Franchisees say it's them, not big corporations, who are the real losers of California's $20 fast-food wage

Tech Insider
Mims, Florida, McDonald's Fast food restaurant inside cashier and checkout counter, 2023
The $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers came into effect on April 1.

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Fast-food franchisees in California fear they'll lose customers to Chili's and Applebee's as prices soar over $20 wage

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Signs for casual dining and fast food restaurants are seen along U.S Route 11 in Bloomsburg PA
Fast-food franchisees in California are raising prices to offset the state's new $20 wage.

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A major Burger King franchisee in California says he can't roll out order kiosks fast enough due to the state's new $20 fast-food minimum wage

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The Burger King logo is seen at its fast food restaurant branch in Danville, Pennsylvania
Restaurants are putting up prices, cutting staff's hours, and turning to tech to offset the new minimum wage for fast-food workers.

Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

A California restaurant owner says he'll 'absolutely' have to put up wages to compete with fast-food chains now paying $20 an hour

Tech Insider : Economy
Lexington, Minnesota, Now hiring sign at McDonalds, July 2021

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A California McDonald's franchisee says he's leaving 'no stone unturned' in his quest to save money over the $20 minimum wage

Tech Insider : Economy
McDonald's meals are seen at the shopping mall in Krakow, Poland on January 10, 2024.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

I ordered the same meal from Papa Johns, Domino's, and Pizza Hut. They cost about the same but the pizzas were wildly different sizes.

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Pizzas from Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, and Domino's next to each other in boxes

Annie Smith/Business Insider

10 popular McDonald's menu items that cost up to 168% more now than a decade ago

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A Big Mac, a hamburger, a fountain drink, and french fries sit on a black plastic tray while packaged in McDonald's-branded wrappers.
McDonald's has increased prices faster than other major fast-food chains since 2014.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Here are 5 ways fast-food restaurants in California are cutting costs to cover the new minimum wage

Tech Insider : Economy
A view of McDonald's, on Crenshaw Blvd. in south Los Angeles Friday, March 29, 2024
McDonald's.

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

'I can't charge $20 for a Happy Meal': McDonald's franchisee responds to California's new fast-food worker wages

Tech Insider : Economy
An aerial view of McDonald's on Crenshaw Blvd, south Los Angeles on Friday, March 29, 2024.
McDonald's.

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Fast-food chains like Burger King, Shake Shack, and KFC are doubling down on digital order kiosks — but watch out, you'll probably end up spending more

Tech Insider
Illustration of a dollar sign hovering over a kiosk.
Kiosks are becoming ubiquitous at fast-food locations across the US.

Golden Sikorka/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI

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