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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Candlewood Suites vs Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    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 FDDExpedia CruiseShipCenters2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Candlewood Suites

    $15,296,866 – $23,004,446

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    $149,300

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Candlewood Suites

    5.5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    9%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Candlewood Suites: 1, Expedia CruiseShipCenters: 17). 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

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    $149,300
    Totalinvestment range low
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    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

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    9%
    Royalty service monthly supplierpaid grossrevenue
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Candlewood Suites

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

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    $1,500
    Openingmarketing credit ceiling includedfee
    2026 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

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    93
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 48
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    −6
    Calculated: 99 at end of 2023 → 93 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

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

    Candlewood Suites

    1995
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    1987
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Candlewood Suites

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Expedia CruiseShipCenters

    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
    Expedia CruiseShipCenters
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mature USA commercialstorefront franchises
    $2,432
    other USA highperformer75th booking value
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mature
    $860,400
    other Mature Highest actual netrevenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 46
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Firstyear
    $109,300
    other Firstyear Highest actual netrevenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 46
    +14 more groups in the full report

    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 Expedia CruiseShipCenters: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Candlewood Suites or Expedia CruiseShipCenters?
    Candlewood Suites: $15,296,866 – $23,004,446 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 51); Expedia CruiseShipCenters: $149,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Expedia CruiseShipCenters. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Candlewood Suites and Expedia CruiseShipCenters royalties compare?
    Candlewood Suites: 5.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28); Expedia CruiseShipCenters: 9% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Candlewood Suites or Expedia CruiseShipCenters?
    Candlewood Suites: 407 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 90); Expedia CruiseShipCenters: 93 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 48). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Candlewood Suites and Expedia CruiseShipCenters disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Candlewood Suites has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Expedia CruiseShipCenters has reviewed Item 19 figures for 17 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

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    Full Candlewood Suites report

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

    Full Expedia CruiseShipCenters report

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

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