Multi-unit franchising beyond 2026 (franchising.com)
Near the end of most years, there are many articles that come out predicting trends to watch in the upcoming year. It is a good time to assess some of the current industry factors and look ahead to see where things will go in the future. Franchise Update asked members of the Mult-Unit Franchisee Advisory Board about some of the next major transformations they see for multi-unit franchising for 2026 and beyond.
Although it may be difficult to have a consensus on predictions, there were a few thoughts from board members that pointed to a potential trend in the future. Several board members indicated there may be an increase in multi-brand franchisee ownership structures that offer customers complementary products or services. Having such a setup would allow franchisees to balance their portfolio with shared resources, costs, and platforms while being able to scale across different brands.
One potential trend that is unique to the restaurant industry is the impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs on customer behavior. On the other end of the spectrum is the understanding and leveraging of AI, a topic that is common to most industries. For highly visible sectors like restaurants, the development of AI impacts customer preferences and behaviors as well as back-of-the-house matters such as hiring, scheduling, and improving operational efficiency.
In Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine, we asked restaurant operators about their typical work week. While many people have been able to enjoy a few extra days off over the holidays, we thought it would be a good time to look at the hours, schedules, and responsibilities of a multi-unit restaurant franchisee. They often have jam-packed weeks filled with meetings, travel, and responsibilities outside the standard work hours. Several franchisees also mentioned the enjoyment and flexibility they get from running their business, which helps when balancing work and family time. See the Franchisee Bytes section below to get a glimpse into the average week of a multi-unit restaurant franchise owner.
Hannibal Myers
Company: Global Restaurant Hospitality GroupBrands: 31 Church’s Texas Chicken
Years in Franchising: 33
I believe one of the next big transformations for multi-unit franchising is going to be the purposeful leveraging of shared experiences across different brands. In 2026 and beyond, the insightful multi-unit franchisee will increasingly curate a portfolio of brands that they can not only scale efficiently, but also market, promote, and create complementary guest interactions. Much like a skilled artist arranges the song tracks on their album to communicate a specific theme or message, tomorrow’s multi-unit franchise innovators will also look to assemble their brand portfolios.
– Source: Franchising.com