Sonic Franchise Essay

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The decision to purchase a franchise had both, advantages and disadvantages. The Sonic franchise, while being “the 10th largest fast-food franchise”, can also be a substantial investment if one decides to purchase a traditional store, which ranges between “$1.1 and $3 million” (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009, p. 169). That is quite a price tag, but I suppose gaining rights to the name, logo, design, products, advertising, as well as an already-secured loyal following, is worth it in the end. Of course, the company does offer a non-traditional store route for a cheaper investment. In addition to the initial investment, franchisees are responsible for paying Sonic “a franchise fee of $45,000 and 2 to 5 percent in ongoing royalty fees” (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009, p. 169). Now consider these investment figures, and then double them, as the Sonic franchise requires its franchisees take on a minimum of two stores (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009). It is apparent that cost can be a disadvantage for …show more content…

One must analyze the market and location, as well as the level of independence one is willing to give up. “Market saturation and poor location choice can increase the risk for failure” (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009, p. 169). Moreover, a business owner who desires to make business decisions freely and be in total control, may find purchasing a franchise to be dissatisfying (O. Ferrell, Hirt, & L. Ferrell, 2009). Franchisees, while purchasing rights to the name, still must abide by the franchisor’s business model without modification. “Each franchise has their own style and management techniques, which are passed on to the franchisees” (Khan, 2005, p. 193). Furthermore, a Sonic franchise is not available for everyone, as they require excellent financial records and prior experience in the restaurant

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