Franchise Business Economic

Outlook for 2016

Prepared for:

International Franchise Association

Educational Foundation

By:

IHS Economics
January 2016

No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

About IHS Economics

IHS Economics is one of the leading economic analysis and forecasting firms in the world. With over 600
economists and industry specialists in 25 offices worldwide, IHS Economics offers market intelligence for over
200 countries and coverage of over 170 industries that helps more than 3,800 clients to monitor, analyze, and
interpret conditions affecting their business. IHS Economics has an established track record for providing
rigorous, objective forecast analysis and data to businesses, governments, and industry associations around the
world.

About IHS (www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is a leading source of information and insight in critical areas that shape todays business
landscape, including energy and power; design and supply chain; defense, risk, and security; environmental,
health and safety, and sustainability; country and industry forecasting; and commodities, pricing and cost. IHS
has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in
2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, United States, IHS employs more than 5,500 people in more
than 30 countries around the world.
For more information, contact:
John Reynolds
President, IFA Educational Foundation
jreynolds@franchise.org
Alisa Harrison
Senior Vice President, Communications and Marketing
aharrison@franchise.org
James Gillula
Managing Director, IHS Economics
James.Gillula@ihs.com
For press information, contact:
Katherine Smith
Media Relations Manager, IHS
Katherine.Smith@ihs.com

(C) Copyright 2016. IFA Educational Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

All information contained herein is obtained by IHS Economics from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. All
forecasts and predictions contained herein are believed by IHS Economics to be as accurate as the data and methodologies will
allow. Because of the possibilities of human and mechanical error, however, as well as other factors such as unforeseen and
unforeseeable changes in political and economic circumstances beyond IHS Economics control, the information herein is
provided as is without warranty of any kind, and IHS Economics, AND ALL THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS, MAKE NO
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED TO ANY SUBSCRIBER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY AS TO THE
ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE
INFORMATION OR FORECASTS CONTAINED HEREIN.

No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1

Franchise Business Index .......................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 5
THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK............................................................................................................................ 6
OUTLOOK FOR FRANCHISE BUSINESS ........................................................................................................... 8
Outlook Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Establishments by Business Line ............................................................................................................. 14
Employment by Business Line................................................................................................................. 15
Output by Business Line.......................................................................................................................... 17
Franchise Businesses' Contribution to GDP ............................................................................................ 18
Distribution by Sector ............................................................................................................................. 18
Output per Employee.............................................................................................................................. 20
Composition of Franchise Business Lines ............................................................................................... 22
Methodology........................................................................................................................................... 23

No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents a forecast of the franchise sector of the US economy in 2016 prepared by IHS
Economics for the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation.
The US economy still faces headwinds from a weak global economy and a strong dollar, but recent data
confirm the mostly sound foundations of the US economic recovery led by solid growth in consumer
spending and housing. IHS expects that real GDP growth will accelerate between the fourth quarter of
2015 and the end of 2016. Consumer spending will rebound from a weak fourth quarter, and the
inventory cycle that depressed growth in 2015 will likely come to an end in the first half of 2016. In
addition, the drag from the plunge in energy-sector capital spending will wind down, and the recent
congressional agreement on taxes and spending will add 0.1-0.2 percentage point to growth over the
coming year.
As expected, the Federal Reserve Board raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in December.
We expect the Fed to continue to raise rates by 25 basis points in each quarter of 2016. But this will not
hinder the durability of the recovery. We expect real GDP growth to accelerate from 2.4% in 2015 to
2.7% in 2016.
With data for 2015 now nearly complete, we estimate that the franchise sector finished the year slightly
stronger than projected in our September 2015 report. We estimate that the number of franchise
establishments increased 1.7% in 2015, franchise employment was up 3.0%, and franchise output grew
5.6%. All of these figures are higher than our mid-2015 forecasts, and all represent an improvement
over rates of growth in 2014.
We see further improvement in the pace of growth of the franchise sector in 2016 as consumer
spending remains strong and business spending accelerates:

We expect the number of franchise establishments to increase by 1.7% in 2016, matching the
pace of growth in 2015.

Employment growth in the franchise sector will continue to outpace the growth of employment
in all businesses economy-wide, as it has in each of the last five years. We expect franchise
employment to increase 3.1% in 2016, while total private nonfarm employment will increase
1.9%. Over the six-year period, 2011-2016, average annual job growth in the franchise sector, at
2.7%, will be 0.5 percentage points higher than for all businesses economy-wide.

Growth of the output of franchise businesses in nominal dollars will accelerate to 5.8% in 2016
ahead of the 5.6% gain ion 2015 as output per worker in the franchise sector increases slightly.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the franchise sector will increase by 5.6% to $552 billion in
2016. This will exceed the growth of US GDP in nominal dollars, which is projected at 4.4%. The
franchise sector will contribute approximately 3% of US GDP in nominal dollars.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 1

Franchise Business Growth by Year, 2009-2016: January 2016 Forecast

8%

6%

4%

Establishments
Employment

2%

Output
0%

GDP

-2%

-4%
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Our analysis is based on a grouping of franchise businesses into 10 broad business lines. The growth
outlook differs among the groups, with output growth in 2016 ranging from a low of 4.4% in the
commercial & residential services business line to 6.6% in lodging. Other highlights of the industry
forecast for 2016 are:

As overall consumer spending maintains a 3% growth pace in 2016, the outlook for the retail
products & services franchises will remain strong. The retail business line is projected to rank
first in employment growth at 3.7% and second in output growth at 6.4%.

Business spending will also accelerate in 2016, giving a boost to business services franchises,
which are projected to rank first in growth of the number of establishments and tied for second
in employment growth with a 3.3% gain.

Both the quick service and table service restaurant business lines will continue to be among the
growth leaders, each with 3.3% employment growth and 6.3% output growth in 2016.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 2

Franchise Business Economic Outlook 2016: January 2016 Forecast

Employment
(thousands)

Establishments

Output
($Billions)

Percent
Amount Change Over
Previous Year

Percent
Amount Change Over
Previous Year

Percent
Amount Change Over
Previous Year

Automotive
Business Services
Commercial & Residential Services
Lodging
Personal Services
Quick Service Restaurants
Real Estate
Retail Food
Retail Products & Services
Table/Full Service Restaurants

31,968
99,029
64,670
27,479
115,783
159,839
91,950
63,840
103,130
38,244

1.5%
2.0%
1.6%
1.8%
1.8%
1.5%
1.7%
1.5%
1.9%
1.6%

199.3
1,026.7
384.5
771.7
720.5
3,446.8
327.8
535.5
547.0
1,152.2

3.0%
3.3%
2.8%
2.8%
2.6%
3.3%
2.4%
3.2%
3.7%
3.3%

43.84
175.60
59.31
96.33
101.53
248.28
57.44
44.61
46.58
70.09

4.6%
5.9%
4.4%
6.6%
4.9%
6.3%
5.7%
4.7%
6.4%
6.3%

TOTAL

795,932

1.7%

9,111.9

3.1%

943.60

5.8%

Franchise Business Index

The estimates of output, employment and the number of establishments in the franchise industry
reported here provide valuable measures of the size and growth of the industry. But, because most of
the key data inputs required to make these estimates are published only on an annual basis, the
estimates are made only at an annual frequency. A more timely reading of the business environment for
franchise operations in the US is provided by the Franchise Business Index (FBI) a monthly index of
franchise activity that was developed for IFA by IHS. The FBI combines indicators of the growth or
decline of industries where franchise activity has historically been concentrated with measures of the
demand for franchise business services and the general business environment. The components of the
index are:

Employment in Franchise Businesses (ADP)

Number of Self Employed (BLS)
Unemployment Rate (BLS)
Retail Sales of Franchise-Intensive Industries (Census Bureau)
Small Business Optimism Index (NFIB)
Small Business Credit Conditions Index (NFIB)

The Franchise Business Index increased by an average 0.3% per month over the last three months
(September through November), and the index was up 2.5% in November compared to November 2014.
All components of the index made positive contributions to the FBI over this 3-month period. Among
individual components, strong gains in employment (as measured by ADPs franchise employment
series) and retail sales of franchise-intensive retailers contributed most. Small business optimism
IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 3

improved steadily over the period. Month-to-month changes in credit conditions and were mixed but
still positive on balance over the 3-month period.

Franchise Business Index

Percent Change

August
2015

Sept
2015

Oct
2015

Nov
2015

12-month
Nov-Nov

116.2
-0.1%

116.7
0.4%

116.9
0.2%

117.4
0.4%

2.5%

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 4

INTRODUCTION
This report presents a first look at the outlook for the franchise sector of the US economy in 2016
prepared by IHS Economics for the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation.
The following section presents a summary of the current IHS forecast of the US economy in 2016, with
attention to economic indicators that relate to sectors of the economy where there is a significant
concentration of franchising.
We then present an overview of our estimates and forecasts of franchising for 10 business lines: 1
1. Automotive
2. Business Services
3. Commercial & Residential Services
4. Lodging
5. Personal Services
6. Quick Service Restaurants
7. Table/Full Service Restaurants
8. Real Estate
9. Retail Food
10. Retail Products and Services
For each of the 10 business format lines, the projections include estimates through 2015 and an initial
forecast for 2016 of:

Franchise establishments2

Franchise employment3

Franchise nominal output4

This report does not include estimates for product-distribution franchises, such as automotive and truck dealers,
gasoline service stations without convenience stores, and beverage bottlers.
2

An establishment is a single physical location at which business is conducted or services or industrial operations
are performed. A business may consist of more than one establishment. An establishment may be owned by the
franchisor or the franchisee.
3

Positions filled by part-time and full-time employees or by self-employed individuals.

Nominal output is the gross value of goods and services produced -- a concept that is comparable with "sales" for
most industries. In government input-output accounts, the output of goods-producing industries is measured by
the value of shipments. For most other industries, output is measured by receipts or revenues from goods and
services sold. A special case is the output of the wholesale and retail industries, which is measured generally as the
difference between receipts or revenues and the cost of goods soldthis difference is referred to as "margin."

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 5

THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Recent data confirm the mostly sound foundations of the US economic recoverysolid growth in
consumer spending and housing, but pain in parts of the manufacturing sector because of a strong
dollar and an inventory cycle. Although real GDP grew 2.0% in the third quarter and is expected to
advance only 1.2% in the fourth quarter, the corresponding growth rates of real final sales to domestic
purchasers (GDP less inventories and less exports) are 2.7% and 2.3%. IHS expects that real GDP growth
will accelerate between the fourth quarter of 2015 and the end of 2016, as some of the drags on growth
ease. First, the inventory cycle will likely come to an end in the first half of 2016. Second, the drag from
the plunge in energy-sector capital spending will wind down. Third, the recent congressional agreement
on taxes and spending will add 0.1-0.2 percentage point to growth over the coming year. Together, this
means that growth will improve from 2.4% in 2015 to 2.7% in 2016.

Real GDP Growth

(Percent change, annual rate)
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%

0%
-1%
-2%
2013Q1

2014Q1

2015Q1

2016Q1

IHS Economics, January 2016 Forecast

As expected, the Federal Reserve raised its overnight federal funds rate by 25 basis points at its
December policy meeting, signaling confidence in the recoverys sustainability. This was the first rate
hike in more than nine yearsand seven years since rates were pushed to zero. We expect there will be
four more 25-basis-point rate increases in 2016, but this gradual pace of rising short-term interest rates
will not slow the recovery.
The consumer outlook for 2016 remains positive. Real disposable income is expected to increase 3.1% in
2016 after a 3.6% gain in 2015. Real consumer spending growth is expected to increase 3.1% in 2015
and 3.0% in 2016. Auto sales still remain a bright spot, but less dependent on pent-up demand than in
the early years of the recovery. We expect light-vehicle sales to increase from 17.4 million units in 2015
to 17.8 million units in 2016.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 6

The pending home sales index that measures contract signing activity has fallen in three of the last four
months, which suggests that there is underlying softness in the market for existing homes. Thus, existing
home sales are expected to improve modestly to 5.3 million units in 2016, up only 1.7%. However, the
outlook for housing starts is stronger. We expect starts to surpass a 1.3-million-unit annualized rate by
the end of 2016 up 14% for the year. New home sales will follow, averaging 588,000 units in 2016, the
highest level since 2007.
Nonresidential construction, which grew at a spectacular 42.8% annual rate in the second quarter as
spending on manufacturing plants soared, has plateaued. Manufacturing construction, which is at
elevated levels, is set to contract significantly in 2016.
The trade-weighted dollar exchange rate was 10% higher at the end of 2015 than it was at the start. IHS
expects the dollar to strengthen further over the first half of this year because of tightening Fed policy
and accelerating US growth. Thereafter, as world growth picks up and other countries start to raise
interest rates, the dollar should begin a slow multiyear descent. Exports and imports will respond to the
stronger dollar, taking small slices off growth every quarter, but not enough to keep overall growth from
accelerating in 2016.

The Economic Outlook for 2016

(Annual percent change)

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Real Gross Domestic Product

2.2%

1.5%

2.4%

2.4%

2.7%

Total Nonfarm Employment

1.7%

1.7%

1.9%

2.1%

1.7%

Accommodations and Food Services

3.2%

3.6%

3.1%

3.1%

1.7%

Personal Services

1.3%

1.0%

1.6%

1.2%

0.3%

Real Disposable Income

3.1%

-1.4%

2.7%

3.6%

3.1%

Real Personal Consumption

1.5%

1.7%

2.7%

3.1%

3.0%

Food Services

2.1%

1.3%

3.1%

4.6%

3.6%

Accommodations

5.5%

3.0%

2.6%

3.8%

2.5%

Personal Services

1.7%

0.4%

3.7%

3.2%

2.3%

Retail Sales (nominal dollars)

4.9%

3.9%

3.9%

2.1%

3.7%

Existing Home Sales

8.9%

9.0%

-3.0%

5.9%

1.7%

13.2%

6.8%

12.6%

11.1%

6.3%

Com'l & Indus. Loans Outstanding, Com'l.Banks

IHS Economics, January 2016 Forecast

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 7

OUTLOOK FOR FRANCHISE BUSINESS

Outlook Summary
Many of the factors that have been creating a drag on real GDP growth, such as weak exports, flat
government spending and an inventory correction, are of less direct relevance for the health of the
franchise sector of the economy. As summarized above, the fundamentals of consumer spending are
positive and business investment (outside the oil industry) is beginning to accelerate. Thus, many
franchise businesses saw good business conditions in 2015 and will continue to see good business
conditions in 2016. By most measures, the franchise sector will continue to grow at rates that exceed
the economy-wide growth of industries where franchises are concentrated:

We estimate that the number of franchise establishments increased by 1.7% in 2015, and we
expect this pace of establishment growth to be maintained in 2016.

Franchise employment was up an estimated 3.0% in 2015, and we project a comparable gain of
3.1% in 2016. In comparison, total non-farm private sector employment is projected to increase
1.9% in 2016 after a 2.4% gain in 2015.

Growth of the output of franchise businesses in nominal dollars will accelerate from an
estimated 5.6% in 2015 to 5.8% in 2016 as output per worker in the franchise sector increases in
several business lines.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the franchise sector will increase by 5.6% to $552 billion in
2016. This will exceed the growth of US GDP in nominal dollars, which is projected at 4.4%. The
franchise sector will contribute approximately 3% of US GDP in nominal dollars.

Franchise Business Economic Outlook: January 2016 Forecast

2008
Establishments
Percent change

Estimates
2009
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

774,016 746,646 740,098 736,114 747,359 757,857 769,782

0.4%
-3.5%
-0.9%
-0.5%
1.5%
1.4%
1.6%

Forecast
(Jan. 2016)
2015
2016
782,573
1.7%

795,932
1.7%

Employment ('000)
Percent change

8,028
0.4%

7,800
-2.8%

7,780
-0.3%

7,940
2.1%

8,127
2.3%

8,334
2.5%

8,573
2.9%

8,834
3.0%

9,112
3.1%

Output ($Billions)
Percent change

696
3.2%

674
-3.2%

699
3.6%

734
5.0%

768
4.7%

804
4.7%

845
5.0%

892
5.6%

944
5.8%

GDP ($Billions)
Percent change

410
1.8%

405
-1.2%

414
2.2%

434
4.8%

453
4.4%

473
4.4%

496
4.8%

523
5.5%

552
5.6%

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 8

The following chart shows how the franchise economy has fared over the last three years, along with
our 2016 forecast, by various measures. Growth rates of output and GDP are in nominal dollars.
Franchise Business Growth, 2013-2016: January 2016 Forecast
8%

6%

2013

4%

2014
2%

2015
0%

2016
-2%

-4%
Establishments

Employment

Output

GDP

To provide background for our view of how different segments of the franchise sector will fare in 2016,
we review IHS forecasts of employment and output in the industries where there is a large
concentration of franchise businesses. Key drivers of the franchise economy drawn from the IHS US
Industry and US Macroeconomic forecasts are summarized below.
Automotive: On the commercial vehicle side, capacity in the trucking industry is tight and getting
tighter. As the economy continues to recover and grow, the demand for shipping has roared back. The
American Trucking Association reported their advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage
Index equaled 135.1 (2000=100) in September, which was the second highest level on record; the alltime high of 135.8 occurred in January 2015. Trucking companies will need to make investments in new
fleet capacity as well as try to maintain the current fleet. Thus, it will also behoove fleets and individual
owner operators to step up their equipment maintenance.
The growth of light vehicle sales is forecast to slow to 2.1% in 2016 after growing an estimated 5.8% in
2015. However, the age of the average vehicle on the road is near record highs. The continued
improvement in the labor market, along with continued low interest rates in the near term, should help
boost confidence for bigger ticket item purchases. Economy-wide, consumer spending on auto parts is
expected to increase 4.3% in 2016. We estimate that output of the automotive franchise business line
increased 4.6% in 2015, and the forecast for 2016 shows growth continuing at this pace.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 9

Employment in the automotive business line is expected to be up 3.0% in 2015 and to continue this pace
in 2016. While this will outpace the overall auto parts and tire sales industry, it will keep the automotive
business line among the slowest growing of the 10 franchise business lines, ranking sixth in employment
growth and ninth in output growth.
Commercial & Residential Services: Nominal spending on household services is expected to rise 4.4%
in 2016 after increasing 4.7% in 2015. Existing home sales grew an estimated 5.9% in 2015, but growth is
expected to slow to 1.7% in 2016. However, housing starts increased an estimated 11% in 2015 and are
forecast to grow 14% in 2016. This should boost such businesses as architectural, project management
and contracting firms and special trade contractors. Our estimates of employment and output of the
commercial & residential services business line in 2015 show growth of 2.8% and 4.4%, respectively,
which is slightly stronger growth than we forecast in our September report. We expect a similar pace of
growth for this business line in 2016.
Table/Full Service Restaurants: As the job market continues to improve, gasoline prices remain low and
wages are starting to see some modest pick-up, consumers are able to spend more on food away from
home. It appears that one area where consumers have spent some of their windfall in purchasing power
from lower gasoline prices is in eating out, as economy-wide sales in both segments of the industry are
on a pace to finish the year with growth rates near 8-9%. Full service restaurant sales growth outpaced
the QSR segment in three of four years during 2011-2014 and likely did so again in 2015.
Within the franchise full service restaurants business line, we have boosted our forecast of 2015 sales
slightly, and it now shows a 6.1% increase in 2015. We project 6.3% growth of sales in 2016. This will
translate into higher productivity, as we project a 3.3% increase in employment in 2016.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 10

Quick Service Restaurants: Improving employment and wage growth in the overall economy is
particularly good for the QSR industry as time for meals becomes crunched with more people working
and spending time commuting. As reported above, we expect total nonfarm employment growth
(including government employment) of 1.7% in 2016 slightly lower than the 2.1% growth in 2015. The
improving economy along with prospective increases in the minimum wage in many states is tightening
the labor market especially for the restaurant industry. Some QSR restaurants have increased their
benefits in efforts to attract employees. We estimate the number of QSR establishments increased by
1.4% in 2015, and we expect a slight uptick in 2016 to 1.5% growth. The QSR business line will remain
among the leaders of the franchise sector in employment growth in 2016, with a 3.3% gain, and we
expect QSR output (sales) to grow by 6.3% in 2016.
Retail Food: A sharp increase in spending on food away from home has come to some extent at the
expense of slower growth of consumer purchases of food for off-premises consumption. Economy-wide
consumer spending on food and beverages for off-premises consumption grew an estimated 1.3% in
nominal dollars in 2015 below the average pace of 2.1% of the previous three years.
The retail food franchise business line ranked last in establishment growth of the ten industries in 2015
and this ranking is expected to hold in 2016 with establishment growth of 1.5%. Retail sales of food
stores of all types (including their sales of non-food items) grew by 2.7% in 2015, and their sales growth
is expected to increase to 3.1% in 2016. We expect franchise employment and output within the retail
food business line to outpace these industry-wide growth trends. Our forecast for this business line
shows a 3.2% increase in employment and sales (output) growth of 4.7% in 2016.
IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 11

Lodging: The lodging industry has posted several years of solid growth, with sales gains continually
outpacing the annual increase in employment. Employment growth in the industry in 2015 is estimated
at 1.3%, and it is expected to slow to less than half a percent in 2016. Recent data on the lodging
industry from the ADP National Franchise Report and our industry data indicate that the franchise
segment of the industry has shared in these trends. We estimate that franchise employment in the
lodging business line grew 2.8% in 2015 and will show a similar increase in 2016. Output growth in the
lodging business line is expected to slow to 6.6% in 2016, but it will remain the fastest growing business
line based on output.
Real Estate: As noted above in discussing the commercial & residential services business line, we expect
existing home sales to show further gains in 2016, but at a somewhat slower pace than in 2015. Despite
the recent action by the Federal Reserve to begin what will likely be a series of increases in the federal
funds rate, we do not expect mortgage interest rates to rise enough to derail the housing market
recovery. The federal funds rate will likely be more than 1 percentage point higher in the fourth quarter
of 2016 than in the fourth quarter of 2015. But we expect the 30-year conventional mortgage rate to
increase by only 0.7 points over the year, from 3.9% in 2015:Q4 to 4.6% in 2016:Q4.
We estimate that the output of the franchise real estate business line increased 5.2% in 2015, and we
expect a 5.7% increase in 2016 near the average for the franchise sector as a whole. Employment in
the real estate business line is expected to increase 2.4% in 2016.
Retail Products & Services: Retail sales excluding food and automotive products grew an estimated
3.4% in 2015 and are expected to grow 4.5% in 2016. However, growth will slow in two categories of
retailers sporting goods and hobby stores where growth is projected to slow to 3.2% growth in 2016
after seeing 6% growth in 2015, and clothing and accessory stores where growth will slow to 2.0%
growth in 2016 after 2.9% growth in 2015.
IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 12

Employment data from the ADP National Franchise Report indicate that the franchise retail products &
services business line continues to outperform the franchise sector as a whole and other retail
industries. This business line will rank number one in terms of employment growth in 2016 (at 3.7%) as
it did in 2015. This will support strong sales growth of 6.4% in 2016 and establishment growth of 1.9%
ranking it second in terms of growth by both measures.
Business Services: The IHS US Industry Service forecasts healthy growth in 2016 in a wide range of
business services. Employment in all professional and technical services is expected to be up 4.5%,
including accounting and bookkeeping services up 2.0%, and architectural and engineering services up
4.4%. The franchise business services industry has been one of the leaders among franchise business
lines in establishment and employment growth, with increases of 2.0% and 3.3%, respectively, in 2015.
We project similar growth rates in 2016, and this will support output growth of franchise business
services of 5.9%, ranking it fifth among business lines.
Personal Services: The personal services business line includes a diverse array of services such as
educational services, health care, entertainment and recreation, personal and laundry services, and
selected financial activities. Economy-wide personal consumption spending in the category that includes
most of these personal services grew by an estimated 3.6% in 2015 down slightly from our mid-year
forecast. However, 2016 growth in spending on these personal services is expected to improve to 4.5%.
We estimate that employment in franchise personal services increased 2.6% in 2015, with output up
4.9%. We expect similar growth rates by both measures for this business line in 2016.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 13

Establishments by Business Line

Historically, total US establishments have exhibited growth of 1 to 2% in the initial years of a recovery
and then accelerated. However, during the current recovery business formation has lagged, as has
growth of the number of establishments. IHS estimates that growth of the number of establishments
economy-wide has improved only slightly since 2012.
We estimate that the number of franchise establishments increased 1.7% across all 10 business-format
lines in 2015 and growth will match this pace in 2016. The business services line will take the lead with
2.0% growth, followed closely by the retail products & services line at 1.9% growth.

Franchise Establishments by Business Line, 2009-2016: January 2016 Forecast

Estimates
2009
2010
Automotive

30,012
Percent change

Business Services
Percent change
Commercial & Residential Services
Percent change
Lodging
Percent change
Personal Services
Percent change
Quick Service Restaurants
Percent change
Real Estate
Percent change
Retail Food
Percent change

29,687

2011

2012

2013

2014

29,984

30,344

30,648

31,002

Forecast
(Jan. 2016)
2015
2016
31,481

31,968

-5.2%

-1.1%

1.0%

1.2%

1.0%

1.2%

1.5%

1.5%

89,691

89,147

90,035

91,746

93,581

95,268

97,130

99,029

-6.9%

-0.6%

1.0%

1.9%

2.0%

1.8%

2.0%

2.0%

62,650

61,272

60,169

60,951

61,804

62,666

63,660

64,670

-4.1%

-2.2%

-1.8%

1.3%

1.4%

1.4%

1.6%

1.6%

25,588

25,410

25,003

25,553

25,987

26,490

26,980

27,479

-3.7%

-0.7%

-1.6%

2.2%

1.7%

1.9%

1.8%

1.8%

106,510

106,100

105,463

107,572

109,293

111,728

113,739

115,783

-3.8%

-0.4%

-0.6%

2.0%

1.6%

2.2%

1.8%

1.8%

150,316

149,547

147,902

151,156

152,970

155,189

157,429

159,839

-1.0%

-0.5%

-1.1%

2.2%

1.2%

1.5%

1.4%

1.5%

88,372

86,153

84,947

86,221

87,687

88,945

90,383

91,950

-6.6%

-2.5%

-1.4%

1.5%

1.7%

1.4%

1.6%

1.7%

60,374

60,173

60,474

60,776

61,323

62,070

62,924

63,840

-3.0%

-0.3%

0.5%

0.5%

0.9%

1.2%

1.4%

1.5%

Retail Products & Services

97,519

96,921

96,630

96,823

97,840

99,321

101,187

103,130

Percent change
Table/Full Service Restaurants

-1.0%
35,614

-0.6%
35,688

-0.3%
35,507

0.2%
36,217

1.1%
36,724

1.5%
37,103

1.9%
37,660

1.9%
38,244

Percent change

Total

-1.7%

0.2%

-0.5%

2.0%

1.4%

1.0%

1.5%

1.6%

746,646

740,098

736,114

747,359

757,857

769,782

782,573

795,932

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 14

Franchise Business Establishments Growth: January 2016 Forecast

4%
3%
2%

1%
0%
-1%
-2%
-3%
-4%

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Employment by Business Line

We estimate that total franchise employment grew 3.0% in 2015, and we expect a similar pace of
employment growth in 2016 (3.1%). Six of the business lines will maintain their growth pace of 2015,
while four business lines quick service and full service restaurants, real estate and retail food will see
slightly higher growth in employment in 2016. Our forecast shows retail products & services maintaining
its 2015 lead in employment growth in 2016 at 3.7%, followed closely by business services, which will
take over second place from quick service restaurants.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 15

Franchise Employment by Business Line, 2009-2016: January 2016 Forecast

Automotive
Percent change
Business Services
Percent change
Commercial & Residential Services
Percent change
Lodging
Percent change
Personal Services
Percent change
Quick Service Restaurants
Percent change
Real Estate
Percent change
Retail Food
Percent change
Retail Products & Services
Percent change
Table/Full Service Restaurants
Percent change

Total

Forecast
(Jan. 2016)
2015
2016

Estimates
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

174,889

173,546

177,885

180,198

183,802

187,875

193,510

-5.4%

-0.8%

2.5%

1.3%

2.0%

2.2%

3.0%

3.0%

889,721

874,087

883,702

903,143

933,850

961,927

993,766

1,026,669

199,316

-6.8%

-1.8%

1.1%

2.2%

3.4%

3.0%

3.3%

3.3%

343,531

336,317

342,034

347,849

355,502

363,999

374,089

384,462

-3.9%

-2.1%

1.7%

1.7%

2.2%

2.4%

2.8%

2.8%

671,702

674,953

691,827

699,437

709,229

730,264

750,681

771,673

-3.6%

0.5%

2.5%

1.1%

1.4%

3.0%

2.8%

2.8%

618,069

622,864

635,321

647,392

661,635

684,503

702,304

720,524

-3.8%

0.8%

2.0%

1.9%

2.2%

3.5%

2.6%

2.6%

2,887,550

2,882,638

2,951,821

3,046,279

3,140,714

3,238,075

3,337,993

3,446,816

-1.1%

-0.2%

2.4%

3.2%

3.1%

3.1%

3.1%

3.3%

295,954

290,329

294,974

301,168

308,095

313,541

320,223

327,801

-6.6%

-1.9%

1.6%

2.1%

2.3%

1.8%

2.1%

2.4%

468,868

468,172

473,790

481,844

490,035

503,450

518,819

535,491

-3.0%

-0.1%

1.2%

1.7%

1.7%

2.7%

3.1%

3.2%

464,036

468,883

476,385

483,531

494,169

508,635

527,240

546,958

-1.1%

1.0%

1.6%

1.5%

2.2%

2.9%

3.7%

3.7%

985,999

988,044

1,012,745

1,036,038

1,056,759

1,080,731

1,115,369

1,152,235

-1.7%

0.2%

2.5%

2.3%

2.0%

2.3%

3.2%

3.3%

7,800,319

7,779,833

7,940,484

8,126,879

8,333,790

8,573,000

8,833,994

9,111,945

Franchise Business Employment Growth: January 2016 Forecast

6%
4%
2%
0%

-2%
-4%
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 16

Output by Business Line

We estimate that total output across all franchise business lines grew 5.6% in 2015 up from 5.0%
growth recorded in 2014. We expect further improvement in the pace of growth in 2016 to 5.8%. The
lodging business line was the growth leader in 2015, and it is expected to maintain that position in 2016,
with growth of 6.6% in both years. Retail products & services is projected to maintain its second place
among business lines with expected 2016 growth of 6.4% up from 6.2% in 2015. Both restaurant
business lines are also projected to see output growth rates over 6% in 2016.

Franchise Output by Business Line, 2009-2016: January 2016 Forecast

($billions)
Automotive
Percent change
Business Services

Estimates
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Forecast
(Jan. 2016)
2015
2016

31.16

33.56

36.32

37.62

38.72

40.08

41.92

43.84

-7.2%

7.7%

8.2%

3.6%

2.9%

3.5%

4.6%

4.6%
175.60

128.62

132.61

137.38

142.60

149.45

156.49

165.77

Percent change

-4.1%

3.1%

3.6%

3.8%

4.8%

4.7%

5.9%

5.9%

Commercial & Residential Services

46.32

46.55

48.23

50.20

52.36

54.40

56.80

59.31

Percent change

-4.3%

0.5%

3.6%

4.1%

4.3%

3.9%

4.4%

4.4%

62.79

67.62

72.83

75.82

79.23

84.80

90.38

96.33

Lodging
Percent change
Personal Services
Percent change
Quick Service Restaurants
Percent change
Real Estate
Percent change
Retail Food
Percent change
Retail Products & Services
Percent change
Table/Full Service Restaurants
Percent change

Total

-7.6%

7.7%

7.7%

4.1%

4.5%

7.0%

6.6%

6.6%

74.43

77.85

82.29

85.42

88.15

92.22

96.77

101.53

-2.3%

4.6%

5.7%

3.8%

3.2%

4.6%

4.9%

4.9%

173.55

179.51

187.48

197.23

209.26

220.77

233.55

248.28

1.2%

3.4%

4.4%

5.2%

6.1%

5.5%

5.8%

6.3%

44.83

42.18

42.82

46.16

49.29

51.63

54.34

57.44

-8.7%

-5.9%

1.5%

7.8%

6.8%

4.7%

5.2%

5.7%

31.92

34.12

36.47

37.75

39.11

40.74

42.60

44.61

-7.9%

6.9%

6.9%

3.5%

3.6%

4.2%

4.6%

4.7%

31.89

34.19

36.41

37.94

39.37

41.24

43.79

46.58

1.0%

7.2%

6.5%

4.2%

3.7%

4.8%

6.2%

6.4%
70.09

48.78

50.64

53.48

57.22

59.28

62.15

65.94

-0.8%

3.8%

5.6%

7.0%

3.6%

4.8%

6.1%

6.3%

674.30

698.84

733.71

767.97

804.22

844.52

891.85

943.60

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 17

Franchise Business Output Growth: January 2016 Forecast

8%
6%
4%
2%

0%
-2%
-4%
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Franchise Businesses' Contribution to GDP

By analyzing the components of value added in each of the industries where franchise businesses are
concentrated and calculating the relationship between gross output (sales) and value added in these
industries, IHS Economics developed estimates of the contribution to US GDP by the franchise sector as
a whole. We estimate that franchise businesses accounted for approximately 3% of US GDP or a total of
$523 billion in 2015. Based on our employment and output forecasts for franchising in 2016, we project
that nominal GDP of the franchise sector will increase by 5.6% to $552 billion in 2016. This will exceed
the growth of total US GDP in nominal dollars, which with moderately low inflation is projected at
only 4.4% in 2016.

Distribution by Sector
This section focuses on the distribution of the 10 franchise business lines in terms of the number of
establishments, employment, and output, based on our forecast for 2016. The quick service restaurants
business line is the largest category, with 20% of all franchise establishments, and accounts for 38% of
franchise employment. This business line is expected to contribute 26% of total output in 2016. Second
in size in terms of the number of establishments is the personal services line, with 15% of the total.
However, these are generally smaller businesses. The personal services group will account for only 8% of
franchise employment and 11% of output.
The table/full service restaurants group occupies the second-largest share of employment, accounting
for 13% of the total. The business services segment, which has higher ratios of output per establishment
and per employee, is the second-largest contributor to the value of output in the franchise sector, with
19% of the total.
IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 18

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 19

Output per Employee

Average output per employee in franchise businesses is projected to increase to $103,557 in 2016 up
2.6% compared to 2.5% growth in 2015. In 2015, this output-per-worker ratio varied among the 10
franchise business lines from a low of $59,116 (table/full service restaurants) to a high of $216,624
(automotive).
The average output per worker in the franchise sector has grown since 2009, increasing at a compound
annual growth rate of 2.6%, and will continue to rise in 2016. The productivity pattern of franchise
businesses during and after the recession is consistent with other US industries, where revenues initially
fell at a greater rate than worker lay-offs, and later rose at a faster pace because employers started to
rehire workers only slowly. In 2010, average productivity rose by nearly 4% as the economy began to
bounce back from the recession. We estimate that franchise sector productivity gained 2.9% in 2011 and
2.3% in 2012. Productivity growth continued to show modest gains in 2013 and 2014 with annual
increases of 2.1%, and accelerated to 2.5% growth in 2015. The lodging business line and the
automotive line were the fastest growing in terms of output per worker over the 2010-2016 timeframe,
with compound annual growth rates of 4.3% and 2.3% respectively. The real estate sector, which
experienced declines in 2010 and 2011, had the slowest growth of output per worker over this period.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 20

Franchise Productivity by Business Line, 2009-2016: January 2016 Forecast

(Dollars per worker)

Automotive
Percent change
Business Services

Estimates
2009
2010

Forecast
(Jan. 2016)
2015
2016

2011

2012

2013

2014

178,197

193,404

204,158

208,793

210,635

213,348

216,624

-1.9%

8.5%

5.6%

2.3%

0.9%

1.3%

1.5%

1.5%

144,563

151,710

155,461

157,895

160,033

162,685

166,810

171,040

219,949

Percent change

3.0%

4.9%

2.5%

1.6%

1.4%

1.7%

2.5%

2.5%

Commercial & Residential Services

134,835

138,416

141,002

144,329

147,295

149,438

151,830

154,262

Percent change
Lodging
Percent change
Personal Services
Percent change
Quick Service Restaurants
Percent change
Real Estate
Percent change
Retail Food

-0.5%

2.7%

1.9%

2.4%

2.1%

1.5%

1.6%

1.6%

93,477

100,190

105,273

108,397

111,710

116,122

120,396

124,827

-4.2%

7.2%

5.1%

3.0%

3.1%

3.9%

3.7%

3.7%

120,430

124,994

129,528

131,943

133,234

134,723

137,789

140,915

1.5%

3.8%

3.6%

1.9%

1.0%

1.1%

2.3%

2.3%

60,102

62,273

63,514

64,745

66,629

68,180

69,967

72,033

2.4%

3.6%

2.0%

1.9%

2.9%

2.3%

2.6%

3.0%

151,469

145,293

145,151

153,254

159,996

164,662

169,682

175,234

-2.3%

-4.1%

-0.1%

5.6%

4.4%

2.9%

3.0%

3.3%

68,074

72,879

76,984

78,347

79,811

80,927

82,105

83,298

Percent change

-5.1%

7.1%

5.6%

1.8%

1.9%

1.4%

1.5%

1.5%

Retail Products & Services

Percent change

68,733
2.0%

72,920
6.1%

76,437
4.8%

78,470
2.7%

79,660
1.5%

81,074
1.8%

83,061
2.4%

85,160
2.5%

Table/Full Service Restaurants

49,477

51,248

52,805

55,231

56,098

57,507

59,116

60,826

0.9%

3.6%

3.0%

4.6%

1.6%

2.5%

2.8%

2.9%

86,445

89,827

92,401

94,497

96,501

98,509

100,956

103,557

Percent change

Total

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 21

APPENDIX

Composition of Franchise Business Lines

1. Automotive: Includes motor-vehicle parts and supply stores, tire dealers, automotive equipment
rental and leasing, and automotive repair and maintenance.
2. Commercial & Residential Services: Includes building, developing, and general contracting; heavy
construction; special trade contractors; facilities support services; services to buildings and dwellings;
and waste management and remediation services.
3. Quick Service Restaurants: Includes limited-service eating places, cafeterias, fast-food restaurants,
beverage bars, ice cream parlors, pizza-delivery establishments, carryout sandwich shops, and carryout
service shops with on-premises baking of donuts, cookies, and bagels.
4. Table/Full Service Restaurants: Establishments primarily engaged in providing food services to
patrons who order and are served while seated (i.e., waiter/waitress services) and pay after eating
5. Retail Food: Includes food and beverage stores; convenience stores; food-service contractors;
caterers; retail bakeries; and beer, wine, and liquor stores; as well as gas stations with convenience
stores.
6. Lodging: Includes hotels, motels, and other accommodations.
7. Real Estate: Includes lessors of buildings, self-storage units, and other real estate; real estate agents
and brokers; and property management and other related activities.
8. Retail Products & Services: Includes furniture and home furnishings stores, electronics and appliance
stores, building-material and garden-equipment and supplies dealers, health and personal-care stores,
clothing and general merchandise stores, florists and gift stores, consumer-goods rentals, photographic
services, and book and music stores.
9. Business Services: Includes printing, business transportation, warehousing and storage, dataprocessing services, insurance agencies and brokerages, office administrative services, employment
services, investigation and security services, tax-preparation and payroll services, and heavy equipment
leasing.
10. Personal Services: Includes educational services, health care, entertainment and recreation,
personal and laundry services, veterinary services, loan brokers, credit intermediation and related
activities, and personal transportation.

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 22

Methodology
The statistics in this report were derived from various published sources as well as IHS Economics
propriety databases. The primary source for the report was the 2007 Economic Census Franchise Report.
This report provides US estimates of establishments, employment, and annual payroll and output from
business with paid employees by detailed sector for 2007. Data were aggregated to the 10 Business
Format Lines.
The 2007 Economic Census only covers businesses with paid employees; the data were integrated with
other data sources to include franchise businesses without paid employees. Other data sources were:

The 2007 Survey of Business Owners The US Census Bureau publishes the 2007 Survey of
Business Owners (SBO). From this data source we were able to determine the number of
franchised businesses for businesses without paid employees.
2007 Nonemployer Statistics The US Census Bureau publishes the 2007 Nonemployer Statistics
(NES). NES includes the number establishments and total annual receipts by industry of
businesses without paid employees that are subject to federal income tax. Most often,
nonemployers are self-employed individuals. IHS Economics determined the total number of
businesses without paid employees and combined it with the SBO data to derive franchise
businesses without paid employees and the number of independent contractors working out of
franchised establishments owned by others.
IHS Economics Business Market Insights (BMI) This is a database that is based on the Census
Bureaus County Business Patterns. It contains information on establishments, employees, and
sales at the country level at six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The
data were integrated with the SBO to determine the number of businesses with paid employees
in NAICS 55, which was not included in the 2007 Economic Census Franchise Report.

To develop our estimates and forecasts, we reviewed and replicated previous studies done by PWC,
which had made estimates of franchise businesses for 2007-2010. Our estimates were largely in
agreement with theirs. We present our revised estimates, which are based on our work with the 2007
Economic Census and more up-to-date data from the Survey of Business Owners and Nonemployer
Statistics.
We also acquired and reviewed data from Dun & Bradstreet on the number of franchise businesses in
various years. These data did not cover all franchise establishments, but in some cases could be used to
assess recent growth in the number of franchise establishments.
IHS Economics estimated econometric models to create forecasts for establishments, employment, and
output of each of the 10 business lines. The models include both macroeconomic (credit availability) and
industry-specific variables, using a nested modeling approach (i.e., franchise establishment formation
affects employment requirements, which further influences output forecasts).

IHS Economics
No portion of this report may be reproduced, reused, or otherwise distributed in any form without prior written consent.

Page 23