Craters & Freighters vs SOHO Hero Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
SOHO Hero Franchise
Investment $176,850 - $276,500$175,000 - $190,000
Franchise Fee $31,500$29,500
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 1%2%
Year Founded 19901997
Year Franchised 19912000
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
SOHO Hero 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.-

Financing Options
 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
SOHO Hero Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
Equipment No/Yes-/-
Inventory No/Yes-/-
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support
 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
SOHO Hero 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.-
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
Marketing Ad slicks, National media-
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)

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Expansion Plans
 
Craters & Freighters Franchise
SOHO Hero Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion Yes-

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 SOHO Hero

The SOHO HERO concept was launched when savvy young entrepreneur and Atlanta resident, Chris Kouloukas, discovered that small office and home office business professionals had no place to go for meetings and other vital business services.  As a result, the SOHO HERO Business and Meeting Center concept was born, and today the company provides a comprehensive resource for business owners and professionals who work from home, telecommute or are in need of private, professional meeting, work or conference rooms.  SOHO HERO represents a new ‘world of work’ scenario that provides our Small Office, Home Office professionals, a comprehensive suite of business services, professional meeting spaces, wi-fi connections, and state-of-the-art video-teleconferencing. SOHO HERO Business and Meeting Centers provide a complete menu of presentation and communications tools and upscale meeting facilities for the ‘new mom & pop shops’ that have embraced the electronic age and understand the value of interactive business tools and opportunities. We handle all of the business services needs that our customers would normally be able to get if they worked in an office environment, but don’t have access to since they are working from their homes.