How much does a Motel 6 franchise cost in 2026?

A conversion also pays a $1,950 PIP fee for the franchisor to prepare the property improvement plan, and a new build pays the same amount as a site evaluation fee. The opening package fee is currently $4,750 and the opening assistance fee $4,600. Item 7 totals these initial fees at $41,300 for a 100-room motel (Item 5, pp. 9-10; Item 7, pp. 22-23).^[1]

The franchisor says it may reduce the franchise fee, in its sole discretion, for existing Motel 6 or Studio 6 franchisees in compliance, for owners signing several agreements at once, for market conditions, or for an applicant who qualifies for its LIGHT THE WAY incentive program. An inspection or re-inspection before opening is $3,000 to $5,000, and an opening extension is $2,500 to $5,000 for every six months. The FDD also says all fixed dollar amounts may be adjusted each year for changes in the Consumer Price Index (Item 5, pp. 9-11; Item 6, p. 21).^[1]

The two smaller fees can move. The program fee may rise by no more than 0.5 percent in any 12-month period, to a maximum of 5.5 percent over the term. The reservation fee may rise on the same pace to a maximum of 2 percent. Gross room revenues are gross receipts from the rental of authorized guest rooms, collected or not, and are not reduced by credit card commissions, bad debts or refunds (Item 6, pp. 11-12, 21).^[1]

Technology is charged per room. The IT services fee is currently $400 per month plus $4.00 per authorized guest room per month, and the property management software fee is $4.00 per room per month. Each can rise to $6.00 per room. Booking fees and travel agency commissions currently run up to 20 percent of the room rate on the bookings they apply to. Direct connect channel fees are $1.50 to $2.50 per reservation, and the mandatory call transfer program is 3.5 percent of consumed revenue, capped at $6.95 per call. The annual conference fee is $1,850 to $5,000 per motel (Item 6, pp. 12-14, 16).^[1]

The Item 6 table lists no loyalty program charge. Revenue management for hire is optional at $499 to $1,999 per month by tier (Item 6, p. 13).^[1] These charges apply to different bases, so they cannot be added into one rate.

Construction expenses for a renovation run from $0 to $620,000 and furniture, fixtures and equipment from $17,500 to $430,000, each with its own contingency line. Signage is $5,830 to $60,500, and three months of additional funds are $110,000 to $175,000. A footnote prices a renovation to the older Motel 6 Classic scheme at $709,479 to $2,145,596 (Item 7, pp. 22-25).^[1]

New construction of a 100-room motel on the current prototype is estimated at $6,251,265 to $8,900,000, or $62,513 to $89,000 per guest room. Both totals exclude land and acquisition costs, and the franchisor gives no estimate for buying an existing motel to convert. It says a new construction motel typically needs about 1 acre (Item 7, p. 23).^[1] Financing for this work is covered at brand conversion financing and PIP and renovation loans.

Renewal requires compliance, a renewal application and application fee of currently $5,000, a renewal franchise fee of currently $12,500, training, a PIP, a general release and the then current form of agreement, which may be materially different (Item 6, p. 20; Item 17, p. 44).^[1]

The franchisee has two exits in Item 17. One follows a casualty that would cost more than 50 percent of the motel's fair market value to repair, with no liquidated damages if notice is given within 60 days. The other opens in or after the 25th month from opening, on advance notice and payment of any applicable liquidated damages, and only if the motel has met guest satisfaction and quality standards, stayed in compliance, joined all advertising campaigns, and run at or below the occupancy level written into its agreement for the prior 12 months. The FDD adds that the franchisor may negotiate mutual termination windows without liquidated damages in some cases (Item 17, p. 45).^[1]

They are payable immediately if the agreement ends early through the franchisee's default, including a failure to open. The same table carries a separate line, lost future profits for early termination, stated as gross operating revenue minus operating expenses, multiplied by the months remaining in the term, payable if the franchisee stops operating under the marks or loses possession of the motel. An owner who does not de-identify owes $50 per authorized guest room per day plus the cost of removing signs. Reconnection to the reservation system after a default is up to $2,500 (Item 6, pp. 18-19).^[1] Anyone weighing an exit should have franchise counsel read both damages lines in the agreement itself.

That transfer fee buys the remainder of the seller's term. A buyer who wants a longer term may pay an additional fee of up to $12,500, which brings the total to the franchise fee for a new franchise. The buyer also pays a $1,950 PIP fee, a transfer package of up to $4,600 and training and assistance of up to $4,750. The fee drops to $2,500 when a majority owner buys out a minority owner (Item 6, pp. 19-21).^[1]

Conditions include a qualified buyer, the then current agreement, a guarantee from the buyer's owners, a general release from the seller, manager training and conformity with current standards. The franchisor holds a right of first refusal to buy the motel on the terms of a bona fide offer. A lender comfort letter is $1,000 to $1,500, and a rush document request adds $1,000 to $2,500 (Item 6, p. 16; Item 17, p. 47).^[1] The flag decision is weighed at Should I buy a branded or independent hotel?.

The sample is the franchised motels in the United States that had operated as franchised properties for at least two full years at December 31, 2025. The median RevPAR was $35.84, the range was $4.90 to $145.24, and 451 motels, or 42.9 percent, met or exceeded the average. A second chart covers the 539 motels, about 48.2 percent of the sample, that held the franchisor's internal A or B ranking. They averaged 68.3 percent occupancy, a $71.02 average daily rate and $48.49 RevPAR. Item 20 counts 1,197 franchised outlets at the end of 2025 (Item 19, pp. 49-50; Item 20, p. 51).^[1]

The franchisor says the data comes from its internal records based on information franchised locations supplied electronically, that it has not audited the franchisee data, and that there is no assurance a buyer will achieve the stated results. Item 19 gives rate, occupancy and revenue measures only. It gives no expenses and no profit, and this page draws no profit conclusion from it (Item 19, p. 50).^[1] The measures are defined at RevPAR and ADR.

Guide

How much does a hotel franchise cost?

Other questions in this guide

• How much does a Red Roof Inn franchise cost in 2026?
• How much does a Super 8 franchise cost in 2026?
• How much does an Econo Lodge franchise cost in 2026?
• How do I finance converting my hotel to a new brand?
• How do I finance a hotel PIP or renovation?
• Should I buy a branded or independent hotel?

Terms defined in the glossary

• Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)
• Hotel Franchise Agreement
• PIP (Property Improvement Plan)
• Franchise Comfort Letter

Our own data

• Matthews Hotel Markets rate sheet