FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2014–2016
American Express Travel Related Services Item 20: outlets, closures & growth
In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2016), American Express Travel Related Services reported 10 franchised outlets at year end. 0 of 0 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system— while 10 new outlets opened.
| Status (FTC) | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlets at start | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Opened | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terminations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-renewals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reacquired by franchisor | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ceased — other reasons | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outlets at end | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Net change | 0 | 0 | +10 |
0 terminations + 0 non-renewals + 0 ceased (other) = 0 exits
These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchisee involuntarily or terminally leaves the system. Transfers (0) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate” — this annualized exit rate is the disclosed, measurable floor.
| State | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 2 | 0 |
| AZ | 1 | 0 |
| CT | 1 | 0 |
| FL | 1 | 0 |
| NV | 1 | 0 |
| TN | 1 | 0 |
| VA | 1 | 0 |
| VT | 1 | 0 |
| WV | 1 | 0 |
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing American Express Travel Related Services's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
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