Honor comes as the leading Southern BBQ franchise brand continues to innovate and grow in 2025
Sonny’s BBQ, the industry-leading BBQ restaurant rooted in quality food and spreading kindness, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 46 years, achieving placement on the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500 has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and is recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees. The 2025 Franchise 500 ranks Sonny’s BBQ as No. 373 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
“Sonny’s inclusion on this prestigious list of brands is a testament to our position as a leading BBQ franchise positioned for growth in 2025 and beyond,” said Jamie Yarmuth, Sonny’s BBQ CEO. “We value our relationships with our franchise partners and are proud to work with them every day to make Sonny’s BBQ one of the best franchises in the restaurant industry.”
In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 46-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.
“The Franchise 500 is more than a list. It’s really a collection of life-changing opportunities, featuring strong and resilient brands that future franchisees will be proud to be a part of,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “This year’s honorees represent the bold ideas, operational excellence, and adaptability that make franchising a cornerstone of entrepreneurial success.”
Over its 46 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Sonny’s BBQ’’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.
To view Sonny’s BBQ in the full ranking, visit Entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2025 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 14th.
For more information about Sonny’s BBQ, visit SonnysBBQ.com or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube. Franchise opportunities can be found at SonnysBBQfranchise.com.
With nearly 100 locations spanning the southeast, Sonny’s BBQ is one of the largest barbecue restaurant brands in the country. Its signature pulled pork, sweet tea, and unique appetizers have afforded the restaurant the title of “Best Barbecue Chain in America” by The Daily Meal. Floyd “Sonny” Tillman and his wife, Lucille, founded Sonny’s BBQ in 1968 in Gainesville, Fla. in hopes of creating a local BBQ joint for their community to enjoy. 55 years later, Sonny’s BBQ continues to do just that under the direction of CEO Jamie Yarmuth and local pitmasters spreading the spirit of BBQ in each of their communities through the Q the Kindness and Random Acts of BBQ initiatives. The brand gives back more than $1.2 million annually across the eight states it serves, and reaches tens of thousands of community members with its generosity. Sonny’s BBQ is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences, ability and willingness to utilize cutting-edge technology, and network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Sonny’s BBQ location closest to you, please visit SonnysBBQ.com.