BrightStar Care vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
BrightStar Care runs $113K–$232K. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $1.6M.
BrightStar Care
$113K–$232K
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.6M
BrightStar Care costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | BrightStar Care | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $113K–$232K | $1.3M–$2.3M | BrightStar Care |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $45,000 | McDonald's |
| Royalty Rate | 5.25% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 2.5% | 4.0% | BrightStar Care |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $500K | BrightStar Care |
| Liquid Capital | $200K | $500K | BrightStar Care |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.0 yr | 14.1 yr | BrightStar Care |
BrightStar Care Profile
- Category
- senior care
- Total Investment
- $113K–$232K
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5.25%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.0M
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
BrightStar Care costs $1.6M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. McDonald's also wins on royalty rate.