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The Business Profiles Channel explores a variety of corporations, business models and entrepreneurial ideas. From small startups to massive corporations, get the lowdown on all kinds of businesses.

Featured Article:  How McDonald's Works

No matter what critics say about McDonald's, some people are loyal fans. The familiar taste is easy on the wallet. But what's the secret to Mickey D's success? See more »

10 Most Popular McDonald's Menu Items of All Time

10 Most Popular McDonald's Menu Items of All Time

If you can name the product behind this jingle -- double-double, cheese-cheese, burger-burger, please -- then you already have one out of 10 right. What else makes the cut?

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10 Unusual Items from McDonald's International Menu

10 Unusual Items from McDonald's International Menu

Would you like some french fries with that McArabia, sir? Or a soda to wash down that -- porridge? The golden arches may look the same globally, but the menu sure doesn't.

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5 Failed McDonald's Menu Items

5 Failed McDonald's Menu Items

Now you see it, now you don't. That's usually how new menu items hit the market -- with a thud. McDonald's has had its share of not-so-successful sandwiches.

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5 Influential Business Models

5 Influential Business Models

What guarantees a company's success? Celebrity endorsements? A high influx of customers? Profitable stocks? Without a solid business model, any company can crumble into oblivion after riding the tide of good fortune.

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Are the Golden Arches really supposed to be giant french fries?

Are the Golden Arches really supposed to be giant french fries?

That golden icon is embedded in our brains whether we like it or not. Wouldn't it be good to finally know what it means, if anything?

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Fact or Fiction: Google

Fact or Fiction: Google

With the Google quiz, see how much is fact or fiction regarding this huge Internet company. Learn about Google with the Google quiz.

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Fact or Fiction: Microsoft

Fact or Fiction: Microsoft

Founder (and ultimate computer geek) Bill Gates has become, depending on whom you believe, an embodiment of the American Dream -- or a cautionary tale of corrupting power. How much do you really know about Microsoft?

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How Amazon Works

How Amazon Works

The story of Amazon.com is an e-commerce dream. Find out what Amazon does, what makes it different from other e-commerce Web sites and how its technology infrastructure supports its multi-pronged approach to online sales.

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How Better Business Bureaus Work

How Better Business Bureaus Work

Nothing can be more humiliating than getting ripped off. Finding worthy mechanics, contractors, doctors and more can be like rolling dice. But how do Better Business Bureaus really know which one's are reputable?

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How Craigslist Works

How Craigslist Works

Whether you're looking for a job, apartment or motorcycle, chances are you've consulted Craigslist. Craigslist started as an electronic community newsletter but has become the go-to site for users in 450 communities worldwide.

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How MapQuest Works

How MapQuest Works

MapQuest made online mapping and navigation indispensable with alternate routes and the most up-to-date information. How does this complex system work?

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How McDonald's Works

How McDonald's Works

No matter what critics say about McDonald's, some people are loyal fans. The familiar taste is easy on the wallet. But what's the secret to Mickey D's success?

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How Pawnshops Work

How Pawnshops Work

Need a fast loan? Want to buy a TV for next to nothing? The pawnshop's the place, and what goes on in the storefront is only half the story.

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How Red Barons Antiques Works

How Red Barons Antiques Works

Are you a collector of furniture, art or antiques? Even if you're not, you've still got to see everything that's available at Red Baron's Antiques. From floor to ceiling, this auction house is packed with the coolest stuff from every period in history.

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How Self-publishing Works

How Self-publishing Works

Beyond putting words on the page, the self-publisher controls every aspect of authoring -- he or she creates the physical book and actively brings it to an audience. It's a uniquely harmonious and satisfying melding of art and business.

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How UPS Works

How UPS Works

We all recognize those trusted brown trucks, but how much do we know about them? For example, did you know UPS can deliver to 80 percent of the planet within 48 hours? Find out more cool facts, watch a video and see pictures of how UPS works!

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How Wal-Mart Works

How Wal-Mart Works

Learn the key reasons that Wal-Mart has been able to keep its prices low -- cutting-edge technology, a frugal corporate culture and a push to make suppliers sell merchandise at cheaper and cheaper prices.

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How YouTube Works

How YouTube Works

YouTube is a community website that streams about 200 trillion bytes of information a day as people watch videos. How does the company handle the content?

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The Ultimate McDonald's Quiz

The Ultimate McDonald's Quiz

Loved for its deep-fried goodness and loathed for its cheap, fatty fare, McDonald's has become more than just a chain restaurant: It's a bonafide cultural icon. But it'll take more than a little McNugget know-how to pass the Ultimate McDonald's Quiz.

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Who Said It: Gates or Jobs?

Who Said It: Gates or Jobs?

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs: self-made geeks who got very rich and just a wee bit drunk with power. Hey, we're not saying it's wrong. If we were the lords of the technology universe, maybe we'd say these things, too. Can you guess who said what?

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