Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 12

Initial investment: $525,100 to $2,622,400

Initial franchise fee: $25,000 to $45,000

New units in 2016: 147 units (2.3 percent)

Taco Bell is one of the most popular restaurants in America and across the world (at the start of 2017, there were over 6,500), so there’s no surprise that it’s also the top-ranked taco franchise. That sort of success is actually a double-edged sword for investors, though. If you can manage to buy one of the franchises, you have a higher chance for it to be successful than if you invested in another business. 

But, according to the Taco Bell company website, it also means there are limited franchises opportunities available. So, Taco Bell might make more sense for experienced investors and operators.

Related: Our Top 10 Franchises You Can Buy