Diversity is inherent to franchising as a way of doing business. That’s because franchising is one of the most accessible paths for prospective entrepreneurs to own their own business, following their own path without having to go it alone. These business owners come from all across the country and represent a wide variety of backgrounds. It’s an ideal industry for families, newcomers, veterans, women, and BIPOC entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of the support that a franchise system offers.
It’s also a good way for new and innovative brands to stand out from the pack, and to grow a strong business in a scalable, proven way—which means there has always been not only a diversity of franchisees in Canada, but of franchise brands as well. In fact, 60 different sectors are represented by the franchises in the Canadian Franchise Association’s (CFA) membership; there are more than 1,300 franchise systems in Canada, and franchising makes up a huge portion of the Canadian economy, contributing over $120 billion annually.
So when we talk about diversity in franchising, we’re talking about a fundamental trait that makes our industry thrive.
This is clear in our cover package for this issue, where you’ll find features on newcomers in franchising, women in franchising, and BIPOC in franchising. Our member franchisees shared their varied stories of business ownership from across different provinces and systems, but they all have one thing in common: a passion for success through franchising.
We also highlight brands that are stepping up to provide services to seniors, a growing segment of Canada’s population, and a run-down of educational services franchise opportunities available to prospective franchisees across the country.
As always, Franchise Canada brings you the stories behind the brands you know and love. This issue, we go deep with Todd Wylie, a franchise industry stalwart and CEO of Master Mechanic, learn how Great Clips styled its way to becoming an iconic brand, and hear from Pita Pit franchisees about the many charitable initiatives they engage with in their communities.
Our readers will also get an up close and personal look at what it takes to run a franchised business. Follow CEFA Early Learning franchisee Julian Beim through the challenges and triumphs of his first year operating an education franchise. And check out this issue’s multi-generation magic feature to hear how youthful Booster Juice franchisee Miguel Aquila chased his longtime dream of entrepreneurship into multi-unit franchise ownership.
This issue offers a Special Franchise Focus on Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), one of the most prolific franchising categories that continues to show promise in 2025 and beyond. And in our Homegrown and Locally Owned section, we look at unique, Canadian-founded opportunities in three different sectors: financial services, mortgage brokering, and health-food retail.
At the CFA, we believe franchising is for everyone. People of every race, age, gender, and background can make their dreams of business ownership a reality through franchising. And the best part is, the more we support each other, the more we can grow together. So search these stories for your next franchise opportunity!
As you do, keep an eye out for the CFA Member logo on franchise brands’ websites and in the Franchise Canada directory. Seeing this logo assures you that the brand in question is a member of the CFA and complies with the association’s code of ethics. You can rest assured that the brands featured in Franchise Canada and LookforaFranchise.ca are members of the CFA, too.