A franchise brand’s presence in your state tells you more than its national size. It shows whether customers here already know the name, whether there is a field team and supply route nearby, and how much room is left for a new location. The tables below count each brand’s franchised and company-owned locations in Alabama at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Alabama
McDonald's leads with 236 locations in Alabama, 2% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 68% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In AL | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 236 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 211 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 168 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 144 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 144 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 100 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 99 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 97 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 93 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 91 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 90 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 80 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 74 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 72 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 43 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 41 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 40 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 40 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 40 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 36 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Moe's Southwest Grill$644K–$1.97M to open | 34 | 568 | $644K–$1.97M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 33 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Chicken Salad Chick$777K–$999K to open | 31 | 326 | $777K–$999K |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 26 | 623 | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 26 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
Best franchises to own in Alabama
These brands pass all five tests on our best franchises to own ranking (they grew, few owners left, they share earnings figures, they are on the SBA directory and they had at least 100 US locations three years ago) and already operate in Alabama. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In AL | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 9 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 11 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 16 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 144 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 6 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 16 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 6 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 168 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 2 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 15 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
Brands strongest in Alabama
Alabama has about 2% of the US locations of the brands listed here. These brands have a much larger share of their locations in the state, often because they started here or grew outward from a regional base. A strong home market usually means local brand recognition, but also fewer open territories.
| Brand | In AL | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 93 | 10% | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Chicken Salad Chick$777K–$999K to open | 31 | 10% | $777K–$999K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 91 | 6% | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Moe's Southwest Grill$644K–$1.97M to open | 34 | 6% | $644K–$1.97M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 211 | 4% | $50K–$138K |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 26 | 4% | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 36 | 4% | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 40 | 3% | $286K–$811K |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 43 | 3% | $405K–$876K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 99 | 3% | $869K–$2.46M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Alabama
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Alabama than a brand its size usually has here. That can mean open territory for a new owner. It can also mean the brand isn’t selling franchises in the state, has a supply chain that doesn’t reach it yet, or has tried and left, so ask the franchisor which it is.
| Brand | In AL | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 6 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 6 | 1,173 | $413K–$1.03M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 4 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 0 | 710 | $481K–$941K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 0 | 665 | $1M–$1.5M |
| F45 Training$362K–$858K to open | 4 | 708 | $362K–$858K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 2 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 0 | 470 | $544K–$2.74M |
| MOD Pizza$1M–$1.3M to open | 2 | 552 | $1M–$1.3M |
Franchises under $150K in Alabama
Brands with at least five locations in Alabama whose estimate starts at $150K or less, cheapest first, with the business each runs. For more options at your budget, use the franchise finder.
| Brand | In AL | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 14 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 22 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 211 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 17 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 40 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 9 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 8 | $94K–$176K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 6 | $102K–$234K |
| PuroCleanRestoration$109K–$153K to open | 7 | $109K–$153K |
| ServiceMaster CleanRestoration$112K–$188K to open | 5 | $112K–$188K |
Franchises in Alabama by industry
Locations in Alabama by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, cleaning franchises lead with 275 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,846 | McDonald's236 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,735 | McDonald's236 locations |
| Fast food | 1,612 | McDonald's236 locations |
| Burger | 588 | McDonald's236 locations |
| Pizza | 385 | Domino's144 locations |
| Chicken | 308 | Zaxby's93 locations |
| Cleaning | 275 | Jani-King211 locations |
| Commercial cleaning | 213 | Jani-King211 locations |
| Home service | 155 | Servpro40 locations |
| Retail | 129 | Ace Hardware90 locations |