7-Eleven Inc. has earned the No. 3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine annual Franchise 500, which ranks top U.S. franchise opportunities. This is the convenience retailer’s 17th year to break into the top 10. Billed as the “first, best and most comprehensive ranking in the world,” the Franchise 500 cites “generous in-house financing” of a franchisee’s inventory and “the company’s revolving credit line for inventory, setup costs and expansion” as key to 7-Eleven’s phenomenal growth in 2009.
7-Eleven opened more than 1,800 stores around the world last year, or roughly one every five hours—not bad in a slowed global economy that has directly impacted real estate sales, development and financing. Of those 1,800 stores, more than 250 were in the United States. The company plans continued growth and has projected opening more than 1,000 stores in the United States and Canada in the next three years. More.