McDonald's
$4M average unit volume. The gold standard — at gold-standard prices.
Fee $45,000. $750K liquid cash required to apply. Range per 2026 FDD. Verified Oct 2026. Last verified 2026-10-15.
Key features
- $4.057M US average unit volume (2025)
- 98% five-year survival rate
- 20-year agreement — longest in QSR
- They pick the site; rent scales with sales
Pros
- Best unit economics in QSR
- Unmatched brand and systems
Cons
- $750K liquid required
- Rent is a % of sales — it grows with you
- 77 active litigation cases in FDD