Expedia Cruises vs Travel Agents International
Expedia Cruises vs Travel Agents International: Expedia Cruises costs $150K to $259K to open; Travel Agents International costs $33K to $94K. Expedia Cruises has 7 units, Travel Agents International has 7. SBA loan history: Expedia Cruises = 7 loans (28.6% default); Travel Agents International = 9 loans (22.2% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Expedia Cruises vs Travel Agents International: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Travel Agents International requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($33K vs $150K for Expedia Cruises), a 350% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Travel Agents International operates 7 units to Expedia Cruises's 7. Expedia Cruises has been operating 10 years (founded 2016) versus 5 for Travel Agents International (founded 2021), a 5-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Travel Agents International has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 9 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Expedia Cruises. Expedia Cruises's peak SBA year was 2017 (6 loans); Travel Agents International's peak was 1994 (3 loans). Expedia Cruises's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Expedia Cruises has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 4. Travel Agents International leads in VA, with 1. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Expedia Cruises deals is $128K vs $60K for Travel Agents International, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 28.6% for Expedia Cruises and 22.2% for Travel Agents International, Travel Agents International has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 25 (Fair) for Expedia Cruises and 33 (Fair) for Travel Agents International, giving Travel Agents International the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 25/100 | 33/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 7 | 9 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 28.6% | 22.2% |
Peer Tier | emerging | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $150K to $259K | $33K to $94K |
Franchise Fee | $49K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 9% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 4% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 7 | 7 |
Franchised Units | 7 | 7 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2016 | 2021 |
Franchising Since | 2008 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 18 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | N/A | Orlando, CA |
Category | Travel Agencies | Travel Agencies |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Expedia Cruises or Travel Agents International?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Expedia Cruises: $150K starting · Travel Agents International: $33K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Travel Agents International
Expedia Cruises: 7 SBA loans · Travel Agents International: 9 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Travel Agents International
Expedia Cruises: 28.6% · Travel Agents International: 22.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Expedia Cruises: 7 units · Travel Agents International: 7 units
More lender financing options
Travel Agents International
Expedia Cruises: 5 unique lenders · Travel Agents International: 8 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Expedia Cruises vs Travel Agents International: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Expedia Cruises and Travel Agents International is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $33K to $259K.
Expedia Cruises has 7 SBA loans on record and Travel Agents International has 9. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Expedia Cruises vs Travel Agents International, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Expedia Cruises or Travel Agents International?
How much does a Expedia Cruises franchise cost compared to Travel Agents International?
Can I finance Expedia Cruises or Travel Agents International with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Expedia Cruises or Travel Agents International?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman