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 Montana at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Montana
Ace Hardware leads with 57 locations in Montana, 1% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 53% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In MT | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 57 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 47 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 31 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 28 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 27 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 18 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 17 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 16 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 13 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 12 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 10 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 7 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 7 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Express Employment Professionals$132K–$213K to open | 7 | 791 | $132K–$213K |
| Goosehead Insurance$66K–$112K to open | 7 | 1,009 | $66K–$112K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 7 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Cinnabon$257K–$704K to open | 5 | 1,338 | $257K–$704K |
| Coldwell Banker Commercial$37K–$554K to open | 5 | 135 | $37K–$554K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 5 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 5 | 219 | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 5 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 4 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 4 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 4 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Two Men and a Truck$147K–$512K to open | 4 | 351 | $147K–$512K |
Best franchises to own in Montana
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 Montana. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In MT | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 1 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 1 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 28 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 2 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 1 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 27 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 1 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 4 | 1.0% | $385K–$940K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 10 | 1.0% | $211K–$510K |
| Right at Home$94K–$176K to open | 1 | 1.0% | $94K–$176K |
Brands strongest in Montana
Montana has about 0% 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 MT | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 57 | 1% | $604K–$2M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 17 | 1% | $36K–$286K |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 18 | 1% | $71K–$105K |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 31 | 1% | $846K–$2.13M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 10 | 0% | $211K–$510K |
Well-known brands with few locations in Montana
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Montana 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 MT | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 0 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 2 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 0 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 0 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 0 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 1 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
Franchises under $150K in Montana
Brands with at least five locations in Montana 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 MT | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 17 | $36K–$286K |
| Coldwell Banker CommercialReal estate$37K–$554K to open | 5 | $37K–$554K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 7 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 18 | $71K–$105K |
| Express Employment ProfessionalsStaffing$132K–$213K to open | 7 | $132K–$213K |
Franchises in Montana by industry
Locations in Montana 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 63 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 231 | McDonald's47 locations |
| Restaurant | 217 | McDonald's47 locations |
| Fast food | 200 | McDonald's47 locations |
| Pizza | 80 | Pizza Hut31 locations |
| Burger | 71 | McDonald's47 locations |
| Retail | 63 | Ace Hardware57 locations |
| Home service | 27 | Servpro5 locations |
| Auto repair | 23 | Jiffy Lube10 locations |
| Real estate | 22 | Century 2117 locations |
| Tax | 19 | Jackson Hewitt18 locations |