Cacau Show, Boticário and McDonald’s: which are the biggest franchises in the country? See ranking

Cacau Show and O Boticário continue to comfortably lead the ranking of the largest franchises in Brazil in terms of number of units in 2025. In the last three surveys released by the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF), the two chains remained in the top positions, followed by McDonald’s and Colchões Ortobom.

But looking closely, you can see that the stability at the top contrasts with the movement observed in the rest of the list. Between 10th and 40th position, several chains quickly gained ground, a sign of where the next giants of Brazilian franchising could emerge.

Also read:

The top of Brazilian franchising barely changes

In the last three ABF rankings, the top positions remained practically intact.

According to ABF, it usually takes years to achieve large scale with , as a network basically depends on:

• standardize the operation;
• consolidate the brand and
• form a franchisee base capable of sustaining the continuous opening of units (a step that depends on the previous two).

Where the next giant franchises could emerge, and what explains

If the top of the ranking changes little, the same does not happen in the middle of the table.

Between 2023 and 2025, some networks gained different positions, among which we can highlight:

Each case is worth its own analysis, but when observing the ones that advanced the most in the ranking, experts point out some common characteristics.

More affordable initial investment

Franchises that require less capital to open tend to attract more franchisees and are able to expand units more quickly.

One example is the Lupowhich has experienced significant growth in recent years. The chain works with franchise models starting at around R$130,000, a value considered relatively low within fashion retail.

This model also appears in networks such as Oggi Sorveteswhich operate with compact stores or kiosks and have been expanding their presence in several cities.

Simple operation models

In addition to lower initial investment, the simplicity of the operating model also helps. With standardized processes, lean teams and well-defined services, franchises are able to replicate the business more easily and open units more quickly.

According to ABF, this pattern appears in both services and food. Some examples:

In the case of food, progress is usually linked to small stores and simplified menus. In this context, large fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King e Bob’s They remain among the largest franchises in the country, but they already operate in more consolidated markets, which tends to reduce the pace of opening new units.

Expansion in medium-sized cities

Another pattern among chains that advance in the ranking is the internalization of franchising.

Sebrae surveys show that many franchises expand first in medium-sized cities, where they find:

• lower commercial rents;
• lower brand saturation;
• growing consumer market.

This strategy allows you to open several units before competing for space in more competitive markets.

Check out the 50 largest franchises in Brazil in 2025