Which is the better franchise, Best Western or BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection?

FranchiseVerdict grades Best Western A and BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection B, from FDD Items 5–7, 19–21 and SBA loan performance. See the full side-by-side above.

Best Western vs BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection

Q: Is Best Western or BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection cheaper to open?

Best Western costs $581,925–$2,557,075 and BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection costs $442,540–$2,765,125 to open (FDD Item 7). BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection has the lower entry cost.

Franchise Comparison 2026

Both Best Western and BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection are lodging franchises. Best Western requires an investment of $582K – $2.6M while BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection requires $443K – $2.8M. Best Western has SBA lending data on file with a 8.8% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Best Western A (Strongest tier) and BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection B (Above average).

Metric	Best Western	BW Premier Collection and BW Signature Collection
Verdict Grade	AStrongest tierStrongest tier	BAbove averageAbove average
Investment Range	$582K – $2.6M	$443K – $2.8M
Franchise Fee	N/A	$25K
Royalty Rate	5.0%	5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	N/A	N/A
SBA Charge-Off Rate	8.8% (418 loans)	N/A
Total Units	1,750	67
Unit Growth (YoY)	N/A	N/A
Year Began Franchising	2020	2020
FDD Year	2026	2026