Its function was to commission and buy programmes from independents and the franchise companies, not to make them itself.

In the late 1880s the city had five franchise companies providing transit services within city limits.

It is a franchise company, and experienced system-wide sales of nearly $3 billion in 2007.

"We look at this like any other branded franchise company," he said yesterday.

Each year, Entrepreneur lists its top 500 franchise companies based on a submission and review process.

During the early 1970s, Jani-King became a franchise company with a unique business model.

This issue was resolved on 9 February 1994 after the franchise company agreed to donate $500,000 per year to health care.

For 35 years, Jim Henson ran, himself, one of the most successful franchise companies in the world.

This concept was spread throughout Long Island and by 1989 it became a franchise company.

He was best known for turning the McDonald's restaurant chain into a franchise company.