The survey appears on the magazine’s Web site and in its January 2009 issue.
Subway bested McDonald’s to capture the top position overall. Behind No. 2 McDonald’s came Liberty Tax Service at No. 3.
Among real estate franchises, RE/MAX ranks No. 1 for the ninth time in the past nine years. The closest competitor - Keller Williams - came in at a distant No. 71.
RE/MAX ranks No. 10 overall in the Low-Cost Franchises category. It finished No. 1 last year.
Additionally, RE/MAX tops all real estate competitors at No. 38 on the Global Franchises list.
RE/MAX has a long, successful history in the survey. It ranked No. 10 overall a year ago, No. 11 in 2007, No. 8 in 2006, and No. 10 in 2005.
All companies in the rankings are judged by the same criteria, the most important being financial strength and stability, size and growth rate. Also considered: number of years in business, length of time franchising, start-up costs, litigation, percentage of terminations and financing options.
The factors are plugged into a Franchise 500 formula, with each eligible company receiving a cumulative score.