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For tips on how to start your own restaurant in this economy .Everybody gets hungry. They get hungry for pretzels at the mall, something sweet after supper or wings while watching their favorite football team. And nobody likes to cook three meals a day, seven days a week-no matter how bad the economy gets. So buying a restaurant franchise could be the perfect opportunity for you, whether you’re looking to serve up barbecue or burritos.

This listing showcases the 120 restaurant franchises organized by category, then by their rank in the 2009 Franchise 500?, Â鶹Éç’s comprehensive franchise ranking.

This ranking is not an endorsement of any of these franchise companies and is only intended as a starting point. You should only invest in a franchise after conducting your own extensive research, including carefully reading the Franchise Disclosure Document, contacting existing franchise owners, and consulting an attorney and an accountant.
Listing compiled by Tracy Stapp.

Baked goods

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 36
Coffee, doughnuts, baked goods

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 73
Hand-rolled soft pretzels

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 99
Gourmet pretzels

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 114
Cinnamon rolls & baked goods

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 228
Soft pretzels, lemonade, hot dogs

Cafe by Chip
2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 232
Cookies, baked goods, coffee, ice cream, smoothies

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 257
Cookies

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2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 290
Bread bakery

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 306
Bagels, breads, sandwiches, soups, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 369
Bagels, sandwiches, gourmet coffee, muffins, smoothies

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 480
Pretzel bakery

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Coffee

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 340
Coffee, teas, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 360
Coffeehouse & cafe

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 367
Coffee

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 380
Specialty coffee
Full-service restaurants

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 25
Full-service family restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 91
All-you-can-eat pizza buffet

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 125
Family steakhouse, buffet & bakery

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 182
Family-style restaurant/ice cream

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 190
Family sports pub

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 203
Fondue-specialty restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 216
Barbecue-themed restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 338
Casual dining restaurant & sports bar

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 421
Family steakhouse


2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 442
Mongolian stir-fry restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 455
Sports pub & restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 457
Sports bar

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 458
Barbecue restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 463
Barbecue restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 500
Family-style restaurant

Chicken

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 14
Chicken

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 74
Quick-service chicken restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 87
Buffalo wings & sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 97
Chicken wings

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 150
Flame-grilled chicken meals & Mexican entrees

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 158
Chicken & biscuits

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 329
Buffalo wings takeout & delivery

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 490
Chicken wings

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Hamburgers

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 2
Hamburgers, chicken, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 4
Drive-in restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 26
Burgers, chicken, biscuits

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 62
Hamburgers

Restaurants Inc.
2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 89
Burgers & fries

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 199
Burgers, hot dogs, root beer

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 396
Hamburgers

Ice cream & frozen desserts

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 13
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen beverages

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 16
Soft-serve dairy products & sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 46
Ice cream, Italian sorbet

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 76
Italian ices, frozen custard, gelati

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 120
Ice cream parlor

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 175
Specialty ice cream, frozen
yogurt, ices, sherbert

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 213
Frozen yogurt & soft-serve ice cream

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 223
Ice cream & frozen yogurt

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 244
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, baked goods

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 279
Homemade ice cream

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 342
Ice cream, smoothies, cakes

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 355
Frozen custard & specialty burgers

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 417
Frozen yogurt

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 418
Gelato

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 441
Frozen custard, steak burgers, hot dogs

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 454
Italian ice

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 460
Frozen yogurt

Juice bars

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 67
Smoothies & healthy products

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 172
Fruit smoothies & healthy foods

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 176
Smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, coffee, soups

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 189
Juice bar

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 234
Smoothies, fruit drinks,
nutritional supplements

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 255
Smoothies, meal-replacement shakes, protein bars

Coffees & Smoothies
2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 256
Hawaiian coffees & smoothies

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 339
Smoothies & snacks

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 451
Smoothies, wraps, salads, soups, juices

Mexican quick service

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 20
Quick-service Mexican restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 94
Fast-casual Mexican food

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 113
Fast-casual Southwestern food

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 152
Mexican food

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 204
Quick-service Mexican restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 411
Fresh-Mex-style cantina

Pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 7
Pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 10
Pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 41
Pizza, breadsticks, buffalo wings

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 51
Take-and-bake pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 93
Pizza, subs, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 208
Pizza, sandwiches, salads, wings

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 235
Fast-casual pizza restaurant

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 236
Pizza & submarine sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 305
Pizza, chicken, wraps

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 317
Pizza, salads, sandwiches,
calzones

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 351
Pizza, pasta, sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 372
Pizzas & sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 374
Baked pizza & take-and-bake pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 378
Pizza, subs, pasta

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 382
Pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 385
Pizza, calzones, hoagies, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 401
Pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 462
Pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches

Salad Restaurants

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 272
Salads, soups, wraps, paninis

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 388
Salads, wraps, soups

Sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 1
Submarine sandwiches & salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 18
Sandwiches, chicken, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 50
Submarine sandwiches, soups, salads

Sandwich Shops
2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 53
Gourmet sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 90
Submarine sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 132
Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, grilled subs, fries, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 136
Southern-style upscale deli

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 157
Pita sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 168
Submarine sandwiches & salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 181
Sandwiches & pizza

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 183
Philly cheesesteak & sub
sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 192
Pita wrap sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 206
Specialty sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 258
Sandwiches, milkshakes, cookies

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 296
Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, fries, baked potatoes

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 348
Submarine sandwiches & salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 384
Grilled sandwiches, baked
potatoes, salads

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 395
Paninis, salads, subs, soups, pizzetti

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 397
Submarine sandwiches & salads

Miscellaneous quick service

Restaurants Inc.
2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 32
Fish & chicken

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 81
Fast-food systems for
nontraditional markets

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 166
Hot dogs, hamburgers, seafood, chicken, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches

2009 Franchise 500 ranking: 423
Salads, paninis, smoothies, soups