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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Red Roof Inn vs The James

    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.

    Red Roof Inn2026 FDDThe James2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Red Roof Inn

    $264,850 – $8,293,100

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The James

    $3,165,107 – $158,220,099

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Red Roof Inn

    Not available

    The James

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Red Roof Inn

    $3,000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    The James

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Red Roof Inn and The James disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Red Roof Inn has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Red Roof Inn

    $264,850 – $8,293,100
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The James

    $3,165,107 – $158,220,099
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Red Roof Inn

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    The James

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

    Red Roof Inn

    $3,000
    ge point reduction in Royalty Fees for a period of up to one year (for a maximum value of — 3000
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    The James

    5%
    General Royalty — 5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Red Roof Inn

    4%
    s a Red Roof Inn throughout the designated 12-month period. Marketing and Reservation Fee — 4 — 4%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The James

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Red Roof Inn

    596
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71

    The James

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Red Roof Inn

    +35
    Calculated: 561 at end of 2023 → 596 at end of 2025

    The James

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Red Roof Inn

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The James

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

    Red Roof Inn

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The James

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

    Red Roof Inn

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The James

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Red Roof Inn
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Red Roof Inn and PLUS+
    $81
    other Table1 Red Roof Inn and PLUS+ Affiliate-owned
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Red Roof Inn and PLUS+
    $69
    other Table2 Red Roof Inn and PLUS+ Franchised
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Red Roof Inn and PLUS+
    $70
    other Table3 Red Roof Inn and PLUS+ Mixed affiliate/franchised
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    +15 more groups in the full report
    The James

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    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.

    Red Roof Inn vs The James: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Red Roof Inn or The James?
    Red Roof Inn: $264,850 – $8,293,100 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The James: $3,165,107 – $158,220,099 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Red Roof Inn. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Red Roof Inn and The James royalties compare?
    Red Roof Inn: $3,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); The James: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Red Roof Inn and The James disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Red Roof Inn has reviewed Item 19 figures for 18 location groups; The James makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. 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 Red Roof Inn report

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

    Full The James report

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

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