10 Best QSR Franchises to Own in 2024

Are you looking for a list of the best quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchises to own from this year?

At Jack in the Box, we understand it can be hard to pick just one because there are so many options to choose from.

In this article, we will take a look at ten of the best QSR franchises to own in no particular order.

Jack in the Box

We simply had to put ourselves on this list because of our innovative menu, flexible restaurant designs, and franchise opportunities in prime U.S. markets.

Jack in the Box offers a large and distinctive 24/7 menu with five dayparts to our customers. This means you can get anything on our menu at any time – day or night.

Plus, our new 1,350 square foot prototype features dual drive-throughs for higher order volume and a walk-up window for mobile orders to ensure you’re ready to serve today’s consumer.

When you look at our map of available markets, you’ll see most of the United States is available with a focus on exciting markets like:

• Atlanta, GA
• Orlando, FL
• Tampa, FL
• Nashville, TN
• Chicago, IL
• Little Rock, AR
• Indianapolis, IN
• Cincinnati, OH
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Wichita, KS
• Kansas City, MO
• Charlotte, NC
• Greenville, SC
• Denver, CO
• Louisville, KY
• Albuquerque, NM

Being able to develop multiple franchises in markets with this much potential is rare in the QSR Industry. It would be hard to do with other top brands.

Many of the legacy franchise brands you’re familiar with typically don’t have whitespace availability like we do at Jack in the Box.

This means you have an opportunity to grow a multi-unit portfolio with a brand that has supported our franchisees for more than 70 years.

We’re actively looking for new franchisees to grow our footprint and bring our craveable menu to markets across the United States of America.

Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A was founded by Truett Cathy in Hapeville, GA. Today, it is one of the most successful fast-food restaurants in America.

There are more than 2,800 Chick-Fil-A restaurants in the U.S. and the state with the most is Texas with 456 locations.

They are currently seeking hands-on franchise candidates in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada to own and operate their quick-service restaurant.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s is one of the most well-known QSR franchises in the world. It’s hard to find anyone who isn’t familiar with their “I’m Lovin’ It” advertising campaign.

They currently have more than 38,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 93% of McDonald’s restaurants are owned and operated by independent local business owners.

The availability of restaurants in specific areas is uncertain until you’ve completed your franchisee training. You may be required to relocate to your nearest restaurant opportunity.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is one of the most well-known QSR franchises in the world. In 1962, their first location opened in Downey, California.

In the United States, Taco Bell and their franchisees operate over 7,200 restaurants that serve more than 40 million customers each week. This makes them the largest Mexican QSR concept in the world by total number of restaurants.

Their brand is also growing internationally with more than 1,000 restaurants located in 30 countries across the globe.

Zaxby’s

Zaxby’s has seen a large amount of growth due to the success of their chicken fingers, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, and chicken salads.

They have more than 900 locations in 18 different states with the majority of them located in the Southeastern United States.

Their headquarters is located in Athens, GA and they are currently looking for franchisees to expand their chicken restaurant into new territories.

Wendy’s

In 1969, Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. It didn’t take long for their quick-service chain restaurant to become famous for square beef patties and Frosty desserts.

Today, they operate 7,000 restaurants worldwide and are looking for new and diverse franchisees to join their team.

They have a variety of limited and available markets throughout the U.S. with a focus on California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alabama, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.

Del Taco

Del Taco is known for their authentic Tex-Mex ingredients, freshly prepared menu, and franchise opportunities in existing and untapped markets.

In 2022, Del Taco was purchased by Jack in the Box and has grown to +590 locations in +15 states thanks to their incredibly loyal fan base.

Their menu includes tacos, burritos, nachos, and other Tex-Mex favorites along with 100% beef burgers and crinkle cut fries.

However, Del Taco take things a step further by starting with fresh ingredients like:

• Fresh House-Grated Cheddar Cheese
• Slow-Cooked Beans Made From Scratch
• Fresh House-Made Pico De Gallo
• Freshly Grilled, Marinated Chicken
• Fresh House-Made Guacamole
• Freshly Grilled, Marinated Carne Asada Steak

This rare combination of freshly prepared, craveable food at an unbeatable value is why they are the second largest brand in the Mexican QSR Industry.

Del Taco is aggressively expanding across the United States and currently seeking multi-unit restaurant operators.

To get started, submit this form and a member of their team will be in-touch.

Whataburger

The story of Whataburger began at a 24-hour burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. 70 years later, they have grown to more than 890 locations throughout the United States.

Their original idea was to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold, and so good it caused customers to exclaim, “What a burger!” after their first bite.

Whataburger was family-owned until their recent acquisition by an investment company. This has allowed for more franchises to open in new markets.

KFC

KFC, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, was founded by Harlan “Colonel” Sanders in 1930. They began franchising a few years later in 1952.

Since then, they’ve grown their QSR franchise to more than 25,000 locations across the world with most of their growth coming from outside the USA.

Close to 99% of their chicken restaurants are franchised and they bring in roughly $4.6 billion in U.S. sales each year.

Chipotle

Chipotle is a chain of QSR restaurants that has become popular due to their specialty menu with a focus on natural ingredients.

The first Chipotle was opened in Denver, CO in 1993. Fans of this Mexican grill love their burritos, bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads.

As of 2023, all of Chipotle’s +3,100 locations are company-owned, and they do not offer franchising opportunities at this time.

Check Out These Additional Resources

We hope this list of the best QSR franchises to own helped you narrow down your search.

At Jack in the Box, we’re looking for multi-unit franchisees who are excited to bring our craveable 24/7 menu to new markets across the country.

Here are some additional online resources you may like to check out:

• How Much Does a Jack in the Box Franchise Cost?
• 5 Benefits of Multi-Unit Franchising with Jack in the Box
• What’s a Franchise Disclosure Document?

If you have any questions, please contact our franchise sales and support team.