Get All Access for $5/mo

McDonald's Plans to Roll Out a Rewards Program For Customers The system will likely be based on the number of times a customer visits the fast-food franchise each month.

By Lindsay Friedman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Buy five Egg McMuffins, get the sixth free?

Something similar may soon be coming to McDonald's. The franchise announced it will debut a rewards program, which will be featured in McDonald's existing smartphone app, later this year or in early 2017, according to Nation's Restaurant News. In some markets, McDonald's already offers a reward system for its McCafe beverages.

Related: McDonald's Is Trying Out All-Day Breakfast

The new, expanded rewards program will encourage customers to buy breakfast food items, which McDonald's has been pushing since adding to selections such as the Chicken McGriddle and offering the menu all day.

It's possible that the update serves as a strategy for McDonald's to keep up with competitors, including Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Both already offer loyalty programs.

"We're working on a customer-designed loyalty program that we think will be as good as there is out there in the marketplace," McDonald's USA president Mike Andres says, according to TIME.

Andrews said rewards will more than likely be earned based on number of visits to the restaurant each month. Once enough points are racked up, customers will have a limited time to claim the reward.
Lindsay Friedman

Staff writer. Frequently covers franchise news and food trends.

Lindsay Friedman is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

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

Editor's Pick

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Business Solutions

Boost Business Efficiency with Five Years of Control D for $40

Secure, optimize, and customize your internet experience with this tool.

Franchise

7-Eleven Stores in the U.S. Will Introduce Some Japanese-Inspired Changes. Here's What to Expect.

You'll soon be able to pick up some fresh sushi or a new type of snack at your local 7-Eleven — but the Big Gulp isn't going away.

Marketing

Launching Your First Paid Product? Here's How to Successfully Turn Your Expertise Into Profit

Are you ready to launch your first paid product but feeling nervous? Don't worry — starting small with the right type of product is the secret to success. Read on to learn how to outline clear benefits, value price, leverage social media marketing and deliver excellent customer experience.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.