Duck Donuts has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, a comprehensive franchise ranking. The 2024 Franchise 500 ranks Duck Donuts as 445 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“This achievement is a testament to the incredible power of franchising, dedication of our passionate franchise partners and support from loyal guests” says Betsy Hamm, Duck Donuts chief executive officer. “Duck Donuts is about sprinkling happiness through our warm donuts, and it is evident our franchise partners are delivering on this promise throughout the communities we serve. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to further growth, innovation, and the sweet moments we'll create together.”

For its rankings, Entrepreneur’s editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is then given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranked order.   

“Every brand on the Franchise 500 has its own unique story, but they all collectively make the same statement: Franchising is strong and resilient, is full of innovation and opportunity, and provides a powerful entrepreneurial path for many people,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “Our 45th annual ranking is full of companies with fresh ideas, exciting business models, cultural sway, and the kind of business sophistication that will define the next 45 years and beyond.”