Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    SureStay by Best Western 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.

    SBSureStay by Best Western2025 FDDThe James2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available

    The James

    $3,165,107 – $158,220,099

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available

    The James

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    SureStay by Best Western

    4%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24

    The James

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24

    Before you compare

    • SureStay by Best Western figures come from its 2025 FDD and The James figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • The James discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only neither brand has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    No reviewed Item 7 total

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    4%
    General Monthly Royalty Fee
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    10%
    Performance Based Marketing commission — 10%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 25

    The James

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The James

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

    SureStay by Best Western

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The James

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    SBSureStay by Best Western

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    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.

    SureStay by Best Western vs The James: common questions

    How do SureStay by Best Western and The James royalties compare?
    SureStay by Best Western: 4% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24); The James: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 24). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do SureStay by Best Western and The James disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    SureStay by Best Western has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; 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

    SB

    Full SureStay by Best Western 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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    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item