Burger King vs Sonic Drive In Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Burger King vs Sonic Drive In including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Burger King Franchise
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Investment $333,100 - $3,398,600$1,242,000 - $3,523,300
Franchise Fee $50,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%2.45-5%
Advertising Fee 4%3%
Year Founded 19541954
Year Franchised 19611959
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Renewal Fee $50K10 years for $6K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Burger King Franchise
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • If no industry experience, must have an operating equity partner
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    Financing Options
     
    Burger King Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Burger King Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    Training Before the opening of the Restaurant, franchisees must successfully complete the franchisor's training program. The training program is held in Miami, Florida or other locations specified by the franchisor. In-Restaurant Training will be held in various Restaurant locations that have been authorized as Training Restaurants. The franchisor may require additional training programs for individual Owner/Operators or Managing Directors to implement current operations, standards, and procedures and to facilitate the growth and changes of the franchisee. The franchisor also makes available and sometimes requires periodic workshops and seminars for managers, which include management courses and updating of operational skills. The franchisor will provide Pre-opening and Restaurant opening assistance as it deems appropriate. The franchisor also provides continuing operations training programs, which franchisees (as an Operating Partner, Managing Director, Director of Operations, or Managing Owner, as applicable) may be required to attend. For certain training courses, franchisees must pay a course or materials fee to the franchisor or third parties. The franchisor may make changes and revisions to the training program, locations or materials at any time.On-The-Job Training: 400 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: At existing franchise location
    Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations - International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    Expansion Plans
     
    Burger King Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Burger King

    In 1954, James McLamore and David Edgerton opened the first Burger King restaurant in Miami; selling 18 cent broiled hamburgers and milkshakes. Three years later, the company's signature Whopper was introduced, selling for 37 cents a piece. Today Burger King restaurants serve chicken nuggets, salads, a breakfast menu and kids meals. In 1998, the company opened its 10,000th location in Sydney, Australia.

    The franchise granted can be operated at one of three locations and facility types:
    1. Institutional Locations: “Institutional locations” include government buildings and facilities, medical facilities, airports, train and bus stations, sports facilities, factories, corporate campuses, turnpikes, limited access toll roads, theme parks, zoos and educational facilities.
    2. Traditional Burger King Restaurant Facility: A self-contained, full size Burger King Restaurant which is located and operated on a site as a freestanding building or within another building structure such as a shopping mall. A Traditional Burger King Restaurant does not share any common areas with any other businesses and serves the standard approved menu for Burger King Restaurants.
    3. Non-Traditional Burger King Facility: A Burger King Restaurant may be located at a site which includes other businesses, such as retail, food service, gas stations, convenience stores, other franchised businesses or restaurants or other similar facilities.
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    #37 in Canada's top franchises.



    About Sonic Drive In

    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.

    Your estimated initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Traditional Sonic Drive-In franchise ranges from approximately $1,242,200 to $3,537,700 plus land costs and includes the $45,000 franchise fee that must be paid to Sonic.
    Your estimated initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Non-Traditional Sonic franchise ranges from approximately $361,900 to $978,700 and includes the $22,500 franchise fee that must be paid to Sonic.

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    #91 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #4 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #28 in Franchise 500 for 2021.