… according to new research by Ownr, a portfolio company of RBCx. With this desire comes a big question: where to start?
This is where franchising shines its beacon. With the support of a well-established brand, franchised business owners have a designated point to launch from. And, when it comes to finding the right brand, prospective franchisees have a myriad of resources to guide them, including the Canadian Franchise Association’s (CFA) annual directory and awards program, and other awards such as the Elite Franchise Top 100 Canada (EF100).
Of the top five winners announced in the 2026 EF100 rankings, all five are members of the CFA. In fact, CFA members make up the top eight! These rankings highlight the distinguished brands shaping the future of the franchising industry in Canada with their innovation, ambition, resilience, franchisee support, and continued growth. And for the brands sporting the CFA member logo, there are even more benefits.
Look for the Logo to find franchise brands that have voluntarily pledged to uphold the CFA’s core values of excellence in franchising and follow its Code of Ethics. As CFA members, these brands gain access to educational programs and networking tools designed to help them provide their franchisees with premium opportunities and support. At the end of the day, joining a franchise system is about more than just purchasing a unit, it’s about joining a community—Association members are also a part of the CFA family.
This community spirit is clear in the EF100 designees, brands that stand out for their involvement in their communities, their own networks, and the franchising industry as a whole. In the top five, starting with the first place winner, we see Pizza Pizza, A&W, McDonald’s, Snap-On Tools, and Boston Pizza. The top ten also boasts Booster Juice, Pizza Nova, and PropertyGuys.com. These eight brands are not only members of the CFA, but active participants in events, committees, educational programming, advocacy efforts, feature opportunities, and more—all to deliver the best support to their systems and raise their franchisees higher. These are the kinds of efforts that make these brands stand out as leaders in Canada’s franchising industry.
Awards and rankings like the EF100 provide invaluable information to aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to get into business for themselves, but not by themselves. These lists demonstrate the franchise systems going above and beyond for their franchisees, not just in terms of system-wide growth but in the quality of the benefits these brands have to offer their franchise owners. Appreciating these values in the industry, the CFA is an Official Awards Supporter of the EF100, partnering in the judging process and providing governance and ethics oversight.
As the 12th largest industry in Canada, franchising remains a strong path to business ownership. The average Canadian interacts with a franchised business three to five times a day, and nearly 68,000 franchise locations were projected to be operating in Canada by the end of 2025. For the 46 per cent Canadians aspiring to open their own business in 2026, resources such as the annual Franchise Canada directory or the CFA’s online directory, LookforaFranchise.ca, demonstrate the many opportunities available.
We want to extend a congratulations to all CFA members who placed on the EF100 rankings, showing off their high standard of excellence and franchising success!
If you’re not yet part of the CFA community, join the Canadian Franchise Association to become part of the high caliber group of franchise systems dedicating themselves to fostering excellence in franchising. Contact Shivam Sharma at [email protected] to learn more.
