McDonald's vs HomeSmart Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
McDonald's Franchise
HomeSmart Franchise
Investment $1,314,500 - $2,306,500$65,500 - $205,000
Franchise Fee $45,000$20,000
Royalty Fee 4%varies
Advertising Fee 4%+varies
Year Founded 19552000
Year Franchised 19552005
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee $45K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
McDonald's Franchise
HomeSmart Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		•  We're looking for outgoing, results-oriented franchise candidates with strong track record of business success; people that can build relationships, lead teams, and have the motivation to excel! *Liquid Capital Required: $49,000 *Net Worth Required: $125,000

    Financing Options
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    HomeSmart Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    HomeSmart Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: Virtual training
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

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

    		Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 2 - 5

    Expansion Plans
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    HomeSmart Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    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










    About HomeSmart

    HomeSmart International offers franchise opportunities using a proven “Low-fee, high-value” brokerage model. High value is achieved through SMART execution and service. This results in innovative processes and technology that will continue to revolutionize the residential real estate industry, while keeping your brokerage on the forefront. Our proven model focuses on four key pillars of success: Career Services, Agent Services, Broker Services and Transaction/Closing Services- and the creation of operational efficiencies within each pillar through our proprietary technology. Join One of the Fastest Growing Real Estate Companies! This franchise model has created one of the fastest growing real estate companies in the nation in a very short time, with agent counts up 51% over the last two years to over 7,700 agents worldwide in 14 states and 2 countries. We have immediate plans to continue our exponential growth across the United States this year.

    Make the SMART move with HomeSmart

    Learn more to see if the HomeSmart real estate franchise model might be the right fit for you.
    See how HomeSmart is leading the real estate revolution.

    Veteran Incentives  25% off franchise fee