As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 1997
                                              Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                          U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                                58-2190911
(State or other jurisdiction of                                (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                                ----------------

                         13 Corporate Square, Suite 250
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                                 (404) 321-4045
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                        U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC. 1996
                  STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                           (Full titles of the plans)


                                Michael A. Leven
                 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
                          U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
                               13 Corporate Square
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30329
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (404) 321-4045
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
  Title of Each Class of      Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering            Proposed Maximum           Amount of
Securities to be Registered     Registered             Price Per Share    Aggregate Offering Price    Registration Fee
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
<S>                             <C>                    <C>                           <C>                    <C>       
Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share       266,200                $      7,625(1)               $2,029,775(1)          $   615.08
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share       135,600(2)             $      13.50                  $1,830,600             $   554.73
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share           800(3)             $      10.50                  $    8,400             $     2.55
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share           500(4)             $      10.12                  $    5,060             $     1.53
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share         4,700(5)             $       9.88                  $   46,436             $    14.07
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                                                    2

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
  Title of Each Class of      Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering            Proposed Maximum           Amount of
Securities to be Registered     Registered             Price Per Share    Aggregate Offering Price    Registration Fee
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
<S>                             <C>                    <C>                           <C>                    <C>       
Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share       25,000(6)              $       9.63                  $  240,750             $    72.95
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share          300(7)              $       9.50                  $    2,850             $     0.86
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        7,600(8)              $       9.25                  $   70,300             $    21.30
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        5,100(9)              $       9.00                  $   45,900             $    13.91
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        4,200(10)             $       7.00                  $   29,400             $     8.91
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Total                          450,000(11)                                                                  $ 1,305.89     
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
</TABLE>

(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in
      accordance with Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
      as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Proposed Maximum Offering Price was
      determined by averaging the high and low prices of the Class A Common
      Stock, $.01 per share par value ("Class A Common Stock"), of U.S.
      Franchise Systems, Inc. ("USFS") as reported by the NASDAQ National Market
      System, the automated quotation system of the National Association of
      Securities Dealers, Inc. on September 25, 1997.

(2)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $13.50.

(3)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $10.50.

(4)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $10.12.

(5)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.88.

(6)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.63.

(7)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.50.

(8)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.25.

(9)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.00.

(10)  Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $7.00.

(11)  Consists of 325,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to certain
      employees, consultants, advisors and other persons whose skills would be
      an asset to U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries upon
      the exercise by such persons of options granted to them pursuant to the
      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan and 125,000 shares of
      Class A Common Stock to be issued to certain non-employee directors of
      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. upon the exercise by such Directors of
      options granted to them pursuant to the U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996
      Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
================================================================================

<PAGE>



                                EXPLANATORY NOTE


            The Section 10(a) prospectuses being delivered by U.S. Franchise
Systems, Inc. (the "Company") to participants in the U.S. Franchise Systems,
Inc. Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") and the
U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
(the "Directors Plan") as required by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), have been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 and relate to shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Class A Common Stock") which have been
reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option Plan and the Directors Plan. The
information regarding the Option Plan and the Directors Plan required in the
Section 10(a) prospectuses is included in documents being maintained and
delivered by the Company as required by Rule 428 under the Securities Act. The
Company shall provide to participants in the Option Plan and the Directors Plan
a written statement advising them of the availability without charge, upon
written or oral request, of documents incorporated by reference herein, as is
required by Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8.


                                 PART II

           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

            The following documents filed by U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are
incorporated herein by reference:

            1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-28908)

            2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 (File No. 0-28908).

            3. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 1997 (File No. 0-28908).

            4. The description of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
dated October 24, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
of updating such description (File No. 0-28908).

            All other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the
date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby have been sold
or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

<PAGE>


                                                                    2




Item 4.     DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

            Not Applicable.

Item 5.     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

            Not applicable.

Item 6.     INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

            Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

            Section 145(b) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and
only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine that despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the court shall
deem proper.

            Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or
officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any
claim, issue, or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or
officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against him or
incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liabilities under such Section 145.

            Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto
validly approved by stockholders may eliminate or limit personal liability of
the members of its board of directors or governing body for breach of a
director's fiduciary duty. However, no such provision may eliminate or limit the
liability of a director for breaching his duty

<PAGE>


                                                                    3




of loyalty, failing to act in good faith, engaging in intentional misconduct or
knowingly violating a law, paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase
which was illegal, or obtaining an improper personal benefit. A provision of
this type has no effect on the availability of equitable remedies, such as
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty. The Company's Charter
contains such a provision.

            The Company's Charter further provides that the Company shall
indemnify its officers and directors and, to the extent authorized by the Board
of Directors, employees and agents of the Company, to the fullest extent
permitted by and in the manner permissible under the laws of the State of
Delaware.

            In addition, the Company has entered into agreements (the
"Indemnification Agreements") with each of the directors of the Company pursuant
to which the Company has agreed to indemnify each director against claims,
liabilities, damages, expenses, losses, costs, penalties or amounts paid in
settlement (collectively, "Losses") incurred by such director and arising out of
his capacity as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company to the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law. In addition, each director shall be
entitled to an advance of expenses to the maximum extent authorized or permitted
by law to meet the obligations indemnified against. The Indemnification
Agreements also obligate the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for the
benefit and on behalf of each of its directors insuring such director in or
arising out of his capacity as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company.

Item 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

            Not Applicable.

Item 8.     EXHIBITS

Exhibits
--------

4.1   --    Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
            amended (incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration
            Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-11427)).

4.2   --    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (incorporated by
            reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
            (Registration No. 333-11427)).

5.1   --    Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, counsel to the
            Company, regarding the legality of the Class A Common Stock being
            registered.

23.1  --    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  --    Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in
            Exhibit 5).

24    --    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

<PAGE>


                                                                    4




Item 9.     UNDERTAKINGS

            (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (i) to file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
registration statement or any material change to such information in this
registration statement; (ii) that, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (iii) to remove from registration by
means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

            (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is incorporated
by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the registrant's Certificate
of Incorporation or by-laws, by contract, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

<PAGE>


                                                                    5




                               SIGNATURES


            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on September 29,
1997.

                              U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.


                              By: /s/ Michael A. Leven
                                  -------------------------
                                    Michael A. Leven
                                    Chairman, President and
                                    Chief Executive Officer

            We, the undersigned officers and directors of U.S. Franchise
Systems, Inc. hereby severally constitute Michael A. Leven and Neal K. Aronson
our true and lawful attorneys, and each of them singly, with full power to sign
for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement,
and generally do all such things in our name and behalf in such capacities to
enable U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. to comply with the applicable provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they
may be signed by our said attorney to any and all such amendments.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Signatures                        Title                       Date
        ----------                        -----                       ----
<S>                           <C>                                     <C>    
 /s/  Michael A. Leven        Chairman, President, Chief Executive    September 29, 1997
---------------------------   Officer and Director (Principal
      Michael A. Leven        Executive Officer)

                             
 /s/  Neal K. Aronson         Executive Vice President, Chief         September 29, 1997
---------------------------   Financial Officer and Director
      Neal K. Aronson         (Principal Financial and Accounting
                              Officer)

 /s/  Irwin Chafetz                     Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------   
      Irwin Chafetz          

                             
 /s/  Richard D. Goldstein              Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Richard D. Goldstein   
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                                                    6




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Signatures                        Title                       Date
        ----------                        -----                       ----
<S>                           <C>                                     <C>    
 /s/  Barry Sternlicht                  Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Barry Sternlicht


 /s/  Dean S. Adler                     Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Dean S. Adler


 /s/  Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld             Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld
</TABLE>








<PAGE>


                                                                    7



                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibits
--------

4.1   --    Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as 
            amended (incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration 
            Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-11427)).

4.2   --    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (incorporated by 
            reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 
            (Registration No. 333-11427)).

5     --    Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, counsel to
            the Company, regarding the legality of the Class A Common Stock
            being registered.

23.1  --    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  --    Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in 
            Exhibit 5).

24    --    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 26245}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "US FRANCHISE SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001020350", "assigned-sic": "7011", "irs-number": "582190911", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-36629", "film-number": "97687420"}, "business-address": {"street1": "13 CORPORATE SQUARE", "street2": "STE 250", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30329", "phone": "4043214045"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "13 CORPORATE SQUARE", "street2": "STE 250", "city": "ATLANTA", "state": "GA", "zip": "30329"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 1997
                                              Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                          U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                                58-2190911
(State or other jurisdiction of                                (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                                ----------------

                         13 Corporate Square, Suite 250
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                                 (404) 321-4045
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                        U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC. 1996
                  STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                           (Full titles of the plans)

                                Michael A. Leven
                 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
                          U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
                               13 Corporate Square
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30329
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (404) 321-4045
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
  Title of Each Class of      Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering            Proposed Maximum           Amount of
Securities to be Registered     Registered             Price Per Share    Aggregate Offering Price    Registration Fee
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share       266,200                $      7,625(1)               $2,029,775(1)          $   615.08
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share       135,600(2)             $      13.50                  $1,830,600             $   554.73
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share           800(3)             $      10.50                  $    8,400             $     2.55
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share           500(4)             $      10.12                  $    5,060             $     1.53
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                            
par value $0.01 per share         4,700(5)             $       9.88                  $   46,436             $    14.07
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
2
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
  Title of Each Class of      Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering            Proposed Maximum           Amount of
Securities to be Registered     Registered             Price Per Share    Aggregate Offering Price    Registration Fee
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share       25,000(6)              $       9.63                  $  240,750             $    72.95
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share          300(7)              $       9.50                  $    2,850             $     0.86
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        7,600(8)              $       9.25                  $   70,300             $    21.30
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        5,100(9)              $       9.00                  $   45,900             $    13.91
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Class A Common Stock,                                                                                          
par value $0.01 per share        4,200(10)             $       7.00                  $   29,400             $     8.91
---------------------------   ------------   -------------------------    ------------------------    ----------------
Total                          450,000(11)                                                                  $ 1,305.89     
===========================   ============   =========================    ========================    ================
(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in
      accordance with Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
      as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Proposed Maximum Offering Price was
      determined by averaging the high and low prices of the Class A Common
      Stock, $.01 per share par value ("Class A Common Stock"), of U.S.
      Franchise Systems, Inc. ("USFS") as reported by the NASDAQ National Market
      System, the automated quotation system of the National Association of
      Securities Dealers, Inc. on September 25, 1997.

(2)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $13.50.

(3)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $10.50.

(4)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $10.12.

(5)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.88.

(6)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.63.

(7)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.50.

(8)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.25.

(9)   Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $9.00.

(10)  Consists of shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to which options
      have been granted under stock option agreements at an exercise price of
      $7.00.

(11)  Consists of 325,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to certain
      employees, consultants, advisors and other persons whose skills would be
      an asset to U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries upon
      the exercise by such persons of options granted to them pursuant to the
      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan and 125,000 shares of
      Class A Common Stock to be issued to certain non-employee directors of
      U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. upon the exercise by such Directors of
      options granted to them pursuant to the U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996
      Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
================================================================================
EXPLANATORY NOTE

            The Section 10(a) prospectuses being delivered by U.S. Franchise
Systems, Inc. (the "Company") to participants in the U.S. Franchise Systems,
Inc. Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") and the
U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
(the "Directors Plan") as required by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), have been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 and relate to shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Class A Common Stock") which have been
reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option Plan and the Directors Plan. The
information regarding the Option Plan and the Directors Plan required in the
Section 10(a) prospectuses is included in documents being maintained and
delivered by the Company as required by Rule 428 under the Securities Act. The
Company shall provide to participants in the Option Plan and the Directors Plan
a written statement advising them of the availability without charge, upon
written or oral request, of documents incorporated by reference herein, as is
required by Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8.

                                 PART II

           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

            The following documents filed by U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are
incorporated herein by reference:

            1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-28908)

            2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 (File No. 0-28908).

            3. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 1997 (File No. 0-28908).

            4. The description of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
dated October 24, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
of updating such description (File No. 0-28908).

            All other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the
date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby have been sold
or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.
2

Item 4.     DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

            Not Applicable.

Item 5.     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

            Not applicable.

Item 6.     INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

            Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

            Section 145(b) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and
only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine that despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the court shall
deem proper.

            Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or
officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any
claim, issue, or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or
officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against him or
incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liabilities under such Section 145.

            Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto
validly approved by stockholders may eliminate or limit personal liability of
the members of its board of directors or governing body for breach of a
director's fiduciary duty. However, no such provision may eliminate or limit the
liability of a director for breaching his duty
3

of loyalty, failing to act in good faith, engaging in intentional misconduct or
knowingly violating a law, paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase
which was illegal, or obtaining an improper personal benefit. A provision of
this type has no effect on the availability of equitable remedies, such as
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty. The Company's Charter
contains such a provision.

            The Company's Charter further provides that the Company shall
indemnify its officers and directors and, to the extent authorized by the Board
of Directors, employees and agents of the Company, to the fullest extent
permitted by and in the manner permissible under the laws of the State of
Delaware.

            In addition, the Company has entered into agreements (the
"Indemnification Agreements") with each of the directors of the Company pursuant
to which the Company has agreed to indemnify each director against claims,
liabilities, damages, expenses, losses, costs, penalties or amounts paid in
settlement (collectively, "Losses") incurred by such director and arising out of
his capacity as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company to the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law. In addition, each director shall be
entitled to an advance of expenses to the maximum extent authorized or permitted
by law to meet the obligations indemnified against. The Indemnification
Agreements also obligate the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for the
benefit and on behalf of each of its directors insuring such director in or
arising out of his capacity as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company.

Item 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

            Not Applicable.

Item 8.     EXHIBITS

Exhibits
--------

4.1   --    Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
            amended (incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration
            Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-11427)).

4.2   --    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (incorporated by
            reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
            (Registration No. 333-11427)).

5.1   --    Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, counsel to the
            Company, regarding the legality of the Class A Common Stock being
            registered.

23.1  --    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  --    Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in
            Exhibit 5).

24    --    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
4

Item 9.     UNDERTAKINGS

            (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (i) to file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
registration statement or any material change to such information in this
registration statement; (ii) that, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (iii) to remove from registration by
means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

            (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is incorporated
by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the registrant's Certificate
of Incorporation or by-laws, by contract, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
5

                               SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on September 29,
1997.

                              U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.

                              By: /s/ Michael A. Leven
                                  -------------------------
                                    Michael A. Leven
                                    Chairman, President and
                                    Chief Executive Officer

            We, the undersigned officers and directors of U.S. Franchise
Systems, Inc. hereby severally constitute Michael A. Leven and Neal K. Aronson
our true and lawful attorneys, and each of them singly, with full power to sign
for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement,
and generally do all such things in our name and behalf in such capacities to
enable U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. to comply with the applicable provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they
may be signed by our said attorney to any and all such amendments.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signatures                        Title                       Date
        ----------                        -----                       ----
/s/  Michael A. Leven        Chairman, President, Chief Executive    September 29, 1997
---------------------------   Officer and Director (Principal
      Michael A. Leven        Executive Officer)

                             
 /s/  Neal K. Aronson         Executive Vice President, Chief         September 29, 1997
---------------------------   Financial Officer and Director
      Neal K. Aronson         (Principal Financial and Accounting
                              Officer)

 /s/  Irwin Chafetz                     Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------   
      Irwin Chafetz          

                             
 /s/  Richard D. Goldstein              Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Richard D. Goldstein
6
Signatures                        Title                       Date
        ----------                        -----                       ----
/s/  Barry Sternlicht                  Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Barry Sternlicht

 /s/  Dean S. Adler                     Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Dean S. Adler

 /s/  Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld             Director                      September 29, 1997
---------------------------                                
      Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld
7

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibits
--------

4.1   --    Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as 
            amended (incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration 
            Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-11427)).

4.2   --    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (incorporated by 
            reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 
            (Registration No. 333-11427)).

5     --    Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, counsel to
            the Company, regarding the legality of the Class A Common Stock
            being registered.

23.1  --    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2  --    Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in 
            Exhibit 5).

24    --    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).