28 Best Food Franchises in the USA (2026 Ranking)

If you have ever sat in a drive-thru line and thought, "someone owns this thing, and it is generating revenue while I wait for my fries," you are already thinking like a franchise buyer. The harder question is which brand is worth your money, your decade, and your name on the lease.

This guide walks through the fast food and quick-service franchises people search for most, grouped by the food they are known for. For each one you get the founding story, who owns it now, where it operates as of 2026, and the detail that actually matters if you are weighing it as an investment. Numbers shift week to week as restaurants open and close, so treat every count as a recent snapshot, not a permanent fact. Where a brand has changed hands or changed direction since 2024, we flagged it.

One thing up front: this is an overview, not financial advice and not an earnings projection. Any brand worth joining will hand you a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), and that document, reviewed with your own attorney and accountant, is where the real decision gets made.

Key Takeaways

• The roster keeps moving. Several brands on this list changed ownership or strategy since 2024. Jack in the Box sold Del Taco (closed December 2025), Jersey Mike's sold a majority stake to Blackstone, and Pizza Hut's parent put the brand under strategic review. Ownership shapes support, fees, and growth pace, so always confirm who you would actually be signing with.
• Whitespace beats saturation. A brand with thousands of units in your state may have little room left for a new operator. Categories and regions with open territory, like burgers in the South and Midwest or chicken and beverage concepts almost everywhere, tend to give multi-unit operators more runway.
• Asset-light, off-premise formats are the trend. Smaller buildings, double drive-thrus, walk-up windows, and no dining room are showing up across the industry because they lower build-out costs and fit more real estate. Jack in the Box's CRAVED prototype is one example of this shift.
• Franchised vs. company-owned tells you the model. Brands like KFC, Wingstop, and Domino's run roughly 98 to 99 percent franchised, which signals an operator-friendly system. Others recruit selectively or keep more corporate control.
• Counts are snapshots, not promises. Every location figure here is "as of" a recent date and will change. None of it implies what any single restaurant earns. Read the FDD for that.
• Match the brand to your situation. Capital, market availability, hands-on time, and whether you want one unit or twenty should drive the choice far more than which logo you grew up with.

How to read this list

Before the brands, three filters worth keeping in your head:

Availability. Plenty of famous chains have almost no open territory left in desirable markets. The most useful question is not "is this brand big," it is "is there room for me here." Ask every franchisor for a current map of available markets.

The model. A heavily franchised system usually means the corporate team is built to support operators rather than compete with them. A brand that is mostly company-owned, or that hand-picks a small number of operators, is a different kind of relationship.

The fit. A single-unit owner-operator and a multi-unit developer want very different things. Some brands are built for one passionate operator per market. Others actively recruit groups to build ten or twenty restaurants on a development schedule.

With that, here is the lineup.

Burger franchises

Jack in the Box

Founded in San Diego in 1951, Jack in the Box built its reputation on something most competitors still do not offer: a full menu available 24 hours a day, served across multiple dayparts from breakfast to late night. Burgers sit next to tacos, specialty sandwiches, bowls, and shakes on the same order.

The piece worth a franchise buyer's attention is the building. The brand's CRAVED prototype is a compact, off-premise format of roughly 1,350 square feet built around a dual Y-lane drive-thru, a walk-up window, and a dedicated pickup window for mobile and delivery orders, with no dining room. The design is meant to trim build-out costs and open up real estate that a traditional sit-down restaurant could not use, including non-traditional sites.

Jack in the Box has franchised under the brand name since 1971 and is actively recruiting multi-unit operators to grow into open markets across much of the country, including a recent return to Chicago after roughly four decades away. Build-out costs, fees, and territory all live in the current FDD, which is the right place to size up the opportunity.

McDonald's

The most recognized restaurant brand on earth. As of 2026 McDonald's operates more than 44,000 locations across over 100 countries, and the company says roughly 95 percent of them are owned and operated by independent local business owners. The catch for prospective operators is access: availability in a given market is uncertain until you complete the company's training and approval process, and relocation is often part of the deal.

Wendy's

Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio in 1969, and square beef patties plus the Frosty did the rest. The Dublin, Ohio company runs more than 7,200 restaurants worldwide and has laid out plans to keep growing both domestically and internationally, with recent development agreements stretching into Europe. Most units are franchised.

Burger King

Founded in 1954 and known for the flame-grilled Whopper, Burger King operates more than 6,500 restaurants in the United States and close to 20,000 worldwide across 100-plus countries. Its parent, Restaurant Brands International, is the same company behind Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. The brand has leaned into franchisee support and store remodels in recent years.

Whataburger

The Texas icon started as a single burger stand in Corpus Christi in 1950, built around the idea of a burger so big it took two hands to hold. As of late 2025 Whataburger had grown past 1,100 locations across 17 states, with most of its recent openings pushing into the Southeast and states like Colorado. The brand moved from family ownership to backing by an investment firm in 2019, which has accelerated expansion into new markets.

Culver's

Culver's opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin in 1984 and is known for ButterBurgers, frozen custard, and cheese curds. The chain crossed 1,000 restaurants in 2025 and operates across roughly 26 states, concentrated in the Midwest. Nearly the entire system is franchised, with only a handful of company-owned restaurants, and the brand recruits owner-operators who run a single market well rather than absentee investors.

Freddy's

Freddy's launched in Wichita, Kansas in 2002 with cooked-to-order steakburgers, shoestring fries, and frozen custard in a nostalgic setting. The fast-casual brand has grown past 500 locations and has signed agreements to expand into Canada. It still markets available territory across the U.S.

Checkers & Rally's

Two former rivals became one system when Checkers acquired Rally's in 1999. The combined brand, headquartered in Tampa, runs more than 700 restaurants across about 30 states and is built around the double drive-thru format that suits small, high-traffic lots. Both banners share a menu and supply chain.

Steak 'n Shake

Famous since 1934 for steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes, Steak 'n Shake has reshaped itself over the past several years, moving from full table service toward a quick-service, kiosk-driven model. As of 2026 it operates around 400 restaurants in the U.S. plus a set of locations in Western Europe. The brand, owned by Biglari Holdings, has been converting company restaurants to "franchise partners."

Chicken franchises

Chick-fil-A

Truett Cathy opened the restaurant that became Chick-fil-A in Hapeville, Georgia in 1946, and franchised the first unit in 1967. The chain now runs more than 3,400 restaurants in the United States, with Texas leading at over 500, and in 2025 it opened its first locations outside North America in the United Kingdom and Singapore. Worth knowing for would-be operators: Chick-fil-A's model is selective and operator-run rather than a traditional build-your-portfolio franchise, and the company chooses its sites.

KFC

Harland "Colonel" Sanders started what became KFC in 1930 and franchised the concept in 1952. Today KFC operates close to 32,000 restaurants across 150-plus countries, and roughly 99 percent are franchised. Most of the brand's growth now comes from outside the United States, where its master-franchise structure has fueled rapid expansion in markets like China and India. KFC is part of Yum! Brands.

Popeyes

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen opened in the New Orleans area in 1972, built on Cajun and Creole flavors, spicy fried chicken, and seafood. The brand has grown to more than 3,100 restaurants in the U.S. and over 5,400 worldwide across 50-plus countries, with the bulk franchised. Like Burger King, it sits under Restaurant Brands International.

Zaxby's

Childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley opened the first Zaxby's in Statesboro, Georgia in 1990. Known for chicken fingers, wings, and signature sauces, the chain now runs more than 970 restaurants across about 20 states, heavily concentrated in the Southeast, and most are franchised. The brand has been pushing into the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Wingstop

Wingstop started in Garland, Texas in 1994 and opened its 3,000th restaurant worldwide in late 2025. About 98 percent of the system is franchised, the buildings are small at roughly 1,400 to 1,700 square feet, and the menu stays tight around wings, tenders, and a dozen flavors. The brand operates in 15 countries and has stated a long-term goal of 10,000 restaurants worldwide.

Mexican and Tex-Mex franchises

Taco Bell

Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California in 1962. It is the largest Mexican-inspired quick-service brand in the world by unit count, with more than 8,000 restaurants in the United States and over 9,000 worldwide, and it serves more than 40 million U.S. customers a week. The Yum! Brands chain has laid out aggressive international growth targets through 2030.

Del Taco

Del Taco built its following on freshly prepared Tex-Mex made with house-grated cheese, scratch-cooked beans, fresh pico de gallo, and marinated meats, alongside beef burgers and crinkle-cut fries. It runs roughly 550 restaurants across about 17 states and is the second-largest Mexican quick-service brand by units. Ownership note: Jack in the Box, which bought Del Taco in 2022, sold the brand to Yadav Enterprises in a deal that closed in December 2025, so Del Taco is once again operated independently of Jack in the Box.

Moe's Southwest Grill

Moe's launched in Atlanta in December 2000 as a fast-casual take on Mexican food, with burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads, and family-size taco kits. The brand recruits owners who want to build a local following while keeping some independent character in how they run the restaurant.

Pizza franchises

Domino's

Founded in 1960 and headquartered near Ann Arbor, Michigan, Domino's is the largest pizza company in the world by store count, with more than 22,000 restaurants across 90-plus markets and roughly 7,000 in the United States. The system is about 98 percent franchised, and the brand is delivery and carryout first. One quirk worth knowing: most U.S. franchisees came up through the system, and Domino's generally requires management experience inside the brand before you can apply to own a store.

Pizza Hut

The Carney brothers opened the first Pizza Hut in a small building in Wichita, Kansas in 1958. Today the Yum! Brands chain runs more than 6,000 restaurants in the U.S. and close to 20,000 worldwide. In early 2026 Yum! placed Pizza Hut under a strategic review that could include a sale, so anyone evaluating the brand should confirm its ownership and direction before signing.

Sandwich and sub franchises

Subway

Fred DeLuca and Peter Buck opened the first Subway in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1965. It remains the largest restaurant chain in the U.S. by footprint, with around 20,000 domestic locations and close to 37,000 worldwide, though the domestic count has been trimming as the brand optimizes its map. Subway is owned by Roark Capital and is recruiting experienced multi-unit operators.

Jersey Mike's

Jersey Mike's started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, and current owner Peter Cancro bought the original shop in 1975 at age 17, then began franchising in 1987. It is the second-largest sub chain in the U.S. behind Subway, finishing 2025 with more than 3,200 restaurants and expanding into Canada and the UK. In late 2024 Cancro sold a majority stake to private equity firm Blackstone, and the company has signaled interest in a public offering, so the corporate picture is actively shifting.

Jimmy John's

Jimmy John Liautaud opened the first shop in Charleston, Illinois in 1983, built on bread baked in house and meats sliced fresh daily. The chain has more than 2,600 restaurants across 48 states and, under parent Inspire Brands, recently began its first international expansion into markets like Canada, South Korea, and El Salvador.

Arby's

Arby's opened in Ohio in 1964 and is known for roast beef and a broad sandwich menu at value prices. It operates more than 3,000 restaurants, almost entirely in the U.S. with a small international presence, and is the anchor brand of Inspire Brands, which also owns Dunkin', Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Baskin-Robbins, and Jimmy John's.

Coffee, treats, and smoothie franchises

Dunkin

Bill Rosenberg opened the first Dunkin' in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1950 and began franchising within five years. The brand crossed 10,000 U.S. locations in 2025 and runs around 14,000 worldwide. Now owned by Inspire Brands, Dunkin' is one of only a handful of restaurant brands with more than 10,000 stores in the U.S.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen has been serving soft serve and the Blizzard since 1940. Parent company International Dairy Queen, based in Minneapolis, licenses more than 7,800 DQ restaurants across over 20 countries and is recruiting franchisees throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Crumbl

Cousins Sawyer Hemsley and Jason McGowan founded Crumbl in Logan, Utah in 2017 around a tech-forward ordering experience and a rotating weekly menu drawn from a library of more than 200 flavors. The cookie brand has grown to more than 1,000 locations across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, with the weekly flavor drop driving repeat visits.

Smoothie King

Steve Kuhnau started blending fruit, nutrients, and protein at home in 1973, and Smoothie King grew into one of the largest smoothie franchises in the world. The Dallas-based brand has kept up a steady pace of new openings, adding stores across the U.S. each year and broadening its menu with bowls and food items through its Clean Blends approach.

Japanese franchises

Teriyaki Madness

Teriyaki Madness got its start in Seattle about two decades ago and is built around made-to-order teriyaki bowls with fresh ingredients and a range of sauces. The fast-growing brand now runs more than 100 locations across the United States and continues to court franchisees in new territories.

Quick comparison

Footprint figures are recent snapshots and change constantly. None of them speak to what any individual restaurant earns.

How to actually choose a franchise

A logo you love is a terrible reason to sign a 20-year agreement. A few questions that separate a good fit from an expensive mistake:

Is there open territory near you? A brand can be huge and still have nothing available within a reasonable drive. Open whitespace is often more valuable than brand size.

What does the full investment look like? Look past the franchise fee. Land or lease, build-out, equipment, technology, signage, working capital, and ongoing royalties all belong in the math. The FDD lays out the ranges.

Do you want one restaurant or a portfolio? Single-unit ownership and multi-unit development are different businesses with different brands suited to each.

Who supports you after opening? Training, supply chain, marketing, and field support vary a lot between systems. Talk to current franchisees, not just the development team.

Who owns the brand, and where is it headed? As this list shows, parent companies and strategies change. Confirm the current owner and growth plan before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most available burger franchise for multi-unit operators? Availability changes by market, but burger brands focused on the South and Midwest, including Jack in the Box with its CRAVED off-premise prototype, tend to have more open territory for operators who want to build several restaurants. Ask each franchisor for a current available-markets map.

Which fast food brands are the most franchised? KFC and Wingstop run roughly 98 to 99 percent franchised, Domino's around 98 percent, and McDonald's says about 95 percent of its restaurants are owned by independent operators. A heavily franchised system usually signals a company built to support operators.

Did Jack in the Box still own Del Taco in 2026? No. Jack in the Box bought Del Taco in 2022 and sold it to Yadav Enterprises in a deal that closed in December 2025. Del Taco now operates independently of Jack in the Box.

How much does it cost to open a fast food franchise? It varies widely by brand and format, from a few hundred thousand dollars to several million, depending on real estate, building size, and equipment. Each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document spells out the investment ranges, which you should review with an attorney and accountant.

Are smaller, off-premise restaurants worth it? Many operators are drawn to compact, drive-thru-and-pickup formats because they can lower build-out costs and fit on real estate a full sit-down restaurant could not use. Whether that math works depends on the brand, the site, and your market.

Thinking about your next move

Choosing a franchise comes down to availability, fit, and the strength of the system behind you. Jack in the Box is recruiting multi-unit operators to bring its 24/7 menu and compact CRAVED prototype to open markets across the country. If you want to see what is available near you and what the investment looks like, the franchise team can walk you through it. Contact us here.

This article is for general information only. It is not an offer to sell a franchise or a financial performance representation. A franchise offering is made only through a Franchise Disclosure Document. Review any opportunity with your own legal and financial advisors.