Loading FDD preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals
We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.
TravelCenters of America (TA Express Center)
TA Express Centers are limited-service travel centers located near highways on smaller parcels of land, offering fuel (diesel and gasoline), quick-service restaurants, showers, truck and car parking, and other amenities, but without full truck repair services typical of larger TA Centers. Franchisees operate under the TA Express System, adhering to standardized procedures, designs, and core programs provided by TA Franchise Systems LLC. The primary target market is commercial truck operators on North American highways, with a secondary market of non-commercial motorists.
Loading preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Franchise Costs
Tiered royalty (4.5% Non-QSR Gross Sales to $600k/mo then 2%, 2% QSR Gross Sales, $0.007/gal Motor Fuel) + 0.2% Administrative Fee (Non-Fuel Gross Sales to $600k/mo) + $3,000/mo Advertising Fee.
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock financial performance dataTravelCenters of America (TA Express Center) Franchise Analysis
Highway pit stops for truckers are booming, and TA Express Centers have ridden that wave with jaw-dropping expansion since franchising began in 2018. Item 20 tracks a system that's more than doubled in size recently, signaling robust demand from operators chasing diesel dollars and quick eats. Yet without Item 19's earnings spotlight, the real question lingers: does this fuel-heavy model pump out profits worth the massive upfront commitment?
Item 7 lays out the steep entry: total investment spans $1,117,000 to $7,985,000, covering site buildout, fuel infrastructure, QSR setups, and parking for rigs. Franchise fee hits $125,000 (Item 5), followed by intricate ongoing fees per Item 6—4.5% on non-QSR gross sales up to $600K monthly (dropping to 2% after), 2% on QSR, $0.007 per gallon on motor fuel, plus 0.2% admin on non-fuel sales to $600K/mo and a flat $3,000 monthly ad fee. No Item 19 means no disclosed revenue or profit figures, forcing investors to model returns from scratch using traffic volume benchmarks or peer comps in the travel center space.
System health shines in Item 20: locations jumped from 19 in 2022 to 31 in 2023 (+63% growth), with franchisor projecting more openings amid steady highway trucking. Low terminations and transfers suggest stability, but the huge capital barrier—driven by land and pumps—suits deep-pocketed operators only. For those eyeing North American freight routes, this tiered fee structure could optimize at scale, yet the lack of financial performance reps underscores the risk in a volatile fuel market.
Analysis based on the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How TravelCenters of America (TA Express Center) Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 100% of Specialty Retail franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TravelCenters of America (TA Express Center) Current | $1.1M – $8.0M | $125K | 4.5% | N/A |
| MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS | $48K – $260K | N/A | N/A | 797 |
| CORNWELL | $80K – $324K | N/A | N/A | 793 |
| BATTERIES PLUS | $285K – $537K | $50K | 5.0% | 601 |
| PET SUPPLIES PLUS | $537K – $2.0M | $50K | 3.0% | 502 |
| WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED | $227K – $379K | $40K | 4.0% | 340 |
Specialty Retail Average 47 franchises | $284K – $703K | $39K | 5.0% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 47 Specialty Retail franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2023)
Outlets by state across the United States
+3 more states
Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock location growth dataFranchisee Contacts
83 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
83 Contacts Available
Unlock all TravelCenters of America (TA Express Center) franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a TravelCenters of America (TA Express Center) franchise ranges from $1,117,000 to $7,985,000. This includes a franchise fee of $125,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 4.5% of gross sales.
More Travel & Tourism Franchises
CRUISE PLANNERS
Travel & Tourism
CruiseOne
Travel & Tourism
Petro Stopping Centers
Travel & Tourism
Vacation Planners
Travel & Tourism