Home Best Western › 2025 vs. 2026
FDD Year-over-Year Comparison

Best Western FDD: What Changed from 2025 to 2026

The 2026 Best Western FDD moves the Item 7 estimated initial investment range from $577,215–$12,652,545 to $6,130,275–$12,658,075, and the system contracts from 1,770 to 1,750 outlets (−1.1%) year-over-year. Neither filing includes an Item 19 financial performance representation.

Source: MN & WI state filings · Updated August 2026 · ClearlyFDD

Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Low end of range$577,215$6,130,275+$5,553,060 (+962.0%)
High end of range$12,652,545$12,658,075+$5,530
Full range$577,215–$12,652,545$6,130,275–$12,658,075

The 2026 filing puts the Item 7 estimated initial investment at $6,130,275–$12,658,075, against $577,215–$12,652,545 in the 2025 filing. The low end moves by +$5,553,060 (+962.0%) and the high end moves by +$5,530, narrowing the band from $12,075,330 to $6,527,800.

2025 filing: Total estimated initial investment varies by property brand, market segment, room count, and whether the project is new construction or conversion. See Item 7 for detailed tables by brand.

Item 20 — System Size (Outlet Count)

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Total outlets (Item 20)1,7701,750−20 (−1.1%)
Franchised outlets1,7681,748−20 (−1.1%)
Company-owned outlets22unchanged
Openings during the year3132+1
Closures during the year6452−12

Best Western reports 1,750 outlets in the 2026 FDD, against 1,770 in the 2025 filing — a change of −20 (−1.1%).

Outlet counts as each filing states them — 2025: Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2024; 2026: End of 2025. The outlet count tables include only locations classified as Licensed or Company Owned for the Best Western system as defined in the FDD. The detailed state-by-state tables in Item 20 extend to all open, transferred, or closed outlets over the reporting period.

Item 19 — Financial Performance Representations

Neither the 2025 nor the 2026 Best Western filing includes an Item 19 financial performance representation.

Item 6 — Ongoing Fees

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Standard royalty rate5%5%unchanged

The standard royalty rate holds at 5% of Property Room Revenue (PRR) across both filings.

2025 filing: Members with qualifying 2016 ownership structures may pay a 3.5% royalty rate. 2026 filing: For most members the monthly fee is 5% of Property Room Revenue, but a 3.5% rate applies to certain legacy ownership structures defined in Item 6.

Frequently asked questions

Did the cost to open a Best Western franchise change in the 2026 FDD?

The 2026 FDD for Best Western states an Item 7 estimated initial investment of $6,130,275–$12,658,075, against $577,215–$12,652,545 in the 2025 filing. The low end moves from $577,215 to $6,130,275 (+$5,553,060 (+962.0%)) and the high end moves from $12,652,545 to $12,658,075 (+$5,530).

How many locations does Best Western have?

The 2026 FDD for Best Western reports 1,750 outlets in Item 20, against 1,770 in the 2025 filing — 20 fewer.

How many Best Western locations closed?

The 2026 FDD for Best Western reports 52 outlet closures for the year it covers, against 64 in the 2025 filing.

Did Best Western change its royalty rate?

No. Both the 2025 and 2026 filings for Best Western state a standard royalty of 5%.

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