How to Open a Super 8 Motel Franchise

Super 8 Motels have been franchising since 1976, just two years after the company was founded. Today, they have more than 2,000 motels throughout the United States and Canada and are now expanding to other parts of the world. The Wyndham Hotel Group, a branch of the Cendant Company, owns Super 8 and is the largest lodging franchiser in the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Fill out the "Contact Questionnaire" on the Super 8 website. Within 48 hours after submitting this form, you will be contacted by a Wyndham Hotel Group representative to talk to you about franchising opportunities and answer any questions you have.
2. Be aware that you will need to have general business experience to be accepted to purchase a franchise with this company and you must commit to a 20-year agreement.
3. Understand that the total investment you will need to start your franchise can range from $285,000 to $2,800,000. You also must pay 5% of all royalties to the Wyndham Hotel Group.
4. Apply for a business loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) if you don't have access to that amount of money. The SBA reports that out of the 253 loans for Super 8 Motels taken out through the SBA, only 1.58% have failed to pay back the loan. The SBA has not completely charged off anyone who has received such a loan.
5. Hire 38 employees to help you run your franchise. Absentee ownership is allowed in the Motel 8 franchises, therefore you can hire a manager to run the motel for you.
6. Receive training from the Wyndham Hotel Group. As a franchise owner, you will attend an initial training workshop at Wyndham Hotel Group's headquarters for five days and at your franchise location for two days. You will then attend regional workshops, which are customized property training created by the company, for one-to-three days.
7. Receive ongoing support from the Wyndham Hotel Group. You will receive newsletters, have a toll-free phone line to call for support, attend company meetings, be in a purchasing cooperative with other fellow franchise owners in the company, receive a grand opening, and have field representatives evaluate the motel's operations.

Tips & Warnings

• 5% of all franchise owners own more than one Super 8 Motel.
• Super 8 has been ranked #20 as one of the best franchises to own in "Entrepreneur" magazine's "2007 Franchise 500 Rankings." They are also ranked #25 among America's Top Global Franchises in 2007.