Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6: Comfort Inn & Suites costs $305K–$14.3M to open; Motel 6 costs $195K–$8.2M. Comfort Inn & Suites has 775 units, Motel 6 has 1,195. SBA loan history: Comfort Inn & Suites = 945 loans (8.1% default); Motel 6 = 613 loans (2.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6 — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Motel 6 requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($195K vs $305K for Comfort Inn & Suites), a 56% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Comfort Inn & Suites versus $25K for Motel 6 — Motel 6 has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Comfort Inn & Suites and 5% for Motel 6, giving Motel 6 the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Motel 6 operates 1,195 units to Comfort Inn & Suites's 775. Motel 6 has been operating 64 years (founded 1962) versus 45 for Comfort Inn & Suites (founded 1981) — a 19-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Comfort Inn & Suites has the deeper SBA lending track record with 945 historical 7(a) approvals versus 613 for Motel 6.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.1% for Comfort Inn & Suites and 2.3% for Motel 6 — Motel 6 has the cleaner historical loss profile by 5.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 41 (Fair) for Comfort Inn & Suites and 69 (Strong) for Motel 6, giving Motel 6 the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 41/100 | 69/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 945 | 613 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 8.1% | 2.3% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $305K – $14.3M | $195K – $8.2M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 3.5% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 775 | 1,195 |
Franchised Units | 775 | 1,195 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 20 yrs | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1981 | 1962 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2005 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 21 yrs |
Headquarters | North Bethesda, MD | Carrollton, TX |
Category | Hotels | Hotels |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Comfort Inn & Suites or Motel 6?
Lower upfront capital required
Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites: $305K starting · Motel 6: $195K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Comfort Inn & Suites
Comfort Inn & Suites: 945 SBA loans · Motel 6: 613 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites: 8.1% · Motel 6: 2.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites: 775 units · Motel 6: 1,195 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites: 6% · Motel 6: 5%
More lender financing options
Comfort Inn & Suites
Comfort Inn & Suites: 288 unique lenders · Motel 6: 192 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation — your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Comfort Inn & Suites and Motel 6 is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $195K to $14.3M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Comfort Inn & Suites with 945 SBA loans and Motel 6 with 613. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands — not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice — consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.