Business Description

SONIC DRIVE-INS offer made-to-order hamburgers and other sandwiches, and feature signature items, such as extra-long cheese coneys, hand-breaded onion rings, tater tots, fountain favorites, including cherry limeades, slushes and a full ice-cream dessert menu.

Franchisor Background

Year Established:  1953

Franchising Since:  1959

Operating Units:
Franchised Units:	2,426	79.6%
Company-Owned Units:	623	20.4%
Total Operating Units:	3,049	100.0%
Geographic Distribution: U.S.: 3,042 99.8% In 30 States Canada: 0 0% In 0 Canadian Provinces International: 7 0.2% In 0 Foreign Countries   Total: 3,049 100.0%

North America:
States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:

Density	Units
1. Oklahoma	234
2. Tennessee	191
3. Texas	739

Registered in Following Registration States: California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, District Of Columbia

Financial Requirements

Investment:
Minimum Net Worth:	$1MM
Cash Investment:	$500K
Total Investment:	$700K-2.3MM
Average Total Investment:	$1500K
Fees:
Initial Franchise Fee:	$30K
Average Franchise Fee:	$30K
On-Going Royalty:	1-5%
Average Royalty:	3%
Advertising Fee:	4%

Average Number of Employees: 35 Full-time, 0 Part-time

Space Needs (in square footage): 1,450

Preferred Sites: Free-standing Building

Other Sites:

Encourage Conversions? No

Earnings Claims Provided?: No

Franchisee Qualifications
Ranked from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (important):
Financial Net Worth:	5
General Business Experience:	5
Specific Industry Experience:	5
Formal Education:	2
Psychological Profile:	2
Personal Interview(s):	4
Terms of Contract
Term of Initial Contract:	20 Year(s)
Term of Renewal Period:	10 Year(s)
Passive Ownership:	Not Allowed
Area Development Agreements?	Yes, for 0 Year(s)
Sub-Franchising Contracts?	No
Franchisees Allowed to Expand Within Territory?	Yes
Support and Training
International Franchise Association:	Yes
Canadian Franchise Association:	No
Franchisee Association/Member:	Yes, Member
Size of Corporate Staff:	210
Site Selection Assistance?	Yes
Lease Negotiation Assistance?	Yes
Financial Assistance?	Yes, Indirect
Marketing Support:
Co-Op Advertising:	Yes
National Advertising:	No
Regional Advertising:	No
Local Advertising:	No
Marketing Materials:	None Specified
Additional Services:	None Specified
Other Marketing Support:	None Specified
On-Going Support:
Central Data Processing:	Not Applicable
Central Purchasing:	Included in Fees
Field Operation Evaluation:	Included in Fees
Field Training:	Included in Fees
Initial Store Opening:	Included in Fees
Inventory Control:	Included in Fees
Franchisee Newsletter:	Included in Fees
Regional or National Meetings:	Included in Fees
800 Telephone Hotline:	Included in Fees
Training:
1. Oklahoma City, OK	1 Week
2. Local Market	11 Weeks
Expansion Plans
Projected New Units Over Next 12 months: 185 U.S.: Yes, SW, SE, West, Midwest Canada: No Overseas: Yes, Mexico, Puerto Rico	Request Franchisor Info   Submit an online form to receive information from Sonic Drive-In.