Top existing franchises for sale Every year, Entrepreneur magazine names its top existing franchises for sale, gathered up into a list called the "Franchise 500." By referring to this list, prospective franchise owners can determine the top franchise for sale in any number of categories-the best fast-food franchise, the best auto service franchise, the best do-it-yourself picture framing franchise, and so on. This publication also names the 10 best franchises for sale regardless of the industry they are in, and it is this list that offers the most coveted ranking of all. The "next hottest franchise concept" certainly has a chance to advance in the standings. But year after year, the same companies continue to dominate this list, mainly because they have superb brand recognition, a solid financial base, highly satisfied franchisees committed to excellence, and products or services that have stood the test of time. As Entrepreneur sees it, here are the top existing franchises for sale 1. Subway The top company on this list has gained a reputation for offering fresh, healthy food at very reasonable prices. They also come up with some very innovative national marketing campaigns to keep the name "fresh" in the public's eye. Subway began franchising in 1974 and has more than 21,000 franchises in the United States. 2. McDonald's Ray Kroc took a California hamburger joint owned by two brothers and turned it into the world's largest fast-food restaurant chain. Over the years, McDonald's has been an innovator from the aspects of both service and menu items, inventing such concepts as the kids' meal and drink tops with pre-punched access holes. The company charges a franchise fee of $45,000, with ongoing royalties of 12.5 percent based on gross annual sales. 3. Liberty Tax Service With the tax deadline of April 15 looming over the heads of U.S. citizens every year, more and more taxpayers realize that it pays to hire an outside expert to help them complete their filings. The company started as Jackson Hewitt Tax Service in 1972 (and began franchising a year later) and changed its name after buying out another tax business in Canada. 4. Sonic Drive-In Restaurants This company started as a root beer stand in 1954 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, jumping into the franchise business five years later. Today there are close to 3,000 Sonic Drive-In top existing franchises for sale across the country. 5. InterContinental Hotels Group The flagship property in this massive chain is the self-named InterContinental, which include some of the most prestigious hotels in such world capitals as London, Paris, Vienna, Cairo, Nairobi, and many others. This hotel conglomerate also includes such familiar brand names as Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, Stay Bridge, and Candlewood.