Dick and Maurice McDonald started the first franchise from their existing restaurant. They capitalized off of teens and the car era, and also realized how families also liked the fast food. They figured out that they were selling mostly hamburgers out of their 25 item menu. Ray Kroc sold a 5 slot mixer, which helped to speed up McDonald's Speedee system. James McLamore and David Edgerton also visited McDonalds and saw its potential. Both being Cornell graduates, they started their first Burger King in 1954. Franchises slowly progressed into pizza, which soon developed Pizza Hut in the early 1950's.
Colonel Sanders Gas Station recipe turned into a million dollar franchise in 1952.
Sources:
http://www.wichitaphotos.org/searchresults.asp?txtinput=Education&offset=-1
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/life_16.html
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/187141.html
http://archhistdaily.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/april-19-the-golden-arches/
http://backstoryradio.tumblr.com/post/22253807186/an-old-mcdonalds-menu-circa-1950-who-wouldnt
http://www.wichitaphotos.org/searchresults.asp?txtinput=Education&offset=-1
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/life_16.html
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/187141.html
http://archhistdaily.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/april-19-the-golden-arches/
http://backstoryradio.tumblr.com/post/22253807186/an-old-mcdonalds-menu-circa-1950-who-wouldnt