{"id":51509,"date":"2026-03-06T14:13:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/?p=51509"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:52:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:52:09","slug":"150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","title":{"rendered":"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"$150<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

$150 a barrel oil and franchising. <\/strong>Are you ready? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s talk about something most of the folks in the franchise industry won’t touch. Oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the impact of $150 a barrel oil* on specific franchise sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*If it gets that high<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From MarketWatch<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Qatar Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned in the Financial Times that the Middle East conflict could force Persian Gulf countries to halt energy shipments within a matter of weeks. He said that could drive oil to $150 a barrel and bring down the economies of the world<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, what happens to franchising<\/a> if crude oil hits $150 a barrel. I’m talking about something that’s a real possibility if the U.S. conflict with Iran<\/a> escalates into something uglier and longer than anyone wants to admit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, this isn’t fear-mongering. It’s math. And it’s geography. And high oil prices and franchising <\/strong>aren’t a good fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Update <\/strong>—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post was written on March 6th of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, things have only gotten worse-and more chaotic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of today (April 23rd<\/em>), Brent Crude is at $104. That’s over $40 more a gallon than it was before the Iran war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the Strait of Hormoz is now blocked. That’s a problem, as almost a quarter of oil and natural gas flows through the narrow strait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means fuel prices ($3.99 US, now<\/em>) aren’t going down anytime soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all that being said, I want you to take a look at something my friend, Dr Callum Floyd, Managing Directorof Franchize Consultants just sent over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s titled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NZ Fuel Cost Impact on Franchise Systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It includes insights from 41 New Zealand franchisors on how rising fuel costs are impacting their franchise systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The relationship between $150 a barrel oil and franchising<\/strong> is not theoretical. It’s a real risk that franchise buyers and current franchisees need to take seriously right now. Fuel-dependent sectors<\/a> \u2014 QSR, automotive, and fitness \u2014 face the steepest exposure. Service-based franchises with short supply chains are far better positioned to weather the storm. Not all franchises are created equal when energy prices explode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If $150 a barrel oil<\/strong> becomes reality, the franchisees who survive will be the ones who prepared early. Audit your supply chain. Negotiate fuel surcharge rights. Look at route optimization and EV fleet options. The cost of preparation today is nothing compared to the cost of getting caught flat-footed later. Smart franchise ownership means thinking ahead \u2014 even when headlines related to high oil prices and franchising feel far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Strait of Hormuz and the Potential of $150 a Barrel Oil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iran sits at the edge of the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>. And roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through that narrow stretch of water. Any serious military escalation in that region won’t just rattle markets. It can throttle global supply chains overnight<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re thinking about buying a franchise right now<\/a>, you need to understand what $150 oil means for specific sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m not going to sugar coat this. Some franchises will get crushed<\/em>. Others will bend but survive. A few might actually benefit. What?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the breakdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"chart<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The Franchise Sectors That $150 a Barrel Oil Would Hurt The Most<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

High oil prices, food delivery and quick-service restaurant franchises (QSR)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Food-service franchise businesses are directly in the crosshairs of higher oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about what makes a QSR franchise tick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients shipped by truck. Packaging made from petrochemicals. Delivery drivers burning fuel on every run. Every day, franchises like Dutch Bros<\/a>, Jersey Mike’s, and Marco’s Pizza<\/strong> depend on a massive web of fuel-dependent logistics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when oil spikes, food costs spike. Then packaging costs spike. Then delivery costs spike. And then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These higher costs that franchisors and franchisees get hit with are passed along to customers. And eventually, those customers start cutting back on take-out, delivery and in-person dining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automotive and transportation franchises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Franchises in this sector face a different kind of pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziebart<\/a>, Jiffy Lube, Meineke<\/a> \u2014 these businesses thrive when people drive more and own more vehicles. But at $150 a barrel, gas prices could push past $6 or $7 a gallon nationally. Read that again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means that people will drive less. They’ll delay oil changes and other maintenance needs. They’ll carpool or use public transportation. Volume drops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s counterintuitive, but businesses that depend on car traffic can suffer when fuel becomes unaffordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fitness franchises with multiple locations and higher oil prices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Franchises in the fitness sector will also feel the burn. Think about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their members drive<\/em> to get there. Their supplies ship in. Their HVAC systems run on energy that gets more expensive by the month. Burn Boot Camp<\/a>, Orangetheory, JETSET Pilates<\/a> \u2014 their franchisees will see utility bills quickly climb alongside member cancellations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Franchise Sectors That Bend But Don’t Break at $150 a Barrel Oil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Home services franchises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Franchisees who own franchises in the home services sector hold up reasonably well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s because people still need their roofs fixed, their HVAC systems<\/a> serviced, their gutters cleaned, and their plumbing issues resolved<\/a>. They don’t stop needing those things because oil is expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, franchise brands<\/a> like Roto Rooter<\/a>, Mosquito Joe and others, will face higher fuel costs for their service vehicles. But they can pass a portion of those costs to customers through fuel surcharges \u2014 a practice that’s become normalized since the COVID supply chain chaos. Not that consumers like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

$150 a barrel oil and senior care and in-home healthcare franchises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Home health care-related franchises are similarly resilient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s because the demand is demographic, not discretionary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think Comfort Keepers and BrightStar Care<\/a>. People still need care regardless of what’s happening at the pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staffing and professional service franchises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Franchises like Spherion or Express Employment Professionals are almost completely insulated. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they don’t need delivery trucks. They don’t provide a physical product. There’s no shipping. Their cost structures barely budge when crude spikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

How Smart Franchisees Can Protect Themselves if Oil Hits $150 a Barrel <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re already in a franchise \u2014 or seriously evaluating one \u2014 here’s what to think about right now.<\/p>\n\n\n

1. Audit your supply chain exposure<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Ask your franchisor directly: what percentage of our COGS is fuel-dependent? If they can’t answer that question, that’s a red flag by itself.<\/p>\n\n\n

2. Negotiate fuel surcharge language into your service agreements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially relevant for home services franchises. Build the flexibility in now, before you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Explore route optimization technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies like OptimoRoute <\/a>are helping franchise delivery and service operations cut fuel consumption by 20\u201330% just by running smarter routes. That kind of efficiency becomes a competitive moat when fuel prices explode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Consider electrifying your fleet<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a bigger capital decision, but several franchise systems are already nudging franchisees toward EVs <\/a>for service vehicles. At $150 oil, the payback timeline on an EV fleet gets dramatically shorter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Tighten your local sourcing wherever your FDD allows it<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shorter the supply chain, the less exposure you carry. Some franchise agreements have flexibility here. Read yours carefully. Better yet, have a franchise attorney review it with this specific lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Talk to your franchisor now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out what plans the company has to address potential oil prices of $150 a barrel. Get specifics. And talk to other franchisees. Get the conversations started now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Bottom Line on High Oil Prices and Franchising?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nobody knows if oil hits $150 a barrel. But the savvy<\/em> franchisee stress-tests their model before<\/strong> things go sideways. Not after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The franchises that survive energy shocks are the ones with service-based models, flexible cost structures, and operators who saw the risk coming and made adjustments early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be that operator<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the world doesn’t stop needing things just because oil gets expensive. But it does stop rewarding people who weren’t paying attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you paying attention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which franchise sectors are most at risk if oil hits $150 a barrel?<\/strong>

The hardest-hit sectors would be quick-service restaurants, food delivery franchises, and automotive service brands. These businesses depend heavily on fuel for shipping, logistics, and customer traffic. When oil gets expensive, their costs go up and their customer counts go down \u2014 at the same time. That’s a dangerous combination for a franchisee trying to hit their numbers.<\/p> <\/div>

Are there franchise sectors that can actually survive $150 a barrel oil?<\/strong>

Yes, and some will barely flinch. Home services, senior care, and staffing franchises have cost structures that are far less fuel-dependent. People don’t stop needing a plumber or a home health aide because gas prices spiked. Service-based franchises with short supply chains and recurring demand are the ones built to bend without breaking.<\/p> <\/div>

What’s the single most important thing a franchisee can do right now to prepare?<\/strong>

Audit your supply chain exposure \u2014 and do it before you need to. Ask your franchisor point-blank: how much of our cost structure is fuel-dependent? If they can’t answer that question clearly, that tells you something important. Knowledge is your first line of defense. You can’t protect yourself from a risk you haven’t measured.<\/p> <\/div>

Should high oil prices change how someone evaluates<\/a> a franchise opportunity?<\/strong>

Absolutely. Energy costs need to be part of your due diligence \u2014 full stop. Look at the franchise’s supply chain, delivery model, and whether the FDD gives you flexibility on local sourcing. Then talk to a franchise attorney who can help you understand what’s locked in and what isn’t. Buying a franchise without stress-testing it against an energy shock right now would be a mistake you don’t want to make.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

$150 a barrel oil and franchising. Are you ready? Let’s talk about something most of the folks in the franchise industry won’t touch. Oil. And the impact of $150 a barrel oil* on specific franchise sectors. *If it gets that high. From MarketWatch: “Qatar Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned in the Financial Times that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51517,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2123,56],"tags":[2443],"class_list":["post-51509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-franchise-business","category-op-ed","tag-oil-prices"],"yoast_head":"\n$150 a Barrel Oil And Franchising: Plan Now!— The Franchise King\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Franchise King\u00ae\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"690\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joel Libava\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Joel Libava\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b560fd324f6df9be52ac875e631beb66\"},\"headline\":\"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\"},\"wordCount\":1617,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"oil prices\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Buying A Franchise Business\",\"Op-Ed\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\",\"name\":\"$150 a Barrel Oil And Franchising: Plan Now!— The Franchise King\u00ae\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":690,\"caption\":\"$150 a barrel oil prices hurt franchising\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Buying A Franchise Business\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/category\\\/buying-a-franchise-business\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Franchise King\u00ae | Get Franchise Buying Advice\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc.\",\"alternateName\":\"The Franchise King\u00ae\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/headshot-2023-the-franchise-king.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/headshot-2023-the-franchise-king.jpg\",\"width\":230,\"height\":319,\"caption\":\"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/thefranchchiseking\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/joellibava\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/franchiseking\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/JoelLibava\\\/videos\"],\"description\":\"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc. is owned and operated by The Franchise King, Joel Libava. Joel is the author of \\\"Become a Franchise Owner!\\\" (Wiley) and \\\"The Definitive Guide to Franchise Research\\\" (Self). Joel's blog, The Franchise King Blog, is the longest-running blog in franchising. Joel also owns and operates The Franchise Attorney Directory. Joel Libava works 1-on-1 as a Franchise Ownership Advisor, and is a prolific writer on all things franchising. Finally, he's been in franchising close to 25 years.\",\"email\":\"joel@thefranchiseking.com\",\"telephone\":\"2168312610\",\"legalName\":\"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc.\",\"foundingDate\":\"2002-01-20\",\"taxID\":\"20-1184045\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"1\",\"maxValue\":\"10\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b560fd324f6df9be52ac875e631beb66\",\"name\":\"Joel Libava\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Joel Libava\"},\"description\":\"I\u2019m The Franchise King\u00ae, Joel Libava. I'm the author of two helpful books on researching and buying a franchise. In addition, I'm a Franchise Ownership Advisor with 20+ years of experience working 1-on-1 with people interested in buying a franchise, safely. Subscribe to my free VIP Franchise Newsletter.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/thefranchchiseking1\",\"https:\\\/\\\/linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/joellibava\",\"https:\\\/\\\/in.pinterest.com\\\/franchiseking\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/JoelLibava\"],\"knowsAbout\":[\"Franchising\"]},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446\",\"name\":\"Which franchise sectors are most at risk if oil hits $150 a barrel?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The hardest-hit sectors would be quick-service restaurants, food delivery franchises, and automotive service brands. These businesses depend heavily on fuel for shipping, logistics, and customer traffic. When oil gets expensive, their costs go up and their customer counts go down \u2014 at the same time. That's a dangerous combination for a franchisee trying to hit their numbers.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556\",\"name\":\"Are there franchise sectors that can actually survive $150 a barrel oil?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, and some will barely flinch. Home services, senior care, and staffing franchises have cost structures that are far less fuel-dependent. People don't stop needing a plumber or a home health aide because gas prices spiked. Service-based franchises with short supply chains and recurring demand are the ones built to bend without breaking.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672\",\"name\":\"What's the single most important thing a franchisee can do right now to prepare?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Audit your supply chain exposure \u2014 and do it before you need to. Ask your franchisor point-blank: how much of our cost structure is fuel-dependent? If they can't answer that question clearly, that tells you something important. Knowledge is your first line of defense. You can't protect yourself from a risk you haven't measured.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thefranchiseking.com\\\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160\",\"name\":\"Should high oil prices change how someone evaluates a franchise opportunity?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Absolutely. Energy costs need to be part of your due diligence \u2014 full stop. Look at the franchise's supply chain, delivery model, and whether the FDD gives you flexibility on local sourcing. Then talk to a franchise attorney who can help you understand what's locked in and what isn't. Buying a franchise without stress-testing it against an energy shock right now would be a mistake you don't want to make.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"$150 a Barrel Oil And Franchising: Plan Now!— The Franchise King\u00ae","description":"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)","og_description":"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","og_site_name":"The Franchise King\u00ae","article_published_time":"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":690,"url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Joel Libava","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors"},"author":{"name":"Joel Libava","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b560fd324f6df9be52ac875e631beb66"},"headline":"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)","datePublished":"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors"},"wordCount":1617,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg","keywords":["oil prices"],"articleSection":["Buying A Franchise Business","Op-Ed"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors","name":"$150 a Barrel Oil And Franchising: Plan Now!— The Franchise King\u00ae","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg","datePublished":"2026-03-06T19:13:15+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-23T18:52:09+00:00","description":"Explore the impact of $150 a barrel oil on franchising and what it means for various franchise sectors in the industry.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/high-oil-prices-franchising.jpg","width":1000,"height":690,"caption":"$150 a barrel oil prices hurt franchising"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Buying A Franchise Business","item":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/category\/buying-a-franchise-business"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Updated! How $150 a Barrel Oil Would Crush Certain Franchise Sectors (And How Franchisees Can Make it Hurt Less)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/","name":"The Franchise King\u00ae | Get Franchise Buying Advice","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#organization","name":"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc.","alternateName":"The Franchise King\u00ae","url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/headshot-2023-the-franchise-king.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/headshot-2023-the-franchise-king.jpg","width":230,"height":319,"caption":"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefranchchiseking\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joellibava","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/franchiseking\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/JoelLibava\/videos"],"description":"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc. is owned and operated by The Franchise King, Joel Libava. Joel is the author of \"Become a Franchise Owner!\" (Wiley) and \"The Definitive Guide to Franchise Research\" (Self). Joel's blog, The Franchise King Blog, is the longest-running blog in franchising. Joel also owns and operates The Franchise Attorney Directory. Joel Libava works 1-on-1 as a Franchise Ownership Advisor, and is a prolific writer on all things franchising. Finally, he's been in franchising close to 25 years.","email":"joel@thefranchiseking.com","telephone":"2168312610","legalName":"Franchise Selection Specialists Inc.","foundingDate":"2002-01-20","taxID":"20-1184045","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"1","maxValue":"10"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b560fd324f6df9be52ac875e631beb66","name":"Joel Libava","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0c74981307dba3f4970cdf8359a1b2fc6ffe7721a2e3d1001acd9ac59db6ed61?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","caption":"Joel Libava"},"description":"I\u2019m The Franchise King\u00ae, Joel Libava. I'm the author of two helpful books on researching and buying a franchise. In addition, I'm a Franchise Ownership Advisor with 20+ years of experience working 1-on-1 with people interested in buying a franchise, safely. Subscribe to my free VIP Franchise Newsletter.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefranchchiseking1","https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/joellibava","https:\/\/in.pinterest.com\/franchiseking\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/JoelLibava"],"knowsAbout":["Franchising"]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823261446","name":"Which franchise sectors are most at risk if oil hits $150 a barrel?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The hardest-hit sectors would be quick-service restaurants, food delivery franchises, and automotive service brands. These businesses depend heavily on fuel for shipping, logistics, and customer traffic. When oil gets expensive, their costs go up and their customer counts go down \u2014 at the same time. That's a dangerous combination for a franchisee trying to hit their numbers.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823290556","name":"Are there franchise sectors that can actually survive $150 a barrel oil?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, and some will barely flinch. Home services, senior care, and staffing franchises have cost structures that are far less fuel-dependent. People don't stop needing a plumber or a home health aide because gas prices spiked. Service-based franchises with short supply chains and recurring demand are the ones built to bend without breaking.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823313672","name":"What's the single most important thing a franchisee can do right now to prepare?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Audit your supply chain exposure \u2014 and do it before you need to. Ask your franchisor point-blank: how much of our cost structure is fuel-dependent? If they can't answer that question clearly, that tells you something important. Knowledge is your first line of defense. You can't protect yourself from a risk you haven't measured.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/150-dollar-a-barrel-oil-franchise-sectors#faq-question-1772823332160","name":"Should high oil prices change how someone evaluates a franchise opportunity?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Absolutely. Energy costs need to be part of your due diligence \u2014 full stop. Look at the franchise's supply chain, delivery model, and whether the FDD gives you flexibility on local sourcing. Then talk to a franchise attorney who can help you understand what's locked in and what isn't. Buying a franchise without stress-testing it against an energy shock right now would be a mistake you don't want to make.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51509"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51830,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51509\/revisions\/51830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}