It seems that franchising is alive and flourishing in the USA. According to this article from the Nations’ Restaurant News, the franchise sector is expected to grow by $36 bn. in 2017. This 8% growth rate is ahead of general economic growth in the US.
In terms of franchised operations, quick service restaurants employ three times as many people as any other sector. Together with full-service restaurant franchises, these two sectors employ 7.9 million people, or 59% of all employees working in franchised operations.
Jones and Robinson 