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 North Carolina at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in North Carolina
McDonald's leads with 468 locations in North Carolina, 3% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 62% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In NC | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 468 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 353 | 867 | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 330 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 311 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 274 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 232 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 212 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 200 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 173 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 169 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 153 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 144 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 133 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 120 | 969 | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 119 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 100 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 87 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 81 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 79 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 74 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 73 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 66 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 59 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 57 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 49 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
Best franchises to own in North Carolina
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 North Carolina. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In NC | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 9 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 33 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 18 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 311 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 25 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 39 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 29 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 26 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 274 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 8 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
Brands strongest in North Carolina
North Carolina has about 4% 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 NC | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 353 | 41% | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| sweetFrog$327K–$692K to open | 35 | 17% | $327K–$692K |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 200 | 13% | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Zaxby's$1.45M–$3.81M to open | 120 | 12% | $1.45M–$3.81M |
| Potbelly$629K–$999K to open | 13 | 11% | $629K–$999K |
| Kilwins$485K–$880K to open | 17 | 9% | $485K–$880K |
| U.S. Lawns$113K–$200K to open | 17 | 8% | $113K–$200K |
| Moe's Southwest Grill$644K–$1.97M to open | 45 | 8% | $644K–$1.97M |
| Golden Corral$3.63M–$4.51M to open | 27 | 8% | $3.63M–$4.51M |
| Aire Serv$114K–$272K to open | 17 | 7% | $114K–$272K |
Well-known brands with few locations in North Carolina
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in North Carolina 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 NC | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 17 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Baskin-Robbins$307K–$627K to open | 3 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 8 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 0 | 470 | $544K–$2.74M |
| Shipley Do-Nuts$517K–$855K to open | 1 | 393 | $517K–$855K |
| Carvel$428K–$1.05M to open | 0 | 359 | $428K–$1.05M |
Franchises under $150K in North Carolina
Brands with at least five locations in North Carolina 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 NC | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 49 | $36K–$286K |
| Brightway Insuranceinsurance$43K–$187K to open | 12 | $43K–$187K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 100 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 330 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 28 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 169 | $71K–$105K |
| Weed ManLawn care$81K–$109K to open | 6 | $81K–$109K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 26 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 12 | $94K–$176K |
| The JunkluggersHome service$96K–$359K to open | 6 | $96K–$359K |
Franchises in North Carolina by industry
Locations in North Carolina by industry, with the largest brand in each. Brands can sit in more than one industry, so the rows overlap. Outside food, cleaning franchises lead with 496 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 3,631 | McDonald's468 locations |
| Restaurant | 3,387 | McDonald's468 locations |
| Fast food | 3,138 | McDonald's468 locations |
| Burger | 1,036 | McDonald's468 locations |
| Chicken | 833 | Bojangles353 locations |
| Pizza | 749 | Domino's311 locations |
| Cleaning | 496 | Jani-King330 locations |
| Home service | 415 | Servpro87 locations |
| Commercial cleaning | 334 | Jani-King330 locations |
| Tax | 269 | Jackson Hewitt169 locations |
Franchisors based in North Carolina
These franchisors have their headquarters in North Carolina. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.