Are you the type to invest in a franchise or a franchisor? Or would you just like to use them on a as you please basis.
I knew that when Chipotle first came out a number of people were looking into the requirements for a franchise. These are not people who invest in franchises. But they were interested, at that moment in time there were no franchisee licenses available. The stores were owned by the corporate office, or to say McDonalds. They sold their state in 2006. But McDonalds has owned multiple interests in franchisors not necessarily franchises.
The following is a list of franchisors that McDonalds has a significant stake in:
- Domino’s Pizza (until 2003)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill (until 2006)
- Pret A Manger (until 2008)
- Redbox (until 2009)
- Aroma (1999-2002)
- Boston Market (2000-2007)
- Krispy Kreme (2010-Shutdown)
- McDonald’s (permanent; primary brand)
- Ronald McDonald House
- Dynamic Yield
- McD Tech Labs
- Apprente
That is one way to diversify away from real estate.