Subscribe »If you want to buy a franchise, start by asking yourself: "What's my appetite for risk?" You could bet on a new franchise, join a small but stable one, or pick many other pathways. On the following pages, we list the "best of the best" — which is what we call the brands that ranked at the very top of their industry categories in our Franchise 500 ranking. Based on their scores, they were ranked against all other applicants, and their rankings placed them ahead of all other brands within their categories. 1 companies based on our criteria, but you will have your own criteria for deciding what would be the best franchise opportunity for you, so it's important to always do your own homework before investing in any brand.