2025 Dominators: Emerging Hot Spots and Shifting Growth Patterns

By: Ambika Oberoi
Published: January 16th, 2026

The 2025 Dominators analysis shows a steady but evolving franchise landscape. The top CBSAs—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston—remain firmly at the top with only fractional movement in unit counts year over year. For multi-unit operators, this stability signals that the nation’s biggest markets remain essential, but expansion opportunities there are about optimization, not aggressive growth.

Where we see meaningful movement is in secondary and midsized markets. Several CBSAs posted healthy double-digit percentage increases in franchisee units. Laurinburg, North Carolina, grew 11.4% while Spencer, Iowa, rose 9.4% and Oil City, Pennsylvania, advanced 7.1%. For operators seeking less saturated environments with competitive cost structures, these markets illustrate where new opportunities are forming.

On the other side of the spectrum, some regions experienced sharp contractions. Durant, Oklahoma, saw a nearly 25% drop in units while Magnolia, Arkansas, declined 20%. These declines suggest certain regional markets are struggling with demand, costs, or brand retrenchment.

At the franchisee level, the story of consolidation and scale continues. Already a powerhouse, the Flynn Group expanded its reach and now ranks as the top franchisee in nine states, up from seven last year. This jump stems from its acquisitions of Wendy’s units in New Jersey and Pizza Hut locations across the Southeast. At the same time, Cultivate Solutions, a major franchisee in North Dakota, joined the Dominators list this year. Its multi-unit development deal with Dave’s Hot Chicken signals an appetite for bold expansion and the increasing role of emerging operators aligning with high-growth brands.

The key takeaway for franchisors and multi-unit franchisees is balance. The largest metros still anchor national footprints, but real growth is happening in unexpected places as secondary CBSAs post steady gains while some legacy markets contract.

Ambika Oberoi is director of information management for FRANdata.