10 Keys to Success We Can Learn from McDonalds

They may not be the best burgers in the world, but without a doubt, their business model has conquered the planet. Recognized as a organization of the highest quality, it is said that a country in which McDonalds exists is considered a civilized and modern country.

Who among us would not want to own a BicMacs franchise with assured success? But, What are the keys to McDonalds success?

Some preliminary data:

  • 26,000 stores distributed in 126 countries
  • serve more than 40 million customers daily
  • founded in 1955 by Ray Krok
  • about 145 hamburgers are sold per second
  • continues to grow at a rate of 3 to 8 locations per day globally
  • the same menus are served all over the world
  • one of the most admired brands worldwide
  • 8th. place in the ranking of the best 100 companies
  • employees who always smile at the customer



The secrets of success:

  1. Its founder envisioned a business that would meet a need. It is said that Ray Krok, who was “just” an unknown ice cream blender salesman, envisioned the business opportunity when he observed many people going in and out of a hamburger restaurant owned by one of his customers. He saw the success of offering quick service consisting of “hamburgers, fries, and milk shakes.”
  2. He founded his business on one concept: “fast service”. Ray developed the services of fast attention and immediate delivery to the client. Likewise, he opened the first successful restaurants in Chicago that offered customers the possibility of stopping by for their food without having to get out of their car. The idea made them full from the first moment of opening.
  3. Ray Krok more than a restaurant, I create a franchise chain. Today McDonalds is one of the most important franchise options with assured success in the world. The franchises guarantee Ran Krok and his generations residual income for each hamburger sold per day around the world.
  4. McDonalds has a strict training system for its collaborators. Created by its founder, store employees and managers have to take courses taught by McDonalds Hamburguer University. Training systems are constantly being developed and improved to ensure excellent customer service.
  5. Extreme cleaning. A core value. Since its first restaurants, cleanliness has been a defining factor of success. Krok personally made sure the floor was spotlessly clean and conducted regular inspections to ensure his standards were met. They say that on one occasion, he bent down to check the tables and discovered a chewing gum stuck on a table, which he himself removed!
  6. Academic excellence is not required from its collaborators. To work at McDonalds, your employees don’t have to be (necessarily) college-bound or have high academic achievement. But if other equally or more important qualities are required such as: loyalty, dedication and service. In fact, the organization has a very family atmosphere that promotes these values.
  7. They manage an open door management policy. It is said that managers and middle managers are always accessible. It is always sought to eliminate bureaucracy and any employee can confidently approach and chat with their directors. The opinion of the collaborators is constantly asked, surveys are carried out and they are taken into account for important decisions.
  8. Its main objective: total customer satisfaction. The restaurants have strict quality standards and procedures that must be followed to the letter. They select their suppliers carefully to ensure the best quality products. The environment, the staff and everything is taken care of with a single objective: to ensure the delivery of a fast, well-prepared product that guarantees the total satisfaction of its customers.
  9. Always offer the best price. Its corporate mission is defined as “To quickly serve a limited menu of appetizing hot food in a clean and pleasant restaurant for a good price.”
  10. They always attend you with a smile. At McDonalds they are experts in taking care of the details. From perfectly located restaurants, clean and with a great atmosphere for adults and children, to the smile you always find. Slogans such as “we love to see you smile” reflect his earnest desire that they be your favorite option.



Definitely, the specifics of your business strategy are very broad and it is always worth knowing a little more. But for entrepreneurs who dream and want to build a business, a company, or just earn extra money, these keys to McDonalds success can teach us a lot about an exceptional way of doing business.

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