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2022 Franchise Buying Trends to Watch


For the franchise industry, the last couple of years created enough uncertainty to last a lifetime.  The world changed in ways it had never seen before, causing brands to turn their operations on a dime in an effort to stay afloat.  Somehow, we have made it to the other side, and it is looking like there really is light at the end of the tunnel!

After all the ups and downs, pivots, and turns, 2022 is poised to be a big year for franchising.  The International Franchise Association is predicting franchise development to be on the rise with 26,000 estimated franchise locations added in 2021 and franchise employment projected to grow to 8.3 million workers.  It is safe to conclude 2022 is the year brands get to get back to growing. 

Why Franchising Now

This revived interest in franchising can be contributed to more and more people following their desire to take control of their own destiny.  Americans are leaving their corporate jobs in droves in what has been described as The Great Resignation.  They are in search of greater financial freedom and flexibility, and franchising provides a proven system where you can be in business for yourself, without the risk of doing it by yourself.  

As franchising is trending up this year, they are also trends within the industry itself that seem to be taking off as well.  Check out what hot segments potential franchise owners are looking for as they head into the world of franchise business ownership.

Home is Where the Interests Are

While much has been said about the brands that struggled during the pandemic, not nearly enough has been said about the ones that thrived.  In 2020 and 2021, home service franchise brands had their moment – and 2022 is looking no different.  

Thanks in part to the blurring of lines between home and work, people are in their homes significantly more making the demand to update or upgrade their now home AND office even more. From house cleaning to garage makeovers, franchisees are finding rewarding investment opportunities with these brands – many of them witnessing double-digit growth. 

School is Back in Session

One of the hardest hit segments by the pandemic were school children.  Across the nation, schools were shuttered leaving much of the instruction up to the parents who were also trying to hold down their job.  In fact, a recent study estimated that COVID-related learning loss has put students behind anywhere from four to 12 months, depending on demographics.

Finding ways to fill those gaps in education have become a top priority by parents, in return, driving a greater demand for franchises that provide learning aids or tutoring solutions.  Demand for tutoring franchises is on the rise with many current franchise owners reporting both double-digit growth and profits.

Look Under the Hood

Car shopping has been a rollercoaster ride since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020, and customers are still trying to figure out when they can finally unbuckle their seat belts.  The used car market is still trying to play catch up with the ongoing used car shortage now carrying into 2022.

Because there are less vehicles to buy, people are now investing more into the current car they have, which is grabbing the attention of many prospective franchise owners.  Auto repair shop interest is on the rise as consumers put more into their current vehicles and seeing no end to the shortage any time soon.

Takeaways for the Year Ahead

While much has changed in the landscape of franchising over the last two years, 2022 offers a truly exciting time to part of the franchise industry.  Whether your interest lies in these buying trends or not, franchising provides a resilient business model for anyone looking to unlock their entrepreneurial spirit.


2/7/2022