Rank no.267 – Travel Leaders – US
Rank no.267 – Travel Leaders – US
Products & Services: Travel agency
Number of Locations: 357
Total Investment: $3.59K – 15.43K
Founded: 1888
Began Franchising: 1984
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. Then in 2008, that company joined with Travel Leaders and Tzell Travel Group to form what is known today as the Travel Leaders franchise.
Franchise Units
| YEAR | U.S. | CANADIAN | INTERNATIONAL | COMPANY OWNED |
| 2013 | 339 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| 2012 | 340 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2011 | 365 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 2010 | 362 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 2009 | 407 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing
Franchise Fee: $0 – $1,500
Ongoing Royalty Fee: $474-995/mo.
Term of Franchise Agreement: 5 years, renewable
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Net Worth: $750,000 – $1,000,000
Liquid Cash Available: $500,000
OPERATIONS
27% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10. Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators).
