Written By Poonam Parihar
1. Burger Singh
Founded in 2014, Burger Singh has grown into one of India’s most prominent homegrown quick service restaurant chains, known for its Indianised burger offerings and value-focused dining experience. The brand currently operates over 180+ outlets across more than 80+ cities and continues to scale aggressively in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
In recent months, Burger Singh has expanded into newer geographies such as Darbhanga in Bihar and opened outlets in high footfall institutional locations including IIT Kanpur. The brand has also announced plans to significantly scale its presence in southern India, including an ambitious expansion roadmap for Karnataka. Additionally, Burger Singh has introduced an owner partner franchise model, under which the brand co-invests alongside franchisees to accelerate nationwide growth.
2. Geetanjali Salon
Established in 1989, Geetanjali Salon is one of India’s most recognised names in the organised beauty and wellness sector. The brand currently operates over 200 salons across the country, offering a wide range of hair, skin, grooming, and professional styling services.
Geetanjali continues to expand its presence in premium urban locations, with recent flagship openings in key retail destinations. As grooming awareness rises across demographics and demand for professional salon services grows, the brand remains relevant for entrepreneurs looking to enter the lifestyle services franchise space.
3. Café Coffee Day
Founded in 1996, Café Coffee Day was among the earliest brands to introduce café culture to Indian consumers. Today, the brand operates over 450 cafés nationwide, with a presence across metros as well as several Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
In recent years, Café Coffee Day has focused on streamlining operations and optimising store formats in response to evolving consumer behaviour. Despite challenges faced by the broader café sector, the brand’s strong recall and established supply chain continue to keep it relevant within India’s food and beverage franchising landscape.
4. Naturals Ice Cream
Naturals Ice Cream was established in 1984 and has built a loyal consumer base through its fruit-based offerings and minimal ingredient philosophy. The brand currently operates more than 165 outlets across India and continues to see steady demand across seasons.
While the company maintains a measured approach to expansion, Naturals remains a preferred franchise choice in the dessert segment due to its consistent walk-in traffic, strong product differentiation, and relatively straightforward operating model.
5. Kidzee
Founded in 2003, Kidzee operates in the early childhood education space and has grown into India’s largest preschool chain, with over 1,900 centres across the country. The brand has built trust among parents through a structured curriculum framework and a strong national presence.
As parental focus on early childhood education continues to increase, organised preschool formats are seeing sustained demand. This has kept Kidzee relevant as a franchise-led education opportunity with long-term potential.
Why These Brands Matter in 2026
Across food, education, beauty, and cafés, the franchise brands gaining traction in 2026 share common characteristics including strong consumer recall, scalable formats, and operational consistency. As aspiring entrepreneurs increasingly seek lower-risk entry points into business ownership, such established brands are well positioned to benefit from India’s next phase of consumption-led and entrepreneurial growth.
