Small Business Trends reports on a study by the International Franchise Association (IFA) Educational Foundation and PricewaterhouseCooper, which reports that franchised businesses make up 9.5% of our economy (they provide a direct link to this study, but beware that it is a 181 page pdf file).
It is important to keep in mind that the IFA is an advocate of franchising. These figures reflect the very broadest definition of franchising, which includes distribution companies such as car dealers, bottlers, and gas stations. It is not just the small retail business, such as a bagel shop, that most think of when the term franchise is used.
Franchising is often not the happy partnership that the marketing packages franchisors send out to interested parties. Franchisees will often band together in an almost union-like manner. In fact, one of the most common seminars for franchisors done within this industry addresses the litigation issues they face with their franchisees. Broken promises, unmet expectations, and a perception of little value for the often high monthly fees paid to the franchisor lead to these legal battles.
So although franchising can be a good entry into entrepreneurship, do your homework and go in with your eyes wide open.
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