Franopolis
    CSvsDT

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Candlewood Suites vs Designated Territory

    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.

    CSCandlewood Suites2026 FDDDTDesignated Territory2025 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Candlewood Suites

    $15,296,866 – $23,004,446

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51

    Designated Territory

    $85,500 – $810,700

    2025 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available

    Designated Territory

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Candlewood Suites

    5.5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    Designated Territory

    6%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Before you compare

    • Candlewood Suites figures come from its 2026 FDD and Designated Territory figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Designated Territory discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Candlewood Suites has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    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

    Designated Territory

    $85,500 – $810,700
    2025 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Designated Territory

    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

    Designated Territory

    6%
    Royalty fee rate
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Candlewood Suites

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

    Designated Territory

    1%
    Marketing fund rate maximum — 1%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

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

    Designated Territory

    52
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 33
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    Designated Territory

    +3
    Calculated: 49 at end of 2022 → 52 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Designated Territory

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

    Candlewood Suites

    1995
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Designated Territory

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Designated Territory

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    CSCandlewood 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
    DTDesignated Territory

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    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 Designated Territory: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Candlewood Suites or Designated Territory?
    Candlewood Suites: $15,296,866 – $23,004,446 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51); Designated Territory: $85,500 – $810,700 (2025 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Designated Territory. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Candlewood Suites and Designated Territory royalties compare?
    Candlewood Suites: 5.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28); Designated Territory: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Candlewood Suites or Designated Territory?
    Candlewood Suites: 407 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 90); Designated Territory: 52 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 33). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Candlewood Suites and Designated Territory disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Candlewood Suites has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Designated Territory has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file. 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

    CS

    Full Candlewood Suites report

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

    DT

    Full Designated Territory report

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

    Compare Candlewood Suites with

    Compare Designated Territory with

    Add a third brand

    Compare up to four side by side

    Explore by brand

    Filter every published report

    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item