Which company name did McDonald’s adopt when it incorporated in 1960?

McDonald’s adopted the name McDonald’s Corporation when it incorporated in 1960.

The incorporation reflected the company’s transition from a single restaurant concept into a rapidly expanding business system. Ray Kroc had begun developing the franchise operation after becoming involved with the McDonald brothers’ restaurant in the 1950s.

A corporate name gave the expanding chain a formal legal identity as it opened and supported more franchised locations. The company’s branding, however, continued to emphasize the shorter public-facing name “McDonald’s.”

This fact is distinct from the company’s founding by Richard and Maurice McDonald and from Kroc’s later ownership. Incorporation established the corporate structure associated with the growing McDonald’s chain.