Howard Johnson

Hotel

With a loan of $500, Howard Dearing Johnson purchased a small patent medicine shop in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1925. He used an old-fashioned, hand-cranked freezer in the store's basement to make vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream for the shop's soda fountain. Three years later, with menu additions like hot dogs and hamburgers, he opened the first Howard Johnson's Restaurant.

By 1935, there were 25 Howard Johnson ice cream and sandwich stands in Massachusetts. Five years later, with more than 100 restaurants on the Atlantic Coast, Johnson opened the first turnpike restaurant on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In 1954, when the company operated 400 restaurants, the first Howard Johnson hotel opened in Savannah, Georgia.

After Johnson's son took over the company in 1959, it was subsequently acquired by three different companies before Cendant Corp. bought the hotel chain in 1990. Howard Johnson Int'l. franchises offer mid-priced lodging at Howard Johnson Plaza Hotels, Howard Johnson Hotels, Howard Johnson Inns and Howard Johnson Express Inns. Children stay free at Howard Johnson, and Road Rally and AARP offer senior discounts at the hotels.

Please Note: The operators of Howard Johnson, may not have verified the accuracy of the Franchise information contained within this website. For accurate up-to-date information, customers are strongly recommended to visit the official Howard Johnson website.

Start-up Costs & Franchises Fees

How much does it cost to open a Howard Johnson Franchises?

Total Investment: $393,100-$7,300,000
Initial Franchise Fee: N/A
Royalty Fee: 4%
Advertising Fee: N/A
Term of Agreement: 15-20 years

How to contact Howard Johnson

Howard Johnson International
1 Sylvan Wy.
Parsippany, NJ
07054

Toll Free: (800)758-8999
Fax: (800)643-2107

Website: Visit Website

Howard Johnson News

Wyndham Hotel Group Grows In China With Seven New Hotels
Wyndham Hotel Group today announced that it continues to solidify its position as the leading U.S. hotel company in China with last month's opening of seven hotels, three of which are all–new construction properties, under its Ramada®, Howard Johnson® and Super 8® brands. Among the new hotels o... more

Howard Johnson Canada Franchise Announces New Location To Open In Airdrie, Alberta
Howard Johnson announced the addition of the Howard Johnson Inn – Airdrie, Alberta to their Canadian franchise system. The Howard Johnson Airdrie will be the fourth property to join the system in the last 4 months and the second new-build project. This will also be the second Howard Johnson prope... more

Drug Store Spawned Franchise
Who was the real Howard Johnson? Starting with a corner drug store in Wollaston, Mass., in 1925, Howard Dearing Johnson built one of the country's first restaurant chains, which in turn spawned a chain of hotels. His early success stemmed from improving the quality of the drug store's ... more

Cendant To Explore Possible Sale Of Travel Distribution Services Division As An Alternative To A Spin-off
Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) today announced that, in addition to pursuing its previously announced plan to spin-off its Travel Distribution Services division (TDS) to shareholders, which is anticipated to occur in October, 2006, it will also consider a sale of that division. Commenting on the... more

Cendant Appoints Leading Technology Industry Executive Jeff Clarke As Ceo And President Of Its Travel Distribution Services Division
Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) today announced that leading technology executive, Jeff Clarke, has been appointed CEO and president of its Travel Distribution Services (TDS) Division, effective May 1, 2006. Mr. Clarke joins TDS from CA, formerly Computer Associates Inc., where he had served as t... more
View all Howard Johnson Press Releases

Franchise History

When did the first Howard Johnson open? 1925
When did Howard Johnson start Franchising? 1954

Year U.S.A. Canada International Corporate

2005 374 50 46 0

2004 374 51 40 0

2003 388 48 39 0

2002 426 39 36 0

2001 416 41 35 0

Expansion Plans

International:

Financing Options

Expense In-House Third Party

Franchise Fee No No

Startup Costs Yes No

Equipment Yes No

Inventory Yes No

Accounts Receivable Yes No

Payroll Yes No

Training & Support

Training
Regional workshops

Support
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing
Co-op advertising, National media, Regional advertising

Business Operations

International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

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