Fact Check: "The average McDonald's restaurant generates about $1 million in revenue per quarter."
What We Know
The claim that "the average McDonald's restaurant generates about $1 million in revenue per quarter" requires examination of McDonald's overall revenue data. According to Macrotrends, McDonald's reported a quarterly revenue of approximately $6 billion for the first quarter of 2025. This figure indicates that the total revenue generated by all McDonald's locations is significantly higher than $1 million per restaurant per quarter.
To further analyze this, we can look at the number of McDonald's locations. As of 2025, there are approximately 40,000 McDonald's restaurants worldwide. If we divide the total quarterly revenue of $6 billion by the number of restaurants, we find that the average revenue per restaurant is around $150,000 per quarter, not $1 million.
Additionally, WallStreetZen confirms that McDonald's quarterly revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was $6 billion, which aligns with the data from Macrotrends. This further substantiates the claim that the average revenue per restaurant is much lower than $1 million.
Analysis
The claim in question is based on the assumption that each McDonald's restaurant generates a uniform amount of revenue. However, the evidence indicates otherwise. The average revenue per restaurant, calculated from the total quarterly revenue and the number of locations, is approximately $150,000, which is significantly less than the claimed $1 million.
The sources used to derive this information, such as Macrotrends and WallStreetZen, are reputable financial data aggregators that provide comprehensive revenue statistics for publicly traded companies. Their data is typically reliable, as it is sourced from official financial reports and market analyses. However, it is important to note that the average revenue can vary widely based on location, market conditions, and operational efficiency, which means that while some high-performing locations may exceed $1 million in revenue, the average across all locations does not support the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "the average McDonald's restaurant generates about $1 million in revenue per quarter" is Unverified. The available data indicates that the average revenue per restaurant is closer to $150,000 per quarter, based on the total revenue and the number of locations. This significant discrepancy suggests that the claim lacks sufficient evidence and does not reflect the reality of McDonald's revenue generation.
