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The presence of a McDonald’s usually indicates a high-traffic location. McDonald’s is often referred to as the most successful real estate company disguised as a restaurant chain and has positioned itself as the “5th largest landlord on Earth.” The company’s meticulous site selection process enables them able to identify and develop valuable commercial parcels.
ConstructionWire has all the filters you need to make site selection a breeze. Allowing you to filter construction stages, value, incentives, available contacts, and more. Take a free guided tour of your trade area today.
How many assets does McDonald’s own?
McDonald’s total assets for the quarter ending September 30, 2025, were $60.608B. McDonald’s owns approximately 80% of its global restaurant locations. This means a majority of their revenue comes from real estate.
How often does a McDonald’s open?
According to data collected on Statista, in 2022, McDonald’s was operating 244 more restaurants than it was in 2021. That means there was an average of 20 new McDonald’s locations every month.
ConstructionWire is tracking over 200+ McDonald’s franchises in development worth over $170M in construction value. Explore for free today.
What is the McDonald’s business model?
McDonald’s operates on a unique model in which the brand is separated from the land. McDonald’s retains ownership or long-term leases on the land and buildings, which are then leased to its franchisees. Former McDonald’s CFO, Harry J. Sonneborn, is quoted as saying, “We are not technically in the food business. We are in the real estate business. The only reason we sell fifteen-cent hamburgers is because they are the greatest producer of revenue, from which our tenants can pay us our rent.”
What is McDonald’s site selection process?
When it comes to site selection, McDonald’s Corporate manages the entire development process. Including:
- Identifying and evaluating potential locations using advanced GIS data such as Hubexo’s ConstructionWire.
- Securing long-term leases on land and funding the construction of the building.
- Acting as the landlord and leasing the building out, often under a triple net lease structure.
Hubexo’s ConstructionWire is the leading construction intelligence platform that helps with site selection, acquisition and construction, and leasing.
What is McDonald’s site criteria?
In this exclusive interview with McDonald’s real estate manager, Will Harper, we found out the top requirements for Mcdonald’s when choosing a site:
- High traffic
- High population
- Access (Ingress/Egress)
- Power center, out parcel
Watch the full video below
Ready to approach site selection like McDonald’s?
If you’re in real estate or development, understanding the McDonald’s model allows you to be proactive with your market positioning. McDonald’s prioritizes sites that capture visibility, high traffic volume, and easy ingress/egress.
ConstructionWire has the data required to analyze your next site, enabling you to close your next deal. Ready to find your next winning site?
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