Instructions
Go the traditional route if you wish—open a trading account with a brokerage firm and simply buy and sell shares in McDonald's the same as any other investor. Phone your broker and tell him to purchase as many shares as you want and can afford. Alternatively, log in to your online account and place an order to buy shares of McDonald's stock.
To buy McDonald's stock without a broker, start by going to Oneshare.com (see Resources below). Buy one share of McDonald's stock.
Log in to the McDonald's direct stock purchase website (see Resources below). This will allow you to sign up for direct purchase of McDonald's stock without a broker or broker's fees. Fill out the two-page form (available online) and sign up for a set amount of money to be withdrawn from your bank account each month to purchase the stock.
Alternatively, visit the McDonald's website you used in Step 2, sign up for direct purchase of McDonald's stock and set up a DRIP account (a Dividend Reinvestment Plan, which is automatic). Different from a direct purchase account, a DRIP account allows you to purchase McDonald's stock with any amount of money you choose at any time you choose (rather than having a set amount of money withdrawn from your account each month). You do not pay a broker's commission. The only criteria for opening a DRIP account is the ownership of one share of McDonald's stock.