Domestic chains such as the 500-store Xi-Shu franchise are taking market share from state-owned Xinhua, while foreign publishers such as Pearson (part-owner of The Economist) and Bertelsmann's Random House are looking for local distribution channels.

ECONOMIST: Selling books in China

Also, Dodger fans have purchased 28, 500 season tickets, the highest total in franchise history, up from 17, 000 last season, according to USA Today.

FORBES: Would Buffett Have Paid As Much For The Los Angeles Dodgers?

Soave selected 130 of them to receive a Fiat franchise but is requiring them to build separate facilities for the 500 and its kin.

FORBES: Magazine Article

With over 500 million downloads of the casual mobile and online game franchise, Rovio is also aligning with major brands like Wonderful Pistachios, Google Chrome and 20th Century Fox.

FORBES: Angry Birds Developer Rovio Is Growing Faster Than Zynga

Also on Chandra's agenda are 500 wellness centers, all but a dozen of which he hopes to franchise.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Two years after the introduction of the Asiaweek 1000, we expanded the franchise with a list that ranked the region's largest banks, The Asiaweek Financial 500.

CNN: To Our Readers

The league has drawn an average of 7, 109 fans per game during the postseason, with only Seattle (an average of 8, 500 for its last two dates), the city that recently lost its NBA franchise, showing any real signs of life.

FORBES: WNBA Should Pack It In

Despite the 3, 500 franchises running 450, 000 locations in the U.S., negotiators with franchise expertise are rare.

FORBES: Magazine Article