Franchisors: Listflix lists 598 companies in Germany

As at 9 November 2026, the Listflix business database lists a total of 598 franchisors in Germany. The analysis reveals clear regional differences: North Rhine-Westphalia leads in absolute numbers, while Bremen has the highest number per capita. The statistics therefore offer a snapshot of where the recorded franchisor companies are based – not the distribution of all franchise businesses across Germany.

A database snapshot, not a measure of growth

Listflix publishes the figures using its own business database and says it updates the analysis daily. The figure of 598 should therefore be read as a snapshot at a specific date. It represents the companies listed as franchisors in the database on 9 November 2026.

This distinction is crucial when using the data. A franchisor is not the same as an individual franchisee business or outlet. The reported company count therefore does not directly indicate how many people run a franchise business in Germany or how many locations the recorded franchise networks operate in total.

Nor can growth in the franchise sector be inferred from this single snapshot. That would require a comparable series of figures over time. Instead, the current publication is useful for examining the geographical distribution and reported company sizes within the Listflix dataset. Anyone citing the figure should therefore explicitly name both the data provider and the reference date.

North Rhine-Westphalia leads, while Bremen has the highest density

With 152 recorded franchisors, North Rhine-Westphalia ranks first among Germany’s federal states. This populous state accounts for around a quarter of the 598 database entries. That figure describes the concentration of franchisors, not the number of franchisees operating there.

The picture changes when measured against population: according to Listflix, Bremen has the highest density among the federal states, with 1.84 franchisors per 100,000 residents. The database gives a national benchmark of 0.72. Bremen is therefore well above the reported national average on this measure.

At city level, Berlin leads in absolute numbers with 51 franchisors. On a per-capita basis, however, Hanover ranks first with 3.45 franchisors per 100,000 residents. Absolute numbers and relative density thus answer different questions: one shows where large numbers of the recorded companies are based; the other relates their number to the population.

For anyone choosing a business location, both perspectives are only a starting point. A franchisor’s headquarters do not imply that most of its franchisees operate in the same region, or that many territories are available there. The rankings should therefore not be treated as a ready-made guide to attractive locations for starting a business.

Micro-enterprises dominate the dataset

According to Listflix’s size breakdown, 59.9% of the recorded franchisors are micro-enterprises. The database also classifies eleven franchisors as large enterprises. Micro-enterprises therefore make up the majority in this analysis.

Prospective franchisees should distinguish between the size of the franchisor company and the size of its network. The franchisor’s size category should not be equated with the number of independently owned franchisee businesses. Nor does the category alone indicate the extent of training, ongoing support or assistance with opening a new outlet.

The figures provide an overview of the sector’s structure within the dataset, rather than a quality ranking. Whether a particular opportunity is suitable for someone starting a business still needs to be assessed at the level of the individual franchise network. Key considerations include the services offered, the financial assumptions and the division of responsibilities between franchisor and franchisee. A statistical size category is no substitute for this assessment.

Commercial register entries as a starting point for checks

Another figure concerns the companies’ formal registration: according to Listflix, 577 of the 598 franchisors are entered in Germany’s commercial register, the Handelsregister. This represents 96.5% of the total. The publication thus reports a commercial register entry for the vast majority of companies in the database.

For prospective franchisees, this information can be a starting point for verifying the identity of the company they would be contracting with. It is not, however, evidence of a business concept’s financial viability or the quality of the working relationship. A register entry alone does not provide a sound basis for an investment decision.

Overall, the Listflix snapshot offers a clearly defined overview: it shows where the recorded franchisors are based, which company size categories are represented and what proportion are reported as being entered in the commercial register. It does not provide findings on turnover, new openings or changes in franchisee numbers.

Practical takeaway: These statistics are useful for an initial overview of Germany’s franchise sector. When choosing a specific franchise opportunity, prospective franchisees should then examine the individual company, its contract terms and its location-specific performance figures.