| Product recognition has never been more important | | | | management levels, which may attract a few |
| than it is now. And this includes the restaurant and | | | | motivated individuals, most of your work force will be |
| food services industries. Statistics show that, come | | | | young, inexperienced, and just learning about job |
| mealtime, fast food is the first choice of hungry people | | | | responsibility. High employee turnover must be |
| all over the world, and these numbers are only on the | | | | expected, as employees graduate from high school or |
| rise. In an economy where few markets are growth | | | | college or move on to other work. Good management |
| markets, it only makes sense to buy into one of those | | | | techniques can make a difference in keeping longer |
| showing increased profits. With this in mind, let's take a | | | | term employees motivated and attendance regular. |
| look at the pros and cons of buying into a McDonald's | | | | McDonald's has many programs in place to instill |
| franchise. | | | | employee pride and combat employee fatigue. |
| The first, and most obvious, pitfall is the enormous | | | | The last thing to consider may well be what affect |
| start-up costs of opening your own McDonald's | | | | ownership of a McDonald's franchise will have on your |
| franchise. While the full franchise cost depends on the | | | | personal quality of life. Franchise owners can look |
| size of the restaurant, you will need a down payment | | | | forward to long hours, and many management |
| of 40% of the total cost for a new restaurant. And | | | | responsibilities, and leisure time may come to seem like |
| this down payment must be paid out of ready cash, | | | | a thing of happy memory. The good news is, |
| and not be financed. The minimum down payment is | | | | ownership of a company has its own rewards, |
| approximately $300,000. Acquiring an existing | | | | beyond the financial ones. Being in a position of |
| restaurant requires a smaller, 25% down payment of | | | | authority has been shown to actually be less stressful |
| ready cash. The remainder of the total price may be | | | | than being an employee. And you may find yourself in |
| financed. McDonald's does not offer financing itself, but | | | | the satisfying position of mentoring employees - some |
| does have good relations with lenders, and a loan for | | | | of whom may, with your encouragement, become the |
| the remainder can usually be acquired at lower | | | | sort of valued employees you can trust to look after |
| industry rates. | | | | things when you do have a chance for that |
| The next consideration is the operation of your | | | | hard-earned getaway. So weigh the pros and cons |
| McDonald's franchise. While McDonald's does offer | | | | and think about whether franchise ownership is for |
| limited opportunity for employee advancement to | | | | you! |