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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cruise Holidays vs A & A Cruises & Tours including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $9,500 - $72,800 | N/A |
Franchise Fee | $9,500 - $30,000 | N/A |
Royalty Fee | up to 3% | - |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1984 | - |
Year Franchised | 1984 | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Renewal Fee | none | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | -/- |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | -/- |
Equipment | No/No | -/- |
Inventory | No/No | -/- |
Receivables | No/No | -/- |
Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | - |
Support | E-Newsletter, Annual Convention, initial and ongoing training opportunities, Toll-free phone line and e-mail support, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National online marketing, Direct on Demand marketing, "On Your Behalf" marketing | - |
Operations |
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 for home-based; 2 for storefront
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | Yes | - |
Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays is North America's largest cruise-specialty retail franchise, with more than 200 locations in the United States and Canada. As our name suggests, our retail travel stores as well as our home-based franchise owners specialize in cruise travel, providing unparalleled expertise in matching clients with the cruise ships and destinations that are right for them.Cruise Holidays' parent company, Travel Leaders Group, is a travel agency powerhouse with approximately 1,300 franchised and wholly-owned agencies under a variety of brand names. Cruise Holidays is based in Minneapolis, MN, with a Canadian head office in London, ON. Because of the size of the Cruise Holidays network, the proven expertise of its owners and agents and the unparalleled strength of its industry connections, Cruise Holidays is considered by many of the world's best cruise lines and travel suppliers to be a distribution system of choice. As a result, Cruise Holidays can offer its clients an amazing array of cruise vacations at highly competitive prices. And since Cruise Holidays agents can arrange travel on any cruise line in the world, the list of destinations seems endless. Cruise Holidays is also a distinguished provider of land-based vacations.
NO LONGER IN THIS BUSINESS
A & A Cruises & Tours' Independent Travel Consultant program has enabled numerous individuals just like you to start up their own travel businesses on a modest start-up budget. By working from your home or office as an Associate with A & A, you can avoid the major expenses usually associated with starting up a new business. Many money-saving benefits can be gained as an Associate with A & A:
* You will have minimum overhead working out of your own home or office.
* When A & A trains you to become an agent, the training is tax deductible. There are many other tax benefits associated with affiliation, including deductions for familiarization trips, travel expenses, dining and entertainment, and office expenses. Always consult with your accountant who can advise you about your specific deductions and ways to save you money.
* Following your training, you can take advantage of the special travel discounts available to travel agents.
* With a home office, you will not need a sales tax permit, credit card equipment, rent, bonds or permits. A & A will also assist in registering those Associates who reside in the following states that require licensing or registration of travel sellers: California, Florida, Hawaii, Ohio.