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 Kentucky at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Kentucky
McDonald's leads with 253 locations in Kentucky, 2% 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 KY | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 253 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 168 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 109 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 109 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 109 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 103 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 102 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 94 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 78 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 75 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 67 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 66 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 46 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 44 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 42 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 33 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 32 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 32 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 26 | 623 | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 25 | 470 | $544K–$2.74M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 25 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 22 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers$855K–$1.3M to open | 18 | 580 | $855K–$1.3M |
| Meineke$225K–$1.2M to open | 18 | 709 | $225K–$1.2M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 18 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
Best franchises to own in Kentucky
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 Kentucky. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In KY | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 3 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 8 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 16 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 109 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 2 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 8 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 10 | 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 | 168 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 4 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
Brands strongest in Kentucky
Kentucky has about 2% 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 KY | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 25 | 5% | $544K–$2.74M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 78 | 5% | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 26 | 4% | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 33 | 3% | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Chicken Salad Chick$777K–$999K to open | 11 | 3% | $777K–$999K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 109 | 3% | $869K–$2.46M |
| Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers$855K–$1.3M to open | 18 | 3% | $855K–$1.3M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 109 | 3% | $377K–$1.77M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 67 | 3% | $71K–$105K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 94 | 3% | $2.11M–$4.16M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Kentucky
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Kentucky 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 KY | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 3 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Goosehead Insurance$66K–$112K to open | 0 | 1,009 | $66K–$112K |
| Jamba$481K–$941K to open | 0 | 710 | $481K–$941K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 2 | 665 | $1M–$1.5M |
| Edible Arrangements$216K–$589K to open | 1 | 597 | $216K–$589K |
| Checkers & Rally's$449K–$1.92M to open | 0 | 451 | $449K–$1.92M |
| Sylvan Learning$118K–$288K to open | 0 | 433 | $118K–$288K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 2 | 556 | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Shipley Do-Nuts$517K–$855K to open | 0 | 393 | $517K–$855K |
Franchises under $150K in Kentucky
Brands with at least five locations in Kentucky 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 KY | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 25 | $36K–$286K |
| Coldwell Banker CommercialReal estate$37K–$554K to open | 5 | $37K–$554K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 15 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 46 | $50K–$138K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 67 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 9 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 10 | $94K–$176K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 9 | $102K–$234K |
| ServiceMaster CleanRestoration$112K–$188K to open | 7 | $112K–$188K |
| Kona IceIce cream$115K–$229K to open | 44 | $115K–$229K |
Franchises in Kentucky by industry
Locations in Kentucky 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 114 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,579 | McDonald's253 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,474 | McDonald's253 locations |
| Fast food | 1,374 | McDonald's253 locations |
| Burger | 540 | McDonald's253 locations |
| Pizza | 340 | Domino's109 locations |
| Chicken | 198 | KFC94 locations |
| Home service | 114 | Servpro32 locations |
| Cleaning | 103 | Jani-King46 locations |
| Ice cream | 96 | Kona Ice44 locations |
| Retail | 94 | Ace Hardware75 locations |
Franchisors based in Kentucky
These franchisors have their headquarters in Kentucky. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
Franchise law in Kentucky
Does Kentucky require franchise registration?
No. Kentucky has no franchise registration law. Franchisors file a one-time exemption notice under the state's business opportunity law instead, and nobody at the state reviews the terms, so the federal rule (documents at least 14 days before you sign or pay) is your main protection. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales