Best Children's Service & Education Franchise
Among the franchises qualified to enter this category are pre-school care, play, kids' exercise and educational franchises, stage, home tuition, language, and other schools. Think other brands can learn a thing or two from your children's or education concept? Then get entering!
Best Food & Drink Franchise
The global food and beverage industry is big business. Think your brand has what it takes to stand out in this busy marketplace? Then get entering! We're looking for franchises that operate fast-casual concepts, as well as QSRs, full-service restaurants, cafés, bakeries, ice cream parlors, donut retailers, coffee shops, saloons, pubs, and sports bars.
Best Fitness Franchise
Is your fitness or gym franchise bulking up its international operation? Then we welcome your entry - this category is open to international gyms, work-out studios, martial arts and boxing clubs, boutique fitness studios, dance studios, trampoline parks and other activity-based concepts that get the heartbeat racing!
Best Lifestyle Franchise
Do you run either a beauty-focused, spa, pet care, arts, cultural, tech-centric, crafts, dental or optical franchise? Then get entering this category. Don’t feel that your concept is a good fit the with the other categories? That means it's probably a lifestyle franchise. This is also the ideal category for low-cost and part-time/flexible franchise concepts.
Best Signage & Communications Franchise
This category should be entered by franchises whose business is print, graphic or digital signs as well as franchised print shops, and any other franchised communications or marketing businesses.
Best Business & Professional Services Franchise
Are you the business behind the scenes making everything possible for other entrepreneurs? This B2B category shines a light on those offering vital services such as accounting, marketing, recruitment, IT services, HR consulting, and business coaching.
Best Emerging Franchise
While everyone has their own definition of an 'emerging franchisor' (the IFA uses under 100 units, for example), for the purposes of the Global Franchise Awards 2025, this is a franchise that was formed in or after 2016 and has expanded beyond its native country.
Best Retail Franchise
Is your brand a mainstay of the shopping mall or rising to new heights with e-commerce? Whether your business focuses on clothing, homeware, electronics, convenience, or specialist retail, we're looking for the best of the best.
Best Property Maintenance Franchise
Entries welcomed from cleaning and janitorial, flooring, building, decorating and maintenance, fix-it, garden, tree and pool care, garage design, pest control, home inspectors and other concepts which might conceivably be housed here.
Best Nursing/Care Home Franchise
This award celebrates the most outstanding nursing/care home franchise that exemplifies excellence in senior care. The winner will be a brand that upholds the highest standards of compassion, innovation, and service, providing exceptional care, comfort, and dignity to residents while demonstrating strong franchise growth and operational success.
Best Health & Beauty Franchise
Is your business allowing people to feel like their best selves? From spa centers, salons, and beauty suppliers to nutrition services and fitness spaces, this category champions those brands making a difference to customers' wellbeing.
Best Entertainment Franchise
Is your business bringing the fun factor to customers while achieving serious success? This category caters to entertainment brands such as family entertainment centers (FECs), active concepts like trampoline parks and laser tag, as well as themed concepts including escape rooms and bars.
Best Franchise Law Firm Supplier
Awarded to the legal team which has provided consistently excellent service to the franchise industry, and which has promoted the cause of franchising through media involvement and whose name has become synonymous with franchising. Applicants should demonstrate an open and transparent working relationship with clients, offering consistently high quality, relevant legal advice, and promote franchise best practice.
Best Franchise Consultancy Supplier
The award goes to the consultancy firm that has consistently aided franchisors and franchisees, and has promoted the cause of franchising. If you believe your consultancy is a recognized, go-to name for those seeking advice as they begin or continue their franchising journey, and can demonstrate that you've delivered high-quality service and support and enabled growth on a global scale, enter this category!
Best Marketing & PR Supplier
Particularly over the previous year, when getting the word out about brand evolutions and changes has been paramount, marketing and public relations have been fundamentals of every franchisor's playbook. This category celebrates the experts that help brands to spread their message. Have you been an essential partner to the franchising community? Enter today!
Best Franchise Funding Supplier
This award recognizes the most outstanding franchise funding supplier that has demonstrated exceptional support for franchise businesses. The winner will be a company that provides accessible, innovative, and effective financial solutions, helping franchises grow, expand, and thrive.
Best Tech Innovation Supplier
This category honors the leading Tech/AI-driven marketing supplier that has revolutionized franchise marketing strategies. The winner will showcase cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools that enhance customer engagement, optimize campaigns, and drive measurable success for franchise brands.
REGIONAL CHAMPION: Americas
As part of the new regional categories for the Global Franchise Awards 2025, this category celebrates the brand that stands out in America. Entrants must be headquartered in America, and have an international presence that extends beyond their domestic market. Our judges will be looking for concepts that exemplify the very best of franchising in this established region.
REGIONAL CHAMPION: Europe
As part of the new regional categories for the Global Franchise Awards 2025, this category celebrates the brand that stands out in Europe. Entrants must be headquartered in Europe, and have an international presence that extends beyond their domestic market. Our judges will be looking for concepts that exemplify the very best of franchising in this established region.
REGIONAL CHAMPION: Middle East & Africa
As part of the new regional categories for the Global Franchise Awards 2025, this category celebrates the brand that stands out in the Middle East & Africa. Entrants must be headquartered in the Middle East or Africa, and have an international presence that extends beyond their domestic market. Our judges will be looking for concepts that exemplify the very best of franchising in this emerging region.
REGIONAL CHAMPION: Asia-Pacific
As part of the new regional categories for the Global Franchise Awards 2025, this category celebrates the brand that stands out in Asia-Pacific. Entrants must be headquartered in Asia-Pacific, and have an international presence that extends beyond their domestic market. Our judges will be looking for concepts that exemplify the very best of franchising in this emerging region.
