Franchise opportunities compared
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar 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
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
$665,500 – $4,160,000
2026 FDD · Item 7Sonic Drive-In
$1,485,200
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Not available
Sonic Drive-In
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17Sonic Drive-In
1%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Sonic Drive-In has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
System scale & health
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar
Sonic Drive-In
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
No reviewed Item 19 figures
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.
Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar vs Sonic Drive-In: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar or Sonic Drive-In?
- Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar: $665,500 – $4,160,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7); 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 Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar and Sonic Drive-In royalties compare?
- Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); 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, Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar or Sonic Drive-In?
- Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar: 479 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59); 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 Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar and Sonic Drive-In disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; 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 Long John Silver’s offering a limited menu consisting primar 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
