How much does a TravelCenters of America franchise cost?
Opening a TravelCenters of America franchise takes a total initial investment of $8,084,100 to $54,060,700, according to the brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. The FDD's Item 19 reports median of $8,578,287 across 9 outlets.
The document franchises TA Centers. Category: Automotive.
Item 7
What it costs to open a TravelCenters of America franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2026 FDD. The total is $8,084,100 to $54,060,700. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Site Improvements and Construction ($6,540,000 to $39,240,000), Equipment, Furniture & Fixtures ($218,000 to $7,098,100), and Additional Funds – 3 Months ($490,500 to $2,725,000). Together they make up about 91% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $115,000 to $140,000, about 1.4% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $115,000 | $140,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Opening Extension Fees2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $120,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Training2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $35,000 | $60,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Opening Assistance2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $30,000 | $90,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Computer System Installation Fee2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $30,000 | $50,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Financing Review Fee2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $7,500 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Leasing Review Fee2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $7,500 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Real Estate Leasing Costs for 3 Months2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $654,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Site Improvements and Construction2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $6,540,000 | $39,240,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Equipment, Furniture & Fixtures2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $218,000 | $7,098,100 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Computer System and Software2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $140,000 | $300,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Insurance2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $96,000 | $545,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $490,500 | $2,725,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Vehicles2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $315,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Inventory2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $362,300 | $1,575,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Soft Costs, Professional Fees, Permits and Bonds2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $27,300 | $1,090,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Licenses2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $0 | $43,600 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
| Total estimated initial investment2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 | $8,084,100 | $54,060,700 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31 |
Source TravelCenters of America, 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 31, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Item 19
What TravelCenters of America franchisees actually report earning
Median
$8,578,287
TravelCenters of America's 2026 FDD, Item 19, for the January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Basis: Franchised Centers meeting the Full Service Criteria for the entire 12-month period ending December 31, 2025.
Sample size: 9 outlets. The FDD also reports average of $8,859,423. We lead with the median because an average is pulled upward by the strongest outlets; the median is the middle outlet.
What the franchisor excluded from this figure
- Five Franchised Centers that had not yet opened a repair shop were excluded from the franchised-center figures in Table 1.
- Nineteen Franchised Centers were not open for the full 12-month period and were excluded from the franchised-center figures in Table 1.
- Twenty-six Company Centers that did not meet the Full Service Criteria for the entirety of 2025 were excluded from the company-center figures in Table 1.
- Zero Company Centers were not open the full 12-month period and were not included in Table 1.
- Five Franchised Centers that had not yet opened a repair shop were excluded from the franchised-center figures in Table 2.
- Nineteen Franchised Centers were not open for the full 12-month period and were excluded from the franchised-center figures in Table 2.
- Twenty-six Company Centers that did not meet the Full Service Criteria for the entirety of 2025 were excluded from the company-center figures in Table 2.
- Zero Company Centers were not open the full 12-month period and were not included in Table 2.
This is a disclosure of what some existing outlets reported, not a projection of what a new TravelCenters of America outlet would earn. Your results will differ.
Source TravelCenters of America, 2026 FDD, Item 19, p. 71, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Item 20
How many TravelCenters of America outlets there are, and how many closed
TravelCenters of America ended 2025 with 33 franchised outlets and 153 company-owned outlets. In that year 19 franchised outlets opened and none left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2023 through 2025, TravelCenters of America opened 23 franchised outlets and 2 outlets left the system. That is a net gain of 21, from 12 to 33 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 2 were bought back by the franchisor.
On average, about 5.1% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 20.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 78 |
| 2024 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 78 |
| 2023 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 78 |
Source TravelCenters of America, 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 78, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Compare
How TravelCenters of America compares with other Automotive franchises
Measured against the 35 Automotive franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of TravelCenters of America's estimated range is $31,072,400. It costs more to open than 100% of Automotive franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 5.1% for TravelCenters of America. That is higher than 56% of the 28 Automotive franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. TravelCenters of America's franchised system grew 175%. The typical Automotive franchise here grew 0.0%.
- Earnings disclosure. 16 of the 35 Automotive franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. TravelCenters of America is one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Automotive franchise side by side.
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