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FRANCHISE RESALES

A Discovery Map International tourist map with a magnifying glass highlighting a specific area.

Buy a Discovery Map Franchise

Discovery Map International is a travel and tourism advertising franchise built around hand-illustrated local maps, a companion mobile app and a travel website. Each franchisee sells advertising space to restaurants, shops, attractions and lodging within a defined territory, then distributes the finished maps free to visitors and residents.

The brand has published illustrated maps for more than 50 years and operates across destination communities in the United States and Canada, with its network printing over 14 million maps a year. The Discovery Map App adds interactive listings and real-time local information alongside the printed product.

The model is territory-based and home-based, requiring no storefront, large equipment or staff. Owners run a local advertising-sales business under a recognised brand, pairing the hand-drawn map format with digital distribution to give advertisers year-round exposure to a travelling audience.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Discovery Map resales available
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Why buy a Discovery Map Franchise?

Buying a Discovery Map International franchise gives a new owner an established, recognised product in a tourism category that has proved resilient across travel cycles. The brand reports over 50% familiarity among surveyed consumers and a Net Promoter Score of 51, signals of advertiser trust that an independent map publisher would take years to build.

The home-based, territory model keeps overhead low: there is no lease, costly equipment or payroll, and the network’s print-buying scale and proprietary production system handle much of the work of getting maps designed and printed. Franchisees concentrate on local advertising sales while corporate supports design, messaging and digital distribution through the Discovery Map App, and the brand’s consistent ranking among low-cost franchises reflects that lean structure.

Discovery Map Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1974

    • Franchising Since

      1993

    • New Startup Cost

      $29,250 – $36,300

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details
    Aerial view of the Discovery Map International headquarters building, surrounded by parked cars and green hills in the background.

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      20%

      of then-current Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      10%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Sales (not currently collected)

    Person's hands using a pen to work on a detailed Discovery Map laid on a table, with additional sketches nearby.

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      116

    • New Units Opened *

      4

    • Units Transferred *

      6

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $58,171

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD
    A group of people working with Discovery Maps, with one person reading a Discovery Map International card aloud.

Discovery Map – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners receive up to five days of initial training at corporate headquarters, covering operations, sales technique and marketing, plus tailored coaching on map layout and design, sales strategy and messaging, and the creation of sales collateral. Ongoing support comes from a dedicated franchise support team, the proprietary map production system, network print-buying and continued marketing and digital updates, including the Discovery Map App. Resale buyers should confirm with Discovery Map what onboarding and system access transfer to a new owner when a territory changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Discovery Map suits a sales-driven, outgoing operator who enjoys building relationships with local business owners and knows their community well. It is a solo, owner-operator model with no staff to manage, so self-motivation and consistent prospecting matter more than industry credentials. A background in advertising, sales, marketing or tourism helps, as does comfort selling annual advertising and renewals. The brand looks for local pride, strong communication and people who value flexibility over a fixed office routine.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Discovery Map has been named a Franchise Business Review Top 200 Franchise (2026, following repeat listings in prior years) and ranked #22 on Entrepreneur's 2026 list of franchises you can start for under $50,000, alongside 2026 Franchise 500 Top Low-Cost recognition and a 2025 Franchise Rockstar Award. It received the Best Ever You Award for Best Products in 2024 and is a National Franchise Association member. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local reputation, advertiser reviews and renewal strength.

  4. Industry / Market

    Discovery Map operates in US travel and tourism, where travelers spent about $1.3 trillion directly in 2024, with spending forecast to keep rising through 2027 (US Travel Association). Demand is driven by domestic leisure travel, destination marketing and local businesses competing for visitor attention. The advertising model ties revenue to local tourism activity, so seasonality and the health of a territory's visitor economy both matter. For resale buyers, the strength of the local destination and its advertiser base weighs as heavily as national travel trends.

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