In franchising this week: IKEA lands in New Zealand, Chemist Warehouse heads to the bargaining table, Hardee's sues a 77-unit operator.
Wednesday 5 August 2026 · Global franchise news
Franchise Brief
New unit openings, market entries and non-traditional development.
Founder Stories
Michael Zhu and Joseph Back have expanded their Re-Bath franchise investment across Indiana and Kentucky, acquiring the Louisville territory and purchasing a new Evansville agreement that will return the bathroom remodeling brand to a tri-state market.
Franchise Market News·5 Aug 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
The Flying Biscuit Cafe has signed a lease for its first St. Louis-area restaurant, with franchise partners Latrell Hayes, Kennon "Kip" Barber and Randy Barnes preparing to bring the Atlanta-born breakfast and brunch brand to St. Charles, Missouri.
Franchise Market News·5 Aug 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Launch Family Entertainment has signed a lease for a Missoula, Montana park, marking the family entertainment franchise's first planned location in the state and extending its Mountain West development push.
Franchise Market News·5 Aug 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Take 5 Oil Change has opened three new Arizona locations in the Phoenix West Valley, adding shops in Surprise and Tolleson as the fast-service automotive brand deepens its presence in one of the country's most active growth markets.
Franchise Market News·5 Aug 2026· 5 min
Franchise Brands
Checkers & Rally's has appointed Peter Busse as chief development officer, giving the drive-thru burger chain a development specialist as it tries to convert turnaround work into disciplined franchise growth.
Franchise Market News·4 Aug 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Vast Coworking Group has named a new chief marketing officer and chief financial officer after its acquisition by New State Capital Partners.
Franchise Market News·3 Aug 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
BrightStar Care says it signed more than 20 franchise agreements and opened 19 new locations in the first half of 2026, adding new leadership and technology support for owners.
Franchise Market News·3 Aug 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Taco John's has added restaurant executive Sarah McAloon to its board, bringing more than 30 years of QSR leadership to a 324-location system.
Franchise Market News·2 Aug 2026· 7 min
Founder Stories
Closets by Design has signed a new Knoxville, Tennessee territory with husband-and-wife operators Wes and Christy Hancock.
Franchise Market News·2 Aug 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Storage Authority Carolina Road has opened in Suffolk, Virginia, giving the self-storage franchise system a family-owned local operator story.
Franchise Market News·1 Aug 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
BODYBAR Pilates says it added 40 new territories and 17 new franchise owners in the first half of 2026, lifting its footprint to 204 territories.
Franchise Market News·1 Aug 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Jeff's Bagel Run has signed a three-store franchise agreement for Myrtle Beach, giving the founder-led bagel brand a new South Carolina growth market.
Franchise Market News·1 Aug 2026· 6 min
Funding & Acquisitions
Group 1 Automotive has agreed to acquire Hennessy Automobile Companies' 10 dealerships and real estate in a roughly $1.3 billion deal that would lift its Atlanta footprint to 15 stores.
Franchise Market News·30 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
A husband-and-wife team has opened a Mountain Mike's Pizza in Wenatchee, Washington, backed by family involvement and a community-focused local operating plan.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Will Cazalet has opened a Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care franchise serving Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont and Montclair, bringing a community-focused owner into senior care.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Technology
Mathnasium says it signed more than 60 franchise agreements and opened 40 learning centers in the first half of 2026, backed by owner reinvestment and technology upgrades.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
International Franchising
FASTSIGNS reports a record first half of 2026, with 13 new centers, 18 franchise agreements and deals in Australia, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Unleashed Brands says it signed 73 franchise agreements, 58 leases and opened 34 locations in the first half of 2026 across its seven youth enrichment brands.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
Shipley Donuts is entering Raleigh, North Carolina through a two-unit franchise agreement with Plexus Raleigh LLC, led by Hillsborough entrepreneur Dana Norman.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Ziebart says franchise leads rose 285 percent through the first half of 2026 as automotive operator Jim Sutter converts a West Creek, New Jersey storefront into a Ziebart location.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
16 Handles has signed 25 franchise agreements in the first half of 2026 and reported 30 percent same-store sales growth, outpacing its full-year 2025 development.
Franchise Market News·29 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
KidStrong says it has opened 21 locations this year and sold more than 80 new licenses, with existing multi-unit franchise owners driving much of its 2026 development pipeline.
Franchise Market News·28 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
Mellow Mushroom enters the second half of 2026 with six franchise deals signed and four openings planned next year, including a Bozeman restaurant that would bring the pizza brand to Montana.
Franchise Market News·27 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Gong cha has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement covering Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas with Houston-based Bakers Acres & Cattle Company, the brand's largest direct franchising deal.
Franchise Market News·27 July 2026· 6 min
Technology
uBreakiFix by Asurion franchisees George Kalomiris and Steve Benson have opened a new Eugene, Oregon store, adding to a portfolio that spans Portland, Sherwood and Vancouver, Washington.
Franchise Market News·26 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Chicken Salad Chick multi-unit owners Mike Saccone and John Schuster will open their third Research Triangle restaurant in Durham on August 4, after earlier launches in Cary and Raleigh.
Franchise Market News·26 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
Buffalo Wild Wings will open a new full-service sports bar in Hazlet, New Jersey, on Monday, August 3, with a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting and Pick 6 Meal for Two starting at $19.99.
Franchise Market News·24 July 2026· 6 min
International Franchising
BNI says it entered Paraguay and the Dominican Republic in the second quarter of 2026 and awarded new franchise territories across 15 markets as members generated more than 4 million referrals globally.
Franchise Market News·24 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Birdcall's Midwest debut will unfold through a five-restaurant Indianapolis agreement led by multi-unit operator Nikunj Patel, with sites planned across Carmel, Fishers and Westfield.
Franchise Market News·23 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Brands
Blo Blow Dry Bar says nine new franchise owners and six existing owners signed deals in H1 2026, backing growth across Georgia, New Hampshire, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia and Toronto.
Franchise Market News·23 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Brands
Batteries Plus says franchisees signed 15 agreements covering 30 units and opened 12 stores in the first half of 2026, with commercial-first operators posting the strongest sales results.
Franchise Market News·23 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Minnie Bird has signed a 20-unit franchise development agreement with DiPasqua Brands to enter Orlando and Tampa, giving the young chicken concept its largest franchise commitment to date.
Franchise Market News·23 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
CR Fitness Holdings subsidiary Southwest Fitness Holdings is planning 20 Crunch Fitness clubs across the Phoenix region by the end of 2027, starting with Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Mesa Grand and Paradise Valley.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Brands
BaseCamp Franchising says Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid opened 16 stores across 10 states in the first half of 2026, signed 35-plus new franchise agreements and reached a 300-store milestone in Weatherford, Texas.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
USA Ninja Challenge added six locations in the first half of 2026 while expanding its executive team, redesigning its resale process and rolling out new skill-tracking technology for franchisees.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
Stratus Clean is entering Alabama with master franchise territories in Birmingham and Mobile, and is eyeing Montgomery, Huntsville and Pensacola as it builds regional density in the Southeast.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Angry Chickz is entering Pennsylvania with a Kingston restaurant opening 31 July, operated by franchisee Eric May and marking the hot chicken brand's 45th unit.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·21 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Beyond Juicery + Eatery is opening its third Georgia restaurant in Brookhaven on 25 July, led by local franchise partners Ricky Burch and Ross Hare.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·21 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Tierra Encantada has entered Ohio with a Powell centre already open and a Columbus centre due later this summer, giving founder Kristen Denzer a new state-level proof point for the Spanish-immersion childcare franchise.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·21 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel is preparing a 10,500-square-foot Troy, Michigan facility this fall, backed by more than $3 million in investment and led by general manager Dionne Zick-Reep.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·20 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
Go Mini's largest multi-unit franchisee Mark Nyman has added Charlotte to a portable storage portfolio that already spans North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Texas.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·13 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Expansion
HB Protein Smoothies has signed a six-unit franchise agreement for Houston, continuing a run of multi-unit growth as the protein-focused beverage concept enters Texas.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 6 min
Food & Beverage
Teriyaki Madness is opening its first Corpus Christi shop on July 10 with first-time franchise group TMAD397 leading the market entry, a useful test of how new operators pick a brand when entering food service.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Tommy's Express Car Wash is building its first Happy Valley, Oregon location, marking the brand's entry into a 38th U.S. state as service-franchise expansion continues in 2026.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 5 min
Founder Stories
Smoothie King franchisee Lorraine Pater has built an 11-store Gulf Coast portfolio and holds rights to a 12th location, offering a grounded look at how mature multi-unit operators think about growth as build costs rise.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Take 5 Oil Change has opened a second Harlingen, Texas shop, with the company emphasising training and operational support behind its 10-minute service model.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard opens a North Richland Hills drive-thru on July 1 as the first of four planned Dallas-Fort Worth franchise locations.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Brands
Another Broken Egg Cafe has promoted Chris Eby to vice president of development, putting an experienced franchise sales leader in charge of the daytime dining brand's next growth phase.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
JETSET Pilates is entering Nevada through a three-unit franchise agreement with Melinda Swan and David Milheim, giving the boutique fitness brand its first planned foothold in Las Vegas.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
PostalAnnex has opened a new National City, California location with local owners Vanesa Gonzalez and Pedro Olvera, giving Annex Brands another service-franchise unit in the San Diego region.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
The Glass Guru has opened a new East Charlotte location under local owner James Vandenbulcke, adding a service-franchise story with a clear operator-category fit.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·30 June 2026· 5 min
Founder Stories
Slutty Vegan is moving into Detroit through a new franchise agreement, marking the plant-based burger brand's first Midwest market and another test of Pinky Cole Hayes's founder-led model.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·29 June 2026· 5 min
Founder Stories
HTeaO has opened another Midland tea bar on Garden City Highway, returning the fast-growing iced tea franchise to the West Texas city where it began in 2009.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·29 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Smoothie King says its Northeast and Midwest footprint has grown 85 percent over five years, with a new Penfield, New York opening tied to a three-unit deal.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·25 June 2026· 5 min
Founder Stories
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is celebrating its first coast-to-coast grand opening weekend, with existing operators launching new shops in New Jersey and California on consecutive days.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·25 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Granite Garage Floors has awarded three Salt Lake City franchise territories to Greg and Angie Layton, bringing construction and franchise experience to the brand's Utah entry.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·24 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Skiptown has signed a five-unit Colorado franchise agreement with an entrepreneur who first encountered the dog care brand as a member, starting in the Denver metro area.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·23 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Big Blue Swim School is opening a new Wayne, NJ location on June 27 with a Family Fun Day on June 20, highlighting the strength of needs-based family-service franchising.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·5 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will open inside the LaFortune Student Center in August, deepening a non-traditional growth strategy aimed at captive-demand venues.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·5 June 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Southern-rooted brand signs its largest development agreement, covering Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Albany as it pushes into the Northeast.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·14 May 2026· 5 min
Franchise Expansion
Zaxbys signs its first non-traditional franchise agreement, a military base location, as part of a wider push into airports, universities and travel centres.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·29 Oct 2025· 5 min