When does a business become a "chain"?

[cjk374]

With all of these topics coming up lately about defunct chains, bbq joints and other businesses, I started wondering:  When does a business become a chain? Do they need a certain number of establishments? How spread out to they need to be to become a "local" chain versus a "regional" chain? How many to become a national chain? 

Thoughts and suggestions?

[ce929wax]

I would define a chain as a minimum of 25 establishments and a regional chain as one that encompasses a general geographic region.  For instance, I consider Meijer to be a regional chain, but Wal-Mart to be a national chain.

[corco]

As opposed to going by physical geography, I look at population area. I consider a local chain to be any location with around three establishments within the nearest 250,000 people. A regional would be...yeah, probably more like 20 establishments within the nearest few million people.

National chains get dicey - like, Walmart is a national chain. But Yardhouse probably is too? Even though there's only 40 of them or so.  https://www.yardhouse.com/locations/all-locations

[jeffandnicole]

More than one location is a chain. The owner can't be at 2 places at once.

Regional: Within a few states.

National: Beyond that.

[hbelkins]

Multiple businesses with the same name and the same ownership or franchiser would constitute a chain, in my view.

Local, regional or national depends on the scope. Take Fat Patty's, for instance. Four locations (Ashland, the site of my 2013 meet lunch; Huntington; Barboursville and Teays Valley). One website covers all four locations. I'd call that a local chain.

Druther's was a regional chain, with its locations all over Kentucky and possibly some surrounding areas.

McDonalds is a national (international) chain.

[US71]

We have a small "regional' chain called Butcher Boy. Started in Russellville as CJ's, but now has 6-8 locations in Western & Central Arkansas.

[In_Correct]

When does a chain become a chain? When it has two rings that link together?  That means that if there is more than one location, it is a chain.

[SP Cook]

I agree, two outlets is a chain. 

As to local, regional and national, there is an old joke that New Yorkers consider any business that exists in NYC, even if it exists no where else, "national" and any thing else "regional". 

Anyway, I think it comes down to media.  If you can cover all your potential customers with one set of TV, radio, print, it is a local chain; if you have to buy multiple markets, it is regional; if you can get by with national (which is far less expensive per capita) then it is national.

[webny99]

More than one location is a chain. The owner can't be at 2 places at once.
Regional: Within a few states.
National: Beyond that.

I agree, except that a regional chain doesn't necessarily have to serve multiple states.
We should probably define "regional" first: Rochester is in the Northeast region of the country, and the Finger Lakes region of the state. Which takes priority?