Franopolis

    Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Reviewed sources

    Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts franchise brings Jimmy Buffett's iconic tropical lifestyle brand to the hospitality industry through resort and hotel properties

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    Headline figures

    Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts quick facts

    Is Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts a franchise?
    Yes. Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 19 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 75).
    How much does it cost to open a Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts franchise?
    The Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $22,114,750 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What ongoing fees does Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% · 2) — 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 20). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $33 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 73). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts locations are there?
    The FDD reports 19 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 75). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1Opening costs are estimated at $22,114,750 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 3 separate groups: other measures for 17 Franchised locations; other measures for 17 Franchised locations; other measures for 17 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 1 in 2025, to 19 (Franchised, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    Margaritaville Hotels & ResortsVSComfort Inn
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    Margaritaville Hotels & ResortsVSQuality Inn
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    Margaritaville Hotels & ResortsVSResidence Inn by Marriott
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    Margaritaville Hotels & ResortsVSRed Roof Inn / Red Roof Plus
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    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Total estimated initial investment

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 40

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    OTHER FEES Type of Fee Amount Due Date Remarks Royalty FeeMain ongoing fee

    134 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    3 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.

    17 locations

    Other measures · 17 locations

    Who is counted
    17 of19 fullyoperational>=18months US hotels supplying STR
    Excluded
    Opened2025 or <18months excluded;RevPARexcludesFBR,brandedmerchandise,amenities.
    Method
    STR;index relative competitiveSTARset100=fairshare; sourceaboveaveragepercentage denominator not recomputed.

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Franchised, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75

    Net +1 outlets, 2023–2025

    01820231820241920250+1

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($22,114,750) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Reported units went from 18 to 19 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 40
    2. [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 17 of19 fullyoperational>=18months US hotels supplying STR · PDF p. 73
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 17of19 reportingdirectchanneldata · PDF p. 74
    4. [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 17of19 reportingindirectchanneldata · PDF p. 74; PDF p. 75
    5. [5]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 75

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD

    Territory & operations

    28 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    Fiscal yearMeasureReported value
    2026liabilities & equity current liabilities accounts payable and accrued expenses$7,308,354
    2026property and equipment, net$3,733,441
    2026short term contract assets$243,521
    2026other non current assets$1,736,067
    2026contract assets, less current portion$1,859,340
    2026deferred revenue, less current portion$3,493,575
    2026deferred revenue$5,141,570
    2026total revenues$20,561,836
    2026prepaid and other assets$2,933,716
    2026income$3,651,401
    2026brand company net incomeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$802,214
    2026long term note receivable$1,655,091

    These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

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    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Comfort InnQuality InnResidence Inn by MarriottRed Roof Inn / Red Roof PlusRed Roof InnSpringHill Suites By Marriott

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs Comfort InnMargaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs Quality InnMargaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs Residence Inn by MarriottMargaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs Red Roof Inn / Red Roof PlusMargaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs Red Roof InnMargaritaville Hotels & Resorts vs SpringHill Suites By Marriott
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.

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