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 Rhode Island at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Rhode Island
Jani-King leads with 66 locations in Rhode Island, 1% of its US total. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In RI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 66 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 32 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 27 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 25 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 19 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 16 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 14 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 9 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 9 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 9 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 8 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 8 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 7 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning$143K–$287K to open | 7 | 447 | $143K–$287K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 7 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Chili's$3.96M–$6.35M to open | 6 | 1,208 | $3.96M–$6.35M |
| Ace Handyman Services$132K–$226K to open | 5 | 401 | $132K–$226K |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 5 | 675 | $136K–$164K |
| Massage Envy$696K–$1.05M to open | 5 | 993 | $696K–$1.05M |
| European Wax Center$332K–$777K to open | 4 | 1,047 | $332K–$777K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 4 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 4 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 4 | 372 | $282K–$1.06M |
| Edible Arrangements$216K–$589K to open | 3 | 597 | $216K–$589K |
| Mosquito Joe$150K–$192K to open | 3 | 404 | $150K–$192K |
Best franchises to own in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In RI | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 27 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 1 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 1 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 16 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 4 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 5 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 8 | 1.0% | $385K–$940K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 7 | 1.0% | $211K–$510K |
| Right at Home$94K–$176K to open | 1 | 1.0% | $94K–$176K |
| Visiting Angels$125K–$171K to open | 2 | 1.2% | $125K–$171K |
Brands strongest in Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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 RI | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 66 | 1% | $50K–$138K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 14 | 0% | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 19 | 0% | $604K–$2M |
Well-known brands with few locations in Rhode Island
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Rhode Island 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 RI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 3 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 0 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 0 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 2 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
Franchises under $150K in Rhode Island
Brands with at least five locations in Rhode Island 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 RI | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 9 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 9 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 66 | $50K–$138K |
| Ace Handyman ServicesHandyman$132K–$226K to open | 5 | $132K–$226K |
| Lawn DoctorLawn care$136K–$164K to open | 5 | $136K–$164K |
| One Hour Heating & Air ConditioningHome service$143K–$287K to open | 7 | $143K–$287K |
Franchises in Rhode Island by industry
Locations in Rhode Island 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 78 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 160 | McDonald's32 locations |
| Restaurant | 144 | McDonald's32 locations |
| Fast food | 129 | McDonald's32 locations |
| Cleaning | 78 | Jani-King66 locations |
| Commercial cleaning | 67 | Jani-King66 locations |
| Burger | 60 | McDonald's32 locations |
| Home service | 37 | Servpro8 locations |
| Pizza | 34 | Domino's27 locations |
| Retail | 24 | Ace Hardware19 locations |
| Chicken | 18 | KFC14 locations |
Franchise law in Rhode Island
Does Rhode Island require franchise registration?
Yes. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island can't sell you a franchise there yet, so ask for its registration status early. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales