Businesses With the Most Physical Locations
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If it’s ever felt like you see certain businesses wherever you go, it’s probably because some businesses are everywhere. Fast food joints, hotels and a certain coffee purveyor are among the companies that have produced some of the most recognized products worldwide, and that have the massive physical footprint that comes with the territory. Many of these long-standing companies have evolved and preserved their brands and traditions for decades.
A lot of businesses on this list are franchises. More than 900,000 established franchise businesses, which together generate billions of dollars in output and millions of private sector jobs, operate in the United States alone. But we’ve also included companies that stuck with the company-owned model (like that ubiquitous coffee company) and maintained more control while spreading widely.
To determine which business brands have the most physical locations, we first mined figures from Franchise Direct’s Top 100 Global Franchises list. Then we consulted self-reported figures, media reports and other industry sources to determine the most number of locations for other large company-owned businesses. Often these numbers are estimates or in flux due to frequent closings and openings, so they’re the best we can determine at the time of publication. The amount of locations for each business brand comes from Franchise Direct unless noted. Note: Financial institutions and gas stations are excluded.
43. Tim Hortons
Locations/units: 4,750
Founded: 1964
What it does: This Canadian chain offers coffee and donuts, mostly. Headquartered in Toronto, it’s one of Canada’s largest quick service restaurant chains.
42. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Locations/units: 4,925
Founded: 1962
What it does: Founder Conrad Hilton bought his first hotel in Texas. His namesake company spans 85 countries and territories across six continents.
41. The UPS Store
Locations/units: 4,980
Founded: 1980
What it does: This shipping company has mastered logistics and supply chain management. It runs its own cargo airline and shipping centers to make delivery services competitive.
40. Papa John’s Pizza
Locations/units: 5,055
Founded: 1984
What it does: Pizza magazine (Yes, there’s a magazine about the pizza biz) calls this franchise the fourth largest pizza delivery chain in the U.S. According to company lore, John started selling pies out of his father’s tavern’s broom closet in the ’80s.