RANKED · BY VERDICT · 113 BRANDS
Best food & dining franchises under $1M
Ranked by Watch Desk verdict, computed from each brand's own FDD Item 20 with an evidence gate — proven systems first; the unproven can't place. Distress flags are live and independent of the ranking.
| # | Brand | Verdict | 3-yr units | Net | Distress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +208% | — | |
| 02 | WING-STOP✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +34% | — | |
| 03 | EINSTEIN BROS. RESTAURANT✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +21% | — | |
| 04 | KPOT✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +980% | — | |
| 05 | TIGER SUGAR✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +94% | — | |
| 06 | CHICKEN SALAD CHICK✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +28% | — | |
| 07 | 7 BREW✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +234% | — | |
| 08 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +20% | STABLE 6 | |
| 09 | Dave's Hot Chicken✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +120% | — | |
| 10 | DUCK DONUTS✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +28% | — | |
| 11 | FiiZ Drinks✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +68% | STABLE 6 | |
| 12 | JUST LOVE COFFEE & CAFÉ✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +96% | — | |
| 13 | Bar-B-Clean✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +269% | — | |
| 14 | East Coast Wings + Grill✓ VERIFIEDwings | Strong | +3% | — | |
| 15 | CLEAN EATZ✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +42% | STABLE 6 | |
| 16 | BB.Q CHICKEN✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +42% | — | |
| 17 | MARCO'S PIZZA AND MARCOS✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +12% | — | |
| 18 | Rock N Roll Sushi✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +22% | — | |
| 19 | CHARLEYS; CHARLEYS PHILLY STEAK; CHARLEYS GRILLED SUBS✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +9% | — | |
| 20 | COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | 0% | — | |
| 21 | KUNG FU TEA✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +32% | — | |
| 22 | Qdoba Mexican Eats✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +6% | — | |
| 23 | The Spice & Tea Exchange✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +9% | — | |
| 24 | Carbone's Pizzeria and Carbone's Pizza✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | -3% | — | |
| 25 | TRAVELIN' TOM'S COFFEE✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Strong | +135% | — | |
| 26 | Kitchen Guard✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +3700% | — | |
| 27 | Kitchen Guard Services✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +3700% | — | |
| 28 | Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +21% | — | |
| 29 | INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, IHOP✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +89% | — | |
| 30 | Genji Sushi Bars✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -1% | — | |
| 31 | RITA'S ICE-CUSTARD-HAPPINESS✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +2% | — | |
| 32 | Bahama Buck's✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +7% | — | |
| 33 | EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +2% | — | |
| 34 | Burger King✓ VERIFIEDqsr-burger | Steady | -5% | STABLE 31 | |
| 35 | Church's Texas Chicken✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -2% | — | |
| 36 | GRAZE CRAZE✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +469% | — | |
| 37 | GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +4% | — | |
| 38 | CARIBOU COFFEE✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +3% | — | |
| 39 | Villa Pizza✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -18% | — | |
| 40 | MENCHIE'S✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | 0% | STABLE 6 | |
| 41 | Wings Over✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +3% | — | |
| 42 | MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -0% | — | |
| 43 | The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -8% | — | |
| 44 | Ace Sushi (Traditional)✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +26% | — | |
| 45 | FUZZY'S TACO SHOP✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -4% | — | |
| 46 | IHOP & INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +0% | — | |
| 47 | Potbelly Sandwich Shop✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +11% | — | |
| 48 | Yummi Sushi✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +69% | — | |
| 49 | Ace Sushi (Non-Traditional)✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | +18% | — | |
| 50 | HUDDLE HOUSE✓ VERIFIEDFood & Dining | Steady | -10% | — |
Showing 50 of 113
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