McDonald's Franchise Information

McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest fast food chain restaurant, primarily selling hamburgers, chicken, french fries and carbonated drinks.

The business was begun in 1940, with a restaurant opened by siblings Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Their introduction of the "Speedee Service System" in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of its first franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955.

McDonald’s has always been a franchising company and has relied on its Owner/Operators to play a major role in the System’s success. McDonald’s remains committed to franchising as a predominant way of doing business. Listen as six McDonald's Owner/Operators share their perspective in these areas: Training, McFamily, Customer Satisfaction, Social Responsibility and Support.


World Class Training - McDonald’s continues to be recognized as a premier franchising company around the world. We believe a major component of this is the world class training you receive prior to becoming an Owner/Operator. McDonald’s provides hands on training and the materials you need to be a success in your restaurant business.

Most Owner/Operators enter the System by purchasing an existing restaurant, either from McDonald’s or from a McDonald's Owner/Operator. A small number of new operators enter the System by purchasing a new restaurant. The financial requirements vary depending on the method of acquisition.

Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.