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 Iowa at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Iowa
McDonald's leads with 143 locations in Iowa, 1% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 67% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In IA | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 143 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 94 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 70 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 66 | 219 | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 65 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 64 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 58 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 56 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 55 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 53 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 47 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 37 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 36 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 21 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 20 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 20 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 19 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 19 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 19 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 18 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 16 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 15 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 15 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers$855K–$1.3M to open | 13 | 580 | $855K–$1.3M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 13 | 812 | $289K–$830K |
Best franchises to own in Iowa
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 Iowa. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In IA | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 4 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 8 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 37 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 58 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 1 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 8 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 13 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 3 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 56 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 1 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
Brands strongest in Iowa
Iowa 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 IA | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 66 | 30% | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 94 | 10% | $659K–$1.35M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 37 | 4% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 47 | 3% | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 53 | 2% | $539K–$905K |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers$855K–$1.3M to open | 13 | 2% | $855K–$1.3M |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 13 | 2% | $112K–$188K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 55 | 2% | $869K–$2.46M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 13 | 2% | $289K–$830K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 18 | 2% | $2.46M–$4.9M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Iowa
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Iowa 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 IA | 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 | 3 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| European Wax Center$332K–$777K to open | 1 | 1,047 | $332K–$777K |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 0 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 2 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 1 | 710 | $481K–$941K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 1 | 675 | $136K–$164K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 1 | 665 | $1M–$1.5M |
Franchises under $150K in Iowa
Brands with at least five locations in Iowa 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 IA | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 21 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 8 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 19 | $50K–$138K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 16 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 9 | $93K–$351K |
| ServiceMaster CleanRestoration$112K–$188K to open | 13 | $112K–$188K |
| Kona IceIce cream$115K–$229K to open | 15 | $115K–$229K |
| Sylvan LearningEducation$118K–$288K to open | 6 | $118K–$288K |
| Visiting AngelsHome care$125K–$171K to open | 5 | $125K–$171K |
| Merry MaidsCleaning$127K–$169K to open | 8 | $127K–$169K |
Franchises in Iowa by industry
Locations in Iowa by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, fitness franchises lead with 89 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 902 | McDonald's143 locations |
| Restaurant | 772 | McDonald's143 locations |
| Fast food | 664 | McDonald's143 locations |
| Burger | 318 | McDonald's143 locations |
| Pizza | 221 | Pizza Hut70 locations |
| Coffee | 95 | Scooter's Coffee94 locations |
| Fitness | 89 | Anytime Fitness53 locations |
| Retail | 81 | Ace Hardware64 locations |
| Home service | 76 | Servpro20 locations |
| Chicken | 74 | KFC36 locations |
Franchisors based in Iowa
This franchisor has its headquarters in Iowa. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.