Nothing lasts forever. In the 25th annual Franchise 500®, Subway ranked No. 1 for the 12th time, and it continued to hold on to the top spot for another three years after that. The sandwich chain appeared to be unbeatable.
But then came 2008, with a surprising new No. 1: 7-Eleven. And though Subway made its way back to the top in 2009 and 2010, it came as less of a surprise when it was unseated again, in 2011, this time by Hampton Hotels. And after Hampton held on to that No. 1 ranking for three years in a row, this year the title was handed off yet again, to Anytime Fitness, which entered the top 10 just last year.
What I've learned is this: No matter how big a business gets, the competition never stops coming. Change is constant, and nothing--or at least no Franchise 500® ranking--lasts forever.