America's Best Inns & Suites vs Comfort Suites Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of America's Best Inns & Suites vs Comfort Suites including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Comfort Suites Franchise
Investment $109,250 - $5,836,500$307,125 - $9,243,275
Franchise Fee $15,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 17.50 -$22.50/room/mo.5.65%
Advertising Fee -3.85%
Year Founded 1970-
Year Franchised 1982-
Term Of Agreement -20 years
Term Of Agreement -20 years
Renewal Fee 50% of then-current fran. fee-


Business Experience Requirements
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Comfort Suites Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Comfort Suites Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/No-/-
Start-up Costs No/No-/-
Equipment No/No-/-
Inventory No/No-/-
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Comfort Suites Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
Operations

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 12

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

-

Expansion Plans
 
America's Best Inns & Suites Franchise
Comfort Suites Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion No-

Company Overviews

About America's Best Inns & Suites

America's Best Inns & Suites is a high quality mid-level limited service hotel brand with locations throughout the United States. With 102 hotels open and 5 under development as of September 1, 2004, America's Best Inns & Suites continues to expand around the country. America's Best Inns & Suites is primarily a conversion brand for existing hotel owners looking for a better way to do business. America's Best Inns & Suites offers a solution to independent hotel owners looking for a franchise brand or for current franchise hotel owners looking to reposition their property in the market place. Multi-unit operators disenchanted with the direction of their current brand should also consider America's Best Inns & Suites, subject to the requirements of their existing franchise agreement. US Franchise Systems, franchisor for the brand, is a recognized leader in the hotel industry, with 3 growing hotel brands and a reputation for treating our franchisees fairly. Noted for our strong relationships with and support for our franchisees, US Franchise Systems was founded on the principle that franchisees are our partners and they are in business for themselves, not by themselves.

About Comfort Suites

Choice Hotel's premier midscale, limited service, all-suites brand.
 
The total investment necessary to convert an existing hotel and begin operation of an 80-room COMFORT hotel franchise is between $307,125-$1,967,495. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly constructed 80-room COMFORT INN or COMFORT INN & SUITES hotel franchise is between $4,638,625-$8,393,895, and the total investment necessary to begin operation of a newly constructed 86-room COMFORT SUITES hotel franchise is between $5,119,845-$9,243,275. This includes the following fees that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates as follows: an affiliation fee of $500 per room for new franchises, $750 per room for transfers and renewals ($50,000 minimum for new franchises, $65,000 minimum for transfers and renewals); a property management system software license and systems training fee of between $10,750 and $14,750; and orientation and hospitality training fees of between $0 and $3,245 per person. These sums do not include the cost of purchasing or leasing land or any real estate taxes.