Franchise opportunities in Pennsylvania: real costs and the franchise rules that apply
A franchise costs the same on paper in Pennsylvania as anywhere else — each brand files one nationwide investment range in its FDD. The median filed minimum investment across 4,700+ brands with cost data is $179,200 (as of 2026-05). What Pennsylvania does control is franchise law. Pennsylvania has no state franchise registration, filing, or relationship law.
Franchise rules in Pennsylvania, in plain words
Pennsylvania has no state franchise registration, filing, or relationship law.
There is no Pennsylvania agency that reviews or registers franchise offerings. The federal FTC Franchise Rule still applies in full: the franchisor must deliver its FDD at least 14 days before you sign anything or pay any money. And after you sign, no Pennsylvania statute restricts termination or non-renewal — the agreement's own terms control, which makes reading them before signing matter more here, not less. Your due diligence rides on the FDD itself — especially Items 3 (litigation), 7 (investment range), and 20 (unit history).
Plain-words summary, not legal advice. Laws change — confirm current requirements with a franchise attorney before you sign.
The 14 franchise registration states
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- North Dakota
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Filing states (notice or exemption only, no FDD review): Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah.
Separately, 19 states have franchise relationship laws limiting termination or non-renewal after you sign: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.
What it costs to open — the filed numbers
Flags exist only where a brand documents them — a missing flag is not a missing program. Compiled from franchise disclosure filings.
Franchisors headquartered in Pennsylvania
Auntie Anne's
- Not disclosed
GNC
- $188,719
The Goddard School
- $902,500
AAMCO Transmissions
- $234,800
Visiting Angels
- $125,460
Certa ProPainters
- $147,750
Soccer Shots
- $42,950
Bruster's Real Ice Cream
- $320,500
Mr. Sandless
- $33,810
J Dog Junk Removal & Hauling
- $30,000
Griswold Home Care
- $95,850
Griswold International, Inc.
- $106,350
Keep comparing
Industries buyers research from Pennsylvania
Franchise questions specific to Pennsylvania
Is Pennsylvania a franchise registration state?
Pennsylvania has no state franchise registration, filing, or relationship law. There is no Pennsylvania agency that reviews or registers franchise offerings. The federal FTC Franchise Rule still applies in full: the franchisor must deliver its FDD at least 14 days before you sign anything or pay any money. And after you sign, no Pennsylvania statute restricts termination or non-renewal — the agreement's own terms control, which makes reading them before signing matter more here, not less. Your due diligence rides on the FDD itself — especially Items 3 (litigation), 7 (investment range), and 20 (unit history).
Does a franchise cost more to open in Pennsylvania?
Not on paper: each brand files one nationwide investment range in its FDD (Item 7), so the filed cost is the same in Pennsylvania as anywhere else. Where you land inside that range is local — real estate, build-out, labor, and permits. The median filed minimum investment across 4,700+ brands with cost data is $179,200, as of 2026-05. Compare brands on the full filed range, not the minimum.
The numbers don’t change at the Pennsylvania line. See them before anyone gets your number.
4,700+ brands with filed cost data, dated per figure.