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 Wisconsin at the end of its latest reported year, mostly 2025. Each brand’s page lists every state it operates in.
Largest franchises in Wisconsin
McDonald's leads with 292 locations in Wisconsin, 2% of its US total. Food brands make up most of the list: they account for 55% of the locations in these tables. Open a brand for its fees, royalty and how its location count has changed.
| Brand | In WI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's$1.47M–$2.64M to open | 292 | 13,449 | $1.47M–$2.64M |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 182 | 4,750 | $50K–$138K |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 164 | 4,885 | $604K–$2M |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 155 | 1,041 | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 149 | 7,998 | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 123 | 7,158 | $231K–$744K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 112 | 2,282 | $539K–$905K |
| Burger King$348K–$4.73M to open | 110 | 6,650 | $348K–$4.73M |
| Pizza Hut$846K–$2.13M to open | 96 | 5,031 | $846K–$2.13M |
| Arby's$869K–$2.46M to open | 91 | 3,265 | $869K–$2.46M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 56 | 1,685 | $36K–$286K |
| Little Caesars$377K–$1.77M to open | 51 | 3,750 | $377K–$1.77M |
| Servpro$263K–$386K to open | 47 | 2,354 | $263K–$386K |
| KFC$2.11M–$4.16M to open | 44 | 3,490 | $2.11M–$4.16M |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 40 | 1,142 | $912K–$2.05M |
| Hardee's$1.39M–$2.64M to open | 31 | 1,492 | $1.39M–$2.64M |
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 30 | 219 | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Buffalo Wild Wings$2.46M–$4.9M to open | 28 | 1,174 | $2.46M–$4.9M |
| Snap Fitness$555K–$828K to open | 28 | 460 | $555K–$828K |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K–$771K to open | 26 | 1,651 | $276K–$771K |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 25 | 584 | $112K–$188K |
| Express Employment Professionals$132K–$213K to open | 24 | 791 | $132K–$213K |
| Scooter's Coffee$659K–$1.35M to open | 24 | 906 | $659K–$1.35M |
| Midas$385K–$940K to open | 23 | 1,000 | $385K–$940K |
| Jiffy Lube$211K–$510K to open | 22 | 2,083 | $211K–$510K |
Best franchises to own in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin. They are ordered by how few owners left each year, nationally.
| Brand | In WI | Exits/yr | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive$515K–$650K to open | 2 | none | $515K–$650K |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes$475K–$994K to open | 8 | under 0.1% | $475K–$994K |
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 155 | under 0.1% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Domino's$231K–$744K to open | 123 | 0.2% | $231K–$744K |
| The Goddard School$1M–$1.5M to open | 6 | 0.3% | $1M–$1.5M |
| Club Pilates$413K–$1.03M to open | 10 | 0.3% | $413K–$1.03M |
| HOTWORX$289K–$830K to open | 7 | 0.3% | $289K–$830K |
| Primrose Schools$5.02M–$7.96M to open | 2 | 0.4% | $5.02M–$7.96M |
| Taco Bell$1.86M–$4.31M to open | 149 | 0.4% | $1.86M–$4.31M |
| Lawn Doctor$136K–$164K to open | 12 | 0.9% | $136K–$164K |
Brands strongest in Wisconsin
Wisconsin 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 WI | Share of US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culver's$3.41M–$10.3M to open | 155 | 15% | $3.41M–$10.3M |
| Pizza Ranch$2.31M–$2.99M to open | 30 | 14% | $2.31M–$2.99M |
| Snap Fitness$555K–$828K to open | 28 | 6% | $555K–$828K |
| Anytime Fitness$539K–$905K to open | 112 | 5% | $539K–$905K |
| Pet Supplies Plus$520K–$1.82M to open | 22 | 4% | $520K–$1.82M |
| ServiceMaster Clean$112K–$188K to open | 25 | 4% | $112K–$188K |
| Jani-King$50K–$138K to open | 182 | 4% | $50K–$138K |
| Take 5 Oil Change$912K–$2.05M to open | 40 | 4% | $912K–$2.05M |
| Ace Hardware$604K–$2M to open | 164 | 3% | $604K–$2M |
| Century 21$36K–$286K to open | 56 | 3% | $36K–$286K |
Well-known brands with few locations in Wisconsin
Each of these has at least 300 locations nationally but far fewer in Wisconsin 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 WI | Across the US | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | 5 | 967 | $307K–$627K |
| Charleys Cheesesteaks$203K–$696K to open | 4 | 820 | $203K–$696K |
| Del Taco$1.5M–$3.32M to open | 0 | 594 | $1.5M–$3.32M |
| Moe's Southwest Grill$644K–$1.97M to open | 0 | 568 | $644K–$1.97M |
| Big O Tires$544K–$2.74M to open | 0 | 470 | $544K–$2.74M |
| Red Roof$7.25M–$8.9M to open | 3 | 623 | $7.25M–$8.9M |
Franchises under $150K in Wisconsin
Brands with at least five locations in Wisconsin 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 WI | Cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Century 21Real estate$36K–$286K to open | 56 | $36K–$286K |
| Coldwell Banker CommercialReal estate$37K–$554K to open | 5 | $37K–$554K |
| Liberty TaxTax$50K–$71K to open | 14 | $50K–$71K |
| Jani-KingCommercial cleaning$50K–$138K to open | 182 | $50K–$138K |
| Goosehead Insuranceinsurance$66K–$112K to open | 7 | $66K–$112K |
| Jackson HewittTax$71K–$105K to open | 14 | $71K–$105K |
| Home InsteadHome care$93K–$351K to open | 15 | $93K–$351K |
| Right at HomeHome care$94K–$176K to open | 9 | $94K–$176K |
| KumonEducation$102K–$234K to open | 12 | $102K–$234K |
| PuroCleanRestoration$109K–$153K to open | 7 | $109K–$153K |
Franchises in Wisconsin by industry
Locations in Wisconsin 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 290 locations.
| Industry | Locations | Largest brand here |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 1,414 | McDonald's292 locations |
| Restaurant | 1,336 | McDonald's292 locations |
| Fast food | 1,227 | McDonald's292 locations |
| Burger | 598 | McDonald's292 locations |
| Pizza | 326 | Domino's123 locations |
| Cleaning | 290 | Jani-King182 locations |
| Retail | 210 | Ace Hardware164 locations |
| Commercial cleaning | 185 | Jani-King182 locations |
| Home service | 181 | Servpro47 locations |
| Ice cream | 181 | Culver's155 locations |
Franchisors based in Wisconsin
These franchisors have their headquarters in Wisconsin. A nearby head office makes it easier to visit before you sign, and training is often held there.
Franchise law in Wisconsin
Does Wisconsin require franchise registration?
Only a notice. Wisconsin asks franchisors to make an annual notice filing before selling there, but no state examiner reviews the terms, so the federal rule (documents at least 14 days before you sign or pay) is your main protection. Source: Wiley Rein, Regulation of Franchise Sales