The Top 5 Franchises to Watch in 2013

2. In 2011, Subway added 1,100 domestic locations and the same number of international units. They also entered the breakfast war, going head-to-head against McDonald's, Burger King, and Dunkin' Donuts. The chain has found great results for their advertising campaigns which feature celebrities such as RG3 and Justin Tuck. They are also featured heavily in fitness magazines.

1. Hampton Hotels captured U.S. market share during the recession by targeting value-minded businesspeople and leisure travelers attracted by reasonable rates and guaranteed amenities, such as hot breakfast and in-room Wi-Fi. The chain also increased traffic to their non-U.S. locations by branding themselves â€œHampton by Hilton."more

3. 7Eleven provided franchisees several perks in the last year including free remodeling of 2,000 stores, upgraded technology systems at no cost, internal financing for its franchise fee and multi-unit deals for qualified candidates. The franchise also saw a 10 percent increase in sales.more

4. For the first time in more than 20 years, Jiffy Lube ran a franchisee-funded national ad campaign during several major sporting events including Major League Baseball and National Football games. The company also converted 100 Canadian stores from other brands, which were attracted by the companies policy of not charging a franchise fee for new service centers or for existing ones that converted to the Jiffy Lube brand.more

5. Hair care is a $65 billion industry and Supercuts has positioned itself to to grow exponentially over the next few years. With 235 new stores, including 65 new franchised Supercuts, the chain now stands at 2,268 total units.more