Ending the Year on a Silly Note

Meet your new business advisor - Mr. Hunter Biden!

One of America's leading cokeheads hallucinates about what it's like to run a McDonald's

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Fun with organized labor - These McDonald's employees have been striking because the Oakland, CA McDonald's they work at is set to close soon. What good is a strike if the business won't be there next week? This is simply a union publicity stunt. It gets humorous when the strikers expect another McDonald's to hire them.

Employees strike against the Oakland McDonald's that is scheduled to close.

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I wish it were possible to own a local business and also be involved in electoral politics, but in North Carolina...

Protestors to boycott McDonald's operated by Congressman and Owner/Operator Chuck Edwards 

Big Beautiful Tax Changes?

Changes affecting restaurants in 2025 tax returns - NRN

Take It Easy

I find the meme about the Arizona Meteor Crater especially funny because I've been there 15 or 20 times. A big chunk of my time with McDonald's corporate was spent visiting and opening new stores in dusty western towns along the freeways in Arizona and New Mexico. The crater was a good place to stop, stretch your legs, and refill the thermos. Or, if I had a traveling partner, they always wanted to see the crater.

So, yeah, that was me standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.

Wall Street Doesn't Like Restaurants

Investors know what corporate managements won't admit - there are too many restaurants - RestBus

Safe From Joint Employer for Three Years

There are still too many franchise owners who think that Joint Employer would be cool because it would increase the corporate franchisors' responsibilities. The truth is, it would destroy the entire concept of franchiseing.

Trump mentioned it in Monday's speech, and Larry Kudlow follows up here:

Fox Business - Larry Kudlow and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler

How Many New Stores?

President Trump said he had been told that PJB intended to open 900 new McDonald's locations in the USA over the next two years. Trump said, "How about you double that?".

Imagine the damage 900 new stores will do to the domestic system; now imagine the devastation 1,800 new stores would do.

President's Trump's Speech to McDonald's Owner/Operators

Impact Summit 2025 - C-SPAN video 

Maze on Share Repurchases

Jonathan Maze offers a primer on share repurchases in restaurant companies. Keep in mind that with many, if not most, chains, the franchisee controls the real estate. Those companies do not have the leverage to force the franchisee into constant remodeling.

Franchisors should put the brakes on share buybacks - RestBus

Awarding: World's Ugliest McDonald's - 2025

2025 Winner - McKinney. Texas

Red Cup Day is now Red Mayor Day

Zohran Mamdani wants you to boycott Starbucks

Seattle Mayor-elect joins striking baristas