About
Founded
1953
Franchising Since
1959 (59 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 #6 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
+0.9%+31 UNITS (1 Year)
+1.0%+35 UNITS (3 Years)
Where Seeking Franchisees:
Franchisor is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.
Related Franchises
Franchise Articles
5 Steps of the New Model of Revenue Recognition for Franchisors
The new rules around revenue recognition are lengthy and complex. Here's what you need to know.
Here's How You Can Avoid Being a Victim of Franchise Fraud
It is important for prospective franchisees to take adequate steps to protect themselves to avoid being a victim of a fraud
The Top 5 Business Service Franchises From the Franchise 500
Open a franchise and help others with their businesses, too.
These Roommates Changed Their Lives for a Sandwich -- and Built a Franchise Empire
Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie have known each other since they were eight years old. Here's how they maintain a healthy work relationship today.
Want to Buy a Franchise? Here's Your Step By Step Guide
Franchising is one of the safest ways of becoming a business owner
