Where the units are and who operates them
52.6% of active network units opened in the last five years, compared with 42.8% in the same activities
Share of active establishments of the measured networks with an opening date in the five years before October 2026
See the full table (10 rows)
| Segment | Active establishments | Median age, in years | Opened less than 2 years ago | Less than 5 years ago | 10 or more years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyms and sports | 2,457 | 2.7 | 40.1% | 71.6% | 8.9% |
| Services and other businesses | 11,023 | 3.6 | 27.8% | 64.0% | 17.0% |
| Food, retail and distribution | 6,001 | 4.0 | 25.6% | 61.3% | 17.5% |
| Food | 12,670 | 4.8 | 22.0% | 51.0% | 25.3% |
| Fashion and accessories | 9,657 | 5.1 | 19.8% | 49.3% | 23.3% |
| Health, beauty and wellness | 12,364 | 5.4 | 17.1% | 44.9% | 23.9% |
| Education | 3,297 | 7.7 | 13.0% | 32.4% | 40.5% |
| Tourism and hospitality | 472 | 9.3 | 14.8% | 30.3% | 42.6% |
| All measured networks | 57,941 | 4.7 | 22.3% | 52.6% | 22.6% |
| Other establishments in the same activities, standardized | 5,078,039 | 20.8% | 42.8% | 34.2% |
The start-of-activity date of each establishment in the CNPJ (Brazilian company registry) records shows how long the units of franchise networks have been open. The indicator measures the age of the active establishments of the networks measured by the observatory and compares it with that of other active establishments in the same activities, excluding individual microentrepreneurs and standardizing the mix of activities.
The median age of network establishments is 4.7 years. 52.6% opened in the last five years and 22.3% in the last two, while 22.6% are ten years old or more. Among other establishments in the same activities, the shares are 42.8%, 20.8% and 34.2%. The gyms and sports segment has the most recent base, with 71.6% of its establishments opened less than five years ago, and tourism and hospitality the oldest, with 30.3%.
The distribution reflects the expansion of the networks, which open units at a faster pace than the activities as a whole, and also the composition of the universe, made up of networks operating today. Both readings are consistent with the survival of units and with the series of openings and deregistrations.
How we calculate
In the open CNPJ data of Receita Federal (the federal tax authority), reference month October 2026, we read the start-of-activity date of the active establishments that the observatory's census attributes to the measured networks, using the same trade name expression and the same CNAE (national classification of economic activities) subclasses as the network profile, and calculated the age on October 11, 2026. The comparison brings together the other active establishments with a trade name in the same subclasses, outside the CNPJ roots of the networks and without the MEI (individual microentrepreneur regime) option in the Simples Nacional (simplified tax regime for small companies) file. The comparison shares are calculated in each subclass and weighted by the number of network establishments in each one.
What this figure does not show
- The age is that of the establishment in the registry. A change of franchisee with a new CNPJ at an existing location appears as a new unit, and an older store that joined the network keeps its original date.
- The set of networks is the one observed in October 2026, made up of networks in operation, which tends to make the base more recent.
- The comparison includes independent businesses, head offices of company-owned chains and units of networks that the observatory does not track.
Frequently asked questions
How old are franchise units?
The median age of the active establishments of the measured networks is 4.7 years, and 52.6% opened in the last five years.
Are franchises newer than other businesses?
In the same activities, 42.8% of other active establishments opened in the last five years, compared with 52.6% in the measured networks, and 34.2% are ten years old or more, compared with 22.6%.
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Where the units are and who operates themOther indicators in the same group
Maintained by Marktech, which serves franchise networks and franchises. The brands cited belong to their owners and are mentioned here only to identify the network the data refers to.