All NYC-area, and other large city, Dollar locations are corporate. They may or may not be willing to open a new contract over the phone.

Hertz and Budget are the only companies that will tell you online which locations are corporate and which are independent licensees. You can figure it out, though, with Dollar, by looking at geographical and mileage restrictions. Corporate stores will usually say, "Mileage is unlimited in the continental US and Canada." A franchise, like what you might find near Yellowstone and other rural areas, or in some small beach markets, would say something like, "Mileage is limited to SD, ND, UT, WY...and 200 free miles a day."