We go through this and a whole lot more, so dig in! 10 Steps to Starting a Travel Agency from Home. We're big fans of host agencies for people starting a travel agency . We don't get that many entries so it's definitely worth your time to ask those questions! Make sure you have this conversation early on before accepting the position. Many of these positions allow you to work from home for a travel-based company, sharing posts and connecting with their customers. If you want to become a home-based travel agent and want to start this business on your own, the first step is to find a good host agency. Would you rather work for a large company with extensive resources, or a smaller one with DIY spirit and more intimate connections between workers? We recommend it to probably 90% of our readers. Next step in starting your travel agency? A business plan! You can also save big on your own travel with great discounts! Here are the steps to take to start your travel agency from home: A niche is your friend. So "certifications" are not transferable. Read more. But it gives you something to refer back to and helps you organize your thoughts. And while jet-setting is certainly a perk, planning travel from home happens to be one of the best remote-work jobs out there. When you work as an Au Pair, youll live with a family, helping them with household chores and childcare. Greg Guiteras is the CEO of Lorraine Travel, LLC, one of the largest privately-owned travel management companies in Florida founded in 1948. Or, check out resources on other types of travel agent careers: How to Become an Independent Travel Agent. Consider a Host Agency. Let's take a look at how to become a travel agent, why it's something you may want to consider and the. . We help women find work-at-home jobs and home-based businesses that feed their souls. Like the FEIN, when starting a travel agency, you don't need a separate business bank account or credit card if you're a sole proprietor, but you'll have wished you'd had set one up come tax time! This, "I'm supposed to attend a meeting on becoming a travel agent. Starting your travel agency (from home or otherwise) is a lot of work. Well start by having you download the travel agency business plan template (an editable version of the one you just looked at above). It's totally my jam. While I didn't write a business plan for Host Agency Reviews, I did write a VERY detailed travel agency business plan for you. The average annual salary for a travel agent is $43,351 per year. Most programs will teach you about the business side of being a travel agent as well as how to plan trips, so your courses in itinerary planning and travel insurance will be coupled with business ethics and customer service. You can deduct those travel expenses from your taxes as part of your business! It's important to know that you can change your business structure as your needs evolve. General consumers arent eligible for these programs, but once youve become a registered travel agent, they become accessible to you; however, some programs such as Hyatt Priv are invitation only. If you're becoming a small business owner by opening a yoga studio, for example, you will need to rent a space, deal with permits, buy supplies, build a website, and pay yoga teachers and someone to work the front desk. If you are mixing finances and paying personal bills out of your business account, or vice versa, that opens you up to personal liability. On the other hand, if you're hoping to parlay your experience in a semi-related industry, be it marketing or hospitality, that can help because you'll have even more context for your new gig. Looking for more intel? How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Use social media like Facebook and Twitter to link your business to your existing contacts. Thank you for your input. Your salary can also depend on the city and state in which you work and your experience level. You can also look at local tour operators and see if they have any openings for tour guides. Ask away! Would you rather be a sole proprietor? This could mean booking a cruise or a hotel room online, or planning a multi-country journey that includes flights, transfers, tours and restaurant reservations. Courses such as those mentioned above can help train you to do this and run a successful business. If you love the idea of working and traveling, but youre unsure about becoming a travel agent or consultant, there are many other options available. Under Holly's guidance, The Work at Home Woman was named one of the best websites for your career by Forbes two years in a row. The exact amount will vary depending on the business. Travel agent salary. Certificates of tourism can be very helpful, but so can previous training in marketing, hospitality, or even event planning. Join the Fora community! Go on a few cruises yourself. If fine wine is on your list of interests, pair it with areas on your list of destinations that include wine countries, such as France, Italy, or California. Here's what you should know before becoming a travel agent. The good news is that we were so curious to answer this question that we asked a few hundred new travel agents about their income in the first years of starting a travel agency. In one year, she was able to generate $5,000 a month from her blog, all while traveling the United States and Canada. Updated June 2023. In general, I would recommendgetting an EIN when starting a travel agency. Best of all, many of these positions come with travel perks! Stay at the resorts and get yourself familiar with the offerings. Since a Google search will bury any mention of you online under a million other sites regarding the Don, come up with a business name that does not incorporate your own name in any way. 1 Consider what sort of travel agent you wish to be. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. As long as you have an internet connection, you can make money selling dream vacations. My friend, Julie Bonner, has a travel blog where she documents her familys RV travels. Stop hitting dead ends on your job search, and find jobs that meet your exact needs! On the plus side, it requires relatively little overhead. If you don't have a lot of experience, you may want to work as an independent contractor for an online travel agency for a little while to learn the ropes. You will have to think about what type of business you want to become. Registering your company with the state is an important step because you will need this proof to open a business bank account and other random things (running FB business ads, getting a loan) as your business grows. Probably not. Certification is not a legal requirement to be a travel agent, so if the host agency does not offer their own certification process, you can still apply and possibly be hired. Becoming an LLC is a good happy medium because it can help protect you as a business entity without having as many associated costs. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Because it can save you a lot of money and may even earn you some in the process. Becoming a travel agent will likely mean starting your own business. Are you going to be focusing on a destination? .but it's not for every agency out there. .but it's not for every agency out there. What are travel host agencies? Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Points Guy. We updated this resource and republished it on publish date above. Here's a peek of the business plan, but head on over to the companion travel agency business plan article to download the editable version and more details on how to fill it out. All new franchise owners will receive comprehensive training at the six-day STAR . Whether your specialty is Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, or YouTube, you can earn good money through paid sponsorships, advertising, and affiliate marketing. In general, it will take a few years to get your agency off the ground. Sign up to take the first steps today to become a travel advisor. For example, lets say that you personally share the same name as Donald Trump. If you travel frequently, becoming a travel agent can be a huge benefit to you, as it offers discounted rates and access to luxury travel options. Get formal training Most travel agents require at least a high school diploma, but some college education can help you gain essential knowledge in areas such as tourism, best business practices, international affairs, travel insurance, strategy, finances and marketing. If getting into the nitty-gritty of travel logistics is something you do in your spare time, you might also enjoy becoming a travel agent. Greg holds a BS in Marketing from Florida State University. Hyatt, meanwhile, will give you a discount on personal travel of up to 50%, but only during select dates of the year. If you want to be an independent contractor, it likely means you're working as part of a larger host agency, which is smart to do when you're starting out as a travel agent. Clients, clients, clients. You probably want to know what you can expect when it comes to money, huh?! Once you start your travel agency from home, you'll have lots of other things that will demand your attention so laying the proper groundwork as soon as you can is smart business. You Have a Desire to Be Your Own Boss. As your business grows and you're making more bookings (which exposes you to more liability), you can always move to a structure that gives you more personal liability protection, like the LLC. 2151995-50Florida - Seller of Travel Registration No. You also might not get things like health benefits from your employer. You'll learn how to become a travel agent from home alongside fellow advisors. Independent travel agents still need to use state-of-the-art technology to manage their customer relationships, make timely bookings, and track commissions accurately. ". She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited. Separating your personal bank account from the business accountfrom the start makes accounting easier and will help you keep track of business expense write-offs. If you enjoy working with high school and college students, consider becoming a local coordinator. Learn more: How to get a refund from a travel agency. Make money and . Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Step 3: Define your company's USP and structure. 2023 Host Agency Reviews, LLC. Learn more: Uncommon tips for saving money on travel. Marriott, for example, gives agents a commission of between 8% and 10% for all eligible stays booked. Check out our guide on how to become a cruise travel agent.) The first step is to establish your area of expertise. Phew. Read, If you'd like to view the site without cookies or want to know more, read our. DBA is an acronym for "Doing Business As." Here's the things to consider when choosing your travel agency's name! I also like to get my pencils lined up from the get-go. If starting your own business seems intimidating, many companies within the travel and hospitality industry hire at-home travel consultants, reservationists, and planners for full-time and part-time positions. A word of warning: When doing a DBS, your businesses, even though they have different names are still legally considered the same entity. It's the convenience of working with one person who will handle EVERYTHING. For these work from home positions, youll generally need your own device (laptop or computer) and a high-speed internet connection. And that's what we're here for! Yuppers. If youre working as an independent contractor, the host company will usually train you; some host agencies charge a fee, while others do not. Let's say you fell into becoming the local destination wedding expert that everyone turned to. . When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. The last thing you want as your travel agency opens its doors is a letter saying you've infringed on someone else's trademark! In most industries, you require the support and infrastructure of a reputable corporation in order to reach anything above plain sailing. Before you start your very own agency, however, it is recommended that you start your career as an independent contractor for an established host agency so you can learn the ins and outs with minimal startup costs and less financial risk. How much you can earn will vary as well. Learning how to become a travel agent from home has its benefits (home-cooked lunches, location flexibility, extra time with pets and loved ones). :). Starting any business is no walk in a park, but it certainly helps if you have someone to advise you and lay out a path. But over time, that might change. A solid international calling plan, can-do attitude and a few potential clients dont hurt either. Use this price information to determine what sort of income your clients would need to afford these trips. . Get EIN as sole proprietor, not your personal SSN. Figure out what you want to specialize in as a travel agent and what sort of client base you want. If you prefer to create your own schedule and be your own boss, become a local tour guide! One of the great things about becoming a work at home travel agent is that its a relatively easy startup business idea, and the costs are low. Here's a great reading list that will give you an idea of what you might expect to earn when starting a travel agency: The travel industry opens possibilities of traveling to beautiful places to help you do your job better. They look similar, but Disney World's Cinderella Castle offers more to do than Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Discounts are out there, but the best way to save is by booking your ticket in advance, taking $30 off the price. Get established by creating a budget and learning about the industry before coming up with a business name, and registering your company. That was good stuff, right? For more information on traveling and making money as an ESL tutor, check out the resources below. When working with a host agency, there's very little risk, and the up-front costs are relatively low! This is where a business plan can help. Traveling to another country as an Au Pair is a great option if you enjoy working with children. Ask us questions in the comments, drop us a line via email, or reach out to us on social. There's a lot that goes into what is the best fit for you. There are a variety of programs to choose from, depending on your interests and career goals. Becoming a work from home travel agent might be your ideal work at home career path! This article has been viewed 566,014 times. Global Travel Agent. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. When you start your travel agency, you may have registered it as Margarita Travel. It all depends on your experience, the number of clients you retain, hours worked, and commission and support from your host agency. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Maya Kachroo-Levine is the senior editor at. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. We'll walk you through the steps you need to take to start a travel agency from home. Travel agents have access to negotiated rates that arent available to the general public. While meeting with the travel agent, you can discuss the pros and cons of working for a larger agency, too. // If you're looking to become an independent travel agent and start your own travel business from hom. Carefully weigh your agency options and perform background research. Just starting to narrow down hosts? Yup. I started a webpage to blog about my travels, and found during this time a lack of promotion or credible options near where I live. However, this does not influence our evaluations. It's a number to identify your business. Show your customers you care. To learn how to find a job working for an online travel agency, scroll down! Do not sell or share my personal information. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. What a business plan does for you is it forces you to think through each different area of your business and come up with a plan. Making Commissions: If you're working for a larger travel agency as an independent contractor, how do commissions work? And, while it's true that living in the age of Expedia means travel agents are not as vital as they once were, people use them a lot more than you might think. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Learn more about the travel industry Find out what it means to coordinate safe domestic and international travel. Updated on August 1, 2022 Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan Photo: Morsa Images/Getty Images If you're someone who spends your days scanning flights, loves hotel rewards points, and in general,. Locally-based hosting can be easier for new agents who might need extensive support and training. Starting your own travel agency from home lets you cater to clients however you see fit. If youre big into elite status benefits, this is definitely something youll want to consider especially since you dont need any status at all to receive these perks, as long as you book through the hotels agent portal. ', To help you get a feel for the pros/cons of a dual-brand, listen to Andrey Zakahrenko's story of how his agency evolved into two brands: (This was our first ever podcast so please forgive the horrible sound quality!). The great thing about blogging is its affordable and easy to set up, and there are many free ways to promote your content through social media. To become a travel agent online, start by choosing an area to specialize in since it will make you more competitive, like romantic getaways or corporate traveling. Depending on which host company you use and which country to travel to, your housing may be free or purchased at a reduced cost. . Do you have personal assets like a house or car that you want to make sure are protected? Its true: anyone with a passion for travel and a little spare time can make $$$ becoming a travel agent from home, whether as a side hustle or full-time business. It depends on soooo many factors. And money. If you are an LLC, the SBA also has a state-by-state guide on how to register your LLC. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Not only that, connecting with host agencies, travel franchises and consortia couldn't be easier! Raise your hand if you love to travel. Just being a travel agent is not enough- you would also need to provide reasons why people should choose you instead of another provider. Sign up to get access to book vacation packages, airfare, cruises, business travel & much more and earn commissions while you save! The latter books personal vacations for individuals. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. How do you decide on a business structure? There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It can be totally overwhelming. You could start your career right after high school, or you could put in one to four years to earn a certificate, associate's, or bachelor's degree in tourism. You can go directly to their profile to write them via Host Agency Reviews' Q&A feature. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Related: 8 Key Travel Agent Skills (With Tips for Using Them) 6. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Important information provided on starting a business in the travel and tour industry. Whats the catch, you ask? If you get sued as an LLC, someone can come after your business holdings, but can't come after your house, car, or personal savings. This article was co-authored by Greg Guiteras. Your next step is going to be one of the hardest and takes a lot of research.