McDonald’s franchise in the USA: funds, costs and requirements

What the published financial threshold means

McDonald’s US franchising page currently describes a typical minimum of $750,000 net in personal funds that are neither borrowed nor encumbered. It recommends at least another $100,000 in working capital for each restaurant and $75,000 for relocation. These figures were checked on 5 November 2026. They are not a quotation for buying a restaurant.

The same page says foreign-held funds are not counted. Equity in a primary residence is considered only after the minimum has been met through other sources. The published amounts concern an existing restaurant; establishing a new restaurant requires greater investment. Meeting them does not guarantee admission, ownership or a restaurant in a particular location.

Separate eligibility from the purchase budget

The most useful first calculation is a three-part budget: funds that satisfy the selection threshold, money needed to complete a specific purchase, and cash retained to run the restaurant afterward. A buyer can satisfy one of those tests and still fall short on another. Treating the eligibility figure as an all-inclusive opening price hides that distinction.

Create a funding schedule that identifies the owner of each asset, its currency, accessibility and any borrowing secured against it. Ask the franchise team how they will verify those assets before paying for detailed transaction work. A property valuation or expected business sale is not the same as cash available when a purchase must complete.

The operating and training commitment

The official US process describes training lasting approximately six to twelve months, involvement in daily operations and flexibility to relocate. It also says partnerships or investors are not permitted within the described candidate route. Applicants should read the current process page directly because selection criteria and available opportunities can change.

Translate the training commitment into a household plan. Who will cover living costs during preparation? Can the family move, and what happens to a current job or another business? These questions matter before choosing a favourite city. A restaurant investment is also a commitment of working time, and the right financing structure cannot compensate for an impossible operating schedule.

Evaluate the restaurant, not only the brand

When a specific restaurant becomes available, build the review around that business. Ask for the information available to an approved buyer about sales history, labour requirements, occupancy, equipment condition and planned refurbishment. Distinguish documented results from a forecast you have constructed yourself. A forecast should state its assumptions explicitly.

Test how the purchase would perform if wages rose, trading hours changed or equipment needed early replacement. Set aside a reserve that is separate from the acquisition payment. Ask an adviser to reconcile the agreement, the proposed financing and the operating forecast so that the same cost is neither omitted nor counted twice.

Documents and questions before proceeding

Request the current Franchise Disclosure Document and the documents governing the proposed transaction. For US offers, the FTC explains a disclosure period of at least fourteen days before signing or paying the franchisor or an affiliate. Use that time to examine initial and continuing charges, transfer provisions, territory terms and any financial performance representations.

Prepare written questions about the purchase price, recurring charges, restaurant upgrades, financing conditions and the consequences of not completing training. Speak with current and former operators where contact details are available. Ask them about workload and unexpected expenses rather than inviting a single unsupported answer to how much an owner makes.

How to use this guide

Use the official McDonald’s application route for candidacy and restaurant availability. FranchinWorld is an independent editorial website, not McDonald’s, its representative or a franchise seller. We have not verified a purchase offer for an individual restaurant and do not promise profits or a payback period.

This page helps organise an initial investigation. Before committing money, replace every provisional number in your budget with transaction-specific evidence. Keep the publication date of every document you rely on and record which questions remain unanswered. That provides a more useful basis for a decision than an attractive headline investment figure.

Keep researching

More franchise research for United States · Build a complete budget · Questions to ask the franchisor