Craters & Freighters vs AIM Mail Centers Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Craters & Freighters vs AIM Mail Centers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
AIM Mail Centers Franchise
Investment $176,850 - $276,500$35,525 - $172,750
Franchise Fee $31,500$29,950
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 1%2%
Year Founded 19901985
Year Franchised 19911989
Term Of Agreement 15 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years15 years
Renewal Fee -$5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
AIM Mail Centers Franchise
Experience It is not necessary to have a background in packaging, crate building, or transportation to operate our franchise. Our franchise owners come from widely varied backgrounds from Doctors to CPA's to Engineers. Our staff has the experience and credentials to guide you through an extensive training process in all aspects of running the operation including packaging, crating, and shipping procedures to administration, accounting, marketing, & sales.
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Craters & Freighters Franchise
    AIM Mail Centers Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Craters & Freighters Franchise
    AIM Mail Centers Franchise
    Training 10-day training program in Golden, CO Training includes classroom and hands-on experience in an operating franchise in Colorado. Owners are trained on, and provided with, the company's proprietary eBusiness Management System Software, Center Opening Handbook, Operations Manual, Policy and Procedures Manual, Freight Carriers Guide, Packaging & Crating Manual and Marketing Manual. Also includes business preparation, proprietary software, pick-up and delivery, transportation, bills of lading, shipping invoices, accounting, marketing, advertising, promotion, start-up operations, pricing and quoting, packaging and crating, insurance, tracers and claims, warehousing, personnel and international shipping. On-The-Job Training: 32 hours Classroom Training: 80 hours Additional Training: Regional meetings/annual convention
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 21% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 2

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Craters & Freighters Franchise
    AIM Mail Centers Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Craters & Freighters

    Starting a franchise format business can eliminate some of the risk of opening an independent business because the concept, brand and name recognition have already been established. The new franchise is the beneficiary of the years of experience of those in support positions at the home office and of all the franchisees that have gone before them. The corporate team is in place to initially provide support in launching the business that includes forecasting and planning for business opening expenses, identifying a location, space planning, shop equipment, supply and inventory purchasing, staffing and training on a broad range of topics key to administering the daily operations of the business. Many more support functions are furnished throughout the life of the franchise pertaining to growing the business and its ongoing operations.
    The Craters & Freighters network provides a distinct advantage over any would be competitor. Instead of being an independent business operation, the new franchise owner directly benefits from the services provided by the Craters & Freighters network of locations. The network provides a big competitive edge allowing our franchise owners to operate as a team. And finally, a franchisee has an additional advantages in controlling cost of goods as the combined spend of the system is used to negotiate discounted prices for goods and services on behalf of the franchisee.Craters & Freighters is the right choice as our ownership benefits provide: *Franchise Support *eBusiness Management Software *In House Engineering Services *Insurance Programs *Brand Identity *Marketing, Advertising & Promotion *eMarketing *Dynamic Center Opening Marketing Program *Opening Assistance *Sales Support *Craters & Freighters Global Logistics *Meetings, Seminars, Regionals & Conventions *Large Trade Areas *Economies of Scale *Networking Advantage
    These are just a few of the advantages to becoming a Craters & Freighters Franchise owner!

    About AIM Mail Centers

    AIM Mail Centers, a 20 year old company based in Irvine, California, has developed a unique and attractive franchise opportunity designed for motivated professionals. AIM Mail Centers are complete business service centers offering a wide array of products and services for large and small businesses plus general consumers. This includes shipping services with UPS, FedEx and the US Postal Service. We provide packaging, stamps, fax service, notary public, mailbox rentals, photocopies, office supplies and much more. AIM Mail Centers' advanced systems, extraordinary training and on-going field support make AIM Mail centers the right choice for entrepreneurs who want to be in business for themselves but not by themselves. The SOHO (small office/home office) based business market is growing at a remarkable rate. From a base of 6 million home offices in 1980, more than one in four U.S. workers in 53 million households is now regularly working at home at least part of the week. For the past five years at a rate of one every 35 seconds, someone has begun a full or part time business in their home. With this, as well as residential customers, the demand for shipping, postal and business services continues to boom.
    • Commercial Center: $99,700 to $172,750
    • Commercial Center-Conversion: $35,525 to $147,975
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee