About
Founded
1953
Franchising Since
1959 (60 Years)
Corporate Address
300 Johnny Bench Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
CEO
Cliff Hudson
Parent Company
Sonic Corp.
Ticker Symbol
Financial Requirements
Initial Investment ⓘ
$865,000 - $3,641,300
Net-worth Requirement ⓘ
$1,000,000 - $2,000,000
Liquid Cash Requirement ⓘ
$500,000 - $1,000,000
Ongoing Fees
Initial Franchise Fee ⓘ
$45,000 - $45,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee
2.45-5%
Ad Royalty Fee
3.25-5%
Financing Options
Sonic Drive-In has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll
Support Options
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social media
SEO
Email marketing
Loyalty program/app
On-The-Job Training:
400 hours
Classroom Training:
24 hours
Additional Training:
At existing franchise location
Number of Employees Required to Run:
25
Sonic Drive-In is ranked #3 in the Franchise 500!
Bio
Sonic first opened in 1953 as Top Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Oklahoma, with Troy Smith Sr. at the helm. He later partnered with Charlie Pappe and they began franchising in 1959 under the Sonic Drive-In name. Sonic's car-hops deliver burger, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, tater tots, onion rings, fries, drinks, desserts and breakfast to customers.
Cost
Initial Investment: Low - $865,000
High - $3,641,300
Units
+1.0%+36 UNITS (1 Year)
+2.1%+75 UNITS (3 Years)
Where Seeking Franchisees:
Franchisor is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.
Related Franchises
Franchise Articles
Points To Consider Before Purchasing A Franchise In 2019
Franchising has its own challenges that need to be dealt with in order to grow big as a franchising brand
The Top 10 Best Franchises to Open in 2019
Here's everything you need to know about the top franchises to open from the 'Entrepreneur' Franchise 500.
Never Buy a Franchise Without Researching These 5 Sources
Once you've narrowed your franchise choices to a few – or a few dozen – it's time to investigate these informational options.
Franchise 500: Our Definitive Ranking of 2019's Strongest Franchises
What trends are tops? What brands have proved most lasting? What franchise may be the right opportunity for you? Explore, absorb, and learn from our annual list.
#1 on the Franchise 500: How McDonald's Evolved With Its Customer
The #1 company on our annual Franchise 500 list is a master class in staying power.
