Franchise: CruiseOne
Franchising Since: 1993
Headquarters: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Number of Units: 970
About CruiseOne Franchise
CruiseOne is a travel agency that sells cruise and travel packages, but franchisees can also earn commissions on travel insurance, shore excursions, land packages, escorted tours, independent tours, all-inclusive resorts, hotels and car rentals. A CruiseOne franchise can be run anywhere with an Internet connection — whether it’s at home, an office building or retail storefront.
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CruiseOne is part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency. Gain instant affiliation as part of a powerhouse in the travel industry with unrivaled buying power, relationships and resources.
Other factors contributing to the franchise’s success:
- Marketing — CruiseOne creates award-winning marketing and lead generation programs for our Cruise Franchise Owners. This includes its “Four Dimensional Marketing Plan” that is comprised of online marketing, offline marketing, public relations and a team of in-the-field business development managers to support you with your localized plan.
- Technology — CruiseOne has invested an additional $1 million in technology enhancements. CruiseOne employs cutting-edge technology solutions specifically designed for franchise owners. These web-based business tools provide everything you need to market, sell and service your clients and include customized websites, a well-equipped proprietary reservation system and a private intranet.
- Dedicated Corporate Headquarters Team —A full support team of nearly 90 corporate employees are at your reach for continuous guidance. This includes 24-hour technical support and customer service which are essential to the growth of your business.
Financial Assistance
CruiseOne provides financing, so for as little as a $3,500 down payment, a qualified applicant can become a CruiseOne franchise owner.
Term of Agreement and Renewal
The length of the initial franchise term is five years. Franchisees do not have renewal rights. Granting the option to enter a successor franchise agreement is discretionary with the franchisor.
Breakdown of Costs
The following information is compiled from the Franchise Disclosure Document of CruiseOne (2015). The FDD will provide you with in-depth information regarding the costs and expenses you can plan to incur when developing a CruiseOne franchise.
Initial Franchise/Development Fee: $9,800
CruiseOne offers an initial franchise fee discount program, which includes 20 percent off for U.S. veterans as part of its VetFRAN initiative and 10 percent off as part of its DiversityFRAN initiative through the International Franchise Association. Experienced travel professionals with a valid CLIA or IATA card and previous gross departed sales of $100,000 will receive up to 70 percent off, and those with previous gross departed sales of $200,000 will receive up to 95 percent off the initial franchise fee.
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Training Expenses: $200 to $250
Full training is provided during a six-day initial training program — located in the cruise capital of the world, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Plus, dynamic continuing education opportunities educate you on the core components of the travel business while focusing on specific operational tools to ensure your success. CruiseOne also offers a kick-start program for your business and share best practices with you. CruiseOne takes care of the hotel accommodations, breakfast, lunch and complimentary transportation to and from the training facility. It is also possible to receive reimbursement for airfare and ground transfers.
Additional Signatories/Associates Training and Travel: $0 to $995
Office Equipment and Furniture: $0 to $1,500
Initial Office Supplies: $50 to $300
Computer Hardware/Software Equipment: $0 to $2,500
With CruiseOne’s proprietary technology, franchisees can access up-to-the-minute cruise line pricing, see live cabin availability and make reservations directly with the cruise lines without ever picking up the phone. CruiseOne’s reservation system called Cruise Control is a Customer Relationship Management tool, Booking Engine, and Franchise Financial Management tool all rolled into one. All the software provided is web-based, firewall protected and complies with the highest industry standards for data encryption.
Insurance, Legal and Accounting: $150 to $1,500
Permits, Franchises, Bonds & Memberships: $150 to $650
Initial Promotion and Advertising: $1,200 to $2,400
Criminal and Civil Background Check: $0 to $30
Additional Funds (3 months initial phase for full-time franchisees): $1,000 to $2,500
Financing Application Fee: $0 to $75
ESTIMATED TOTAL: $3,245 to $21,850
These figures are estimates in setting up a CruiseOne franchise and operating it for three months. It is possible to exceed costs in any of the areas above.