Private equity firm focused on franchise and multi-unit businesses
Roark Capital Group
- HeadquartersAtlanta, GA S2
- Founded2001 S2
- Websiteroarkcapital.com
- Last verifiedOctober 20, 2026
At a glance
| Assets under management | $43B (as of Oct 2026) S2 |
|---|---|
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S3 |
| Sectors | Auto Services & Collision, Consumer & Food, Education, Construction Services, Distribution |
What Roark Capital Group buys
Roark Capital is an Atlanta private equity firm founded in 2001 that manages $43 billion of equity capital. It describes itself as the leading investor in franchising and backs franchise and franchise-like brands in restaurants, business and consumer services, health and fitness, and education and youth activities. Current holdings include Inspire Brands, Subway, GoTo Foods, Driven Brands, Purpose Brands and Primrose Schools. Roark calls itself a long-term growth investor and looks for asset-light companies with strong margins and cash flow, several ways to grow, a lasting competitive position and a proven management team. It does not publish revenue or EBITDA ranges, and its best-known recent platform deal was the purchase of Subway, completed in April 2024.
A smaller owner is more likely to meet Roark through one of its platforms. GPRS, its subsurface utility locating and mapping company, has bought three locating and scanning firms since May 2025. Driven Brands also runs franchise networks in collision repair, paint, auto maintenance and oil change, including ABRA, CARSTAR, Maaco, Meineke and Take 5 Oil Change.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 20, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Subtronic CorporationMartinez, California utility locating and pipe inspection firm founded in 1984, added to GPRS | Add-on | Construction Services | Source |
| August 2025 | Accu-ScanNew York subsurface detection firm added to GPRS as its twelfth acquisition | Add-on | Construction Services | Source |
| May 2025 | 2-D As-Built Floor PlansProvider of as-built drawings and laser scanning added to GPRS | Add-on | Construction Services | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S4.
Business & Consumer Services
- Divisions Maintenance Group
- GPRS
- Installation Made Easy
- Maaco
- ServiceMaster Brands
- ServiceMaster Clean
- ServiceMaster Restore
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
Education & Youth Activities
- i9 Sports
- KE Camps
- Mathnasium
- Primrose Schools
- SafeSplash
- School of Rock
- U.S. Baseball Academy
- US Sports Camps
- Youth Enrichment Brands
Franchise/Multi-Unit
- 1-800 Radiator
- Abra
- Automotive Training Institute
- CARSTAR
- Driven Brands
- Meineke
- Merry Maids
- Take 5 Oil Change
Health, Wellness & Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Fitness Connection
- Massage Envy
- Orangetheory Fitness
- Purpose Brands
- The Bar Method
- Waxing the City
Restaurant & Food
- Arby's
- Auntie Anne's
- Baskin-Robbins
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Carvel
- Cinnabon
- CKE Restaurants
- Culver's
- Dave's Hot Chicken
- Dunkin'
- GoTo Foods
- Inspire Brands
- Jamba
- Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
- Jimmy John's
- McAlister's
- Miller's Ale House
- Moe's Southwest Grill
- Schlotzsky's
- Seattle's Best Coffee
- SONIC Drive-In
- Subway
Other
- PartsTown
Greymont’s take
How Roark Capital Group fits a seller
Roark is a natural buyer for founders of franchise systems and multi-unit service brands with proven unit economics. It says it takes a long-term approach, and Carvel, its first investment in 2001, is still in the portfolio. Because Roark publishes no size criteria and its own platform deals are large, a small regional business is more likely to sell to one of its platforms. GPRS shows that route: in 2025 it bought Subtronic, a California firm founded in 1984, along with Accu-Scan in New York and 2-D As-Built Floor Plans. Subtronic's president said joining GPRS would let its team offer a broader set of services.
Owners talking to a Roark company should ask which platform would own the business, whether their brand and team would be kept, and how a long-term owner like Roark thinks about the timing of a later sale if they roll equity.
Questions owners ask
Does Roark own auto repair or collision businesses?
Yes. Roark owns Driven Brands, which runs franchise networks including ABRA and CARSTAR in collision repair, Maaco in paint and light collision, Meineke in repair and maintenance, and Take 5 Oil Change. Roark lists all of them as current holdings.
Does Roark buy small companies?
Mostly through its platforms. GPRS, a Roark portfolio company, bought 2-D As-Built Floor Plans in May 2025, Accu-Scan in August 2025 and Subtronic in October 2025, and called Subtronic its thirteenth acquisition.
What does Roark look for in an investment?
Its stated criteria are an asset-light model with strong margins and cash flow, several growth levers, a lasting competitive position, a proven management team and alignment with Roark. It focuses on franchise and franchise-like business models.
Sources
- S1Roark Capital home page Accessed October 20, 2026
- S2Roark: About Roark Accessed October 20, 2026
- S3Roark: Investment Approach Accessed October 20, 2026
- S4Roark: Portfolio Companies, All Industries Accessed October 20, 2026
- S5Subway Sale to Roark is Complete (PR Newswire, April 30, 2024) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S6GPRS: Our Acquired Companies Accessed October 20, 2026
- S7GPRS Acquires Subtronic (October 6, 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Roark Capital Group. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction