Sonic Drive In vs Runza Restaurants Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Sonic Drive In vs Runza Restaurants including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$1,242,000 - $3,523,300 | $1,250,000 - $2,720,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$45,000 | $30,000 |
Royalty Fee |
2.45-5% | 5% |
Advertising Fee |
3% | 1%+up to 4% locally |
Year Founded |
1954 | 1949 |
Year Franchised |
1959 | 1970 |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
10 years for $6K | $5000 |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
Industry experience General business experience If no industry experience, must have an operating equity partner | - |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/Yes | -/- |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | -/- |
Equipment |
No/Yes | -/- |
Inventory |
No/Yes | -/- |
Receivables |
No/Yes | -/- |
Payroll |
No/Yes | -/- |
Training & Support |
Training |
On-The-Job Training: 400 hours
Classroom Training: 24 hours
Additional Training: At existing franchise location
| - |
Support |
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 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 |
US Expansion |
Yes | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | - |
International Expansion |
No | - |
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.
#91 on Franchise Rankings.com
#4 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#28 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About Runza Restaurants
Owning a
Runza Restaurant isn't just about serving sandwiches - it's
about serving communities. We opened our first restaurant in Lincoln,
Nebraska, in 1949, and we're still a family-owned business serving
communities in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Iowa. Keeping it close to
home ensures each
Runza Restaurant gets hands-on support from
headquarters, and each
Runza meal is made with the same commitment to
quality, chain-wide.
We're always on the lookout for great people to become part of our
family and grow
Runza 's presence in the areas we serve. If you're
interested, we encourage you to learn more about our process and how we support franchises. Then, peruse other Frequently Asked Questions and read some Franchisee success stories. We are actively seeking Franchisee candidates in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri and Wyoming only.