What’s the most profitable franchise to invest in within the EU right now?

I'm seriously considering getting into franchising and trying to figure out which opportunities offer the best returns across Europe. I keep seeing conflicting information online and would love to hear from people with actual experience.

I'm particularly curious about initial investment versus annual returns, and how saturated different markets are. Some franchises seem to be expanding really quickly in Europe while others appear to be struggling with EU regulations or market differences compared to the US.

From my research so far, I'm seeing a lot of buzz around food and beverage franchises obviously, but also fitness centers, cleaning services, education and tutoring businesses, and tech repair shops. But honestly I have no idea which ones actually make money versus just generate a lot of hype.

What I'd really love to know is what franchises people are seeing do well financially in practice. Are there any hidden costs or regulatory challenges specific to operating in the EU that caught you off guard? I'm also wondering if certain franchises perform way better in some European countries than others.

I'm looking for real numbers and experiences rather than generic advice about location being everything. Anyone willing to share what they've learned or what they'd avoid completely?