You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

McDonald's Tests a 60-Second Drive-Thru Guarantee In a bid to speed up service, McDonald's is promising customers in South Florida free food if they don't get their meals served up in under a minute.

By Kate Taylor

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

McDonald's is betting it can speed up its drive-thru service -- and real food is on the line.

The burger chain is promising that guests at designated restaurants will receive their food in under 60 seconds after paying for it at the drive-thru, reports the Miami Herald. To ensure there is no cheating, customers will be handed timers when they pay for their orders. If it takes more than 60 seconds for the McDonald's crew to assemble and deliver the meal, the chain promises to pay for a complimentary lunch item on a future visit.

Sadly for McDonald's lovers who lunch across the U.S., the promotion is only running at participating South Florida restaurants. The time window is also small: weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. through Aug. 29.

Related: Disappointing Earnings Add to McDonald's Bad Week

Even though the test is limited, the intense time limit could help McDonald's untangle its struggles keeping up with fast food. The influx in new and complicated menu items in recent years has slowed down the fast food giant. In 2013, the average service time was 189.5 seconds, McDonald's slowest average speed in the last 15 years. Last year, the chain announced plans to add a third drive-thru window at new and remodeled restaurants to speed up service.

Aside from time, McDonald's is fighting to stay on top – or even near the top – in the fast-food industry on multiple fronts. Global same-store sales are flat, and U.S. same-store sales have been falling in recent quarters. Last month, McDonald's meat supplier in China was revealed to be selling expired meat, leaving McDonald's menus in the area meatless for weeks. And, McDonald's was dealt a harsh blow last week when the National Labor Relations Board deemed McDonald's a joint employer in employees' lawsuits against the chain.

Related: Regulator Names McDonald's a 'Joint Employer'

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

'Wildly Inappropriate': Woman Says She Was Denied a Job Because She Didn't Wear Makeup During the Interview

Melissa Weaver was applying for a VP of HR job at a tech company via video.

Business Solutions

Streamline In-House Developer Work with This $40 Program

Microsoft Visual Studio features tools to help programmers code faster and build complex projects across different languages and platforms.

Marketing

You'll Never Succeed in a Complex Market Unless You Try These Strategies

Complex industries offer opportunities in market needs, potential profitability and expansion opportunities — but the key to being successful is developing and supporting a clearly differentiated value proposition that separates your organization from potential competitors. Here's how to do it.

Thought Leaders

These Are the Five Attributes of Highly Successful and Happy People

If you'd like to be happier or more successful this year, then ask yourself if you're truly exuding these five attributes. The happiest and most successful people I know execute on these game-changers exceptionally well.

Side Hustle

I Started a Semi-Passive Side Hustle That Earns $33,000 a Week on Amazon: 'Selling There Is a No-Brainer'

Dr. Jenny Woo wanted to create a product that would help people connect, and it turned out to be a lucrative one.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.