The annual Franchise Times ranking of the largest franchise systems by sales has remained stable at the top for decades, led by McDonald's, 7-Eleven, KFC, and Subway. However, this year's list highlights the increasing international focus of franchising, as brands derive more of their growth from expanding abroad rather than in the stagnating domestic market. While the top franchisors collectively grew their sales by 7% overall, their success relied more on strong international performance than growth in the United States.