Choice Hotels Int'l.

Founded: 1939 Franchising since: 1962
A group of Southern motel owners got together in 1939 to discuss the state of the lodging industry, hoping to do something to change the negative opinion the public had about motels (FBI director J. Edgar Hoover had warned that motels were used as bases of operations by gangsters).

owners set about to create a set of quality standards for motels and agreed to publish the names of establishments that complied with these standards. In 1940, the group officially named itself Quality Courts United Inc. In 1990, Quality became known as Choice Hotels International Inc. The hotels in the chain now include Sleep, Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Rodeway, Econo Lodge an

10750 Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20901

Phone: (800)547-0007 Franchisee Association International Operator Council, EconoLodge Fran.

Franchisor is a publicly-held company with 400 employee(s); 90 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2009	4812	274	828	3
2008	4,593	272	844	3
2007	4,323	268	880	3
2006	4,113	262	906	3
2005	3,834	257	886	3

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Total investment: $2.5M-15.3M Franchise fee: $10K-120K

Ongoing royalty fee: Varies Term of agreement: 20 years, 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

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $1M
Cash liquidity requirement: $500K
Business Experience:

• Industry experience
• General business experience

Operations

• 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit
• Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

Training

• Available at headquarters: 1 week
• Ongoing regional training

Ongoing Support

• Newsletter
• Meetings
• Toll-free phone line
• Grand opening
• Internet
• Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support

• Co-op advertising
• Ad slicks
• National media
• Regional advertising

Other marketing support

• PR

Franchise 500® rank:
#49 (2009); #53 (2008); #41 (2007); #43 (2005);

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#13 (2009); #15 (2008); #18 (2007); #22 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#43 (2009); #11 (2008); #38 (2007); #38 (2005);