How many SONIC DRIVE-IN franchise locations are there?

As of the 2026 FDD, SONIC DRIVE-IN has 3,120 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1974.

Can you get an SBA loan for a SONIC DRIVE-IN franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for SONIC DRIVE-IN franchises. Historical data shows 97 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for SONIC DRIVE-IN franchisees, with an average loan amount of $1,162,942. The historical default rate is 1.0%.

Is SONIC DRIVE-IN a good franchise to buy?

SONIC DRIVE-IN shows several positive indicators: established brand with 3,120+ locations, low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

SONIC DRIVE-IN

FDD Year:

Sonic Drive-In franchises quick-service drive-in restaurants offering made-to-order cheeseburgers, chicken entrees, hot dogs, onion rings, tater tots, breakfast items, specialty drinks like cherry limeades and slushes, and ice cream desserts such as SONIC Blast treats. The business model includes Traditional Drive-Ins with carhop service, Drive-Thru Only, Non-Drive-In (e.g., convenience stores), and Non-Traditional locations, plus development agreements for multiple units and multi-brand co-locations with brands like Arby’s or Dunkin’. They target frequent fast-food consumers in a highly competitive quick-service restaurant market.

3,120

Locations

$1485K–$2523K

Investment

Since 1974

Franchising

Food & BeverageAtlanta, GAInspire Brandswww.sonicdrivein.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$15,000

Item 5 of FDD

Initial Investment Range

$1,485,200 – $2,522,900

Low: $1,485,200High: $2,522,900

Item 7 of FDD

Royalty Rate

5.00%

of gross sales

Brand Fund

0.90%

Item 6 of FDD

Fixed Monthly Fees

$365 – $565

Item 6 of FDD

5% royalty + 0.9% brand fund + $365-$565/mo Inspire Payment Services

How SONIC DRIVE-IN Compares

Key Insights

Higher investment than 92% of Fast Food franchises
Top 10 largest franchise system in Fast Food

Franchise	Investment	Fee	Royalty	Locations
SONIC DRIVE-IN Current	$1.5M – $2.5M	$15K	5.0%	3,120
MCDONALD'S	$1.5M – $2.6M	$45K	N/A	12,772
AFC	$45K – $151K	$6K	9.5%	3,572
KFC (NON-TRADITIONAL)	$1.2M – $4.2M	$45K	N/A	3,404
JIMMY JOHN'S	$366K – $734K	$35K	6.0%	2,737
ARBY'S	$652K – $2.5M	$38K	4.0%	2,344
Fast Food Average 129 franchises	$608K – $1.6M	$35K	6.1%	–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 129 Fast Food franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth

Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2025)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States

1TX

872

2OK

191

3AR

190

4MO

183

5TN

164

6LA

141

7KS

131

8MS

122

9FL

10AZ

11CA

12SC

13NC

14AL

15NM

+32 more states

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for SONIC DRIVE-IN franchisees (2010 – 2025)

Total Loans

Average Loan

$1,162,942

Total Volume

$112.8M

Default Rate

1.0%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

Franchisee Contacts

3,046 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

Name	Address	Phone	Email	SBA Loan
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active

3,046 Contacts Available

Unlock all SONIC DRIVE-IN franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0

No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations

Non-Renewals

Reacquired

Ceased Ops

Transfers

100

Sold to Franchisees

Projected New

Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a SONIC DRIVE-IN franchise ranges from $1,485,200 to $2,522,900. This includes a franchise fee of $15,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.