FranchiseBudget
Food & Beverage

McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026

Total investment: $1,314,500–$2,306,500. Franchise fee: $45,000. Royalty: 4.0% + 4.0% ad fee. Based on FDD disclosure data.

$45,000
Franchise Fee
One-time brand license
$1,314,500–$2,306,500
Total Investment
Full startup range
4.0% + 4.0% ad
Royalty Rate
Monthly % of gross revenue
$3200K
Est. Annual Revenue
Per unit estimate

Startup Cost Breakdown

Item 7 FDD disclosure categories for McDonald's

Real Estate & Buildout $1,008,000
Equipment & Fixtures $565,000
Initial Inventory $18,000
Initial Marketing $46,000
Working Capital Reserve $275,000

Qualification Requirements

Net Worth Required
$500,000
Liquid Capital Required
$500,000

vs. Food & Beverage Average

Investment vs. Category Avg
+54% vs. avg ($1177K)
Royalty vs. Category Avg
-1.4% vs. avg (5.4%)

Break-Even Estimate

Rough estimate based on industry-average net margins for Food & Beverage franchises. Actual results vary.

~14.1 years

Based on $3200K estimated annual revenue, 12% net margin, and 4.0+4.0% royalty burden.

This is an estimate only. Call current franchisees (listed in FDD Item 20) for real-world data.

Other Food & Beverage Franchises

Arby's

$618,000–$1,686,000 · 4.0% royalty

Baskin-Robbins

$97,000–$394,000 · 5.9% royalty

Buffalo Wild Wings

$1,621,000–$3,933,000 · 5.0% royalty

Burger King

$1,865,000–$3,270,000 · 4.5% royalty

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Data Sources

Investment ranges, royalty rates, and fee structures: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436). Revenue estimates: Item 19 Financial Performance Representations where available. Updated March 2026.