McDonald's vs Five Guys
Compare published costs, candidate requirements and operating commitments.
All amounts are USD. Read the restaurant format, sales basis and exclusions beside each figure. Missing information means the reviewed sources did not establish a comparable amount.
Availability and operating model
McDonald's
The published candidate-funding figures cover buying and operating an existing restaurant. New restaurants require a greater investment.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Operating commitment
Candidates must be willing to relocate and divest other business interests; restaurant interests must be divested before training.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Five Guys
Five Guys says new franchise territories are sold out in the United States and Canada. Current recruitment is for selected international markets.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Operating commitment
The public recruitment requirements relate to available international markets; confirm any proposed existing-business transfer separately.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Published financial requirements
These figures describe different transactions and obligations. Initial fees, separate development fees and liquid-capital requirements are distinct; they are not added together here as a total project budget.
| Requirement | McDonald's | Five Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment / development estimate | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Initial franchise fee | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Separate development fee | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Liquid capital / personal funds | $750,000 US existing-restaurant applicants; typical minimum personal funds Non-borrowed, unencumbered funds; foreign-held funds are excluded. Primary-residence equity is considered only after the $750,000 minimum is met from other sources. Separately recommends $100,000 working capital per restaurant and $75,000 relocation funds. This is not a restaurant purchase price.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Net worth | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Royalty / service fee | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
| Advertising / marketing contribution | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not comparable for this model United States New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.
|
Sources and review limits
The check date records when a source was reviewed. It is not the source publication date or the issue date of an FDD. Official web summaries that refer to an FDD are identified as summaries.
McDonald's
- McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Five Guys
- Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Build a scenario from your own assumptions
These requirements do not establish restaurant sales or owner earnings. Use a budget for the actual format and transaction, and enter your own operating assumptions in the calculator.
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