Franchise brands in the Netherlands by sector

By Gijs Bodenstaff · Updated: 2026-10-04

In 2025 the Netherlands had 936 franchise brands with a combined 34,937 locations, €50.5 billion in turnover (excluding VAT) and 438,800 people in work (source: NFV franchise statistics, reference year 2025). Services is the largest sector with 375 franchise brands. We do not give a list of the best brands: we show what the market looks like and how to assess a franchise brand yourself.

Which franchise brands exist in the Netherlands by sector?

The NFV divides franchise chains in the Netherlands into six sectors. The number of franchise brands tells a different story from turnover: the food sector has relatively few brands, yet accounts for almost €22 billion in turnover.

Franchise brands in the Netherlands by sector (NFV franchise statistics, reference year 2025)
Sector	Franchise brands	Locations	People in work	Turnover
Services	375	9,721	37,400	€4.7 bn
Non-food retail	180	7,713	77,000	€13.5 bn
Hospitality	157	4,228	113,200	€5.2 bn
Food retail	114	7,536	164,300	€21.9 bn
Other	72	3,538	21,200	€2.4 bn
Healthcare	38	2,201	25,700	€2.8 bn
Total	936	34,937	438,800	€50.5 bn

How large are franchise chains in the Netherlands on average?

If you divide the NFV figures, you see big differences between sectors. A food brand has an average of 66 locations, a services brand 26. Turnover and staffing per location also vary widely. On average a location turns over €1.45 million.

Averages per franchise brand and per location, calculated from NFV figures for 2025
Sector	Locations per brand	Turnover per location	People in work per location
Food	66	€2.91 million	21.8
Healthcare	58	€1.27 million	11.7
Other	49	€0.68 million	6.0
Non-food	43	€1.75 million	10.0
Hospitality	27	€1.23 million	26.8
Services	26	€0.48 million	3.8

Average number of locations per franchise brand by sector in 2025: food 66, healthcare 58, other 49, non-food 43, hospitality 27 and services 26.

What do these averages mean for you?

They tell you what kind of business owner you will become. In hospitality you manage almost 27 people on average, in services fewer than 4. To see what that means in money, read the costs of starting a franchise.

Are most franchise brands large or small?

According to the NFV, around 80% of franchise brands are SMEs, with a maximum of 50 locations. The well-known chains with hundreds of locations are therefore the exception. A small franchise brand can offer more personal attention, a large one more brand awareness and a proven system. Either can be well or poorly organised.

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What makes franchise brands successful?

Lists of the best or most successful franchise brands say little about your situation. It is better to assess a brand yourself against fixed criteria. If you do not yet fully understand how the partnership works, first read what a franchise is.

Checklist: how to assess a franchise brand
Criterion	Question to ask
Proven concept	How long has the brand existed and how are its locations doing?
Satisfied franchisees	May I call franchisees myself?
Clear costs	Which fees and investments are involved?
Support	What training and help will I receive?
Local marketing	How does the brand handle marketing for each location?
A say in decisions	How do franchisees have a say in changes?

What should you look for in new franchise brands?

With a new franchise brand you sometimes have more choice of region, but you are also one of the first. Give extra weight to the points below. The Dutch Franchise Act helps: the franchisor must give you information in advance, including on fees and required investments (Articles 7:913 and 7:916 of the Dutch Civil Code), followed by a four-week standstill period. For changes to the franchise system with financial consequences above an agreed threshold, franchisees have a right of consent (Article 7:921 of the Dutch Civil Code). Have your contract reviewed by a franchise lawyer; this is not legal advice.

Points of attention with new franchise brands
Point of attention	Why it matters
Few locations	There is still little track record
Organisation still being built	Training and support have not yet fully taken shape
Unknown brand name	You invest more in local awareness yourself
Forecasts without history	Your lender will ask for extra substantiation

Where can you find franchise brands in the Netherlands?

The NFV member list is a logical starting point: it shows franchise brands that have joined the trade association. You can also meet franchisors in person at a fair, such as the Dutch National Franchise Fair Gorinchem 2026. Searching within one sector? Then look, for example, at franchise brands in hospitality. Prefer not to have premises? Then read about franchises you run from home.

Draw up a shortlist of three to five franchise brands and request the pre-contractual information from each. That way you compare like with like. The full journey is set out in the step-by-step plan for starting a franchise.

How do you check the local marketing of franchise chains?

Local visibility helps determine how many customers find a location. So look up a few of the brand's locations yourself and check whether the Google Business Profile is correct and whether reviews get a response. In our Local SEO Benchmark Franchise Chains 2026 (500 profiles from 100 chains), only 40% were fully completed and 6 of the 100 chains responded to reviews within 24 hours. So ask the franchise brand how they handle local marketing for each location.

Are you a franchisor and want to know how your locations score? Then request a free scan of three locations or read more about local SEO for franchise chains.

Frequently asked questions about franchise brands in the Netherlands

Franchise brands in the Netherlands: how many franchise brands are there in the Netherlands?

According to the NFV franchise statistics, the Netherlands had 936 franchise brands in reference year 2025. Together they had 34,937 locations and 438,800 people in work. Turnover came to €50.5 billion excluding VAT. With 375 brands, services was the sector with the most franchise brands.

Franchise brands in the Netherlands: which sector has the most franchise brands?

Services: the NFV counted 375 franchise brands with 9,721 locations in 2025. Non-food retail follows with 180 brands and hospitality with 157. Healthcare is the smallest sector with 38 brands, but it does have an average of 58 locations per franchise brand.

Which franchise sector has the highest turnover?

Food retail, with €21.9 billion in turnover in 2025 according to the NFV. That is well over 40% of the total franchise turnover of €50.5 billion. Per location this averages €2.91 million. It does involve many people in work, though: an average of 21.8 per location.

What is the best franchise brand to start with?

There is no such thing in general. The best franchise brand is the one that suits your budget, experience and way of working. Assess brands on a proven concept, satisfied franchisees, clear costs, good support, local marketing and a say in decisions. Always call a few existing franchisees yourself.

Are there many small franchise brands in the Netherlands?

Yes. According to the NFV, around 80% of franchise brands are SMEs, with a maximum of 50 locations. The well-known national chains with hundreds of locations are therefore a minority. A smaller brand can be more personal, but always ask how support and local marketing are organised.

How do you recognise a reliable franchise brand?

A reliable franchise brand gives full information in advance about fees and investments, lets you talk freely to existing franchisees and does not pressure you during the four-week standstill period. If you have doubts about the contract, have it reviewed by a franchise lawyer before you sign.

Where can I find a list of franchise brands?

The member list of the Dutch Franchise Association (NFV) is a good starting point. It shows franchise brands that have joined the trade association. Also visit a franchise fair so you can meet franchisors in person, and then draw up a shortlist of three to five brands.

Is a new franchise brand riskier?

Often, yes, because there is still little track record and the organisation is still being built. On the other hand, you can sometimes choose a better region and face less competition from other franchisees. Ask especially carefully about how the forecasts are substantiated and what support is planned.

How many people work at a franchise location?

An average of 12.6 people in work per location across all sectors, based on NFV figures for 2025. This varies widely by sector: hospitality 26.8, food 21.8, healthcare 11.7, non-food 10.0, other 6.0 and services 3.8. It says a lot about how much of your time goes into managing staff.

Do franchisees have a say in the franchise system?

For changes to the franchise system with financial consequences above an agreed threshold, franchisees have a right of consent under Article 7:921 of the Dutch Civil Code. Ask each franchise brand how this works in practice, for example through a franchisee advisory council. Have the contract terms reviewed by a franchise lawyer.

Sources

Gijs Bodenstaff
Franchise marketer, local SEO and GEO specialist, author

Got a shortlist? Hold each franchise brand up against the checklist above before you plan a first meeting.