In 1954, milkshake machine salesman Ray Kroc visited a small hamburger restaurant in McDonald’s original restaurant owned by brothers Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald.

The brothers had developed the innovative “Speedee Service System,” an assembly-line approach that allowed them to prepare burgers, fries, and milkshakes quickly, consistently, and at low cost. Kroc immediately recognized that their system could be replicated through franchising on a national scale.

In 1955, Kroc founded McDonald’s Corporation (then called McDonald’s System, Inc.) and began opening franchised restaurants across the United States.

In 1961, he purchased the McDonald brothers’ rights to the business for $2.7 million (before taxes), gaining full control of the brand. Under Kroc’s leadership, McDonald’s expanded rapidly, emphasizing standardized operations, strict quality control, and consistent customer experience.

Today, McDonald’s operates more than 40,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, serving millions of customers each day. Its franchise model has become one of the most influential business systems in modern history.