With 24 Locations Under His Belt, Roland Parrish Is The Second-Largest McDonald’s Black Franchisee And He’s Paying It Forward In The Industry

Roland Parrish is reportedly the second-largest Black franchisee of McDonald’s, per The Dallas Morning News.

The Dallas Business Journal mentions he owns 24 locations across Dallas, TX, including at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. This was accomplished across his more than 30 years at the fast-food company.

Journey To Franchising

Parrish’s journey to franchising was planted while in college. Carrying his experience as an All-American in track and field, he would continue sports while attending Purdue University’s business school in 1971, the schools website mentions. He continued to fair well in sports, being named Most Valuable Player twice during his college years.

He was able to translate his discipline in sports into his academics, and he received guidance from Dr. Cornell A. Bell, the former director of the school’s Business Opportunity Program (BOP), who doubled as his mentor.

“I spent more time in the libraries than on the track during my time on campus,” Parrish said, per the school’s website.

He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business in 1975, and the following year he followed up the achievement with his master’s. Parrish then spent 13 years working at ExxonMobil. With a desire to pursue entrepreneurship, he turned towards McDonald’s and was originally denied.

Finding Success

With persistence, his application was later green lit. After completing a training program, he invested $180,000 from his savings to fund his first operation and sustained himself on those earnings. According to The Dallas Business Journal, his McDonald’s restaurant opened in 1989 and was located in Dallas’ Pleasant Grove neighborhood. It also racked up $500,000 in revenue.

Since, Parrish has continued to find success, now owning 24 locations across Dallas and nearby areas, information shared with AFROTECH™ mentions.

In 2023, his operations generated $116.1 million in revenue, and this figure is projected to approach $125 million by 2025, Parish told The Dallas Business Journal.

Giving Back

Beyond what Parrish has accomplished as a franchisee, he has a heart for giving back to his community. This mindset was established as a child. The Dallas Morning News mentions his parents who advised him to use some of the 70 cents in his pocket to give to the church and Sunday school. A quarter could be reserved for his piggy bank, and he could use the last dime for himself.

The philosophy of lifting as you climb spilled over into how he navigates his position as a leader in business. Recently Parrish lended his insights during the 2nd Annual Franchise Game Symposium and Trade Show in the Dallas area, an event created by Tarji Carter with the intention of empowering the Black community to venture into ownership through franchising.

Parrish has also supported his community through the ReImagining RedBird Mall Project, which is converting an old mall into a home for new stores, medical offices, and higher-ed classrooms, The Dallas Business Journal notes. Parrish serves as one of the lead investors in the project. Parrish has additionally raised $150,000 to support student scholarships aimed towards underserved communities through his foundation. “You got to go and give to the community,” Parrish expressed, according to The Dallas Morning News. “It’s embracing what my role is as a successful businessman in this community.”