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 Maryland at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Maryland
McDonald's leads with 275 locations in Maryland, 2% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 57% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In MD | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 275 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 124 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 114 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 101 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 85 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 75 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 70 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 69 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 63 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 53 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 48 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 47 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 47 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 45 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 44 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks$203K–$696K to open | 42 | 820 | $203K–$696K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 42 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 37 | 665 | $1M–$1.5M |
| Checkers & Rally's$449K–$1.92M to open | 34 | 451 | $449K–$1.92M |
| Mathnasium$127K–$166K to open | 33 | 1,047 | $127K–$166K |
| European Wax Center$332K–$777K to open | 28 | 1,047 | $332K–$777K |
| Goosehead Insurance$66K–$112K to open | 27 | 1,009 | $66K–$112K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 26 | 1,173 | $413K–$1.03M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 26 | 675 | $136K–$164K |
| Outback Steakhouse$4.26M–$9.04M to open | 24 | 675 | $4.26M–$9.04M |
Best franchises to own in Maryland
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 Maryland. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In MD | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 18 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 124 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 37 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 26 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 4 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 7 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 101 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 18 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 26 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 22 | 1.0% | $385K–$940K |
Brands strongest in Maryland
Maryland 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 MD | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGI Fridays$1.36M–$4.52M to open | 11 | 14% | $1.36M–$4.52M |
| sweetFrog$327K–$692K to open | 23 | 11% | $327K–$692K |
| Potbelly$629K–$999K to open | 13 | 11% | $629K–$999K |
| Checkers & Rally's$449K–$1.92M to open | 34 | 8% | $449K–$1.92M |
| My Salon Suite$675K–$1.68M to open | 23 | 6% | $675K–$1.68M |
| My Gym$241K–$426K to open | 10 | 6% | $241K–$426K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 37 | 6% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Kiddie Academy$590K–$1.01M to open | 20 | 5% | $590K–$1.01M |
| The Maids$118K–$141K to open | 22 | 5% | $118K–$141K |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks$203K–$696K to open | 42 | 5% | $203K–$696K |
Well-known brands with few locations in Maryland
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Maryland 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 MD | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 12 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 0 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 2 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 0 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 5 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 1 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 4 | 812 | $289K–$830K |
Franchises under $150K in Maryland
Brands with at least five locations in Maryland 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 MD | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 20 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 17 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 69 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 27 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 14 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 10 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 11 | $94K–$176K |
| The JunkluggersHome service$96K–$359K to open | 5 | $96K–$359K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 47 | $102K–$234K |
| PuroCleanRestoration$109K–$153K to open | 12 | $109K–$153K |
Franchises in Maryland by industry
Locations in Maryland 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 265 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,404 | McDonald's275 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,218 | McDonald's275 locations |
| Fast food | 1,074 | McDonald's275 locations |
| Burger | 450 | McDonald's275 locations |
| Pizza | 268 | Domino's124 locations |
| Home service | 265 | Servpro44 locations |
| Cleaning | 181 | Jani-King69 locations |
| Chicken | 150 | Chick-fil-A85 locations |
| Auto repair | 122 | Jiffy Lube63 locations |
| Restoration | 100 | Servpro44 locations |
Franchisors based in Maryland
These franchisors have their headquarters in Maryland. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
- Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
- Kiddie Academy
- Mister Sparky
- Mosquito Squad
- One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
- Senior Helpers
- The Junkluggers
Franchise law in Maryland
Does Maryland require franchise registration?
Yes. Maryland 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 Maryland can't sell you a franchise there yet, so ask for its registration status early. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales