Beauty and training gain franchise brands in Colombia

Beauty and health, alongside training, stood out in Colombia’s franchise sector: they were the only categories to increase their number of franchises between 2023 and 2024. This is according to a guide published by Start Franchising on 27 September 2026, using figures attributed to the Colombian Chamber of Franchises (Colfranquicias). The finding offers a different perspective for those comparing opportunities beyond food and drink.

Beauty and health lead the increases

The beauty and health category grew from 45 to 64 franchises between 2023 and 2024. That represents 19 additional franchises in the figures presented by the publication. Training, meanwhile, rose from 32 to 37, an increase of five.

The key point is not simply that both categories grew, but that they were the only ones to record an increase during that period, according to the information cited. This distinction separates the sectors with the most franchises from those that expanded their presence year on year.

However, the figures do not identify which brands account for the increases or which cities they operate in. Nor do they cover specific openings, investments made or outlet performance. Growth in the registered total should therefore be read as a sign of a changing mix of franchise opportunities, not as a measure of profitability for a prospective franchisee.

Food and drink retains the largest share

The gains in beauty and health and in training do not alter food and drink’s leading position in the available figures. This category accounted for 188 registered franchises in 2024, far more than any other, according to the guide citing Colfranquicias.

The comparison provides two distinct reference points. Food and drink has the largest number of registered franchises; beauty and health and training show increases on the previous year. Confusing size with growth can lead to an incomplete view of the opportunities in the sector.

For anyone drawing up a shortlist of brands to investigate, both indicators can serve as a starting point. The size of a category helps establish the breadth of the registered offering, while the annual change shows where there were net additions. Neither figure replaces a review of a specific franchise proposition, its contractual terms or its investment requirements.

What period the figures actually cover

Although the guide was published in September 2026, the totals cited relate to the end of 2024, and the growth comparison uses 2023 as its baseline. This gap between the publication date and the period measured matters: the information is not a tally of openings in 2026.

The same publication includes a growth forecast of 5.2% for 2025 compared with the previous year. This is an estimate, not a confirmed result in the available material. It therefore does not establish that this growth was achieved, nor can it automatically be applied to beauty and health or training.

The scope of the indicator also calls for caution. The figures are presented as registered franchises, not numbers of outlets. An increase in that total does not reveal how many premises opened, how many jobs were created or how brands’ sales changed.

How to use the figures before investing

For those considering entering Colombia’s franchise market, these shifts provide a reason to compare a wider range of categories, without treating recorded growth as an automatic recommendation to invest. An initial review can focus on requesting up-to-date information from each brand and checking exactly what its offer includes.

Ask about the expected total investment, recurring fees, initial training and ongoing operational support. It is also worth requesting evidence of outlets’ track records and having the contract terms reviewed by an independent adviser. These checks should be carried out for each proposition, regardless of how its category has performed.

Practical takeaway: beauty and health and training deserve attention for their recorded growth between 2023 and 2024. Use that information to guide your search, but base your decision on up-to-date, verifiable information about the specific franchise.