 October 2026, with a full-page screenshot and the visible text and form fields saved. Pages whose figures load on scroll were loaded again with scrolling. No buttons were clicked and no forms were submitted. |
| Checks | Investment figure in dollars; liquid capital or net worth requirement in dollars (page copy or form question); inquiry form with name and email fields visible on the page; whether that form asks about capital, start timing and desired territory; whether the page is on a franchise-only address. |
| Verification | An automated pass flagged each check, then every result was reviewed by hand against the saved text and screenshot. Where they disagreed, the manual review decided. A further random sample of five rows was rechecked. |
Limits: one load per page on one day; pages change. Forms embedded from another service, or opened by a button, were not read. A "No" means the item was not visible on the landing page as loaded, not that the brand does not publish it elsewhere. Sell More Franchises builds recruitment pages and forms for franchisors, so we have an interest in this topic.
Related
Questions franchisors ask
25 of the 69 pages we could score (from the top 100 of Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500) showed an investment figure in dollars on the landing page, checked 31 October 2026.
Of the 31 landing pages with a readable inquiry form, 16 asked about liquid capital, net worth or funds to invest. 13 asked where the candidate wants a territory, and 1 asked when they want to start.
Yes. Every brand is listed with the page we checked and the figure we quoted, and the dataset includes the check times. Pages change, so a live page may differ from what we saw.
No. This is a separate audit with a public sample, fewer checks, and every result reviewed by hand. It does not reuse the study's data.