Sonic Drive-In is an iconic American drive in restaurant franchise known for its carhop service, extensive menu, and beloved frozen drinks. The brand, backed by Inspire Brands, Inc, has been franchising since 1991 and operates thousands of…
Total Investment
$175K – $175K
Franchise Fee
$15,000,
Royalty Rate
5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note Gross Sales
Total Units
878
Franchising Since
1991
🌻About Sonic Franchise
Sonic Drive-In is an iconic American drive in restaurant franchise known for its carhop service, extensive menu, and beloved frozen drinks.
The brand, backed by Inspire Brands, Inc, has been franchising since 1991 and operates thousands of locations nationwide.
The franchise fee is $15,000.
💰Sonic Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$175K
Average Investment
$175K
Maximum Investment
$175K
Fee Type
Amount
Notes
Initial Franchise Fee
$15,000,
One-time payment upon signing
Royalty Fee
5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note of gross sales
Ongoing; paid monthly
Marketing/Ad Fund
1.625% of Gross Sales
National brand fund
Total Investment Range
$175,000 – $175,000
Includes build-out, inventory, working capital
The investment range of $175K–$175K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note) and marketing fee (1.625% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
📋Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
Item
Low
High
MADE
Initial franchise
$15,000
$15,000
As incurred Training Hotels,
expenses during
$93,600
$93,600
As incurred Pre-opening Suppliers
Certified Training
$42,500
$42,500
Lump sum Before Suppliers
$125,000
$15,000
As incurred During Contractors
$1,100,000
$500,000
As incurred During Contractors,
$1,000,000
$100,000
As incurred Pre-opening Suppliers
$5,000
$5,000
As incurred Training and Your
$94,800
$94,800
ESTIMATED
$3,140,900
$1,360,900
💵Additional Fees (Item 6)
Fee Type
Amount
Transfer Fee
$1,000
Renewal Fee
$15,000
🏦Financing (Item 10)
Detail
Information
Financing Available
No
Description
Franchisor does not offer financing.
📊Sonic Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Revenue Range
$282K – $1.9M
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
⚖Sonic Litigation & Risk Flags
✓
Clean Litigation RecordSonic has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
📈Sonic System Growth
Total Units
878
Franchised
552
Company-Owned
326
Sonic currently operates 552 franchised locations and 326 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
❓Sonic Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Sonic franchise ranges from $175,000 to $175,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $15,000,. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Sonic charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note of gross sales, plus a 1.625% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Sonic Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Sonic to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Sonic franchise owners report . Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sonic has been franchising since 1991. The FDD shows an investment range of $175,000-$175,000, a 5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $15,000, and the total investment ranges from $175,000 to $175,000 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
Get free info on this franchise. We will send you a detailed FDD report by email.
Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Sonic and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Sonic or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com
Sonic
Total Investment
$175K – $175K
💰 Costs & Fees
Franchise Fee$15,000,
Royalty5% of Gross Payable monthly See Note
Marketing Fee1.625% of Gross Sales
FinancingNot Available
🏢 System Overview
Total Units878
Franchising Since1991
Earnings Claim (Item 19)Yes
📄 Contract Terms
⚖️ Legal & Risk
Pending LitigationClean
Bankruptcy HistoryNone
Download the Full Sonic FDD
2024 · Public Registry Document
Free · No paywall · Instant FDD report
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