Sonic Drive In vs Great Steak Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Great Steak Franchise
Investment $1,242,000 - $3,523,300$155,900 - $520,300
Franchise Fee $45,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 2.45-5%6%
Advertising Fee 3%-
Year Founded 19541983
Year Franchised 19591986
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Renewal Fee 10 years for $6K$5K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Sonic Drive In Franchise
Great Steak Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • If no industry experience, must have an operating equity partner

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    Great Steak Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    Great Steak Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 400 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: At existing franchise location K-Tec is a 5-day training all Kahala franchisees receive and is the companion to brand specific in-store training. It introduces participants to the Kahala culture, level of support provided, and the roles and responsibilities for supporting franchisee and franchisor success. It provides exposure to basic business concepts such as customer service, profitability, quality assurance, inventory, purchasing and distribution, and more.
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    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.

    		 International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 35% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Sonic Drive In Franchise
    Great Steak Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    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.

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




    About Great Steak

    The Great Steak has manufactured a notoriety for offering the chief cheesesteak encounter. The rich history of the American Philly cheesesteak has propelled the Great Steak brand to respect the cheesesteak's initial beginnings by serving quality, moderate dinners that taste incredible. In the meantime, Great Steak keeps on improving in the cheesesteak classification by offering visitors an assortment of menu alternatives that incorporate claim to fame sandwiches, heated potatoes and celebrated fries. While concentrating on assortment, quality, freshness and stellar client benefit, the Great Steak group additionally perceives the significance of giving excellent support to the establishment group. Support is given through every day operational direction, menu development, advertising apparatuses, lively advancements and store stylistic theme redesigns.
    The Great Steak brand is a present, pertinent idea that keeps on remaining consistent with the organization's center qualities, "meat and potatoes." It's this significance and the dedication to serving all-American solace nourishment that makes the Great Steak mark an engaging idea in urban communities the nation over. Kahala, the franchisor of Great Steak, has contrived an unmistakable arrangement and technique to opening and working your eatery. From work out, outline and development to fantastic opening celebrations and promoting strategies, Great Steak is overseen by a group of prepared, talented experts who will tutor and guide you along the way of owning your own particular Great Steak eatery.