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 Illinois at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Illinois
McDonald's leads with 642 locations in Illinois, 5% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 56% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In IL | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 642 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 291 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 268 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 235 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 199 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 176 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 154 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 140 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 131 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 112 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 107 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 93 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 92 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 92 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 91 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 80 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 71 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 70 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 69 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 69 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 68 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 68 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 66 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 60 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 52 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
Best franchises to own in Illinois
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 Illinois. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In IL | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 7 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 34 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 140 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 235 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 31 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 44 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 17 | 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 | 291 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 2 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
Brands strongest in Illinois
Illinois has about 4% 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 IL | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 140 | 13% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Kiddie Academy$590K–$1.01M to open | 30 | 8% | $590K–$1.01M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 176 | 7% | $71K–$105K |
| Kilwins$485K–$880K to open | 13 | 7% | $485K–$880K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 68 | 7% | $385K–$940K |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 60 | 7% | $659K–$1.35M |
| Pet Supplies Plus$520K–$1.82M to open | 31 | 6% | $520K–$1.82M |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 70 | 6% | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 33 | 6% | $112K–$188K |
| Meineke$225K–$1.2M to open | 40 | 6% | $225K–$1.2M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Illinois
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Illinois 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 IL | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 20 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 4 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 13 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 6 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| 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 |
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 0 | 470 | $544K–$2.74M |
| Shipley Do-Nuts$517K–$855K to open | 0 | 393 | $517K–$855K |
| Benjamin Franklin Plumbing$143K–$287K to open | 2 | 409 | $143K–$287K |
Franchises under $150K in Illinois
Brands with at least five locations in Illinois 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 IL | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 66 | $36K–$286K |
| Coldwell Banker CommercialReal estate$37K–$554K to open | 6 | $37K–$554K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 69 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 154 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 44 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 176 | $71K–$105K |
| Weed ManLawn care$81K–$109K to open | 7 | $81K–$109K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 26 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 18 | $94K–$176K |
| The JunkluggersHome service$96K–$359K to open | 5 | $96K–$359K |
Franchises in Illinois by industry
Locations in Illinois 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 390 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 2,858 | McDonald's642 locations |
| Restaurant | 2,600 | McDonald's642 locations |
| Fast food | 2,362 | McDonald's642 locations |
| Burger | 1,233 | McDonald's642 locations |
| Pizza | 505 | Domino's235 locations |
| Home service | 390 | Servpro91 locations |
| Cleaning | 355 | Jani-King154 locations |
| Retail | 322 | Ace Hardware199 locations |
| Auto repair | 289 | Jiffy Lube112 locations |
| Tax | 245 | Jackson Hewitt176 locations |
Franchisors based in Illinois
These franchisors have their headquarters in Illinois. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
Franchise law in Illinois
Does Illinois require franchise registration?
Yes. Illinois 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 Illinois can't sell you a franchise there yet, so ask for its registration status early. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales