Franchising in France: 93,395 outlets in 2025

Franchising continues to expand in France, but that growth is not reflected in an increase in the number of franchise brands. According to figures reported by Tribuca on 30 September 2026, the country had 93,395 franchised outlets in 2025, up 2.9%. Their turnover reached €93.71 billion, an increase of 4.9%. Behind these headline results, however, performance varies.

More outlets, fewer networks

The first key finding is the contrast between two indicators. While the number of franchised outlets is growing, the number of networks has fallen from 2,087 to 2,035, returning to its 2023 level. Tribuca attributes much of this decline to business failures in clothing, footwear and personal accessories retail.

Growth across the sector therefore does not mean that every part of it is advancing at the same pace. An expanding outlet base sits alongside a decline in the number of networks: both trends need to be considered when assessing the national picture.

Turnover at franchised outlets rose by 4.9%, compared with 2.5% for the national market, according to the figures cited by Tribuca. This suggests resilience in what is described as a challenging economic climate. On its own, however, it tells us neither how profitable individual outlets are nor how individual franchisees are performing.

For prospective franchisees, these figures provide useful context rather than a forecast for their own business.

Food retail dominates, while training grows fastest

The breakdown of turnover highlights the importance of food retail. With 203 networks, it accounts for 33.8% of franchise sector turnover. It is followed by fast food, which accounts for 12.1% and has 298 networks.

Next come home furnishings and equipment, with 10.4% of turnover and 97 networks, followed by miscellaneous retail, with 10.3% and 163 networks. The number of brands does not therefore directly reflect their economic weight: food retail generates a substantially larger share of turnover than fast food, despite having fewer networks.

In terms of growth, training recorded the largest increase in turnover in 2025, at 18.6%. Tribuca links this momentum to demand for career changes and skills development. Personal services grew by 9.6%, ahead of fast food at 9.3%.

These differences underline the need to distinguish a sector’s size from its rate of growth. Strong national growth is one factor to consider, but it should be weighed alongside local demand and the terms offered by the franchise brand you are considering.

An economic contribution beyond the outlets

The figures reported by Tribuca also detail the franchise sector’s economic impact beyond outlet turnover. Franchised businesses directly employ 569,479 people and generate €27.64 billion in value added.

Their purchases of goods and services generate an estimated indirect impact of €77.73 billion in turnover and 421,398 jobs. Including franchisors, the impact study conducted for the French Franchise Federation (FFF) puts total direct and indirect turnover at €176.61 billion, supporting 1,018,038 jobs.

These figures cover different scopes. The €93.71 billion generated by franchised outlets should not be confused with the broader direct and indirect impact that includes franchisors. This distinction is essential to an accurate account of the sector’s contribution to the French economy.

Strong appeal among aspiring entrepreneurs

Interest in the model remains high. According to the FFF’s 2026 Franchise Guide, cited by Tribuca, one in three French people would like to start a business. Of those, 52% would consider doing so through franchising, an increase of nine percentage points in a year. Among aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18–24, the proportion reaches 66%.

These are intentions, not businesses that have already opened. Nevertheless, they highlight the appeal of franchising to aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly younger people.

What this means for your plans: use these national figures to put your plans in context, then examine your chosen network, its results, the support it offers and your local market. Growth across the sector is no substitute for assessing the economics of an individual outlet.