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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe 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.

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe2026 FDDSDSonic Drive-In2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $646,000 – $1,112,750

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Sonic Drive-In

    $1,485,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $35,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Sonic Drive-In

    1%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 16, Sonic Drive-In: 8). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $646,000 – $1,112,750
    Total initial investment for one Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe — low estimate
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Sonic Drive-In

    $1,485,200
    TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (excluding free- standing real estate costs) (15) — 1485200
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 38
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $35,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    6%
    Royalty percentage of gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Sonic Drive-In

    1%
    lows: Duration of Effective Royalty Fee Effective Royalty Fee Opening through Year 1 — 1%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 34
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    3%
    Advertising fee percentage of gross sales — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    35
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39

    Sonic Drive-In

    3,412
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    +6
    Calculated: 29 at end of 2023 → 35 at end of 2025

    Sonic Drive-In

    −109
    Calculated: 3,521 at end of 2023 → 3,412 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    2008
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sonic Drive-In

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
    Franchised (8 locations) — other measures — Quartile2 of31full-yearfranchises
    $1,456,404
    other Quartile2
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    Franchised (31 locations) — other measures and revenue
    $1,447,902
    other Table1 Average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    Franchised (27 locations) — other measures and revenue
    $1,435,041
    other Table2 Average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    +13 more groups in the full report
    SDSonic Drive-In
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 2nd Quartile
    47 percent
    other 2nd Quartile
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 71
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Restaurants
    1,338 restaurants
    other All Restaurants
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 72
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 1st Quartile
    294 restaurants
    other 1st Quartile
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 71
    +5 more groups in the full report

    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.

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe vs Sonic Drive-In: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe or Sonic Drive-In?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: $646,000 – $1,112,750 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15); 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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe and Sonic Drive-In royalties compare?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 6% (2026 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, Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe or Sonic Drive-In?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 35 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39); 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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe and Sonic Drive-In disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 16 location groups; 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    Full Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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    Full Sonic Drive-In report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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