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 Arkansas at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Arkansas
Sonic leads with 190 locations in Arkansas, 6% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 71% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In AR | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 190 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 164 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 114 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 85 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 84 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 76 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 60 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 51 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 49 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 48 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 44 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 32 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 29 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 26 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 25 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Shipley Do-Nuts$517K–$855K to open | 24 | 393 | $517K–$855K |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 23 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 21 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 21 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 21 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 21 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 20 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 19 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 18 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Chili's$3.96M–$6.35M to open | 17 | 1,208 | $3.96M–$6.35M |
Best franchises to own in Arkansas
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 Arkansas. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In AR | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 4 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 9 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 3 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 84 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 9 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 6 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 11 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 2 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 114 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 5 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
Brands strongest in Arkansas
Arkansas has about 1% 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 AR | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipley Do-Nuts$517K–$855K to open | 24 | 6% | $517K–$855K |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 190 | 6% | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers$855K–$1.3M to open | 17 | 3% | $855K–$1.3M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 21 | 2% | $307K–$627K |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 21 | 2% | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 51 | 2% | $71K–$105K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 32 | 2% | $276K–$771K |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 21 | 2% | $912K–$2.05M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Arkansas
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Arkansas 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 AR | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Massage Envy$696K–$1.05M to open | 2 | 993 | $696K–$1.05M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 3 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks$203K–$696K to open | 1 | 820 | $203K–$696K |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 1 | 710 | $481K–$941K |
| F45 Training$362K–$858K to open | 1 | 708 | $362K–$858K |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 3 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| MOD Pizza$1M–$1.3M to open | 0 | 552 | $1M–$1.3M |
| Meineke$225K–$1.2M to open | 2 | 709 | $225K–$1.2M |
Franchises under $150K in Arkansas
Brands with at least five locations in Arkansas 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 AR | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 25 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 23 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 20 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 7 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 51 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 8 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 6 | $94K–$176K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 7 | $102K–$234K |
| ServiceMaster CleanRestoration$112K–$188K to open | 6 | $112K–$188K |
| Kona IceIce cream$115K–$229K to open | 19 | $115K–$229K |
Franchises in Arkansas by industry
Locations in Arkansas by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, retail franchises lead with 78 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,196 | Sonic190 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,091 | Sonic190 locations |
| Fast food | 1,005 | Sonic190 locations |
| Burger | 475 | Sonic190 locations |
| Pizza | 232 | Pizza Hut85 locations |
| Chicken | 112 | KFC49 locations |
| Retail | 78 | Ace Hardware60 locations |
| Home service | 76 | Servpro15 locations |
| Tax | 74 | Jackson Hewitt51 locations |
| Ice cream | 63 | Baskin-Robbins21 locations |
Franchisors based in Arkansas
This franchisor has its headquarters in Arkansas. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.