# Mickey D's

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-ds/173181>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 5, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-ds/173181 "2003-05-05T14:12:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-ds/173181/1 "2003-05-05T14:12:07Z")

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In the column here [Mcdonalds](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_186.html) I have but one bone to pick (pun badly intended) with the info provided.

As the vaunted McDonalds corp. was my very first employer at the age of 15, I know that they are not individual franchises, but merely extensions of the Burgermeisters themselves. McDonalds owns the land, and you rent the equiptment from corporate hq., and they dictate shipments to you, as well as sales promotions. Notice that McD’s commercials don’t have that “At participating locations only” tag on their ads? Every location participates, as there is no individual ownership to make the decision.

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**Author:** ![doug\_mclure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@doug\_mclure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doug_mclure)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-ds/173181/2 "2003-05-05T14:36:22Z")

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Some outlets are company owned but most, in most territories, are in fact franchised.

They have a very tight system and you are right, the franchisee does rent the premises from McDonalds. remember reading that they are the worlds largest commercial landlord.

There are various types of franchise available, take a look at this site:

> **[Website Maintenance: Be Back Soon | McDonald’s](https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/errors/404.html)**
>
> Website Maintenance: Be Back Soon | McDonald’s