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Updated RecentlyCarl's Jr vs Sonic Drive In Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Carl's Jr vs Sonic Drive In including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $1,603,000 - $2,168,000 | $1,242,000 - $3,523,300 |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 - $35,000 | $45,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% | 2.45-5% |
| Advertising Fee | 6% | 3% |
| Year Founded | 1945 | 1954 |
| Year Franchised | 1984 | 1959 |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | 20 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | 20 years |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | 10 years for $6K |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | ||
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | No/Yes |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | No/Yes |
| Equipment | No/No | No/Yes |
| Inventory | No/No | No/Yes |
| Receivables | No/No | No/Yes |
| Payroll | No/No | No/Yes |
Training & Support |
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| Training | Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand opening | On-The-Job Training: 400 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: At existing franchise location |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Purchasing 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 slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app |
| Operations |
Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. |
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 |
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| US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | Yes | No |
Company Overviews
About Carl's Jr
Carl's Jr. is known all through the Western U.S. as the place to go for premium quality burgers, specifically its 100% Angus hamburger Six Dollar Burger line.
At Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® our brand sets us
apart from the competition. Our advertisements are created to be so bold
and memorable that they've been known to crash internet video servers.
Our taglines deliver bold statements and our visuals are designed to
keep viewers wanting more. EAT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® have a strong track
record of successfully developing new premium products to lead the
category in taste, quality, and innovation. As an industry leader, we
have consistently out-delivered all other quick-service restaurants in
product development since our founding. Staying on top requires that we
continue to lead the way in the products we serve through taste,
quality, and innovation.
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About Sonic Drive In
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