McDonald’s Germany: entering the franchise through succession

McDonald’s plans to open around 500 new locations in Germany over the coming years. Existing restaurants are also expected to change hands as a new generation of operators takes over. Alongside expansion, this highlights a second route into the franchise network: succession. For prospective franchisees, the question is not just which location to choose, but also what modernisation it needs and what funding a takeover would require.

Growth and generational change go hand in hand

The report published by L’Express Franchise on 1 October 2026 mentions both the planned openings and the takeover of existing restaurants as part of a generational transition. The available research does not indicate how many businesses will be affected. Nor does it provide a specific timetable for the roughly 500 additional locations in Germany.

The scale of the existing network shows why succession opportunities are worth exploring: according to the German Franchise Association, McDonald’s operates around 1,350 restaurants in Germany. Approximately 94 per cent are run by independent franchisees. The German network is therefore overwhelmingly made up of independent business operators.

However, the announced generational transition does not imply that any particular opportunity is available to individual applicants. The research provides neither a list of available restaurants nor specific handover dates. Anyone considering joining the network should therefore treat the growth announcement as a reason to make a targeted enquiry — not as a promise that they will be able to take over a business in the near future.

Fees do not tell the whole funding story

The German Franchise Association’s franchise profile provides several headline figures as an initial financial guide: the initial franchise fee is €46,000, the ongoing fee is 5.0 per cent and the advertising contribution is also 5.0 per cent. It also lists an equity requirement of 12.5 per cent.

These figures are a starting point, but they do not amount to a complete investment calculation for taking over a restaurant. In particular, the initial franchise fee gives no indication of the purchase price of an existing restaurant. Likewise, without knowing the basis on which the equity percentage is calculated, it is impossible to determine how much capital an applicant would actually need for a particular location.

Prospective successors therefore need to distinguish clearly between the different figures: which relates to joining the franchise system, which to ongoing operations, and which to the actual acquisition or takeover? The available research gives neither a typical takeover price nor the total investment required for an existing restaurant in Germany. A sound decision must therefore be based on the documents for the specific opportunity, rather than on published franchise figures alone.

Modernisation is a key takeover consideration

The need for modernisation deserves particular attention when assessing an existing restaurant. At its Investor Day on 23 September 2026, McDonald’s presented its “McDonald’s > NEXT” strategy. This includes a global commitment to support franchisees with rent relief and capital assistance for modernisation.

For anyone planning a takeover in Germany, however, the key question is what support will reach the individual restaurant. Germany belongs to the “International Operated Markets”, to which the strategy applies in principle. According to the available report, the company has not yet specified a German budget or start date. Changes and timetables are expected to vary by restaurant and market.

Prospective franchisees should therefore not treat announced support as funding that has already been committed. Instead, they should establish what refurbishment work is planned for the restaurant on offer, when it is due to take place and who will bear each cost. Written confirmation of any potential support is equally important. The research does not currently establish how many German restaurants will be modernised by 2030 or what financial relief a particular incoming operator might receive.

Succession requires a site-specific assessment

For Germany’s franchise community, the announcement points to two distinct tasks: opening additional restaurants and supporting existing businesses through a change of owner or operator. Both are part of the network’s continued development. The number of planned openings therefore tells only part of the story.

For potential partners, practical due diligence should start with the individual restaurant. Useful questions concern the handover date, financial records, upcoming investment and the contractual allocation of modernisation costs. These are recommended areas to investigate; the published research does not provide specific answers for individual locations.

Practical takeaway: Anyone looking to join McDonald’s should explicitly ask about succession opportunities. Before making a decision, they should obtain written details of the total investment, required equity, refurbishment obligations and any available support. The announced expansion is no substitute for this site-specific assessment.