KFC US LLC vs McDonald's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of KFC US LLC vs McDonald's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
KFC US LLC Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Investment $1,008,550 - $2,771,500$1,314,500 - $2,306,500
Franchise Fee $45,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 4-5%4%
Advertising Fee 5%4%+
Year Founded 19301955
Year Franchised 19521955
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Renewal Fee $4.9K$45K


Business Experience Requirements

 
KFC US LLC Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    KFC US LLC Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    KFC US LLC Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 6 weeks Classroom Training: 2 days On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing National Media Social media SEO Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    KFC US LLC Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About KFC US LLC

    His recipe is still a secret, but more than 2 billion of Colonel Harland Sanders' 'finger lickin' good' chicken dinners are served annually in more than 82 countries around the world. Nearly 50 years ago, Colonel Sanders set out to sell complete meals to time-strapped families, calling his home meal replacements 'Sunday Dinner, Seven Days a Week.' Acquired by PepsiCo in 1986, KFC is now a part of Yum! Brands Inc., which includes A&W, Long John Silver's, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly constructed KFC outlet ranges from $1,442,600 to $2,771,550. This includes $45,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to KFCLLC or its affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a reopened or remodeled former KFC outlet, or converted KFC outlet ranges from $1,008,600 to $2,221,550. This includes $45,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to KFCLLC or its affiliates.
    KFCLLC also offers multi-unit development opportunities. The total investment necessary to begin exercising development rights is estimated to be $135,000 to $540,000 (based on the expectation that you will develop 3 to 12 outlets during the term of the development agreement), determined by multiplying the number of new outlets you agree to develop by $45,000, all of which must be paid to KFCLLC.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a KFC non-traditional outlet ranges from $241,100 to $996,000. This includes $12,100 to $17,100 that must be paid to the licensor or its affiliates.

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    #25 in Franchise 500 for 2021.








    About McDonald's

    Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, ventured to California in 1954 to visit McDonald's hamburger stand, where he heard they were running eight mixers at once. Kroc was impressed by how rapidly customers were served and, seeing an opportunity to sell many more milkshake machines, encouraged brothers Dick and Mac McDonald to open a chain of their restaurants. Kroc became their business partner and opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
    McDonald's brand is in 122 countries around the world. Thirty thousand locations serve 51 million customers each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent local business people. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.


    "Top   ""  "Entrepreneur

      "franchiserankingscom"                                                                                                                         
    #7 on Franchise Rankings.com                                                                                                                                                            
    #3 in Canada's top franchises.
    #3 in Franchise 500 for 2020
    #11 in Franchise 500 for 2021