Cruise Planners vs Travel Leaders Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cruise Planners vs Travel Leaders including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Cruise Planners Franchise
Travel Leaders Franchise
Investment $2,295 - $23,665$2,270 - $17,910
Franchise Fee $695 - $10,995$0 - $2,500
Royalty Fee 1% - 3%$474-995/mo.
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19941888
Year Franchised 19991984
Term Of Agreement 3 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 3 years5 years
Renewal Fee -$1K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Cruise Planners Franchise
Travel Leaders Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Cruise Planners Franchise
Travel Leaders Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/YesYes/No
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
Equipment No/NoNo/No
Inventory No/NoNo/No
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/NoNo/No

Training & Support

 
Cruise Planners Franchise
Travel Leaders Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: Ongoing Classroom Training: 58.5 hours Additional Training: Available-
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet PlatformNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketingCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations Franchise can be run from home.

Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 1 - 2

22% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


Expansion Plans

 
Cruise Planners Franchise
Travel Leaders Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion NoNo

Company Overviews

About Cruise Planners

Since 1994, agents for Coral Springs, Florida-based Cruise Planners/American Express Travel Service have been connecting business and leisure travelers with the ideal cruise. Franchisees work from their homes, selling cruises full or part time. 

Veteran Incentives
28% off franchise fee, free training for co-owner/associate, $250 marketing credit, $60 design credit, 3 months free technology access, free software license, 1 year free errors & omissions insurance

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In Franchise Business Reviews' Top 200.
#46 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

About Travel Leaders

In 1872, Georges Nagelmackers began his company, Wagons-Lits, to install sleeping compartments in European trains. A few years later, he created the Orient Express. In 1888, Ward G. Foster founded Ask Mr. Foster, a travel agency based in St. Augustine, Florida.

Each company expanded'Wagonlit throughout Europe and Africa, Ask Mr. Foster across the United States and Europe. Carlson Companies Inc. purchased Ask Mr. Foster in 1979; the company changed its name to Carlson Travel Network in 1990. Carlson Travel Network and Wagonlit Travel merged in 1997, forming Carlson Wagonlit Travel. The new company serves travelers in more than 140 countries.