When they were younger, Taylor and Ian Cain saw themselves one day taking on the family business—a few Sonic franchises in Reno, Nevada, under the O’Cathain Group—but wanted to try out their own paths first. However, “one day” came a lot sooner than expected when the Cains’ father died unexpectedly in 2016.
At just 22 years old, and with a year left in college, Taylor found herself in charge of five Sonic franchises in Nevada, which her parents owned starting in 1999. Taylor’s brothers, Ian and Quinn, were 19 and 15, respectively. Ian stepped up to help run the business, and Quinn plays a smaller role as well.
Since then, Taylor’s not only completed her degree in business marketing, but she’s run the franchises for about eight years and even added a sixth Sonic location, with one more expected to open next year. Earlier this year, the Cains signed a deal with Rusty Taco—owned by Inspire Brands, along with Sonic—to open two locations in the Reno area. The O’Cathain group also owns two Sola Salon franchises.
Taylor and Ian are technically the company’s CEO and CFO, respectively, but the two wear “many hats” and don’t really use their titles.
Some days, when needed, they’re working in stores. Other days they’re working on marketing, talking about plans and “are very development focused,” Taylor said.
The siblings grew up in the franchising business. They even joke they grew up in the back of Sonic “inside a tator tot box.”
Together, Ian and Taylor have a wide array of customer service experience, but none of that could prepare them to run the Sonic franchises.
“I say it was baptism by fire,” Taylor said. “By no means did either of our parents give us the rundown on what labor is or how to control food costs” or anything related to running the business. Taylor said she found a support system through existing employees who showed her the ropes.
“I think when people usually take over their family businesses, they’ve worked with their parents for a couple years and they learned,” Taylor said. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t have that opportunity. But what we did have was a core group of people that had worked for our family.”
Taylor and some team members went to Texas to look at a new Sonic location, and ended up trying a local Rusty Taco. Once she tried the chain’s queso, she was hooked. Ian, who wasn’t on the trip, tried the food at a Phoenix location.
“I thought the food was really great, and who doesn’t like tacos and margaritas?” Ian said. “I thought it was a good fit for us and a great opportunity, as they’re a growing brand, starting to sort of blossom in their own sense.”
The Cains anticipate opening their first Rusty Taco location as early as August. They’ve signed with Rusty Taco to develop at least two locations, but she could see opening more in the future.
“I think with Sonic and Rusty Taco, the sky is the limit,” Taylor said.
When the Cain family purchased their first Sonic location in 1999, Sonic wasn’t well known on the West Coast. Now, Taylor and Ian compare bringing Rusty Taco to Nevada to their parents’ initial purchase.
As for growth, Taylor and Ian want to focus on the stores and brands they have, rather than trying to expand too much. She anticipates opening a few more Sonic and Rusty Taco locations at some point.
“If you were to ask me six years ago what I would be doing now,” Taylor said, “I don’t know if I would have been able to comprehend what we’ve accomplished.”