Entrepreneurs on Fire Owning the Golden Arches: Journey from Entrepreneur to Empire Builder with Kerri Harper-Howie
Jan 8, 2026
Kerri Harper-Howie, an accomplished entrepreneur and attorney, co-owns 21 McDonald's franchises in Los Angeles. She shares her journey from law to business, emphasizing the importance of failure as part of the entrepreneurial path. Kerri discusses scaling with intention through delegation and training. Community impact is a core focus for her, leading initiatives like Ronald McDonald House fundraising. She highlights the values of integrity in leadership and the necessity of continuous learning for sustainable success.
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Success Is A Multi-Phase Journey
- Success rarely happens on the first try; entrepreneurial journeys often include failed or irrelevant ventures.
- Embrace multiple phases and keep pushing because the journey shapes eventual success.
From Law To The Family Franchise
- Kerri grew up in a family that cashed in pensions to buy McDonald's franchises, which made her the "cool kid" in school.
- She trained as a lawyer and only joined the family business after her son was born and her mother faced health challenges.
Be Intentional About Scaling
- Be intentional about growth and delegate tasks as you scale so you can maintain a global view.
- Train people to take over roles you loved to keep operations consistent while you travel or lead system-wide initiatives.