That's the largest of the federal retirement funds that run a surplus. That makes the deficit smaller than what's added to the debt. For example, President Bush's stated budget deficits totaled $3.294 trillion. But he added $5.849 trillion to the debt.
The total financial cost of opening a franchise can range between $1.2 million and $2.2 million, depending on location, building size and any updates or upgrades that need to be completed. The initial franchise fee for a Burger King is $50,000, which must be paid prior to the opening date of the location. Once the restaurant opens for business, a monthly royalty fee of 4.5 percent of gross sales is required by the parent company.
Opening a major restaurant franchise is impossible for the average American. McDonald's usually requires $750,000 of non-borrowed personal resources before considering an application, according to its website. Taco Bell requires net worth of $1 million, while Burger King requires $1.5 million. The franchisee controversy is the latest in a string of problems for McDonald's. Employees were striking for better wages last week.