The Independent Hotel Owner's Pre-Franchise Checklist

10 questions to ask before you sign a 20-year franchise agreement.

A hotel franchise agreement is one of the largest and longest commitments you'll ever make — and most owners negotiate the headline royalty rate while the clauses that really decide the deal go unread. This free guide gives you the ten questions I ask on behalf of every owner before they sign, with the red flags to watch for in each. Use it with any brand — IHG, Marriott, Accor, Best Western or Radisson — and walk into the negotiation as the sharpest party in the room.

• The true cost of a brand — the fees beyond the royalty that often double the headline number

• The territory, capital (PIP) and exit clauses that cost owners the most

• Where your real leverage is — and why "the standard agreement" almost never is

From Bruce Potter, Founder of Nathez Advisory — 35 years leading hotels across Africa under IHG, Best Western and independent flags. 5 countries. $45M+ in rebranding and development delivered.