10 Most Popular Franchise Business in India for 2025
India has seen rapid growth in the franchising industry in recent years, thus making the country a highly lucrative market for aspiring entrepreneurs.
From food to education, retail, and healthcare, most of these growing sectors can also avail of proven business models such as franchising, which will significantly reduce the risk of failure.
It enables new entrepreneurs to leverage the already established brand equity and provide a firm foundation for success.
This allows someone interested in starting a business to have an opportunity to benefit from an already established business model and the training and support offered by franchisors.
Studying these top franchises can teach potential entrepreneurs about thriving businesses and how to adapt this to their businesses.
Here’s a closer look at the 10 most popular and profitable franchise businesses in India for 2023 that have taken interest from both Indian investors and entrepreneurs.
1. Domino’s Pizza
What makes Domino’s a great franchise business in India?
Domino’s Pizza has taken it all with the slice of India’s food retail industry. Through its super fast delivery service and the innovative pizza menu depending upon the Indian palette along with a high digital footprint, it keeps reigning the pizzas.
Today, Domino’s is one of the largest brands of pizza service, present in over 300 cities and a future investment choice for entrepreneurs.
Franchise Information:
- Investment Required: Rs. 1.5 crore – Rs. 2 crore
- Royalty Fees: 8% on Monthly Gross Sales
- Assisted Support Offered: Training, supply chain management, and marketing assistance. The reason for Domino’s success in India is due to its efficiency and local taste sizes on the run, which makes it a very popular franchise business in India.
2. McDonald’s
McDonald’s – a Global Giant in India
Quick-service restaurants across the globe often irritate us with nothing but the word McDonald’s. Obviously, in India, it has adapted to the local taste with the McAloo Tikki Burger or Masala Grill. Factors such as price and imports are attracting all age groups to the outlets.
Initial Investments:
- ₹2.5 crore – ₹4 crore
- 4% Royalty Fees: Royalty Fees from the monthly sales
- Complete Training and Marketing Support along with Supply Chain Solutions offered.
Excellent supply chain and scalable model keep McDonald’s at the top as a franchise business in India.
3. Subway
Healthier Fast-Food Option
Subway has built a new-age sandwich eatery, focusing on fresh-cut ingredients and custom-made menus. The healthy offerings of sandwiches, wraps, and salads have been interesting to health-conscious customers who go to Subway, given the increasing awareness of healthy eating.
Franchise Detail:
- Initial Investment: ₹50 lakh – ₹1 crores
- Royalty Fees: 8% of monthly sales
- Support Offered: Guidance, marketing support, and regular training.
Considering these factors, Subway continues to rank high among the franchise businesses in India for entrepreneurs with smaller footprints but high returns.
Also read: Maximize Your Franchise Resale Proceeds: Expert Tips and Strategies for Success
4. DTDC Courier and Cargo
Leader in Logistics
The increases in e-commerce and shipping have led to much of the growth in regulations for a franchise within the logistics industry of Courier and Cargo. All possible services are included by the company from domestic to international doorstep delivery to the terminal.
Franchise Information:
- Initial Investment: ₹1.5 lakh – ₹5 lakh
- Royalty fees: Based on commission
- Support: Comprehensive training and operational support.
Hence, the extensive network and brand strength of DTDC make it one of the popular franchise business options in India.
5. KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
Finger-Lickin’ Good Success
Fried chicken and unique side dishes from KFC mesmerize Indian palates so much that hundreds will queue outside its chain outlets. This chain is everywhere in cities and towns, and KFC is well known for its consistent quality and customer service.
Franchise Details:
- Initial Investment: ₹1 Cr – ₹2.5 Cr
- Royalty Fees: 6% of gross sales
- Services Offered: Real estate selection, staff training, and marketing assistance.
It keeps the menu open to adaptation, like the provision of vegetarian options, thus maintaining the popularity of KFC as a franchise business in India. KFC has adapted an Indian blend into the menu.
6. Kidzee
Revolutionizing Education
Kidzee is well established with an identity in early childhood education in India. The preschool segment has developed very good curricula for holistic development and has gained the excellent trust of all the parents.
Franchise facts:
- Initial investment: 5 lakh to 12 lakh
- Royalty fees: 15% of the revenue
- Support is offered: Curriculum guidance, teacher training, and marketing support.
Education has always been the top priority of the Indian family, and this strong foundation of Kidzee makes it an excellent and popular business as a franchise in India.
7. Baskin Robbins
A Sweet Investment
Baskin Robbins has penetrated India’s dessert market with several ice cream flavours. A recognizable brand with creative marketing skills, it is the first place for an entrepreneur.
Franchise Details:
- Initial Investment: ₹30 lakh – ₹40 lakh
- Royalty Fees: 5% of monthly sales
- Support Provided: A store will be set up, trained staff, and marketing will take place.
This is why premium quality by the brand justifies the setup, making it an acceptable franchise business in India.
8. Tanishq
Shining Bright in Jewelry Retail
Tanishq, a brand under the Tata Group, has truly changed the jewellery retail scene in India. The authenticity and modern designs grab the attention of near and wide.
Franchise details:
- Initial Investment: ₹3 crores – ₹5 crores
- Royalty Fees: 8% Revenue
- Support: support in Store layout staff training, and marketing.
Such unmatched trust and brand loyalty of Tanishq have made it the most popular franchise business in India.
9. Lenskart
Visionary Success
With its seamless integration of both online and offline sales channels, Lenskart has truly disrupted the eyewear industry. Affordably priced and stylish, it has quickly become a household name in India.
Facts about Franchise:
- Entry Fee: ₹50 lakh – ₹1 crore
- Royalty Charges: 25% of income
- Support given includes: marketing, inventory management, and staff training.
Lenskart’s unique business formulation makes it one of the most popular franchise businesses in India.
10. Amul
The Taste of India
Amul, the largest dairy cooperative in India, has made it possible for anyone to invest into a franchise without too much hassle and eventually gain guaranteed returns. Amul has a wide range of products ranging from milk to cheese, butter, ice creams, and many others, and a large consumer base.
franchise Details:
- Limits on Investment: INR 2 lakh – INR 5 lakh
- Royalty Fees: None (profit-sharing model)
- Support Offered: Training, marketing and operational guidance.
This speaks about the unequalled brand trust and affordability it has provided to ensure that Amul remains on top of the list concerning popular franchises”s in India.
Why Franchising is Thriving in India
The following factors brought in the flourishing franchise industry in India:
1. Growing Middle Class
Consumption levels will shoot up from those who have decent disposable income even among present levels of income classes in Indian society.
The increase in consumer purchasing power will provide opportunities for franchises in the income classes that are accessible to a more affluent and aspirational consumer.
2. Urbanization
The quality of services for cities will go high as India’s urbanization fastens. More people start to migrate into urban centres, there will be an increased need for organized retail, food services, health and medical facilities, education, and entertainment of which are majorly dominated by franchises.
Also, urban centres bring access to larger markets with diverse customers.
3. Entrepreneurial Dreams
Many Indians are nowadays considering entrepreneurship as a way of wealth creation. One of the simplest forms of entrepreneurship-withstanding all roller coaster rides-is franchising; the model is tested and proven.
It makes it easier to overcome those usual risks associated with starting a business from scratch. The comforts of established brands and systems provide adequate comfort for that first-time business owner in most situations.
4. Supporting Policies
There have been a lot of schemes initiated by the Indian Government to promote business development, such as financing schemes, tax incentives, and ease-of-doing-business reform.
These enabling policies allow easy access to capital for franchisees and smooth the path for regulatory compliance. It has thus encouraged both local and international brands to increase their footprint in India.
Check out this: Unacademy Franchise: Investment Cost, Benefits, and Profit Potential Explained
Key Considerations for Choosing a Franchise
The crucial factor when choosing a franchise opportunity is considering the following elements for the best possible assurance of success:
1. Look into the Brand
Search the franchise’s reputation on the market. Search how much its brand was recognized, customer views and how successful its existing franchisees were. The strength of a brand reputation will drive customer loyalty while setting a great bottom for your business. Also, check whether the brand ensures similar quality across its locations.
2. Know Costs
The types of investment needed to establish a franchise vary much with its brand as well as the location. Estimate franchise fees, real estate costs, equipment, and inventories but also come to know the ongoing ones such as royalty fees, usually a certain percentage of your revenue, and all other operational or marketing fees. Make sure this suits your financial abilities and expectations of profits.
3. Verify Assistance
Strong franchisor support is crucial for your success. Ensure the franchisor provides comprehensive training programs that allow you to correctly set up your daily activities while running the business. Besides, given their support, strive for operational help to address issues like staff recruitment, and inventory management, and face any challenges that crop up during the course.
4. Research the market
Research the market to check whether there is significant demand for the franchise’s product or service in your locality. Investigate local competition, to understand how the franchise is different from others and if it would thrive in a competitive environment. Finally, consider the local economic conditions because they affect consumer behaviour and spending habits.
Conclusion
The franchise model is extended as a great opportunity for many entrepreneurs to establish successful businesses using already-developed brands and working operational systems.
About franchise investment, you have a ready-made business structure, support, and acknowledgement, which lessens the risk of starting on your own. In India, a booming franchise ecosystem now provides various options across niches, from food to education, healthcare, retail and others.
The franchises in India, most popularly chosen for 2023, are 10 different businesses entertaining a wide array of sectors, making it a little less every individual’s business, if not more.
Food is the continued resourceful industry of both local and international fast food giants which grants franchising opportunities for any form of scalability.
Whether QSRs or casual dining, the food industry will be more rewarding in terms of increased demand for dining out.
