Travel at Home Business

Sell travel in your own home-based business.

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Breaking into the travel business is a good way to start a service-based business from home. You can base your business on referring travelers to travel companies, or you can make money by booking their reservations yourself. You also have options when it comes to how you will conduct your travel business. You may, for example, book all types of travel for your clients or choose a niche on which to focus. No matter how you choose to structure your business, however, you'll have an opportunity to earn money while helping others to enjoy visiting new places.

Step 1

Look for training opportunities before you start your own travel business. For example, you may take a community college travel agent course that introduces you to different types of bookings, reservation software and the legalities of running a travel business.

Step 2

Decide whether you will start your business as a referral agent, sign on with a host agency, or start an independent travel business from scratch. As a referral agent, you will refer clients to travel companies and receive a referral fee for each person who makes a reservation. If you sign on with a host agency, you will use the host agency's contacts to book reservations with a range of companies and receive travel agent commissions for bookings. If you decide to start an independent travel agency, you will likely have to make your own contacts and negotiate commissions for your bookings.

Related Reading: Ways to Start A Home-Based Business

Step 3

Evaluate whether you want to sell all kinds of travel or start a niche travel agency. Sometimes focusing on a specific area of travel, such as adventure travel or honeymoons, makes it easier to target a specific type of customer and slims your competition.

Step 4

Contact travel companies if you will start a referral business or an independent travel agency from home. Negotiate referral fees if you will be a referral agent. If you will start an independent travel agency, negotiate contracts that includes commission amounts for each booking you make.

Step 5

Sign on with a host agency if you prefer to conduct your business under the umbrella of an established agency. You will book reservations using the host agency's system and contacts. In most cases, your business will split commissions travel companies provide with the host agency. You may be charged a startup fee and monthly fees to work with some host agencies.

Step 6

Consider paying for a computer reservation system if you will start an independent travel agency without the help of a host agency. This may enable you to book a wider variety of reservations directly with travel suppliers. Many travel companies will not require you to use a CRS to make reservations, however.

Step 7

Create a business plan. It should include your startup costs and how you will fund your business. Your business plan should also include details about finding customers. In addition, your business plan may better help you to stay on track if you include details about how you will keep your business running until you start to earn a significant profit.