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 Michigan at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Michigan
McDonald's leads with 524 locations in Michigan, 4% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 66% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In MI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 524 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 352 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 270 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 243 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 183 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 175 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 154 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 150 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 124 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 109 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 107 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 78 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 73 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 72 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 59 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 59 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 55 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 49 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 48 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 46 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Pet Supplies Plus$520K–$1.82M to open | 45 | 495 | $520K–$1.82M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 42 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Checkers & Rally's$449K–$1.92M to open | 38 | 451 | $449K–$1.92M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 35 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Cinnabon$257K–$704K to open | 35 | 1,338 | $257K–$704K |
Best franchises to own in Michigan
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 Michigan. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In MI | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 5 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 14 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 107 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 154 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 13 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 24 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 15 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 5 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 352 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 13 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
Brands strongest in Michigan
Michigan has about 3% 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 MI | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilwins$485K–$880K to open | 24 | 13% | $485K–$880K |
| MassageLuXe$571K–$799K to open | 10 | 11% | $571K–$799K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 107 | 10% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Pet Supplies Plus$520K–$1.82M to open | 45 | 9% | $520K–$1.82M |
| Checkers & Rally's$449K–$1.92M to open | 38 | 8% | $449K–$1.92M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 124 | 8% | $276K–$771K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 270 | 7% | $377K–$1.77M |
| My Salon Suite$675K–$1.68M to open | 21 | 6% | $675K–$1.68M |
| 911 Restoration$168K–$334K to open | 18 | 5% | $168K–$334K |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 175 | 5% | $869K–$2.46M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Michigan
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Michigan 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 MI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 16 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 21 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 12 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 7 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 0 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Massage Envy$696K–$1.05M to open | 8 | 993 | $696K–$1.05M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 8 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| The Joint Chiropractic$254K–$521K to open | 8 | 935 | $254K–$521K |
Franchises under $150K in Michigan
Brands with at least five locations in Michigan 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 MI | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 73 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 59 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 55 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 34 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 21 | $71K–$105K |
| Weed ManLawn care$81K–$109K to open | 9 | $81K–$109K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 11 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 22 | $94K–$176K |
| The JunkluggersHome service$96K–$359K to open | 5 | $96K–$359K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 46 | $102K–$234K |
Franchises in Michigan by industry
Locations in Michigan by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, retail franchises lead with 299 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 2,751 | McDonald's524 locations |
| Restaurant | 2,550 | McDonald's524 locations |
| Fast food | 2,313 | McDonald's524 locations |
| Burger | 949 | McDonald's524 locations |
| Pizza | 594 | Little Caesars270 locations |
| Retail | 299 | Ace Hardware183 locations |
| Home service | 296 | Servpro72 locations |
| Chicken | 244 | KFC150 locations |
| Ice cream | 215 | Culver's107 locations |
| Cleaning | 185 | Servpro72 locations |
Franchisors based in Michigan
These franchisors have their headquarters in Michigan. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
- Domino's
- Goldfish Swim School
- Jet's Pizza
- Kilwins
- Little Caesars
- Pet Supplies Plus
- Tommy's Express Car Wash
Franchise law in Michigan
Does Michigan require franchise registration?
Only a notice. Michigan asks franchisors to make an annual notice filing before selling there, but no state examiner reviews the terms, so the federal rule (documents at least 14 days before you sign or pay) is your main protection. Michigan's own rule is stricter: the documents must reach you at least 10 business days before you sign or pay. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales