Sonic Drive In Restaurants

Drive-in hamburger restaurant

Franchise Growth Cost & Fees Training & Support Rankings

Year began: 1954 Franchising since: 1959
Sonic Industries Inc. was founded in 1973. In 1974, Sonic acquired the name “Sonic Drive-In” from Troy Smith, Sr., and began franchising. Smith used his more than 15 years of experience in the restaurant business to develop and operate the Sonic franchise program.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sonic Corp., the company is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has locations throughout the United States. The company’s storefronts recently got a facelift to give them a “retro-futuristic” look.

300 Johnny Bench Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Phone: (800)569-6656/(405)225-5000
Fax: (405)225-5963

Franchisor has 200 employee(s)

Franchise Growth

Year

2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

U.S. Franchises

2,655
2,655
2,493
2,419
2,334

Canadian Franchises

0
0
0
0
0

Foreign Franchises

0
1
2
7
5

Company
Owned

642
642
643
623
510

Costs & Fees

Total investment: $820K-2.3M
Express/kiosk option available
Franchise fee: $45K
Ongoing royalty fee: 2-5%
Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable
Renewal fee: 10 years for $6K

Type of Financing Available
	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	Yes
Startup Costs	No	Yes
Equipment	No	Yes
Inventory	No	Yes
Accounts Receivable	No	Yes
Payroll	No	Yes

Training & Support

TRAINING

Available at headquarters: 1 week
At franchisee's location: 11 weeks
Additional training available: 1 day to 1 week

ONGOING SUPPORT

Newsletter
Meetings
Grand opening
Internet
Security/safety procedures
Field operations/evaluations
Purchasing cooperatives

MARKETING SUPPORT

Co-op advertising
Ad slicks
National media
Regional advertising

Rankings in Entrepreneur magazine 2004-2008

Franchise 500® rank:
#6 (2008); #8 (2007); #13 (2006); #6 (2005); #13 (2004);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2007; 2006; 2005;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#26 (2008); #52 (2007); #46 (2006); #28 (2005); #22 (2004);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#8 (2008); #8 (2007); #17 (2006); #17 (2005); #13 (2004);