Hampton Inn vs Super 8 franchise USA 2026: is the $12M investment gap worth it?
Super 8 is 3.4× cheaper to get into — $5M vs $17M (about $12M less). Hampton Inn runs the bigger network at 2390 vs 1344 outlets. Super 8 takes less off the top (5.5% royalty vs 6%).
01 What actually matters
Numbers that separate them on a 5-year horizon — not the franchise-development pitch.
On pure entry capital, Super 8 is 3.4× cheaper than Hampton Inn — $5M vs $17M. That gap compounds over a 5-year horizon because build-out, equipment, opening inventory and the additional funds in FDD Item 7 all scale with format size.
Hampton Inn has 1.8× more outlets than Super 8 (2390 vs 1344) — more brand recognition and supplier scale, but also denser intra-brand competition in saturated markets.
One-time franchise fees are worth noting (FDD Item 5): Hampton Inn charges $100K upfront on top of the setup capex. This is a non-refundable sunk cost before revenue begins — bake it into your at-risk capital calculation.
02 The numbers, visualised
Primary format per brand, from FDD Item 7. A brand's smaller express or non-traditional formats can cost materially less.
Initial investment (FDD Item 7)
Total initial investment, low end of each brand's FDD Item 7 range for its primary format. Several US brands also run smaller express, non-traditional or conversion formats at materially lower investment — check the brand page for the full Item 7 table.
Network scale — total outlets
Total US outlets from FDD Item 20. Bigger networks mean more brand recognition and supplier scale; smaller ones mean less intra-brand competition in your trade area.
Customer ratings
Which brand's outlets are rated higher by customers, aggregated across locations. Exact star rating and review volume are in Brand Health.
Direction only — the underlying rating & review count are Pro data.
03 Side-by-side
Straight from each brand’s FDD. Green badge marks the more favourable value for a typical first-time operator.
| Metric | Hampton Inn | Super 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment (Item 7) | $17M | $5M ↓ Lower |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 6% | 5.5% ↓ Lower |
| Gross margin | — | — |
| Min space (sq ft) | — | — |
| Total US outlets (Item 20) | 2390 ↑ Bigger | 1344 |
| Franchise fee (Item 5) | $100K | $25K ↓ Lower |
| Additional funds | — | — |
Not sure if Hampton Inn or Super 8 actually fits *you*?
BrandFit asks 6 visual questions about your operator profile, capital, and location — then ranks all 182 brands by predicted success-fit for your situation. See where these brands really stand for someone like you.
Ready to talk to Hampton Inn or Super 8?
FRANticc is independent — not the franchisor, and paid nothing by either brand. We send you straight to the brand's own franchise-development team, and we never collect or forward your contact details.
04 Explore these brands in depth
Same data plus the full FDD breakdown, fee load, contract fairness and SBA lending picture — free on every brand page.
· Related comparisons
Visitors researching this pair often look at these.
05 Frequently asked
Wrapped in FAQPage JSON-LD for SERP rich-result eligibility.
What is the typical contract term for these Tourism & Hospitality franchises?
Contract terms among these brands range from Hampton Inn (Not specified in excerpt); Super 8 (20-year term; no renewal right; mutual renewal uses then-current agreement). Shorter terms offer renewal leverage but can mean the brand exits a weak market; longer terms lock you in but often include renewal fees. Always clarify renewal terms in writing before signing the initial contract.
How long does it take to break even on a Tourism & Hospitality franchise?
Payback on a Tourism & Hospitality franchise in the US typically runs 24–48 months, depending on site traffic, build-out cost, and the royalty plus ad-fund load in FDD Item 6. The brands on this page start at $5M of initial investment (Item 7); pair that with the brand's Item 19 financial performance representation, where one is published, to model your own payback instead of relying on a franchise-development pitch.
How many Tourism & Hospitality franchise brands are available in the US?
FRANticc's database lists 2 brands matching this comparison with verified investment data, store counts, and format details. Several more are covered across our full directory. Every figure is traced to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document.
Is Hampton Inn or Super 8 better for first-time franchisees?
For a first-time franchisee, capital preservation matters more than brand prestige. Super 8 has the lower entry capex here, which caps downside if the location underperforms. That said, first-time operators should also weigh how much hand-holding the brand provides in site selection, training, and SOP enforcement — not just the sticker price.
What are the hidden costs in Tourism & Hospitality franchises?
FDD Item 7 is the honest list, and it runs well past the headline number: initial franchise fee (Item 5), leasehold improvements and build-out, equipment and signage, opening inventory, insurance, training travel, grand-opening advertising, and three months of additional funds. On top of that sit the recurring Item 6 fees — royalty, national ad fund, technology, and often a local-marketing minimum. FRANticc separates the one-time spend from the recurring load on every brand page so you see the real exposure.