The cost to open a McDonald’s franchise is a significant investment, but it offers the potential for substantial returns.

If you’re considering starting a McDonald’s franchise, understanding the costs involved is crucial. On this page we'll break down the various expenses you can expect when opening a McDonald’s, from the initial franchise fee to ongoing costs.

Recent updates highlight McDonald’s ongoing efforts to refine its franchise policies and support system. Despite requests from franchisees to delay certain policy changes, McDonald’s is moving forward with new regulations aimed at standardizing operations and ensuring consistent quality across its franchises.

These changes underscore the company’s commitment to maintaining its brand reputation and supporting franchisees through evolving business landscapes.

Learn What Restaurant Franchises Are Available In Your City.

The initial franchise fee for a McDonald’s franchise is $45,000. This fee gives you the right to operate under the McDonald’s brand and access their proven business model and support system.

However, there are exceptions and variations to this fee based on specific circumstances:

• McOpCo (McDonalds Operated Company) Companies: Do not pay any initial franchise fee.
• Prorated Fees: Franchisees with 10 years or less of real estate tenure or those who mutually agree on a term of 10 years or less with McDonald’s pay a prorated initial franchise fee.
• Rebuilds or Relocations: Franchisees who rebuild or relocate their restaurants pay the initial franchise fee minus a credit for a portion of the previously paid fee.
• Satellite Locations: Franchisees of Satellite locations pay a $500 initial franchise fee upon opening (except Walmart locations, which pay no fee) and an annual fee.
• Small Town Locations: STO (small town oil) and STR (small town retail) locations pay a $22,500 lump sum initial franchise fee.
• Business Facilities Lease (BFL): Franchisees who purchase assets under a BFL pay the $45,000 initial franchise fee when they exercise the option.

The initial franchise fee will be refunded if the restaurant construction is not completed within one year of signing the Franchise Agreement. No refunds are provided under other circumstances.

Real Estate and Building Costs

Base Rent: McDonald’s buys the real estate and building for your restaurant, and the base rent for the first three months ranges from $0 to $313,000. This cost can vary greatly depending on the location and size of the restaurant.

Percentage Rent: In addition to the base rent, you may also need to pay a percentage of your sales as rent. This percentage can range from 0.00% to 27.25%, depending on your lease terms and the performance of your restaurant.

Signs, Seating, Equipment, and Décor

The cost for signs, seating, equipment, and décor ranges from $1,100,000 to $1,650,000. These costs include everything from the point-of-sale systems and kitchen equipment to the seating and interior design elements. If you request changes to the building or its décor, additional payments may be required before signing the Franchise Agreement.

Opening Inventory and Miscellaneous Opening Expenses

To stock your restaurant for opening, you’ll need to invest in inventory, which can cost between $20,000 and $39,000. Additionally, miscellaneous opening expenses such as permits, insurance, and initial supplies can range from $51,000 to $62,000.

Travel and Living Expenses

While traveling for training and setup, you can expect to incur travel and living expenses ranging from $3,000 to $39,000. These costs vary based on the distance from your location to McDonald’s Field Offices and the cost of living in different areas.

Additional Funds

To cover ongoing expenses for the first three months, including employee wages, utilities, and other operational costs, you should have additional funds ranging from $250,000 to $355,000. These estimates ensure you have enough capital to handle any unforeseen expenses that might arise during the initial phase of your business.

Total Estimated Initial Investment

In total, the estimated initial investment for opening a McDonald’s franchise ranges from $1,469,000 to $2,503,000. This range accounts for the variability in location, size, and specific needs of your restaurant. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of these costs to ensure you’re financially prepared for this significant investment.

Ongoing Fees: Royalty and Marketing

Royalty Fee: McDonald’s charges a service fee of 4% of gross sales. This fee covers ongoing support and access to McDonald’s operational systems and training.

Marketing Fee: Franchisees are also required to contribute at least 4% of their gross sales to advertising and promotion. This fee supports national and regional marketing efforts to maintain the brand’s visibility and attract customers.

Additional Fees

McDonald’s franchisees should be aware of various additional fees, including:

• Audit/Inspection Fee: Cost of audit, payable immediately if an audit shows an understatement of at least 2% of gross sales.
• Satellite Annual Fee: Ranges from $500 to $2,500, payable annually.
• POS and Digital Fees: Including $2,600 one-time POS license fee and $937 annual fee, as well as fees for mobile app integration, McDelivery, kiosks, and more.
• Technology and Maintenance Fees: Covering various software and hardware maintenance, integration, and support services.

Based on the company’s 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the average revenues and profits for McDonald’s franchises demonstrate strong performance.

For traditional McDonald’s restaurants open for at least one year as of December 31, 2022, a significant percentage reported annual sales in excess of $2,700,000, $2,900,000, and $3,100,000, respectively.

Additionally, many franchisees reported operating incomes before occupancy costs exceeding $677,000, $752,000, and $824,000, respectively.

The number of franchised McDonald’s outlets has seen slight fluctuations over recent years.

At the start of 2020, there were 13,185 franchised outlets, which decreased to 13,022 by the end of the year. This number further declined to 12,775 in 2021 and slightly to 12,764 in 2022.

Conversely, the number of company-owned outlets has shown a gradual increase, indicating McDonald’s ongoing expansion and adaptation strategies.

Recent News and Updates

Recent updates highlight McDonald’s ongoing efforts to refine its franchise policies and support system. Despite requests from franchisees to delay certain policy changes, McDonald’s is moving forward with new regulations aimed at standardizing operations and ensuring consistent quality across its franchises.

These changes underscore the company’s commitment to maintaining its brand reputation and supporting franchisees through evolving business landscapes.

Brand Recognition: By aligning with a generational household name, you can be assured of immediate revenue.

A Proven System: The McDonald's franchise system has been perfected and replicated tens of thousands of times over several decades.

Multi-Unit Ownership: You have the opportunity to own multiple locations in multiple markets.

Large Investment: The investment range for a McDonald's begins at about $1.5 million and could be up to $2.5 million.

Low Owner Income: As of March 2023, Biz2Credit reported that the average McDonald's franchise owner only makes around $150,000 per year.

No Entrepreneurial Freedom: McDonald's owners are held to strict adherence to the franchise terms which do not allow for creativity and innovation.

The cost to open a McDonald’s franchise is a considerable financial commitment, but it comes with the potential for substantial profits.

Understanding the cost to open a McDonald’s franchise, which ranges from $1,469,000 to $2,503,000, is crucial for prospective franchisees.

By being fully aware of the initial and ongoing costs, you can make an informed decision about investing in this globally recognized brand.

With McDonald’s support and a solid business model, franchisees have the opportunity to run a successful and profitable restaurant.

That said, McDonald's may not be the right investment for entrepreneurs who desire more entrepreneurial freedom, which can often be found in more emerging brands.

Many emerging restaurant brands also boast stronger profit margins, allowing for higher net income for the franchise owner than the average McDonald's owner earns.

For maximum financial benefit, entrepreneurs should also consider industries other than the restaurant industry which has high overhead and small profit margins, and are increasingly difficult to own and operate with rising minimum wages.