What was McDonald’s original business name before it became McDonald’s Corporation?

McDonald’s original business name before it became McDonald’s Corporation was McDonald’s System, Inc.

Ray Kroc incorporated McDonald’s System, Inc. in 1955 as he began developing the restaurant chain through franchising. The name reflected the operating and franchise system that Kroc was building around the McDonald brothers’ restaurant concept.

The corporate name changed to McDonald’s Corporation in 1960. That change aligned the legal company name more closely with the public-facing brand, which was already becoming widely recognized through its restaurants, signs, and Golden Arches.

This history is often simplified by saying that Kroc simply bought “McDonald’s” and immediately formed the modern corporation. In reality, the business developed through several stages: the brothers created the original restaurant system, Kroc expanded it, and the corporate identity evolved as the chain grew.