Hamburger Mary's vs Sonic Drive In Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Hamburger Mary's Franchise
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Investment $417,150 - $955,500$1,242,000 - $3,523,300
Franchise Fee $50,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 4% (on first $150K monthly gross), 3% (on monthly gross above $150K)2.45-5%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 19721954
Year Franchised 19991959
Term Of Agreement 5 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years20 years
Renewal Fee -10 years for $6K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Hamburger Mary's Franchise
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • One partner must have bar/restaurant management experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • If no industry experience, must have an operating equity partner
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    Training -On-The-Job Training: 400 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: At existing franchise location
    Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, 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 Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 8% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 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
     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Hamburger Mary's

    Started in San Francisco in 1972, Hamburger Mary's serves homestyle meals prepared using fresh and healthy ingredients, including low-fat beef, farm-fresh chicken and turkey, and salads, as well as desserts including carrot cake, snicker's pie and cheesecake. The restaurants include a full bar and a kids' menu.

    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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