About Sonny's BBQ Franchise
Sonny's BBQ offers franchise rights to own and operate full-service, family-casual barbecue restaurants.
Franchisees develop and operate these restaurants, offering a uniform limited menu of barbecue food and other authorized food products and beverages, including catering services.
They must adhere to mandatory specifications, standards, and operating procedures.
Sonny's BBQ Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$601K
Average Investment
$787K
Maximum Investment
$972K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 4.5% of Gross Receipts of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of Gross Receipts (System Brand Fund Contribution) + 2% of Gross Receipts (Local Advertising/Cooperative Advertising) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $601,000 – $972,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $601K–$972K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (4.5% of Gross Receipts) and marketing fee (2% of Gross Receipts (System Brand Fund Contribution) + 2% of Gross Receipts (Local Advertising/Cooperative Advertising)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Land, Building, Renovation, Leasehold Improvement and Other Real Estate Costs | $0 | $0 |
| Architectural Fees | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Equipment/Smallwares | $300,000 | $360,000 |
| Technology | $47,000 | $65,000 |
| Pre-Opening Advertising | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Insurance | $12,500 | $30,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Site Work | $125,000 | $300,000 |
| Trademark Signage | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Additional Funds | $36,500 | $82,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | The greater of (a) $17,500, or (b) 50% of the then applicable initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Fee | The greater of (a) $17,500, or (b) 50% of the then applicable initial franchise fee |
| Audit Fee | Will vary depending on circumstances |
| Inspection and Audit | Will vary depending on circumstances |
| Late Fee | 1.5% per month or highest lawful rate, whichever is less |
| Values in Action Kit | $250 per Kit |
| Gift Card Charge | Value of sales discount for gift cards sold by us at a discount and redeemed at your Restaurant; $.17 per gift card and $.12 per gift card carrier |
| Supplier Review Fee | $1,000 |
| Training | $150 per hour |
| Additional Assistance Reimbursement | Will vary depending on circumstances |
| Damage or Destruction of Restaurant | Average monthly Royalty Fees and System Brand Fund Contributions based on 12-month period before damage or destruction |
| Early Opening Fee | $1,000 per day until we approve the Restaurant’s opening |
| Reinspection Fee | $300 - $650 |
| Extension Fee | $2,000 per month for up to 6 months |
| Professional Services Fee | $150 per hour |
| Technology Service and Support | $500 to $1,500 per month |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 385-535 hours |
| Classroom Training | 65-85 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 320-450 hours |
| Training Location | Orlando, Florida company-owned Sonny’s Restaurant, our corporate office or another location we deem appropriate |
| Additional Training | Available upon request and franchisor agreement, or required if franchisee fails to comply with standards. Fee of $150 per hour plus costs for travel, lodging, and meals if training is not at a company-owned Sonny's Restaurant. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | 4-6-mile area |
| Description | At the time we approve a site for your Restaurant, in most cases we will provide you with a “Protected Area” for your Restaurant. We will describe the area in the Rider to your Franchise Agreement. Generally speaking, we consider a 4-6-mile area measured from the front entrance of your Restaurant sufficient for the Protected Area. In any case, the ultimate size of your Protected Area will depend on many factors, including whether the Restaurant is located in a rural area or a heavily populated urban area, where the Restaurant is located in relation to various transportation routes, and any barriers to travel in proximity to the Restaurant, such as rivers or lakes. Your Protected Area will not be an exclusive territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 20 years |
| Renewal Term | One 10 year term |
| Renewal Fee | The greater of (a) $17,500, or (b) 50% of the then applicable initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Must not be in default, give written notice 9-12 months before expiration, pay renewal fee, sign estoppel certificate, remodel the Restaurant to current System Standards, and complete retraining. |
| Transfer Fee | The greater of (a) $17,500, or (b) 50% of the then applicable initial franchise fee |
| Transfer Conditions | New franchisee qualifies, transfer fee paid, purchase agreement approved, release signed by you, remodeling required, current Franchise Agreement signed by new franchisee, new franchisee completes training, closing within 60 days of training completion (lesser requirements apply in transfer of minority interest). |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate if franchisee defaults and fails to cure, or if default is non-curable. Causes include failure to pay fees, health/safety violations, abandonment, bankruptcy, felony conviction, unauthorized assignment, repeated insufficient funds checks, underreporting gross receipts, unapproved construction, loss of liquor license, or violation of Anti-Terrorism Laws. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the Franchise, neither the franchisee nor its owners may be involved in any other barbecue-type restaurant or food service business (defined as primarily selling barbecue food items or deriving >20% non-alcohol revenue from them), or solicit franchisor employees. Post-term, for 2 years, the restriction applies within 25 miles of the Restaurant or any existing Sonny’s Restaurant, and prohibits soliciting franchisor employees. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Unless you have designated an Operator to have full-time responsibility, who is approved by us, you must be personally involved on a full-time basis in the operation of your Restaurant. If you are not an individual and do not designate an Operator, at least one of the individuals identified as “principals” must be involved on a full-time basis in the operation of the Restaurant. The Operator must also satisfactorily complete Sonny’s training program and need not have an ownership interest. |
| Required Suppliers | You must use in the development and operation of the Restaurant only the equipment, fixtures, supplies, furniture, computer hardware and software, music, food and beverage products, including food stuffs, staff uniforms, signs, insurance and third party delivery providers that meet our specifications and standards and, if we require, you must obtain various of these items and services only from suppliers we have approved (which may be limited to us and our affiliates). |
| Supply Restrictions | We have sole suppliers from whom you must buy the barbecue sauce for your Restaurant, the soft drinks you sell at your Restaurant, your Restaurant point-of-sale system, kitchen display system, online ordering technology and guest management, loyalty and restaurant management software. We also have a sole supplier for your third-party food safety audits. We also have only one supplier from whom you must license your Restaurant’s music package and a single supplier for your Restaurant’s core menu, promotional materials, promotional menu inserts and gift cards. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Approximately $1,504,973 in payments (including rebates and convention support) from designated or approved suppliers; $43,194 from the sale of required purchases and leases of products and services to franchisees, representing approximately .2% of total revenues of $21,734,093. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease or obligation. |
Sonny's BBQ Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$3.0M
Median Revenue
$3.0M
Revenue Range
$1.7M – $5.4M
Sample Size
88 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Sonny's BBQ Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordSonny's BBQ has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Sonny's BBQ System Growth
Total Units
93
Franchised
92
Company-Owned
1
Sonny's BBQ currently operates 92 franchised locations and 1 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 8 | 97 |
| 2020 | 0 | 1 | 96 |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 | 93 |
Transfers: 35 | Closures: 14
State Registrations
Registered in 1 states: VA
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$21.7M
Net Income
$8.1M
Total Assets
$10.3M
Audited by SCHAFER, TSCHOPP, WHITCOMB, MITCHELL & SHERIDAN, LLP for year ending December 31.
Sonny's BBQ Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Sonny's BBQ franchise ranges from $601,000 to $972,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $35,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Sonny's BBQ charges a royalty fee of 4.5% of Gross Receipts of gross sales, plus a 2% of Gross Receipts (System Brand Fund Contribution) + 2% of Gross Receipts (Local Advertising/Cooperative Advertising) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Sonny's BBQ Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Sonny's BBQ to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Sonny's BBQ franchise owners report average revenue of $3.0M and median revenue of $3.0M. This is based on a sample of 88 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sonny's BBQ has been franchising since 1991. The FDD shows an investment range of $601,000-$972,000, a 4.5% of Gross Receipts royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $35,000 and the total investment ranges from $601,000 to $972,000 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $500,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Sonny's BBQ and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Sonny's BBQ or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com