Painting with a Twist, the nation's original and largest paint and sip franchise, capped off a groundbreaking year by ranking as the No. 1 paint and sip business in Entrepreneur magazine's 40th Annual Franchise 500® list for the sixth consecutive year. Overall, the company was ranked at No. 163 on the list.

Each year, the Franchise 500® acknowledges top companies for outstanding performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the franchise system. The highly coveted list is seen as a gold standard in the franchise industry and dominant competitive measure for franchisors. Additionally, individuals seeking established franchise concepts with proven systems and results use the Franchise 500® as a primary comparative research tool.

"We are honored to be named as the number one paint and sip franchise. It is a recognition we are continuously working to maintain," said Joe Lewis, CEO of Painting with a Twist. "Our dedicated franchisees, artists and guests are the building blocks of this company and we have so much to look forward to in the coming year as we continue to expand both our footprint and our guest experience."

In 2018, Painting with a Twist added its first ever Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer. The company also announced the industry's first ever acquisition of Bottle & Bottega, a competitor based in Chicago, giving the company 320 units in 39 states. Painting with a Twist was founded by Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a way to create an escape from the daily grind for those in the New Orleans area.

At Painting with a Twist studios across the country, guests come together to experience a unique 'getaway' that includes friends, paint and the option to BYOB. Led by local artists, guests paint on bare canvases using paint and brushes provided by the studio. With more than 13,000 original pieces of copyrighted artwork, customers are always able to find a painting they love, ranging from landscapes, abstracts and cityscapes, to creative renderings of animals, iconic buildings and florals, which have all been conceptualized and produced by Painting with a Twist artists. The company's charitable arm, Painting with a Purpose, raises money for local charities through monthly events at all locations and hit the $5 million-dollar mark in funds donated this year.

For more information about franchise opportunities with Painting with a Twist, visit www.paintingwithatwistfranchise.com.

About Painting with a Twist®

Painting with a Twist, based in the New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan area is the original and leading paint and sip franchise with more than 300 studios in 39 states. Nationally, guests have painted more than 10 Million paintings at studios throughout the country since Painting with a Twist started franchising in 2009. The company maintains a strong focus on giving back to the local community, and was recently recognized by the International Franchise Association's Franchise Education & Research Foundation's Franchising Gives Back Awards. To date, Painting with a Twist has donated more than $5 million through its charity arm, Painting with a Purpose. As the fastest-growing franchise in the category, Painting with a Twist has been ranked the No. 1 Paint and Sip franchise as part of Entrepreneur magazine's annual Franchise 500 edition for the past six years. For more information about Painting with a Twist's franchise opportunity, visit www.paintingwithatwistfranchise.com.