Franchise opportunities compared
HHC 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
HHC
$670,950 – $1,760,000
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20Sonic Drive-In
$1,485,200
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38Initial franchise fee · Item 5
HHC
$50,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Sonic Drive-In
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
HHC
6%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Sonic Drive-In
1%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34Before you compare
- HHC 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
HHC
Sonic Drive-InHHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
System scale & health
HHC
Sonic Drive-InHHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
HHC
Sonic Drive-In
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
HHCNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Sonic Drive-InItem 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.
HHC vs Sonic Drive-In: common questions
- Which costs less to open, HHC or Sonic Drive-In?
- HHC: $670,950 – $1,760,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20); 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 HHC. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do HHC and Sonic Drive-In royalties compare?
- HHC: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12); 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, HHC or Sonic Drive-In?
- HHC: 23 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62); 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 HHC and Sonic Drive-In disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- HHC 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 HHC 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


