Restaurants

McDonald's franchise

Explore the published figures and operating information for McDonald's.

Opening investment: $701,000–$2,807,000
Average annual revenue: $4,057,000
U.S. locations: 13,697
Worldwide locations: 46,028
Systemwide sales: $139.4 billion

Opening costs and fees

$701,000–$2,807,000

Opening costs vary by format, location and lease terms.

Operating formats

traditional restaurant

$1,472,000–$2,807,000

STO and STR locations

$1,015,500–$1,864,500

Satellite location

$701,000–$1,411,500

Qualifications and program conditions

These conditions apply to the programs or transactions described below; they are not a universal entry requirement.

financial qualification requirements: BFL conditional purchase option only: 25% of purchase price in unencumbered funds plus compliance and sufficient cash flow. Not a universal initial cash minimum.
financial qualification requirements: McDonald’s considers personal net worth and liquidity when offering a Business Facilities Lease; this clause specifies no dollar threshold.

Key ongoing fees

Royalty: 5% of Gross Sales for new restaurants, company-store purchases and purchases following McDonald’s right of first refusal. A 4% rate continues for qualifying pre-2024 restaurants in existing-owner transfers, renewals and rebuilds. Gross Sales exclude sales/use tax.Monthly
Advertising: At least 4% of Gross Sales each year. Local cooperative and national fund contributions may exceed this minimum.

Selected ongoing charges, not a complete fee schedule. Confirm the current FDD and the terms for your format.

Running the business

owner participation: Full time, best efforts and personal on-premises supervision required.
training completion costs and conditions: Training required before agreement/payment; no compensation; basic core tuition not charged but franchisee bears travel/living and other expenses; no franchise guarantee.
ongoing support: Periodic/requested advice, communications, additional generally available services and manuals.
preopening support: Franchisor prepares premises; franchisee installs signs/equipment at own expense; specifications, training and manual access.

Revenue and performance

$4,057,000

2025 · mature traditional franchise restaurants

Disclosed performance: Average 2025 annual sales were $4,057,000 for approximately 12,212 domestic traditional franchised restaurants open at least one year at December 31, 2025. Median sales were $3,887,000. Company-operated restaurants and the separate pro forma cost sample are different populations.
Worldwide McDonald's systemwide sales: $139.4 billion ($139,400,000,000 normalized whole USD) in reported worldwide systemwide sales for fiscal 2025. This is systemwide sales, not average unit revenue, franchisor revenue, profit or owner income.FY2025 ended 2025-12-31

Revenue is sales before expenses, not owner income. Compare matching periods, formats and location samples.

Locations

13,697 U.S. locations (2025).

Existing locations do not establish that a new territory is available. Confirm your market with the franchisor.

Sources and figure notes

Reporting periods and scope

U.S. locations

2025 franchised plus company restaurants, excluding Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Guantanamo Bay.

Average annual revenue

Average 2025 annual sales were $4,057,000 for approximately 12,212 domestic traditional franchised restaurants open at least one year at December 31, 2025. Median sales were $3,887,000. Company-operated restaurants and the separate pro forma cost sample are different populations. Sales before expenses; no owner-income claim or forecast. Approximately 12,702 combined restaurants averaged $4,088,000; approximately 490 McOpCo restaurants averaged $4,871,000. Neither is the franchise-only mean. The 11,512-restaurant pro forma population is separate and cannot be used as this mean denominator. Population-specific; does not supply economics for all offered formats

Worldwide locations

46,028 restaurants worldwide as of June 30, 2026, including franchised and company-owned restaurants. This is a dated source observation, not a current physical-location census or proof of current franchise ownership. Total Systemwide restaurants is stated literally; 44,016 franchised plus2,012 company-owned agrees with that total. The component check does not replace the stated total. Original HTML/PDF bytes and visual PDF inspection are unavailable. Historical year-end table reports45,356 for2025 versus43,477 for2024; it is not the current Q2 snapshot.

Systemwide sales

$139.4 billion ($139,400,000,000 normalized whole USD) in reported worldwide systemwide sales for fiscal 2025. This is systemwide sales, not average unit revenue, franchisor revenue, profit or owner income.

Opening investment

traditional restaurant: $1,472,000–$2,807,000. Excludes percentage rent and royalty.9 of35 McOpCo sales in2025 exceeded high estimate as disclosed. Base rent is only initial3months; no premises acquisition assumed. STO and STR locations: $1,015,500–$1,864,500. Excludes percentage rent and royalty.9 of35 McOpCo sales in2025 exceeded high estimate as disclosed. Base rent is only initial3months; no premises acquisition assumed. Satellite location: $701,000–$1,411,500. Excludes percentage rent and royalty.9 of35 McOpCo sales in2025 exceeded high estimate as disclosed. Base rent is only initial3months; no premises acquisition assumed.

Research snapshot: . Sources and methodology

Compare independent startup vs. franchise economics

Compare McDonald's’s franchise model against starting or buying an independent business in burgers (line-item CapEx, 0%-royalty owner SDE margins & SBA resale multiples):