This annual list of the best tech franchises was revised and updated on March 8, 2023.

💵 Interested in any of the franchises on this list? Click here to find out if they (or similar franchises) are still available in your area.

 

Over the past thirty years, we’ve gone through three radical revolutions in the way that technology affects our lives. First there was the arrival of widespread home computing, in which people discovered word processing, games, and other tools. Then came the internet, connecting people around the globe, allowing instant communications and access to an inexhaustible pool of entertainment and information. Then came the mobile revolution, as all that power and potential appeared in our pockets. Our world has been transformed, and while we often take the results for granted, they’ve created amazing opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The result is a wide range of franchises. In a digital age, tech-savvy leaders can find all sorts of ways to turn a profit. There are now more cellphones than there are people in the US, as well as desktops, laptops, tablets, and games consoles. Both individuals and organizations are looking for support in using technology, and smart franchises are helping to fill that gap.

This isn’t just about the technology that we have, but about coping with the pace of change. New types of technology, from cryptocurrency to AI, promise radical changes in the future, and very few people have time to keep up with it all. We need the help of specialists to understand and use shifts in the tech currents, as well as to keep the gadgets we already have functioning.

Tech franchises mostly fall into one of three categories.

First, there are electronic device repair businesses. This sector has been in a slow decline in the US since 2015, as a strong economy allowed more people to invest in new devices instead of getting old ones repaired. A culture focused on getting the hot new thing over maintaining an existing possession has added to this. Even the Covid pandemic and ensuing economic downturn hasn’t turned things around, and though the repair industry saw slight growth in 2022, its overall decline continues, with -2.3% annualized growth over the past five years and projected -3.9% growth in 2023. The industry is still worth $18.8 billion, but that figure represents a downward step, and on the surface, this isn’t a good industry for an entrepreneur with dreams of expansion.

Green campaigners are calling for better repair options on technology, so that devices can remain in use for longer without being replaced. Tying themselves to this cause might be a positive step for the repair industry, both in marketing and in improving its long-term prospects, but there’s little sign of significant movement in this direction. Striking a balance between love of technology and asking people not to buy every new device is difficult, and the repair industry hasn’t yet found the right balance.

In the short term, a forecast economic decline might help the industry, as more people repair devices to avoid the costs of replacing them. But if this didn’t make a big difference during Covid, it’s unlikely to save the industry now. Without significant green reforms, this isn’t a sector with great promise.

Next are the business tech consulting companies, which provide advice and support for businesses that don’t have the capacity to do their own IT support. They install and maintain software and hardware for businesses, and can become a crucial part of their clients’ operations.

This is a vital service for small and medium sized businesses, allowing franchises to build up a good base of business-to-business clients. This industry is worth $665.9 billion per year in the US and has been growing for over a decade. It’s seen 2% annualized growth for the past five years, and this is expected to rise to 4% in 2023. Computer support is now so essential to everyday working life, it provides a vast pool of opportunities, and the growth of work from home is likely to help rather than hinder this, as businesses and the growing number of freelance contractors need more support keeping their critical IT infrastructure in place.

Even with a downturn forecast, these companies are unlikely to be hit hard, because they’re so essential. The only challenge for franchisees is the level of competition, thanks to the growing number of skilled tech professionals available in the workforce.

Thirdly, there are the digital marketing agencies. Online advertising is now crucial for any business, as we live so much of our lives online and this is where we are particularly vulnerable to being influenced. 78% of advertising spend in the US goes on digital advertising. $616 billion was spent on digital advertising around the world in 2022, $165 billion of it in the US. Social media ad spending alone was worth $43 billion in the US in 2020, a 20% rise on the previous year. Even as the pandemic hit the economy, digital ad spending grew by 2.4% globally. That’s a relatively low amount by the industry’s standards, and it was expected to grow by 17% in 2021, a figure closer to its recent rate. By 2027, digital advertising is expected to pass $1 trillion worldwide.

Effective digital marketing requires a raft of specialist skills, knowledge, and analytical tools. It takes everything from design to analytics to specialist writing to hit the right audience with the right ad, and that takes specialist knowledge and experience. Like IT support, it’s something that many small and medium sized businesses can’t do for themselves in house, and where even large companies may benefit from the specialist skills of outside agencies.

Practitioners need to be experts not only in trying to understand the cryptic workings of Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other algorithmic systems, but where those systems are going in the near future. The tools that make these platforms powerful for marketing are making them less user friendly, and so marketers need to watch for tipping points at which the power of each platform might diminish, like 2022’s upheaval at Twitter or anger at the revelation of TikTok’s heat function.

In all of these tech-related areas, franchised businesses can use their specialist skills and knowledge to develop a customer base that is dependent on them. Consulting and marketing have stronger potential for long-term growth than device care, but all represent valuable industries.

The Top Tech Franchises of 2023

1. WSI Digital Marketing Services

WSI Digital Marketing Services offers a full range of digital marketing help to businesses of all types. Services include content marketing, social media marketing, mobile marketing, video marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), PPC (pay-per-click), and just about any other kind of digital marketing you can think of, including web design/optimization.

Founded in 1995 in Canada and franchising since 1996, the number of locations has been declining steadily in recent years from 1,104 in 2012 to the last known reported total of 825 in 2019, of which none were company-owned and 549 were located outside the US.

2. Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions (formerly uBreakiFix)

Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions (formerly uBreakiFix) is a chain that fixes iPods, cell phones, game consoles, computers, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices. Diagnostics are free and customers get a firm upfront price for repair services, will beat competitors’ prices by at least $5 (from storefronts within 10 miles), and gives a 90-day warranty on its repair work. Franchisees can develop relationships with businesses, schools, and organizations for discounted repair services on multiple devices.

Founded by Justin Wetherill in Orlando, Florida in 2009 and franchising since 2013, the number of locations has increased rapidly from 45 in 2012 to the current total of 694 (up from the previously reported total of 585), of which 243 are company-owned and 51 are located outside the US.

3. CPR Cell Phone Repair

CPR Cell Phone Repair is focused on cell phone repair, but it also handles fixing MP3 players, game consoles, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Customers can also sell or trade in their used devices for the company to refurbish and resell them. Repair estimates are worked up for free, and simple fixes can often be done on a same-day basis. The company positions its device repairs as being good for the environment by extending the lifespan of devices that would otherwise be thrown out.

CPR was recently acquired by Assurant, a Fortune 500 company that is a global provider of risk management products and services. Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2007, the number of locations expanded rapidly from 94 in 2012 to a peak of 571 in 2019 but has since dropped to the current total of 471 (down from the previously reported total of 515), of which none are company-owned and 17 are located outside the US.

4. CMIT Solutions

CMIT Solutions is focused on providing custom IT solutions to businesses. CMIT is an acronym that stands for Completely Managed IT. Offerings include flat-rate proactive IT support, data backup and recovery, cybersecurity services, networking, cloud services, hardware procurement, printing device management, mobile device management, communications (VOIP), virtual CIO/CTO services, and more. The businesses this chain can support are generally those in the 10-110 employee range.

Founded in 1994 and franchising since 1998, the number of locations has risen steadily in recent years from 137 in 2012 to the current total of 254 (up from the previously reported total of 246), of which none are company-owned and one is located outside the US.

5. TeamLogic IT

TeamLogic IT helps businesses who need IT support. Businesses can get supplemental support for their existing internal IT staff/department, or completely outsource all their IT needs to TeamLogic. Offerings include business continuity (keeping systems up and running), cybersecurity, cloud services, data backup, mobility services, unified communications, VOIP, website solutions, strategic and tactical IT planning, remote monitoring, and much more.

Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2005, the number of locations has expanded rapidly in recent years from 50 in 2013 to the current total of 252 (up from the previously reported total of 235), of which none are company-owned and one is located outside the US.

6. Computer Troubleshooters

Computer Troubleshooters is all about solving the tech problems individuals and businesses run into, related mostly to computers but also other devices. IT services offered include data backup and recovery, security services, remote support services, and managed services. The chain offers any business a free-of-charge network assessment and will produce a report outlining improvements that could be made for better functionality.

Founded in 1997 and franchising since then, the number of locations has declined in recent years from 415 in 2012 to the current total of 209 (down the previously reported total of 217), of which one is company-owned and 81 are located outside the US.

7. Experimax

Experimax is a bit different from most of the other companies on this list because it is focused exclusively on Apple devices. It’s a buy-sell-trade-fix chain where customers can get their Apple devices repaired, or shop a selection of certified pre-owned Apple devices that have been refurbished. The company is proud to help customers get a lot more life out of their Apple devices when other companies would say it’s time to ditch them.

It deals with Apple desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, wearables, and accessories. Every product it sells comes with the chain’s Experisure Warranty, the length of which varies by location.

Founded by Jim Muir in West Palm Beach, Florida in 2009 and franchising since 2014, the number of locations expanded rapidly to 204 in 2019 but has since dropped sharply to the last known reported total of 93, of which none were company-owned and 25 were located outside the US.

8. iMechanic

iMechanic has a company motto of “We repair it all,” meaning not only does it work on cell phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, it will also work on game consoles, drones, watches, televisions, even old radios and just about any other electronic gadget you can come up with.

Repairs can be booked online or as a walk-in to any location. It always strives for same-day turnaround whenever possible. It also lists flat rates clearly on its website for screen replacements on various models of iPhone, iPads, and Samsung phones. It offers both a price match deal (to match any brick-and-mortar store’s repair cost), and a lifetime warranty on its parts/repair work (with a number of caveats that void the warranty).

Founded by Nicholas Helton in Bloomington, Indiana in 2010 and franchising since 2017, there are now 13 locations according to the company website, of which 10 are in Indiana and three are in Illinois.

9. iDropped

iDropped is part of the new wave of rapid cell phone repair concepts that have been popping up in recent years. The reason why these kinds of chains are proliferating is simple: If you take your cell phone to the retailer where you bought it, they will likely be able to handle the repair, but you might end up going days without your phone, which is not something people are willing to do these days.

Similar to other companies on this list, iDropped can do the most common cell phone repairs in about an hour, and other electronic devices within 24 hours (iPads, iPods, and laptops). It specializes in repairs of iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, and Google Pixel phones.

Founded by Chad Altier (current CEO) and Charles Hibble in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2012 and franchising since 2014, there were 10 reported locations in 2018 but the company website currently lists only five locations (one less than the previous year), of which four are in Pennsylvania and one is in Tennessee.

An Important Note About Our Methodology

The franchises on this list were ranked according to the number of units in the franchise system. If you are a prospective franchisee searching for franchise opportunities that meet or exceed certain performance benchmarks for sales, profits, and return on investment, please check out this list of America’s Most Lucrative Franchises.