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
Home services, mobile brands and people-led franchise networks.
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
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
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
Founder Stories
Kinderdance International has welcomed Amalia Barreiro as a new franchisee connected with Kinderdance Torino, giving the children's movement brand a local-owner story in northern Italy.
Franchise Market News·3 Aug 2026· 6 min
International Franchising
STRONG Pilates has signed a master franchise partnership with Xtreme Brands to enter Poland and the Czech Republic, expanding the Australian-born fitness concept into 16 countries.
Franchise Market News·3 Aug 2026· 6 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
Technology
HomeWell Franchising has announced an exclusive partnership with Trella Health to give its agencies market intelligence for referral development.
Franchise Market News·2 Aug 2026· 7 min
Founder Stories
House of Colour USA is entering a new phase of franchise expansion after strengthening the support model behind its stylist-owner network.
Franchise Market News·2 Aug 2026· 6 min
Franchise Brands
UFC Gym will launch its first standalone UFC Gym Jiu-Jitsu studio in Manhattan on 8 August through a collaboration with Jiu Livre.
Franchise Market News·1 Aug 2026· 7 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
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
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
Franchise Brands
FG Brands has rebranded all LA Bikini locations as Bare&Sol, pairing sugaring hair removal with airbrush spray tanning and a redesigned studio format for franchisees.
Franchise Market News·28 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Always Best Care Senior Services has named Rachel Vaughn chief marketing officer, tasking her with brand strategy, marketing technology and local support for its 115 franchisees.
Franchise Market News·28 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
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
Kiddie Academy of Downingtown gives today's pack its founder story, with former tennis coach Arvind Aravindhan opening a 10,000-square-foot academy licensed for 180 children in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Franchise Market News·24 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning has named 17-year veteran Kris Antolak president, while founder Jonathan Barnett shifts his focus to BE FAST Software, the platform that began as the brand's internal scheduling system.
Franchise Market News·24 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
College HUNKS added Eric Osborne as director of franchise development and rebuilt its franchise sales process, website and development materials after signing two Q1 deals and a resale.
Franchise Market News·23 July 2026· 6 min
Founder Stories
AtWork multi-unit franchisee Greg Hassler says a national franchise brand helped his California staffing business chase larger clients, as AtWork reports 6.8% sales growth and launches a new professional-services division.
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 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
Founder Stories
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Franklin County is marking 25 years in business and 20 years under the Mr. Rooter franchise system, with owner Brad Pierce pointing to team, reviews and local reputation as the base for the next phase.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 July 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
Caring Senior Service has opened a Houston West office in Spring Valley Village, with local owners Caleb Drew and Thazin Min Htet extending the non-medical home care franchise deeper into Texas.
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
VIO Med Spa is expanding across Metro Atlanta through a new franchise agreement led by veteran entrepreneur Aine Burns, with the first location expected to open in 2027.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·14 July 2026· 6 min
Legal & Regulation
A Western District of Virginia opinion in Pro-Lift Doors Franchise v. Arukah separated surviving pre-termination royalty claims from post-termination fee demands that fell away at the motion-to-dismiss stage.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·13 July 2026· 6 min
Franchise Brands
AlphaGraphics has been named to Franchise Business Review's 2026 Most Profitable Franchises list for the third consecutive year, backed by owner satisfaction scores above 85 percent.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·13 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 Brands
Hand & Stone has named former Subway executive Carrie Walsh as chief executive effective July 1, giving the 650-plus-unit wellness franchise a leader with recent experience inside one of the world's largest franchise systems.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 6 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
International Franchising
Jim's Group has published a new franchisee interview with Emily, a Jim's Dog Wash operator preparing to work in Baldivis in southern Perth, capturing the classic buy-or-build decision service-franchise candidates face.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 July 2026· 5 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
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
Service Franchising
Woofie's is using National Pet Preparedness Month to highlight CPR, first aid and emergency tools for franchise owners — a reminder that franchise support is moving well beyond opening week.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·29 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Grasons has opened a Georgetown, Texas location serving North Austin, Sun City and Williamson County, adding estate sale, downsizing and liquidation services to a region with steady demand.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·29 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
PuroClean's Annual International Convention spotlighted two very different growth stories: a rural Alabama operator scaling past $5 million and a first-year Des Moines team clearing $775,000.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·27 June 2026· 5 min
Founder Stories
After four decades running their Northeast Minneapolis Minuteman Press, Dave and Sandy Forster have sold the business to long-time employee Samuel Sandon in a clean internal succession.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·27 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
Service Franchising
Take 5 Oil Change has opened its fifth Colorado Springs shop at 4593 Austin Bluffs Parkway, locally owned and operated by Fast Oil LLC.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·22 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
BroGuard, an all-metal micromesh gutter protection system, gives the home-services franchise a proprietary product to standardize quality and lift average ticket value.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·8 June 2026· 6 min
Service Franchising
College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving has signed a new franchise agreement covering Midland and Saginaw, extending its reach into Michigan's mid-sized markets.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·5 June 2026· 5 min
Service Franchising
Mathnasium was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 10 Education Franchises for 2026, a useful signal of demand for purpose-led service brands with repeatable unit economics.
Franchise Brief Newsroom·4 June 2026· 5 min