Franchise Development Company Ranks No. 94 on Inc.’s Midwest Regionals List
- Franchise FastLane ranked No. 94 on Inc.’s 2026 Midwest Regionals list of fastest-growing private companies.
- The honor marks the company’s fifth Inc. recognition in nine years, including four Inc. 5000 appearances.
- Since 2017, Franchise FastLane has helped award more than 10,000 franchise units and place over 3,800 entrepreneurs into franchise ownership.
Franchise FastLane, a leading franchise development company, has earned a spot on Inc.’s annual regional rankings as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Midwest.
Franchise FastLane is ranked as no. 94 in the 12-state region, as determined by Inc., a major media brand. The regional rankings are an extension of Inc.’s annual 5000 list.
“Today’s recognition marks the fifth time in nine years that Franchise FastLane has been honored by Inc., including four appearances on the Inc. 5000. This milestone reflects the strong momentum we’ve built alongside our brand partners,” said President and Chief Operating Officer of Franchise FastLane, Tim Koch.
Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc., noted the significance of the selected companies’ achievements despite economic headwinds. “The honorees on this year’s Inc. Regionals list achieved exceptional growth at a time when the odds were against them. Amid inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing economic uncertainty, they didn’t just persevere — they innovated, adapted, and thrived. Their resilience made them standouts in their industries and true growth engines in their regions.”
The 144 private companies honored in the Midwest were recognized for expanding revenue and adding jobs despite challenging economic conditions. They had a median growth rate of 69% between 2022 and 2024, and they had added 8,171 jobs and $5.2 billion to the regional economy during that time.
Franchise Growth and Development
Franchise FastLane provides full-service support to franchisors seeking to grow, ensuring that the companies have the tools, systems and strategies they need to efficiently and effectively accelerate expansion. The company works with established brands to guide franchise growth with structure and clarity, offering a thoughtful approach to franchise sales. Services include marketing, territory checks, operational support through its proprietary tech systems, and oversight of compliance.
With its discovery-led approach, Franchise FastLane helps brands and prospective franchise owners evaluate fit early in the process to reduce friction later in the relationship and to secure better long-term outcomes. The model is designed to create better-informed buyers and stronger alignment between franchisors and franchisees before decisions are made.
Franchisors that partner with Franchise FastLane also can meet with FastLane’s founders in a collaborative environment to share insights and innovative ideas as part of the company’s MasterMind program.
Franchise FastLane also provides services through its Carpool program for brands that want to add structure, accountability and experienced guidance to their franchise development processes but prefer to maintain control of the sales function. The FastLane team works with the brand’s internal leaders to offer support through the company’s proven processes and technology.
“We’ve always believed that with the right systems, support and strategy, emerging franchisors can scale quickly and responsibly,” Koch said. “Our team remains focused on continuing to change people’s lives for the better through franchise ownership.”
Franchise FastLane’s services can help companies take advantage of the strong growth expected for franchises this year. The International Franchise Association projects that franchise output will rise from $907.3 billion to $921.4 billion in 2026, an increase of 1.6%, with the number of franchise establishments growing from 832,521 to 845,000 units. Franchise employment is also projected to increase by more than 150,000 jobs to almost 8.9 million jobs.
Since Franchise FastLane was launched in 2017, the company has helped award more than 10,000 franchise units and has placed more than 3,800 entrepreneurs into franchise ownership. The company works with about two dozen franchisors through its full-service FastLane program and works with another 14 brands through its CarPool program.
Learn more about Franchise FastLane.
