Start A Travel Agency Home Business
by JoAnna Gilford
Aaahh, here I am...sipping my fruity tropical drink (with that little umbrella in it) on a serene, sunny beach! No phones, computers or peanut butter fingerprints on my blouse....
How did I get here? Ok, ok, so I'm daydreaming...but if I wanted to go in real life, I'd call a travel agent! Have you ever thought about working as an independent travel agent? Meet Sonya Hicks of Bound4travel.com in Spokane, Washington. She has been interested in working as a travel agent for a long time. 15 months ago it became a reality for her!"Becoming a travel agent had always been an interest of mine, but I never found the opportunity to go to school for it. After a year of searching for a job that I could do from home, I finally ran across an opportunity to become an independent sales agent for another travel agency. This allowed me to train in the travel industry and to open my own agency. I have never regretted it, and am very thankful that I chose this business."
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in creating your own travel business?
"The biggest obstacle in creating my own travel business was deciding where on earth I was going to find clients who needed to travel? But as I soon found out, everyone I knew was willing to help me out. I have friends, relatives, acquaintances, and even former employers as clients now. I also have several clients that I have never met face to face, just online. So although this started out as my biggest obstacle, it really hasn't been much of problem.
What would you say is the market you target your services to?
"I target corporate travelers, families with children, and adults who need to get away from the daily pressures of life. I specialize in Disney and cruise vacations, which of course are excellent vacations for anyone!"
What guidelines do you use to price your service?
"Because this is my business, I have chosen not to impose any service fees. Most agencies do charge fees, but since I do not have the overhead a traditional agency does - I am able to get away with not charging anything. This may change in the future for me, but for now I am able to stand out above the rest by not imposing these fees."
Are any certifications necessary?
"In my state, there is no certification required. I believe that there may be some states that do require certification, but you would need to check with your state's Department of Licensing for details. My state does require a Seller of Travel License. This license can be obtained for a fee, and is mandatory if you will be selling travel in this state."
What about specialized equipment?
"Specialized equipment really isn't necessary when you're just starting out. A computer and your telephone are going to be your best friends as an independent agent. Most independent agents start out working with a host agency. A host agency allows you to book travel using their accounts for a percentage of your commissions. A host agency is also beneficial for running airline tickets for you. To book airline tickets, you must be ARC bonded, which takes special certification and thousands of dollars for the equipment. There is also a ton of paperwork involved each week with having to report all your ticket sales. So, most independent agents work with a host agency who takes care of all of this for them. It enables agents to focus more on selling and servicing clients."
Is it realistic to think a travel agency business can be started for under $100.00?
"Yes, it's very realistic to start a travel agency for under $100.00. But, this also depends on factors such as: what does your state require for licensing?, do you already own a computer?, do you have a home office setup?, etc... My setup did cost me over $100, but that was because of my state's licensing fees. Had it not been for that, it would have cost me virtually nothing to get started."
Where do you find your customers?
"My customers thus far have all come from word of mouth advertising. These include those I've met in person and those I've met online. In the several months I've been in business, I have not done any traditional or formal advertising."
Do you have any advice for people starting a travel business?
"One piece of advice I highly suggest is to do your research! There are several host agencies out there that may work for some people, and not for others. You really need to research and find out what each agency will offer you and what the cost will be. For example, if you do not have any previous experience in the travel industry, it's a good idea to look for an agency that will provide support to you. Keep in mind that not all agencies are the same, and not all are good. Make sure you check references and contact other agents who are with them to find out what they have to say about them."
Also, I strongly suggest that you find something to specialize in. Find something that you know a lot about and then promote it. For example, I specialize in Disney and cruise vacations. I focus my efforts around these two parts of the industry. So if you have knowledge in places to golf, or certain types of sporting events, or if you've visited a certain location several times, etc... you will do yourself good to specialize in these areas. There are many travel agents out there, so you need to set yourself apart from them. You can't know everything, so market what you do know. It will pay off, big time! And clients will appreciate the in-depth knowledge that you provide. It's one of the things that people remember the most, the quality of service you provided."Do you know of any resources our readers can use to get more information about travel agencies?
"There are a couple of sites online that are very helpful for those wanting to learn more about becoming a travel agent. The following are links to some of these sites:
ASTA http://www.astanet.com/index.asp
NACTA http://www.nacta.com/
OSSN http://www.ossn.com/
ICTA http://www.icta.com/
Operating a travel agency is hard work, since you are doing everything for your business. You find the clients, you book the travel, you follow up, etc.. But it's an extremely rewarding career - financially and personally. If you would like further information about becoming an agent, check out the sites listed above and feel free to contact me at sonya@bound4travel.com. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. My website is http://www.bound4travel.com, but it is in the process of being redesigned so there really isn't much information on it right now."Hard work aside, it must be satisfying to hear someone say, "I had a GREAT vacation! Thanks a lot!" That's when you get to smile, drink your hot cocoa or cappuccino and daydream about tropical fruity drinks and sandy beaches!
c 2001 by JoAnna Gilford
JoAnna Gilford manages Real Jobs Online, and is committed to real
telecommuting employment and education. Author of "Work at Home
Workshop: The Truth About Telecommuting" and editor of RJO's daily,
free newsletter: "Telecommuting Job of the Day". See a sample issue
online at http://www.realjobsonline.com/sample.htm
All That Women Want It was made for you!
Back to Magazine Index
