A business chain, or just chain, is a network of physical business locations, which all provide similar services or products, and share a brand. They inevitably also share some degree of central management, supply chains, training programs, personnel, etc. They tend to either be parts of a single company or franchises, in which individual store owners license the use of the shared brand, training, and know-how. Chains of both main sorts tend to make purchases and licensing agreements as a single entity.

Exceptions to these generalizations include Steve's Pizza in New York.

Even two stores or restaurants or businesses owned by the same person or group can constitute a [local] chain. Some large chains -- McDonald's, for instance -- are among the largest retail businesses in the world.