Cheapest Hospitality Franchises to Open

Ranked on the low end of the Item 7 estimated initial investment, which the FTC requires to cover everything needed to open: the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory and initial working capital. It is the honest floor, not a deposit — and the high end of the same range is often double it.

1. 1Red Roof Inn$18KItem 7 low
2. 2Augusta$61KItem 7 low
3. 3The Pickle Pad$63KItem 7 low
4. 4My Place Hotels of America$99KItem 7 low
5. 5Cobblestone Hotels$102KItem 7 low
6. 6SkyRun$105KItem 7 low
7. 7Altitude Trampoline Park$130KItem 7 low
8. 8Hospitality International$134KItem 7 low
9. 9Motel 6$195KItem 7 low
10. 10Landingplace Hotels$212KItem 7 low
11. 11Cottage Inn$216KItem 7 low
12. 12Game Show Studio$230KItem 7 low
13. 13Another Nine$310KItem 7 low
14. 14Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts$324KItem 7 low
15. 152 Hours of Freedom$466KItem 7 low
16. 16GolfCave$524KItem 7 low
17. 17G6 Hospitality$622KItem 7 low
18. 18Do The Beach$1.0MItem 7 low
19. 19Museum of Illusions$1.9MItem 7 low
20. 20Cloudbound$2.3MItem 7 low

Computed from Item 20 of each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document and recomputed as coverage grows. Brands are excluded where the filing's own outlet arithmetic doesn't balance — a mis-parsed table should not outrank a correct one. This list has never been, and cannot be, paid for. How this is calculated.