Kampgrounds of America (KOA) was recently named to Franchise Business Review’s 2025 “Culture100” list. The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands in its annual research on the Best Franchise Cultures.
KOA is one of the largest networks of privately owned campgrounds globally, with approximately 500 locations across North America. Founded in Billings, Montana, in 1962, the company opened its first franchise in Cody, Wyoming, two years later. With campgrounds conveniently located in local communities and near iconic destinations, KOA is a leader in outdoor hospitality, offering widespread access to outdoor accommodations for all types of campers. Most KOA campgrounds are franchised, operated by a range of owners — from single-property hosts to businesses managing 15 or more campgrounds.
“As a franchise organization, our franchisees are the backbone of our business,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “It is an honor to be recognized by Franchise Business Review as a leading franchise for company culture. Our core values — family orientation, customer focus, innovation, passion and entrepreneurship — are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to foster a workplace culture that inspires passion and builds meaningful connections across our organization.”
Franchise Business Review, a research firm that conducts independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides ratings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises semi-annually in its Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises in specific sectors.
KOA was among more than 350 franchise brands representing over 35,000 franchise owners that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the best franchise cultures. Franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems. The brands that were selected received the highest overall ratings based on 17 unique areas that contribute to a strong company culture, including leadership, core values, franchisee community and engagement.
“Finding the right culture fit is an important part of any franchise investment decision, but it can be difficult to gauge,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “Franchise Business Review gathers data on how current franchise owners rate a brand’s culture and compare it to industry benchmarks. That data gives potential buyers insights into important indicators of a positive culture, such as if franchisees believe the franchisor cares about their success and how well support staff and franchisees work together to achieve their business objectives. The companies on this year’s Culture100 list are rated 20%-50% higher by their franchisees than other franchise brands in the key areas that contribute to a positive culture. If you’re considering buying a franchise, we recommend you start your search there.”
Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of the 2025 Best Franchise Cultures.
