Originally Posted by TrashyGirl

McD's charges their affiliates *rent*. McD's corporate owns all the McD's real estate. That is part of their corporate income and is a solid underpinning of McD's value worldwide. However, the franchisees are somewhat disgruntled, from an article I read, sorry can't find the link, it was months ago... McD's makes their franchisees pay for an interior remodel every few years to whatever theme corporate has decided is trending. This is generally a huge expense/loss for the franchisees because it has no impact on whether they get more or less custies. The law of diminishing returns... The only recent bend that corporate made for the franchisees was to end the promotion of the dollar menu.