describe it in your own words, based on your own experience. me; "the tastiest garbage you'll find everywhere, pretty cheap too"
Only good for breakfast after a night out. Apart from that, it's sewage Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
A fast food chain offering a selection of burgers, chicken, sides and beverages with numerous restaurants throughout the world. ~String
I've considered opening a McDonald's with a potential partner before, but Mickey D's requires more input from the franchisee than any other restaurant chain, and I'm not even sure how much revenue a store can pull Anyone have any thoughts on this?
you seen "super size me"? never had it for breakfast.. health wise, yeah, you like the taste? just the fake cheese? ooh man i start drooling just at the thought of the fake chicken or beef, it honestly tastes like some sort of edible plastic, but the pleasure section in my brain just can't resist whatever hooking chemicals they put in. never tried them.. hmm, nor heard of them, and too lazy to googlePlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Good luck. When I was a Walmart manager, I was friends with our McDonald's franchisee (he operated the McDonald's in three of the stores that I worked at). It's insanely difficult to get in. The work week is hell and so are the standards. McDonald's doesn't sell new franchises in the USA anymore. Most of the, very rare, new stores are corporate owned and operated. They don't even want to talk to you unless you have sufficient capital to fully build, open, train and operate the unit--without profit--for at least two years. New franchisees are contractually required to completely gut and renovate your McDonald's every decade, out of your own pocket. You won't be getting a new international store unless you can buy a district's worth (usually a minimum of three, but often times as high as ten). You'll more than likely be trying to buy an existing franchise because of the market saturation, in which case you'll need about a quarter of the entire cost of the unit and first year's operating expense from non-borrowed sources and amazing business credit with a lengthy and glowing history to boot. McDonald's only accepts franchisees with significant business and mult-unit experience. They provide you with ZERO plan and demand your multi-year business plan up front (which is a test of your ability to manage and plan ahead). Every duck must be in a row. Off by one cent, fudge one number, stammer on a single question about your business plan, and you're out. They brook no amateurism. You are required to be a business owner and operator. Meaning: zero personal life. Their inspection process is the most rigorous in the entire fast-food industry, which is why--unlike a lot of other chains--you always know what to expect of Micky-D's when you go there, whether in Hoboken, New Jersey or Gilbert, Arizona. They demand and expect you to be in your stores well over the average work week (and they do verify that you're in your stores, so have fun enjoying your income). Your contract specifies a requirement for solid profits or you lose your franchise license-- and you don't get a dime of your investment back. McDonald's franchises usually pay for themselves in just a few years. You cannot--by default--open a McDonald's in the USA without already being a millionaire and there is no such thing as a McDonald's franchisee who makes under a solid six-figure salary. You'd be better off opening a Sonic, Five Guy's (my fave), Del Taco or Jack-in-the-Box if you're interested in starting fresh, but even then, you probably won't get anywhere without a solid history of management, lots of capital, and some solid connections. ~String
Nice evaluation. Yes, McD seems out of my league because, as I said, it requires so much input from the franchisee and because of the management difficulty. I do currently hold assets that I could sell off in order to raise the capital but it wouldn't be enough for a franchise of that caliber. I have considered opening a fresh, non-franchise store (as in, a new company). I know there's alot of planning involved, but I do have sufficient capital for a small operation; anyway, I am hoping to work it out. I want to step into the entrepreneurial world eventually Thanks for the tips, String.
If i had the opportunity i'd open some kind of franchise like McD's but the food would be a lot more nutritious...have you considered that as an alternative Norsefire?.
You mean a restaurant? Yes, that's exactly what I am talking about. What franchises do you know of that are health-centric?
Location, location, location. On average, a profitable McDonald's is one located near a major through-way and a large low-skill labor base (who will also make good customers, since they can't afford to eat anywhere else). The other profitable ones are those that enjoy monopolies in popular tourist attractions (certain museums and airports, etc.), but don't expect to afford any of those. The ones in nice, wealthy places where you'd probably like to live don't make crap. You want one in a place where an armed escort is a necessity for your mid-day runs to the bank to deposit all the cash you're raking in. If making regular trips with $20k+ cash on you doesn't make you seriously worry about being carjacked and murdered in broad daylight, then you are not in the right location. Your other concern is corporate policy towards the local area: if corporate has decided that more McDonald's will be built in the area, you will be expected to purchase and operate them. And if they are not in good locations, this will break you. If you refuse to go along, they will force you out of the your store(s) and replace you with someone willing to go along with the plan. If the expansion is into good areas, then of course you will get rich in the process (the really wealthy owner-operators tend to own 5 or more stores), but only if you can pull off the feat of staffing them. Cultivate ironclad top managers, and then delegate, or you'll be eaten alive by all of the details of operating several stores. Other than that, your main concerns are staffing and equipment maintenance/upgrades. While location is key to staffing, the fact is that even in the best situations you are dealing with young, unskilled labor, and it will not be easy to find good, reliable employees. Turnover will be high, and scheduling difficult. People will fail to show up for work, goof around on the job, steal from you, give free food to their friends, do/deal drugs at work, get into fights, get injured by hot oil or slippery floors, etc. Especially critical will be cultivating a few top managers that you can trust with your life - fail to do that, and you will go under in no time at all. Equipment is also a big deal since, on the one hand, you cannot afford for your frier or grills or ice cream machines or drive-thru system to go down for any length of time and, on the other, the corporation will be constantly bombarding you with pressure to invest in the latest, greatest gadgets and playgrounds and promotions. You must carefully tread a middle ground - invest in every new gimmick and you'll never take any profit and will blow all of your time installing and troubleshooting new gear; fail to keep up and corporate will force you out (even if your sales don't sag). You'll also be expected to participate in a local advertizing co-op with other owner/operators in the area, so do your homework on the local operators before comitting to anything. You need to be tight with the other local owner-operators, not least because you will frequently need to trade with them when you run low on specific stocks between truck shipments. Speaking of which, McDonald's uses a competitive network of shipping/supply companies, so do your homework on the different suppliers before signing a contract. tl;dr version: location, staffing, and managing your relations with the corporation are the three priorities of McDonald's owner/operators.
Their walnut fruit salad is good. So are their lattes. I'll also give the Big Mac credit where credit is due. I think of them as mid-way on the list of fast food places if nothing else is around and I'm starving. Before them, I would prefer Krystals, white castle, Wendys, Arbys, Captain Dees, Taco Bell, or Jack in the Box. Below is Kentucky fried chicken, Mrs Winners, Dairy queen, and Checkers. Their food is currently too expensive. Hardees sells the same quality of food except bigger (far more fattening) portions and for much cheaper.
No I saw "Food Inc." I have no problem with the healthiness of Micky D's. What bothers me most is how they're food is processed. I don't see how anybody who knows how it's done could, with good conscience, eat there.
Restaurant, take-out...anything really. It's (supposed to be) a health conscious world we now live in but as far as knowing any type of franchise like that, i don't i'm afraid. Here in the UK we have a programme called Dragons Den where you pitch ideas, new businesses to self-made millionaire for investment. Quality programme, but just thought i'd mention it Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!.
How about some of the Sub shops? There's Subway, Firehouse, Quizno's, etc. This would seem to fit what you're looking for - established franchise, fairly healthy "fast" food. Plus salads, etc... Maybe something to look into?
Actually I'm not so sure the health craze is all that profitable. I know a guy who does vending, and he has machines that are "health-centric" like yogurts, low calorie shakes, smoothies, and that sort of thing, and he says he isn't making nearly as much money on that as he is making on standard snack/pop machines Although a health mart would probably do well. The Whole Foods and Central Market here both do very well.
