Hotels & Travel franchises: costs, fees and investment
Short answer: Across 195 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $7,607,385 and the median starting franchise fee is $50,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Cruise Planners at $1,945.
Hotel franchises are the most capital-intensive category, because the franchisee builds or converts and operates a lodging property.
What do franchises in this group cost?
Franchises in this group have a median minimum investment of $7,607,385, a median starting franchise fee of $50,000 and a median liquid cash requirement of $1,965,000, calculated from 195 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database. Medians use the low end of each brand's reported range.
Which franchises are on the list?
The table sorts 195 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 1 to 100.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Planners | $695 to $10,995 | $1,945 to $20,505 | $0 | 3,009 |
| Travel Leaders Network | $0 to $2,500 | $2,270 to $17,910 | $0 | 192 |
| CRUISE HOLIDAYS | $5,000 to $30,000 | $7,300 to $160,350 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Country Hearth | $4,000 to $14,094 | $9,000 to $609,094 | $30,000 | 32 |
| Cruiseone | $10,500 | $12,595 to $20,970 | $5,000 | 2,175 |
| Project H3 by Hilton | $100,000 | $21,280 to $133,950 | $10,000 | N/R |
| LivAway Suites | $35,000 | $24,675 to $50,800 | $5,000 | 4 |
| Coast Hotels | $0 | $27,500 to $556,000 | $30,000 | 9 |
| Discovery Map | $25,000 | $29,050 to $36,300 | $5,000 | 118 |
| Key West | $15,000 | $39,499 to $8,713,497 | $440,000 | 20 |
| Hyatt Studios | $50,000 to $100,000 | $40,200 to $134,000 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Stay Express | $26,250 to $32,750 | $46,250 to $11,594,750 | $585,000 | 9 |
| Sky-Palace Inn & Suites | $15,000 | $50,000 to $230,000 | $20,000 | 5 |
| Driverseat | $29,000 to $39,000 | $53,029 to $89,457 | $10,000 | 6 |
| Centerstone | $30,000 | $54,499 to $8,728,497 | $445,000 | 3 |
| Radisson Individuals | $75,000 | $60,150 to $109,500 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Membership Hotel Organization | $9,995 | $71,595 to $1,244,695 | $75,000 | 4 |
| Garner an IHG Hotel | $50,000 | $79,350 to $118,085 | $20,000 | 10 |
| The James | $125,000 | $81,050 to $223,200 | $25,000 | N/R |
| Vacation Planners | $7,500 | $82,500 to $130,300 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Cruisin Tikis | $20,000 | $83,015 to $123,650 | $20,000 | 106 |
| Arise Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham | $25,000 | $87,580 to $106,580 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Oyo | $25,000 | $88,700 to $200,900 | $25,000 | 7 |
| Dolce Hotels and Resorts | $87,500 | $97,900 to $185,200 | $25,000 | 2 |
| Landingplace Suites | $50,000 | $100,000 to $300,000 | $30,000 | N/R |
| Hyatt Select | $50,000 to $100,000 | $104,958 to $134,750 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Itrip | $10,000 to $30,000 | $117,500 to $153,000 | $25,000 | 115 |
| Rodeway Inn | $25,000 | $131,545 to $692,145 | $55,000 | 447 |
| SureStay Collection | $4,000 to $25,000 | $137,500 to $252,700 | $35,000 | 4 |
| Expedia Cruises | $49,000 | $149,500 to $258,745 | $35,000 | 85 |
| LivSmart Studios by Hilton | $100,000 | $165,600 to $315,700 | $40,000 | N/R |
| D Pet Hotels | $50,000 | $173,600 to $736,000 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Vagabond Inn | $1,000 | $174,500 to $7,066,500 | $380,000 | 29 |
| Magnuson Hotels | $10,000 | $175,000 to $400,000 | $45,000 | 11 |
| Econo Lodge | $35,000 | $185,645 to $1,047,895 | $80,000 | 643 |
| Postcard Cabins | $50,000 | $192,925 to $363,625 | $45,000 | N/R |
| Project Alpha by Hilton | $100,000 | $195,000 to $275,000 | $45,000 | N/R |
| Landingplace Select | $50,000 | $209,100 to $548,800 | $60,000 | N/R |
| The Red Collection Hotel | $35,000 | $220,875 to $1,569,250 | $110,000 | 5 |
| Lexington Hotel | $28,000 to $31,000 | $232,100 to $14,525,500 | $760,000 | N/R |
| Graduate by Hilton | $100,000 | $241,000 to $478,000 | $60,000 | 32 |
| Park Inn | $45,000 | $267,445 to $1,416,145 | $110,000 | 27 |
| Riverstone Suites by Cobblestone Hotels | $40,000 | $271,825 to $427,500 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Trend Hotels and Suites by My Place | $45,000 | $272,500 to $2,947,000 | $190,000 | N/R |
| StudioRes | $50,000 | $273,000 to $730,800 | $75,000 | N/R |
| GreenTree Inn | $20,000 to $24,000 | $300,000 to $1,815,400 | $135,000 | 17 |
| Quality Inn | $45,000 | $316,945 to $2,045,895 | $150,000 | 1,621 |
| Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts | $75,000 | $324,000 to $14,370,000 | $765,000 | 73 |
| Series by Marriott | $75,000 | $328,300 to $712,600 | $85,000 | N/R |
| Dazzler Select by Wyndham | $35,000 | $338,300 to $734,200 | $85,000 | N/R |
| Coyote Canyon | $20,000 to $35,000 | $419,000 to $2,433,000 | $185,000 | 1 |
| Clarion Hotel | $45,000 | $427,445 to $2,728,595 | $200,000 | 110 |
| BW Signature Collection | $4,000 to $25,000 | $441,490 to $2,763,125 | $205,000 | 43 |
| Ferncrest | $50,000 | $504,000 to $796,100 | $115,000 | 1 |
| GuestHouse Extended Stay | $21,500 | $573,945 to $7,331,895 | $455,000 | 12 |
| BW Premier Collection | $4,000 to $25,000 | $612,715 to $6,888,025 | $435,000 | 22 |
| Project Mid-T by Marriott | $75,000 | $783,502 to $8,811,500 | $560,000 | N/R |
| MOD A Sonesta Collection | $125,000 | $789,000 to $1,589,500 | $200,000 | 1 |
| Country Inn & Suites by Radisson | $50,000 | $808,145 to $3,380,685 | $290,000 | 419 |
| Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy | $75,000 | $1,070,060 to $10,103,120 | $665,000 | N/R |
| Hotel Rl | $50,000 | $1,351,345 to $36,586,945 | $2,030,000 | 5 |
| Passport Inn | $7,500 | $1,384,600 to $2,604,200 | $340,000 | 8 |
| Red Carpet Inn | $10,000 | $1,387,350 to $2,606,950 | $340,000 | 75 |
| Scottish Inns | $10,000 | $1,387,350 to $2,606,950 | $340,000 | 112 |
| The StandardX | $95,000 to $145,000 | $2,401,500 to $3,987,000 | $560,000 | N/R |
| Palace Inn | $15,000 to $25,000 | $3,011,200 to $5,291,900 | $715,000 | 45 |
| Spark by Hilton | $75,000 | $3,102,531 to $5,514,193 | $740,000 | 91 |
| Unscripted by Hyatt | $75,000 to $100,000 | $3,195,009 to $3,825,209 | $670,000 | N/R |
| Americas Best Value Inn | $17,500 | $3,451,434 to $7,732,081 | $905,000 | 283 |
| Knights Inn | $19,750 | $3,500,799 to $9,623,807 | $1,005,000 | 136 |
| Signature Inn | $20,000 | $3,528,334 to $6,566,547 | $860,000 | 10 |
| Tapestry Collection By Hilton | $100,000 | $3,898,359 to $129,454,079 | $7,055,000 | 117 |
| CAMP Margaritaville | $75,000 | $4,504,850 to $58,467,850 | $3,600,000 | 5 |
| Super 8 | $25,000 | $4,663,694 to $6,929,131 | $1,045,000 | 1,375 |
| Curio Collection by Hilton | $85,000 to $150,000 | $4,683,359 to $143,454,204 | $7,875,000 | 80 |
| Jameson Inn | $21,500 | $4,814,200 to $8,465,500 | $1,145,000 | N/R |
| GrandStay | $35,000 | $5,038,400 to $24,175,200 | $1,965,000 | 30 |
| Affordable Suites Of America | $35,000 | $5,057,700 to $10,168,100 | $1,265,000 | 30 |
| Surestay | $25,000 | $5,344,745 to $8,254,345 | $1,215,000 | 228 |
| LXR Hotels | $100,000 | $5,364,048 to $845,773,369 | $43,095,000 | 4 |
| My Place Hotels | $40,000 | $5,679,950 to $6,953,450 | $1,200,000 | 73 |
| American Idea Hotels | $35,000 | $5,805,250 to $10,012,500 | $1,370,000 | N/R |
| Voco | $75,000 | $5,807,501 to $44,464,452 | $3,095,000 | 15 |
| Cobblestone Inn & Suites | $45,000 | $5,960,874 to $15,496,699 | $1,670,000 | 121 |
| Travelodge | $35,000 | $6,101,809 to $10,986,279 | $1,465,000 | 328 |
| Best Western | $54,000 to $63,000 | $6,126,015 to $32,493,745 | $2,545,000 | 1,770 |
| Motel 6 | $41,300 | $6,251,265 to $8,239,350 | $1,350,000 | 1,195 |
| Boarders Lodging | $45,000 | $6,504,624 to $16,902,199 | $1,820,000 | 15 |
| Studio 6 Suites | $41,300 | $6,594,181 to $8,667,995 | $1,425,000 | 54 |
| Howard Johnson by Wyndham | $35,000 | $6,681,950 to $11,539,776 | $1,580,000 | 139 |
| Studio 6 Extended Stay Motels | $41,300 | $6,812,341 to $9,217,088 | $1,485,000 | 219 |
| Radisson Red | $75,000 | $7,050,440 to $41,791,390 | $3,145,000 | 2 |
| Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham | $40,000 | $7,200,444 to $9,171,777 | $1,540,000 | 285 |
| Red Roof Inn | $30,000 | $7,253,500 to $8,899,600 | $1,535,000 | 619 |
| Shilo Inn | $25,000 to $50,000 | $7,366,500 to $203,340,000 | $11,270,000 | 18 |
| StayApt Suites | $40,000 | $7,529,900 to $12,904,400 | $1,775,000 | 32 |
| Baymont by Wyndham | $26,000 | $7,598,317 to $10,549,711 | $1,665,000 | 547 |
| Days Inn | $35,000 | $7,607,385 to $9,406,499 | $1,610,000 | 1,235 |
| Ramada | $35,000 | $7,709,044 to $12,091,975 | $1,760,000 | 264 |
| AmericInn | $35,000 | $7,738,476 to $10,960,034 | $1,710,000 | 226 |
N/R = not reported.
How do you compare franchises from this list?
Compare franchises from this list by putting each brand's Item 5 fee, Item 6 ongoing fees and the high end of the Item 7 investment side by side, then checking Item 20 for closures and transfers. The guide to franchise costs explains each line, and the 8-step selection process shows the order of due diligence.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hotels & travel franchise cost?
Across 195 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $7,607,385 and the median starting franchise fee is $50,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Cruise Planners at $1,945.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $1,965,000. Franchisors set their own capital requirements, and lenders usually finance part of the total investment.
Are these figures guaranteed?
No. The figures come from franchise disclosure data and public listings and change with every annual FDD. Confirm fees in Items 5 and 6 and the investment in Item 7 of each brand's current FDD.
Other franchise industries
- Food & Restaurant franchises
- Home Services franchises
- Fitness franchises
- Education & Children franchises
- Retail franchises
- Business Services franchises
- Other Franchise Businesses franchises
- Healthcare & Senior Care franchises
- Beauty & Personal Care franchises
- Automotive franchises
- Real Estate franchises
- Pet franchises
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Brand names belong to their owners; listing does not imply endorsement. Not an offer to sell a franchise.