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 West Virginia at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in West Virginia
McDonald's leads with 103 locations in West Virginia, 1% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 78% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In WV | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 103 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 76 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 61 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 53 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 46 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 45 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 41 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 38 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 32 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 23 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 21 | 2,468 | $71K–$105K |
| Chick-fil-A$318K–$3.46M to open | 18 | 2,863 | $318K–$3.46M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 15 | 1,663 | $50K–$71K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 14 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 11 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 8 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Outback Steakhouse$4.26M–$9.04M to open | 8 | 675 | $4.26M–$9.04M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 8 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| Firehouse Subs$405K–$876K to open | 7 | 1,276 | $405K–$876K |
| Kona Ice$115K–$229K to open | 7 | 1,933 | $115K–$229K |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 7 | 623 | $7.25M–$8.9M |
| Sonic$1.49M–$2.52M to open | 7 | 3,120 | $1.49M–$2.52M |
| Chili's$3.96M–$6.35M to open | 6 | 1,208 | $3.96M–$6.35M |
| Marco's Pizza$286K–$811K to open | 6 | 1,184 | $286K–$811K |
| Snap Fitness$555K–$828K to open | 5 | 460 | $555K–$828K |
Best franchises to own in West Virginia
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 West Virginia. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In WV | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 1 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 41 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 3 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 76 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Playa Bowls$282K–$1.06M to open | 1 | 0.7% | $282K–$1.06M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 4 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 2 | 1.0% | $211K–$510K |
| Right at Home$94K–$176K to open | 3 | 1.0% | $94K–$176K |
| Bojangles$2.85M–$3.95M to open | 1 | 1.1% | $2.85M–$3.95M |
| Visiting Angels$125K–$171K to open | 4 | 1.2% | $125K–$171K |
Brands strongest in West Virginia
West Virginia has about 1% 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 WV | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 23 | 2% | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 53 | 1% | $377K–$1.77M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 45 | 1% | $869K–$2.46M |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 38 | 1% | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 76 | 1% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 11 | 1% | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 61 | 1% | $348K–$4.73M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 46 | 1% | $846K–$2.13M |
| Liberty Tax$50K–$71K to open | 15 | 1% | $50K–$71K |
| Jackson Hewitt$71K–$105K to open | 21 | 1% | $71K–$105K |
Well-known brands with few locations in West Virginia
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in West Virginia 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 WV | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 0 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Jack in the Box$1.91M–$4.04M to open | 0 | 2,131 | $1.91M–$4.04M |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 2 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
| Kumon$102K–$234K to open | 1 | 1,710 | $102K–$234K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 1 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 0 | 1,173 | $413K–$1.03M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 0 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Mathnasium$127K–$166K to open | 0 | 1,047 | $127K–$166K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 0 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 0 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
Franchises under $150K in West Virginia
Brands with at least five locations in West Virginia 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 WV | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 8 | $36K–$286K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 15 | $50K–$71K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 21 | $71K–$105K |
| Kona IceIce cream$115K–$229K to open | 7 | $115K–$229K |
Franchises in West Virginia by industry
Locations in West Virginia 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 36 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 581 | McDonald's103 locations |
| Restaurant | 563 | McDonald's103 locations |
| Fast food | 534 | McDonald's103 locations |
| Burger | 195 | McDonald's103 locations |
| Pizza | 149 | Little Caesars53 locations |
| Chicken | 68 | KFC38 locations |
| Retail | 36 | Ace Hardware32 locations |
| Tax | 36 | Jackson Hewitt21 locations |
| Home service | 26 | Servpro8 locations |
| Fitness | 23 | Anytime Fitness14 locations |