You must pay at least 40% of the startup costs in cash (non-borrowed funds) for new restaurants.

McDonald's does not permit passive investors or partnerships. Owners are expected to be on-site operators involved in daily management.

A monthly fee of 4% to 5% of gross sales.

This varies by location but is often calculated as a percentage of your monthly sales, typically ranging from 8.5% to 15% .

McDonald's expects you to have $250,000 to $439,000 in additional funds to cover the first three months of operations, including payroll and utilities, while the business ramps up. Ongoing "Rent and Royalties"

While that range covers everything from the initial fee to the kitchen equipment, the most important figure is the "gatekeeper" requirement: McDonald's typically requires a minimum of just to be considered. The Financial Breakdown

You must budget $20,000 to $39,000 for initial food and packaging inventory, plus roughly $54,000 to $66,000 for permits, insurance, and pre-opening labor.