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 California at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in California
McDonald's leads with 1,226 locations in California, 9% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 61% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In CA | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 1,226 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 940 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 852 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 600 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 479 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 397 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 395 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 364 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 362 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 357 | 710 | $481K–$941K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 355 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 338 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 292 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 279 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 265 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 206 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 199 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 195 | 1,173 | $413K–$1.03M |
| Mathnasium$127K–$166K to open | 188 | 1,047 | $127K–$166K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 183 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 181 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| European Wax Center$332K–$777K to open | 145 | 1,047 | $332K–$777K |
| Sola Salon Studios$950K–$1.75M to open | 143 | 744 | $950K–$1.75M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 142 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| The Joint Chiropractic$254K–$521K to open | 130 | 935 | $254K–$521K |
Best franchises to own in California
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 California. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In CA | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 93 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 600 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 13 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 195 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 40 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 9 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 852 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 9 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 65 | 1.0% | $385K–$940K |
| Kiddie Academy$590K–$1.01M to open | 30 | 1.0% | $590K–$1.01M |
Brands strongest in California
California has about 9% 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 CA | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 355 | 60% | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 357 | 50% | $481K–$941K |
| Pinkberry$303K–$684K to open | 30 | 48% | $303K–$684K |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 940 | 44% | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Nékter Juice Bar$230K–$645K to open | 81 | 42% | $230K–$645K |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 395 | 41% | $307K–$627K |
| Blaze Pizza$757K–$1.3M to open | 72 | 31% | $757K–$1.3M |
| Color Me Mine$219K–$475K to open | 36 | 29% | $219K–$475K |
| My Gym$241K–$426K to open | 44 | 27% | $241K–$426K |
| 911 Restoration$168K–$334K to open | 86 | 26% | $168K–$334K |
Well-known brands with few locations in California
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in California 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 CA | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 6 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 74 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 80 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 49 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 2 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 0 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 6 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 0 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 23 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
Franchises under $150K in California
Brands with at least five locations in California 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 CA | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 183 | $36K–$286K |
| Coldwell Banker CommercialReal estate$37K–$554K to open | 19 | $37K–$554K |
| Brightway Insuranceinsurance$43K–$187K to open | 5 | $43K–$187K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 181 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 6 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 77 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 49 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 64 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 69 | $94K–$176K |
| The JunkluggersHome service$96K–$359K to open | 22 | $96K–$359K |
Franchises in California by industry
Locations in California by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, home service franchises lead with 935 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 7,814 | McDonald's1,226 locations |
| Restaurant | 6,385 | McDonald's1,226 locations |
| Fast food | 6,120 | McDonald's1,226 locations |
| Burger | 2,751 | McDonald's1,226 locations |
| Pizza | 1,383 | Domino's600 locations |
| Home service | 935 | Servpro279 locations |
| Ice cream | 715 | Baskin-Robbins395 locations |
| Education | 664 | Kumon364 locations |
| Chicken | 657 | KFC362 locations |
| Retail | 593 | Ace Hardware397 locations |
Franchisors based in California
These franchisors have their headquarters in California. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
- 911 Restoration
- Amada Senior Care
- Budget Blinds
- Club Pilates
- Comfort Keepers
- CycleBar
- Dave's Hot Chicken
- Del Taco
- El Pollo Loco
- Fit Body Boot Camp
- Jack in the Box
- Mathnasium
- Menchie's
- My Gym
- Nékter Juice Bar
- Panda Express
- Pure Barre
- Taco Bell
Franchise law in California
Does California require franchise registration?
Yes. California is one of the states where a franchisor must register its offering with the state, and have it reviewed by a state examiner, before it can offer or sell franchises there. A brand that isn't registered in California can't sell you a franchise there yet, so ask for its registration status early. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales