500+ Unit Franchise Giants With The Most Failed Locations

Introduction

These 20 franchises have closed 50 to 3,600+ locations in a 3 year period! We have analyzed our database of over 5,500+ offerings and compiled this exclusive list of failed locations for you. For our analysis, we have taken data for the prior three years starting with 2018 (or 2019 depending on disclosures provided by the franchise brand).

We will only be looking at franchises with failed locations that have 500+ units. Let’s dive into the data:

Table

Stroll

Sells advertising to businesses that wish to advertise in print magazines, newsletters, and/or directories for residential communities, cities, towns, and villages.

• Net Unit Change: -33%
• Change in Units: -312

Liberty Tax Service

Offers a franchise program to operate tax return preparation offices utilizing special marketing techniques and operating procedures.

• Net Unit Change: -31%
• Change in Units: -1027

Cleannet

operates an independent commercial Cleaning and related services business.

• Net Unit Change: -29%
• Change in Units: -600

Fantastic Sams

Salons provide a full range of haircare products and services to men, women, and children.

• Net Unit Change: -27%
• Change in Units: -248

GNC

Is a global company specializing in the sale of health and nutrition-related products. Including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, and diet products. They have over 9000 stores in more than 50 countries, making them one of the largest retailers of nutritional supplements in the world. In addition to its brick-and-mortar stores, GNC also has an online presence and sells its products through third-party retailers.

• Net Unit Change: -24%
• Change in Units: -248

Edible Arrangements

Sells sculpted fruit floral arrangements, floral bouquets, plush animals, popcorn, nuts, coffee, teas, gift baskets made with fresh fruit, chocolate-covered fruit, fruit smoothies, fruit salads, cookies, cheesecakes, and similar individual-serving-size baked goods, fruit and yogurt products, and other chocolate and fruit-related products.

• Net Unit Change: -19%
• Change in Units: -206

Regal Nails Salon & Spa

Is a nail salon chain.

• Net Unit Change: -17%
• Change in Units: -125

Merle Norman Cosmetics

Is a franchise for a store selling Merle Normal Cosmetics exclusively.

• Net Unit Change: -15%
• Change in Units: -161

H&R Block

Is a tax return preparation business and may have the right to offer related products and services, bookkeeping, payroll services, and training.

• Net Unit Change: -15%
• Change in Units: -505

Subway

Sells sell foot-long and other sandwiches, salads, and other food items from a retail establishment.

• Net Unit Change: -15%
• Change in Units: -3651

Rodeway Inn

Is a hotel business.

• Net Unit Change: -14%
• Change in Units: -84

Pizza Hut Traditional

Restaurants offer pizza, pasta and other Italian-style food items and WingStreet chicken products and side dishes.

• Net Unit Change: -14%
• Change in Units: -829

Tire Pros

Offers franchises to convert your existing tire store to a Tire Pros store.

• Net Unit Change: -14%
• Change in Units: -97

Econo Lodge

Offers a hotel business, too.

• Net Unit Change: -13%
• Change in Units: -105

Century 21

is a real estate brokerage offering service.

• Net Unit Change: -12%
• Change in Units: -270

Pizza Hut Non-Traditional

Sells the same products as Pizza Hut but from non-traditional locations.

• Net Unit Change: -12%
• Change in Units: -174

Jazzercise

Offers dance fitness programs.

• Net Unit Change: -11%
• Change in Units: -730

Church’s Chicken

Quick-service restaurants specializing in the sale of fried chicken.

• Net Unit Change: -11%
• Change in Units: -112

Dairy Queen Treat

Sells trademarked Dairy Queen soft-serve, treat products, and beverage menu items, and a limited number of approved food items.

• Net Unit Change: -10%
• Change in Units: -99

Comfort Keepers

Provides in-home care for the elderly and other adults who need assistance in daily living, including homemaker/companionship care, personal care, and personal technology services and equipment.

• Net Unit Change: -9%
• Change in Units: -6

Conclusion

It is interesting to see the decline of Pizza Hut and Subway. At the same time, hotel chains like Econo Lodge and Rodeway are also consolidating, if not completely closing down. What is essential to note is that franchises like Subway with over 22,000 locations are unlikely to die out completely, but certainly, with so many failed locations, they are past their prime.