Howard Johnson

Founded: 1925 Franchising since: 1954
With a loan of $500, Howard Dearing Johnson purchased a small patent medicine shop in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1925. He used an old-fashioned, hand-cranked freezer in the store's basement to make vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream for the shop's soda fountain. Three years later, with menu additions like hot dogs and hamburgers, he opened the first Howard Johnson's Restaurant.

By 1935, there were 25 Howard Johnson ice cream and sandwich stands in Massachusetts. Five years later, with more than 100 restaurants on the Atlantic Coast, Johnson opened the first turnpike restaurant on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In 1954, when the company operated 400 restaurants, the first Howard Johnson hotel opened in Savannah, Georgia.

After Johnson's son took over the company in 1959, it was subsequently acquired by three different companies before Cendant Corp. bought the hotel chain in 1990. Howard Johnson Int'l. franchises offer mid-priced lodging at Howard Johnson Plaza Hotels, Howard Johnson Hotels, Howard Johnson Inns and Howard Johnson Express Inns. Children stay free at Howard Johnson, and Road Rally and AARP offer senior discounts at the hotels.

22 Sylvan Wy. Parsippany, New jersey 07054

Phone: (800)758-8999

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2009	348	56	71	0
2008	367	40	63	0
2007	370	42	56	0
2006	362	47	50	0
2005	361	48	49	0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S.
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.

Total investment: $393.1K-7.3M Franchise fee: $36K+

Ongoing royalty fee: 4% Term of agreement: Term of agreement not renewable

Type of Financing Available

	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	No
Startup Costs	No	No
Equipment	No	No
Inventory	No	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Franchise 500® rank:
#144 (2009); #161 (2008); #242 (2007); #258 (2006); #217 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#112 (2009); #149 (2008); #175 (2007); #191 (2006); #157 (2005);