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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Candlewood Suites vs Choice Hotels International

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Candlewood Suites2026 FDDChoice Hotels International2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Candlewood Suites

    $15,296,866 – $23,004,446

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51

    Choice Hotels International

    $9,490,495 – $55,271,100

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 49

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available

    Choice Hotels International

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Candlewood Suites

    5.5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    Choice Hotels International

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Candlewood Suites: 1, Choice Hotels International: 2). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Candlewood Suites

    $15,296,866 – $23,004,446
    Total initial investment — $15,296,866–$23,004,446
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51

    Choice Hotels International

    $9,490,495 – $55,271,100
    Total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimate
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 49
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Choice Hotels International

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Candlewood Suites

    5.5%
    Royalty — 5.5% of GSR
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    Choice Hotels International

    6%
    Royalty Fee: percent of preceding month's Gross Room Revenues, payable monthly
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Candlewood Suites

    $10
    Initial marketing contribution to loyalty program — $10/approved suite
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    Choice Hotels International

    10%
    Maximum Choice Accelerate fee for consumed stays resulting from international paid and meta advertising — 10%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 35

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    407
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 90

    Choice Hotels International

    46
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    Choice Hotels International

    −6
    Calculated: 52 at end of 2023 → 46 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Choice Hotels International

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Candlewood Suites

    1995
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Choice Hotels International

    1941
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Choice Hotels International

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Candlewood Suites
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    152 units
    other Mature Hotels above-average occupancy count
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 87
    Choice Hotels International
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All qualifying franchised Radisson hotels
    47.7 percent
    other All qualifying franchised Radisson hotels
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 78
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Qualifying franchised Radisson hotels with above-brand-average likelihood to re…
    52.6 percent
    other Qualifying franchised Radisson hotels with above-brand-average likelihood to recommend
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 79

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Candlewood Suites vs Choice Hotels International: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Candlewood Suites or Choice Hotels International?
    Candlewood Suites: $15,296,866 – $23,004,446 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51); Choice Hotels International: $9,490,495 – $55,271,100 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 49). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Choice Hotels International. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Candlewood Suites and Choice Hotels International royalties compare?
    Candlewood Suites: 5.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28); Choice Hotels International: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Candlewood Suites or Choice Hotels International?
    Candlewood Suites: 407 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 90); Choice Hotels International: 46 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Candlewood Suites and Choice Hotels International disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Candlewood Suites has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Choice Hotels International has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Candlewood Suites report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Choice Hotels International report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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