FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2023–2025
Best Brains Item 20: outlets, closures & growth
In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2025), Best Brains reported 201 franchised outlets at year end. 1 of 162 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system — an annualized exit rate of 0.6%— while 39 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved +63.7% over 2023–2025.
| Status (FTC) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlets at start | 118 | 124 | 164 |
| Opened | 7 | 43 | 39 |
| Transfers | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Terminations | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-renewals | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Reacquired by franchisor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ceased — other reasons | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Outlets at end | 124 | 164 | 203 |
| Net change | +6 | +40 | +39 |
0 terminations + 1 non-renewals + 0 ceased (other) = 1 exits ÷ 162 at start = 0.6%
These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchisee involuntarily or terminally leaves the system. Transfers (6) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate” — this annualized exit rate is the disclosed, measurable floor.
| State | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 58 | — |
| IL | 17 | 1 |
| NC | 17 | — |
| CA | 14 | — |
| MI | 10 | — |
| GA | 9 | — |
| MD | 8 | — |
| OH | 8 | — |
| NJ | 7 | — |
| MN | 6 | — |
| PA | 6 | — |
| VA | 6 | 1 |
| WA | 6 | — |
| AZ | 4 | — |
| FL | 4 | — |
| WI | 4 | — |
| CT | 2 | — |
| NE | 2 | — |
| SC | 2 | — |
| AR | 1 | — |
| CO | 1 | — |
| DE | 1 | — |
| IA | 1 | — |
| IN | 1 | — |
| KY | 1 | — |
| MA | 1 | — |
| MO | 1 | — |
| NY | 1 | — |
| TN | 1 | — |
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