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 Minnesota at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Minnesota
McDonald's leads with 221 locations in Minnesota, 2% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 50% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In MN | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 221 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 145 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 136 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 129 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 100 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 96 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 73 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Snap Fitness$555K–$828K to open | 69 | 460 | $555K–$828K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 65 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 59 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 53 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 46 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 43 | 219 | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 38 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 32 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 31 | 584 | $112K–$188K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 28 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 25 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 25 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Mathnasium$127K–$166K to open | 25 | 1,047 | $127K–$166K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 24 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Express Employment Professionals$132K–$213K to open | 23 | 791 | $132K–$213K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 22 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 22 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 22 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
Best franchises to own in Minnesota
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 Minnesota. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In MN | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 7 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 12 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 65 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 145 | 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 | 18 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 13 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 22 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 100 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 5 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
Brands strongest in Minnesota
Minnesota 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 MN | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 43 | 20% | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Snap Fitness$555K–$828K to open | 69 | 15% | $555K–$828K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 65 | 6% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 136 | 6% | $539K–$905K |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 31 | 5% | $112K–$188K |
| Benjamin Franklin Plumbing$143K–$287K to open | 21 | 5% | $143K–$287K |
| One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning$143K–$287K to open | 22 | 5% | $143K–$287K |
| Mister Sparky$133K–$277K to open | 11 | 4% | $133K–$277K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 22 | 4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 32 | 4% | $659K–$1.35M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Minnesota
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Minnesota 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 MN | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 6 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 2 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 3 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 0 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 0 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 2 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks$203K–$696K to open | 2 | 820 | $203K–$696K |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 0 | 623 | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
Franchises under $150K in Minnesota
Brands with at least five locations in Minnesota 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 MN | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 22 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 25 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 46 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 6 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 14 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 12 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 5 | $94K–$176K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 19 | $102K–$234K |
| ServiceMaster CleanRestoration$112K–$188K to open | 31 | $112K–$188K |
| Aire ServHome service$114K–$272K to open | 6 | $114K–$272K |
Franchises in Minnesota by industry
Locations in Minnesota 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 253 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,089 | McDonald's221 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,000 | McDonald's221 locations |
| Fast food | 908 | McDonald's221 locations |
| Burger | 420 | McDonald's221 locations |
| Pizza | 276 | Domino's145 locations |
| Fitness | 253 | Anytime Fitness136 locations |
| Home service | 224 | Servpro53 locations |
| Gym | 205 | Anytime Fitness136 locations |
| Retail | 165 | Ace Hardware129 locations |
| Cleaning | 158 | Servpro53 locations |
Franchisors based in Minnesota
These franchisors have their headquarters in Minnesota. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
Franchise law in Minnesota
Does Minnesota require franchise registration?
Yes. Minnesota 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 Minnesota can't sell you a franchise there yet, so ask for its registration status early. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales