FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

ITEMS 5–7 · 2017 FDD · 8+ YEARS OLD

How much is a American Express Travel Related Services franchise?

Per American Express Travel Related Services's 2017 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $30,000 (Item 5) and the total initial investment runs $30K–$50K (Item 7). This is the most recent filing tracked here (2017 FDD · 8+ years old); fees have likely changed, so ask the franchisor for the current FDD.

Franchise fee · Item 5

$30,000

one-time, to buy in

Total investment · Item 7

$30K–$50K

franchisor's own estimate

American Express Travel Related Services vs recreation & entertainment medians25 systems benchmarked
Cost lineAmerican Express Travel Related ServicesSector median
Initial franchise fee ITEM 5$30,000$50,000
Total initial investment ITEM 7$30K–$50K$483K–$797K

MEDIANS: LATEST FDD FILINGS (≤24 MONTHS OLD) OF 25 RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS · FULL RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT BENCHMARK →

Breakeven framingwhat it costs · what it drags

The buy-in is the smaller number. The larger one is the drag: royalties and fees leaves before rent, labor, or your salary — so breakeven depends on volume you cannot know from the FDD, and this brand publishes no Item 19 earnings data to anchor it.

To open (Item 7)

$30K–$50K

all-in investment range

Franchise fee (Item 5)

$30,000

upfront, one-time

Royalty (Item 6)

See Item 6

not a single flat % — read the fee table

This is not profit. It covers what the FDD fixes: what you put in, and the royalty you owe on sales. Your take-home depends on labor, rent, supplies, and the months to breakeven, none of which the FDD fixes for your unit (some Item 19s include cost data — read it).

Build a real pro-forma for American Express Travel Related Services with a buyer-paid CPA

American Express Travel Related Services cost questions, answered from the filing

How much is a American Express Travel Related Services franchise?

Per American Express Travel Related Services's 2017 FDD, opening a franchise requires an initial franchise fee of $30,000 (Item 5) and a total initial investment of $30K–$50K (Item 7). Item 7 is the franchisor's own estimate — treat the low end as a floor, not a budget.

Does American Express Travel Related Services tell you what franchisees earn?

No — American Express Travel Related Services's 2017 FDD makes no Item 19 earnings claim, so any revenue figure you hear comes from sales conversations, not disclosure documents. Validate with current and former franchisees.

The American Express Travel Related Services validation checklist

questions built from this brand's own filings · read them all on the profile

Want this as a checklist you can take to the calls?

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Before you sign anythingfree · 30 min · no commission

A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing American Express Travel Related Services’ numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

Don Drummond, CPA — Virginia #43775 · what I charge

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