McDonald's, the globally renowned fast-food giant symbolized by its Golden Arches, was established in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Originally a barbecue joint, it transformed into a hamburger stand in 1948, utilizing an efficient production line system.
The pivotal moment in the brand's franchising history came in 1955 when Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, launched the first franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. Kroc later purchased the company from the McDonald brothers, spearheading its worldwide growth.
Now headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, McDonald's operates as one of the largest fast-food chains, catering to about 68 million customers daily in 119 countries.
McDonald's is celebrated for its diverse menu, featuring legendary items such as the Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets, and its famously crispy fries, along with Happy Meals, various breakfast options, and more. The brand stands out in the fast-food industry through its unwavering commitment to service speed, menu innovation, and strong global brand identity.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
McDonald's offers 3 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a traditional McDonald’s restaurant franchise.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
McDonald's offers 3 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a traditional McDonald’s restaurant franchise.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
McDonald's offers a comprehensive training program for its franchisees. Here are the essential details:
Hamburger University:
McDonald's runs Hamburger University (HU), the global training hub for its system. Franchisees and their management teams, both current and future, must attend Hamburger University or other designated training centers. McDonald's covers the costs associated with maintaining Hamburger University and other training centers, including overhead, staff salaries, materials, and technical training tools.
Basic and Advanced Training:
Franchisees receive both basic and advanced training on operating a McDonald's restaurant. The training encompasses all aspects of running a McDonald's restaurant, such as guest satisfaction, operational standards, financial management, and leadership.
Restaurant Leadership Curriculum:
Franchisees must complete the foundational Restaurant Leadership curriculum to qualify for operating a McDonald's restaurant. Current franchisees are exempt from completing this curriculum when acquiring additional restaurants.
Franchisees receive a limited authorization to run a McDonald's Restaurant at a specific site designated by McDonald's. These rights are confined to the approved business location and any additional locations specified under an Additional Business Amendment to the Franchise Agreement.
Should McDonald's provide the option to operate a food truck as an extension of an existing McDonald's Restaurant, the food truck must only be used at locations that have been registered and approved by McDonald's.
This arrangement means that franchisees have the right to operate only at their designated location(s) and do not possess an exclusive territory. Their operations are strictly limited to the approved sites.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
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Below are some of
McDonald's
key competitors in the
Burger
sector.
12887
$45,000
$525,000
$2,728,000
n.a.
$3,838,000
$xxx,xxx
71.8%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
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JL Beers
Over $500K
3
$50,000
$1,223,000
$3,308,000
n.a.
$1,440,000
$xxx,xxx
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
BURGERFI
Over $500K
93
$45,000
$610,000
$1,043,000
n.a.
$1,319,000
$xxx,xxx
67.9%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Sammy's Sliders is a fast-casual restaurant brand offering gourmet sliders, fries, and shakes, serving burger lovers seeking smaller portions and variety, and known for customizable mini-sandwich combinations, playful branding, and efficient service suited to urban and neighborhood locations.
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Home Frite is a fast-casual franchise offering gourmet fries, burgers, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes, serving urban diners and comfort-food lovers, and known for hand-cut potatoes, signature sauces, and scalable franchise model.
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iniBurger is a burger-restaurant franchise offering gourmet burgers, shakes, and innovative sides, serving millennials and casual diners, and known for bold menu items, modern branding and strong franchisee support.
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Harlem Shake is a burger-and-shake chain franchise offering premium burgers, fries, shakes and craft menu items, serving families and casual diners, and known for nostalgic branding, community vibe, and scalable restaurant prototype.
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Good Stuff Eatery is a fast-casual burger franchise offering handcrafted burgers, crispy fries and shakes, serving casual diners and burger-lovers, and known for chef-driven quality, fun branding and a mission to bring “goodness everywhere”.
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Built Custom Burgers provides fast-casual, build-your-own burger meals featuring premium ingredients and a streamlined assembly-line format, allowing customers to customize burgers, fries, and shakes for a fresh and satisfying dining experience.
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