What term is used to refer to a company that owns a brand and grants licenses to other businesses to operate under that brand?

The term that refers to a company owning a brand and granting licenses to other businesses to operate under that brand is "Franchisor." A franchisor is responsible for establishing the brand, creating operational guidelines, and supporting franchisees, who are the individual business owners that run the franchise locations. This relationship allows franchisees to leverage the established brand name, business model, and marketing strategies of the franchisor, often leading to a more streamlined path to business success.

The other options represent different roles in the business ecosystem but do not capture the essence of the relationship established in franchising. The franchisee, for example, operates under the brand created by the franchisor and pays fees or royalties in return for the rights to use the brand and its associated operational framework. A brand ambassador typically promotes a product or brand without holding ownership, and a licensee may pay for the rights to use specific brand elements but does not have the same operational rights or relationship as a franchisee does with the franchisor.