Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6: Comfort Inn & Suites costs $305K to $14.3M to open; Motel 6 costs $195K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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 7(a) approvals compared with 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 SBA loss record 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 to $14.3M | $195K to $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 | 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 | 2025 |
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 SBA 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.
Comfort Inn & Suites has 945 SBA loans on record and Motel 6 has 613. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Comfort Inn & Suites vs Motel 6, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Comfort Inn & Suites or Motel 6?
How much does a Comfort Inn & Suites franchise cost compared to Motel 6?
Can I finance Comfort Inn & Suites or Motel 6 with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Comfort Inn & Suites or Motel 6?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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