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Franchising is hot, and every year the concept seems to grow hotter.  Why build a business from the ground up when, for not much more money – and sometimes less, given all the assistance a franchise company provides – you can operate a well-known brand name with plenty of training and all sorts of support to make your personal investment grow exponentially.

Every year, Entrepreneur magazine closely examines the absolute best franchises on the market, taking into consideration such elements as brand strength, earnings potential, and the financial health of the parent company.

Here are the Top 10 Franchises of 2009:

1) Subway
From its humble beginnings as a single sandwich shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Subway boasts close to 30,000 stores throughout the U.S., Canada, and many foreign countries.  Its target market: fast-food devotees who want to consume something healthier than burgers and fries.  The franchise fee is $15,000 (plus an eight percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $80,000 to $240,000.

2) McDonald’s
The 800-pound worldwide gorilla in fast food, the McDonald’s logo is more widely recognized than just about any other corporate symbol.  There are currently more than 12,000 franchise locations in the U.S. alone, plus a similar number overseas.  The franchise fee is $45,000 (plus an annual royalty that starts at 12.5 percent), with a total investment ranging from just under $1 million to $1.8 million.

3) Liberty Tax Service
Originally known under the name Jackson Hewitt, this mostly seasonal business is the number one competitor to tax giant H&R Block.  More than 2,800 franchise locations are open in the U.S., with another 240 in Canada.  The franchise fee is $40,000 (plus a variable annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $60,000 to around $70,000.

4) Sonic Drive In Restaurants
Sonic got its start as a rebuilt root beer stand in Shawnee, Oklahoma, after which the owners turned to a franchise model way back in 1959.  At this establishment, you order at a curbside speaker box, while a host or hostess brings your food on a car-mounted tray.  The company has close to 2,800 franchise locations in the United States.  The franchise fee is $45,000 (plus a two- to five percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $1.2 million to $3.2 million.

5) InterContinental Hotels Group
The hotel brands included under this corporate umbrella are Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn (and Express), InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, and several others.  There are more than 2,600 franchise properties in the U.S., plus 115 in Canada and nearly 700 overseas.  The company chooses not to publicize its franchise fee, and start-up costs will vary widely due to variables in the size and type of establishment, the cost of the land, and which amenities are selected.

6) Ace Hardware
For many people in towns both large and small, Ace Hardware is the friendly neighborhood place to buy a hammer, pick up a lawn rake, and get advice on how to unplug a stopped-up drain.  There are nearly 4,600 franchise locations between the U.S. and various foreign markets.  The franchise application fee is $5,000, with a total investment ranging from $400,000 to $1.1 million.

7) Pizza Hut
Despite the proliferation of pizza restaurants across the country and around the world, the number one place for eat-in, carryout or delivery is Pizza Hut.  The brand shares corporate ownership with A&W Restaurants, KFC, Taco Bell, and Long John Silver’s.  There are more than 6,000 franchise locations in the U.S., plus an additional 4,000 stores in foreign countries.  The franchise fee is $25,000 (plus a 6.5 percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $640,000 to around $3 million.

8) UPS Store / Mail Boxes Etc.
Intended to offer consumers a shipping alternative to the U.S. Postal Service, Mail Boxes Etc. became a subsidiary of United Parcel Service (UPS) in 2001.  Locations also offer packaging supplies, mail-drop services, photocopying and printing, and computer online access for a reasonable hourly rate.  There are around 4,500 U.S. franchise locations, plus 1,500 other stores in more than 40 foreign countries.  The franchise fee is $30,000 (plus a five percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $175,000 to $280,000.

9) Circle K
The history of this convenience store chain goes back to 1951, with the corporation taking the franchise plunge in 1995.  Most of the 460-plus franchise stores are located in southern, western and southwestern U.S. states, and there are an additional 3,600 franchises in six other countries.  The franchise fee is $15,000 (plus a four percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $160,000 to $1.4 million.

10) Papa John’s International Inc.
Another big name in pizza, most locations are devoted to delivery and takeout.  The first location opened in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1985, and franchising began a year later.  Today there are more than 3,000 locations worldwide, including 2,100-plus franchises in the United States.  The franchise fee is $25,000 (plus a five percent annual royalty), with a total investment ranging from $135,000 to just under $500,000.

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