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 Delaware at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Delaware
McDonald's leads with 36 locations in Delaware, 0% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 54% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In DE | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 36 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 26 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 20 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 20 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 15 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 14 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 10 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 9 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 9 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 9 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 8 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 8 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Meineke$225K–$1.2M to open | 8 | 709 | $225K–$1.2M |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 7 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 7 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 7 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Saladworks$484K–$678K to open | 7 | 84 | $484K–$678K |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 7 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 7 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 6 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 6 | 675 | $136K–$164K |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 6 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 6 | 372 | $282K–$1.06M |
| The Maids$118K–$141K to open | 6 | 426 | $118K–$141K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 5 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
Best franchises to own in Delaware
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 Delaware. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In DE | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 2 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 26 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 3 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 5 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 20 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 6 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 6 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 4 | 1.0% | $385K–$940K |
| Kiddie Academy$590K–$1.01M to open | 1 | 1.0% | $590K–$1.01M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 6 | 1.0% | $211K–$510K |
Brands strongest in Delaware
Delaware has about 0% 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 DE | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 15 | 1% | $318K–$3.46M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Delaware
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Delaware 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 DE | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 1 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
Franchises under $150K in Delaware
Brands with at least five locations in Delaware 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 DE | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 8 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 7 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 9 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 5 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 9 | $71K–$105K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 7 | $102K–$234K |
| The MaidsCleaning$118K–$141K to open | 6 | $118K–$141K |
| Lawn DoctorLawn care$136K–$164K to open | 6 | $136K–$164K |
| One Hour Heating & Air ConditioningHome service$143K–$287K to open | 5 | $143K–$287K |
Franchises in Delaware by industry
Locations in Delaware 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 46 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 226 | McDonald's36 locations |
| Restaurant | 199 | McDonald's36 locations |
| Fast food | 169 | McDonald's36 locations |
| Burger | 69 | McDonald's36 locations |
| Home service | 46 | Servpro7 locations |
| Pizza | 41 | Domino's26 locations |
| Cleaning | 28 | Jani-King9 locations |
| Chicken | 27 | Chick-fil-A15 locations |
| Auto repair | 20 | Meineke8 locations |
| Retail | 20 | Ace Hardware10 locations |