How to Start a Travel Agency From Home

A home-based business gives the option to launch your new venture in the comfort and ease of your home. But like all businesses, starting a travel agency from home requires research, planning and patience. There are several steps that you must follow to kick off your travel business.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Register your business by following your state laws. For a home based travel agency, open two separate bank accounts, one for holding your business finances and the second one for keeping money sent in by your clients.

2. Decide whether you want to start a travel referral agency or a home travel agency that books and sells travel packages. In case of a referral agency, contact existing travel agencies and offer them a partnership.

3. Make a business deal with one travel company or multiple companies. Negotiate a fair commission fee for referring clients.

4. Start a full fledge travel agency from home by writing a business plan. Create a system to handle the financial aspects of the business. Determine the kind of travel agency to open such as cruise travel, vacation home, luxury travel, safari or regular travel agency that books flights and hotels.

5. Become a member of travel agent societies to boost your credentials and increase the confidence of customers and business partners. Join the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA) or the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

6. Make a contract with a host travel company which will act as the middle supplier between you and the airlines, cruise lines or tour operators. Such an agency can help you start off your travel agency and with time you can make your own contacts and network group.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep a lively attitude when addressing customers to help to spread a good name of your business.
• It is always advisable to take business and travel courses before opening a home based travel business to increase your knowlege and confidence.
• Provide discounts to your customers to increase the popularity if your travel agency.
• Research your business options for a travel agency before deciding on a particular specialty.

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[DIESHOT69]

on 9/25/2008 i just want 2 no how can i get da membership to IATA and CLIA....wat r da main points dat i hav 2 catch wit?????? If anyone can give me deep description of dis pls mail me @ [e-mail].......

[speser]

on 9/21/2008 Starting with a Host Agency is typically the easiest and cheapest way to get started since the host agency will already have deals and training set up as well as memberships to IATA and CLIA and other travel organizations. Granted you may have to share part of your commission but it sure beats having to spend a ton a month to cover all the costs when a host agency can do it for you.

Again it is a good way to get started and once you do have the hang of it plus a client base you can break off and start your own agency if you would like, but remember the Host Agency is doing all the background paper work and legal work for you.

Rusty Jordan
www.rustyjordan.ws