Franchise opportunities compared
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay vs Sonic Drive-In
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
$559,300 – $3,167,800
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19Sonic Drive-In
$1,485,200
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
$40,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 9Sonic Drive-In
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
6%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10Sonic Drive-In
1%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34Before you compare
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay figures come from its 2025 FDD and Sonic Drive-In figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
- Only Sonic Drive-In has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
System scale & health
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Sonic Drive-In
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay vs Sonic Drive-In: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay or Sonic Drive-In?
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay: $559,300 – $3,167,800 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19); Sonic Drive-In: $1,485,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay and Sonic Drive-In royalties compare?
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10); Sonic Drive-In: 1% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay or Sonic Drive-In?
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay: 3 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49); Sonic Drive-In: 3,412 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay and Sonic Drive-In disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Sonic Drive-In has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Sonic Drive-In report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
