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12 Travel Business Ideas

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If there is one thing most people can agree on, it’s that traveling is one of life’s great pleasures. Exploring new cultures, visiting the world’s great wonders, spending days following your instincts and trying exotic foods — there’s a lot to love about discovering new places.

If you want to take your love of travel to the next level and start a business to serve your like-minded wanderlusters, you should consider these fun and profitable travel business ideas.

What is a travel business?

There are two overarching types of travel businesses worth considering. First, you could think about starting a business that provides services or goods for travelers — running a hotel, for example. The second option is to start a business that you can run from anywhere in the world while you yourself travel. In many cases, this type of business revolves around travel, such as working as a travel writer and writing stories about your latest adventures.

What makes a travel business idea a good one?

A good travel business should combine two things: reliability and excitement. When you run a travel business, your clients need to be able to trust you. They need to feel confident that the tour group you run is legitimate and will show them the best sites. Or that the blog you run about the best inns on the east coast actually gives honest reviews.

At the same time, you need to offer services or create content that excites your customers. Introduce them to sights off the beaten path. Help them unwind and relax while on their vacation. Find a way to create trust amongst your customer base while offering them an experience they can’t find anywhere else.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

12 travel business ideas for 2021

If you’re unsure of what type of travel business ideas could work for you, keep reading for some popular options. These ideas range widely and you should put your own creative spin on them. At the end of the day, think back to your passion for traveling. What services or products have made the most difference to you on past trips? What did you feel was missing? Can you find a way to make a living on the road while capitalizing on your skillset? Chances are, you have more ideas at the ready than you think.

1. Modernized bed and breakfast

B&Bs have been popular for decades — they outlive trends and are clearly here to stay. But why not step things up a notch and find a way to modernize the bed and breakfast experience a little bit? Make sure your rooms are outfitted with nice televisions so guests can enjoy a movie night in their cozy room. Offer unique culinary experiences. Decorate in a way that feels timeless but fresh at the same time. A bed and breakfast is a smaller operation than a hotel and is a great way to break into the hospitality business. If you need a little help funding your bed and breakfast, consider one of these financing options.

2. Off-the-beaten-path tour guide

Tour groups are a dime a dozen. But if you can offer a unique tour, you’ll be able to stand out from the competition. What do you love about your city? Maybe you can find the best coffee, chocolate, or salty treats at your local shops and restaurants. Organize a foodie tour of your town that highlights how your local delicacies are made. Of course, you’ll have to include tastes of all the local treats.

Or consider organizing a tour of some lesser-known sites. Surely there is a natural activity or historical site that tourists haven’t caught onto yet. If you can give your travelers a taste of local life or make them feel like they’ve uncovered something special, then your tour guide business will thrive. Maybe some locals will even join in on the fun.

3. Glamping

Here’s a fun fact for you: By 2025, experts estimate the glamping market in the United States alone is projected to reach a revenue of around $1 billion. It sounds like the great outdoors is getting a little fancier. What exactly is glamping? Glamorous camping.

Glamping combines nature with the comforts of home, and usually Champagne. That’s right, after a long day of hiking or river rafting, campers can return to decked-out campsites that offer spa treatments, wine and gourmet meals. The perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. If you can create a campsite that melds the best parts of nature with resort living, you’ll be in business.

4. Remote travel agent

Long gone are the days of travel agent offices. The truth is, thanks to the internet it’s easier than ever to plan a trip. Anyone with a computer can choose between hundreds of flights, hotels and restaurant reservations. The ease of access is great, but the time it takes to weed through those options might not be available to everyone. This is where a remote travel agent comes in.

You’ll work out of your own home which saves the customer costs on overhead expenses. For a more affordable price, remote travel agents can help busy travelers plan their next vacation from anywhere in the world. Help them book the best hotels, unique activities and provide them with all of their important travel bookings and documentation.

5. Travel consultant

Even though their job titles sound similar, a travel consultant is different than a travel agent. A travel consultant usually specializes in solving complex travel issues. For example, they may specialize in helping adoptive parents travel abroad to make the task of adopting a child from a foreign country run smoothly. Or they might assist businesses with complex assignments like learning how to cater to new cultures during business deals. Travel consultants generally focus less on tourism and more on helping iron out logistical issues.

6. Travel photographer

As a travel photographer, you’ll have plenty of options for making money off your passions for travel and photography. You can sell photos taken while traveling to newspapers, magazines and websites. Or you can sell your favorite shots in your own online shop. You could license your gorgeous photos of Paris or Peru to companies that create goods like calendars or art prints. Perhaps you want to help create stock photography for big companies like Getty Images. Point being, we live in a very visual world and there are plenty of options for starting a travel photography business.

7. Create a haunted attraction

Want a surefire way to make sure your hotel or guided tour drum up enough business? The solution is easy: Make it haunted. This may seem like a business better suited for Halloween time, but people are ready to get their scare on year-round. These haunted attractions do particularly well in historic locations like towns on the east coast where there are plenty of ghost stories to go around. Do some research and then let your imagination take care of the rest. You might want to load up on business insurance just in case your haunted attraction is too scary.

8. Teach cultural classes

It’s time to share your unique culture with the world. Offer fun classes for tourists that will make them feel like locals, whether that be a Creole cooking class or an art class that captures a local style of painting. Help tourists pick up a skill that they won’t learn anywhere else, like how to make an authentic cup of Turkish coffee or bake a truly Parisian croissant.

9. House or pet sitting

Sometimes a travel business does its best work when helping travelers look after what they left behind. House or pet sitting can be a great side hustle to take on if you’re looking for a little extra cash. Of course, you could always start a larger business like a kennel that takes care of beloved pets while their owners are jet-setting around the world. Some people are even willing to pay for plant hotels that keep their plants in tiptop shape until they return from vacation. Consider a travel business that will give your customers peace of mind while they are far from home.

10. Travel blogger

You’ve traveled the world and, boy, do you have some good stories to tell. So why don’t you then? By starting a travel blog, you can make money by sharing your experiences. You can offer up travel advice, share photos from your journey and review restaurants and hotels. Once your blog picks up some steam (aka gets a decent amount of pageviews and monthly visitors) you’ll be able to make money from ads hosted on your website, sign up for affiliate programs, or create sponsored content for brands. If this sounds like your ideal business, this guide can help you start a travel blog.

11. Ecotourism

Sustainability is all the rage right now and for good reason. It makes sense that those who value exploring the world want to keep it safe. Which is why ecotourism (also known as green tourism) is such a potentially profitable idea. Essentially, ecotourism allows travelers to learn about local culture and wildlife in a low-impact way.

Generally, these types of tours or services (like hotels) try to minimize the impact of traveling while giving tourists the education and tools to help positively impact the environment and community they visit. Many travelers are even willing to spend more on hotels if they are environmentally friendly. If you can find a way to show tourists a good time while helping them make a positive impact, you’re sure to have a popular business on your hands in no time.

LLC Formation

12. Home rentals

Do you have a gorgeous pool house just waiting to be turned into an oasis for weary travelers? Consider starting a home rental business. You can list any rooms in your house that are available to rent out (or even your entire house if you’re headed out of town yourself) on home rental websites like Airbnb or HomeAway. If you live in a popular area where hotels are particularly pricey, then you may be able to fetch a pretty penny by allowing customers to rent rooms in your home.

The best part is, you get to set your price. You only have to rent to people who can meet your price and who you think would be a good tenant (Hint: They need as many good reviews as you do). This can be an ideal business for bringing in extra money to help fund your next vacation. Just make sure that your town, apartment complex, or homeowners association allows you to rent out your property and that you’re following proper regulations.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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How to Become a Travel Agent—Because, Believe It or Not, the Industry Is on the Rise

There’s a reason “how to become a travel agent” has been a continuously trending search phrase on Google—it is a career path that offers a flexible work environment and schedule, ample travel opportunities, and an immersion into a supportive world-wide industry. It's a surprise to some in 2023: Once the internet became widely available, it was largely believed that needing a travel agent was obsolete. However, even though the brick-and-mortar agencies with punny names in strip malls have vanished, the career is on-the-rise .

New software options are making it easier than ever for people to make money planning trips, either as a side hustle or as a full-time business. That’s why Cherikonda, India-based stay-at-home mother, Maya Kapoor-Miller, decided to enter the professional world as a travel agent this year, at 31. “I knew nothing about the travel industry prior to signing up,” says Kapoor-Miller, who decided to use San Francisco-based booking platform Dreamport to establish her online travel advisor business. “It is my first business in life, and the only one that you can start with no investment.”

But there's also a rise in demand. When people ventured back into the world after the pandemic, travel agents saw an overwhelming amount of business . And that momentum hasn’t stopped—when travel is complicated, like it was in 2020 and 2021, travelers turned to professional trip planners to create a seamless vacation. For better or worse, traveling has remained complicated and chaotic, with new rules being implemented (like Americans needing to pay a fee to visit Europe in 2024 ) and airline strikes and staffing issues. Offloading all of the nitty-gritty details to someone else is more appealing than ever.

For those entering the field, there's also the age-old motivator: a love of travel. 

Shelton Ellis, who is based in North Carolina, recently saw these opportunities and left behind more than 20 years in public relations and global advertising to turn his passion into a career. “I was born with a wanderlust that would wear Rick Steves out,” Ellis says. “I decided to take the leap and follow that lifelong yearning. Transitioning into this role was really about learning how to monetize what I'm passionate about.”

Whether you are looking for a new career path or a lucrative side-hustle—or simply curious about those taking the plunge—here’s how to become a travel agent, from the qualifications and education required, to anticipated earnings, according to those who have made the shift in the past year. 

What exactly does a travel agent do?

Travel agents, or travel advisors (the term is mostly interchangeable), manage everything that goes into a trip for their clients: the flights, car transfers, accommodations, restaurant reservations, and more—they even inspire the itinerary. The reason people turn to travel agents, aside from having a helping hand during any travel chaos , is also to tap into the travel agent’s first-hand knowledge of destinations, and their industry partnerships, which often lead to perks such as hotel upgrades, ideal airplane seats, and experiences that can’t be found on a search engine.

“You have to remember that as a travel agent, you will be a guide for people during their happiest moments—family reunions, weddings , baptisms, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that people have dreamt of,” says Kapoor-Miller. “It has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a travel agent. You navigate people, inform them, and help them choose.”

So, how do you become a travel agent?

There are many ways to become a travel agent, from joining an existing travel agency , to starting an independent business from the ground up. Others are opting for one of the buzziest start-ups in the travel industry, Fora . When it launched in 2021, the software company, which trains and provides search engine-optimized profile pages to advisors—at one point had a waitlist of over 30,000 people eager to begin a part-time gig. Travel photographer and Condé Nast Traveler contributor Amanda Villarosa is currently in the process of joining.

“I'm the person that friends and family come to for travel recommendations, tips and tricks, and general travel advice,” says Villarosa. “After discovering Fora and looking into it, I realized that it could be the perfect side-hustle, considering I'm already so involved in the industry.”

With additional flexibility, Villarosa was able to move from New York City to splitting her time between Denver and Los Angeles . She says that the sign-up was quite straightforward. “You're given a dedicated Fora email and have access to advising tools and fellow Fora advisors,” she says. “The training is in the form of Zoom meetings and videos, which you have the option to watch at your own pace. Once completed, you take a certification quiz and you're on your way to advising.”

The other ways in are slightly more involved. To begin an independent practice, you go about it like many other businesses. You will have to create an LLC, establish a business name, cultivate marketing materials, build a website, find clientele, and more.

Ellis found something in the middle, choosing to connect with an established travel agency. “Don't be afraid to reach out to an agency looking to take on new advisors and is willing to mentor," says Ellis. "I was fortunate to learn so much from Annie Chambers, the owner of Crafted Escapes , who has seven years in the business.” He now knows the ropes on everything from using itinerary-building software to destination-specific training, to the sales and marketing aspects of the trade.

Is there required education or qualifications?

Ellis says that there's no certification, per se, required to become a travel advisor, but there are countless training courses available like Departure Lounge ’s classes on navigating the industry through hotels and tour operators. He said it’s also important to stay on top of travel trends. Ellis recently completed travel agent training programs provided by premier cruise lines such as Virgin Voyages , Ritz-Carlton Yachts , and Cunard to help agents sell their products more accurately.

How much does a travel agent make?

What a travel agent earns depends on how many trips they successfully book for their clients. The entire model is commission-based, meaning agents earn a percentage of the total cost of the vacation they orchestrate. Many travel advisors choose to charge a flat-rate planning fee in addition to their commission, but balance is key—if you charge a high planning fee, it could lead to potential clients going elsewhere.

Fora ’s website states that “some of our full-time, expert advisors earn well into the six figures (or beyond).” So a lucrative career may be on the horizon, for those who are able to build a robust client base and excellent industry connections.

How much you make can also depend on where you live around the world. “I am being paid in dollars,” says India-based Kapoor-Miller. “So the currency fluctuations of the local exchange rate are not something I am worried about.”

What are the key skills required to become a travel agent?

“Travel agents need a mix of customer service, communication, destination knowledge, organizational, and problem-solving skills,” says Kapoor-Miller. “But I would say that adaptability, flexibility, curiosity, and cultural sensitivity top them all—you have to put yourself in other's shoes, and understand the requirements, hopes, and expectations of your clients along with any worries and questions they may have.”

It’s vital to have a passion for traveling, even the aspects of the process that aren’t as exciting, such as learning about new airline routes, train schedule updates, and industry news. “It can be an information-heavy hustle, and I believe it's important to be excited about it as that energy definitely transfers to your clients and partners,” Villarosa says.

Should travel advisors choose a specialization?

Many travel advisors have found success through becoming an expert in a few types of travel and destinations. “It's important to become an authority and learn as much as you can through personal experiences and continuing education,” says Ellis. “As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community , an avid snow skier, and scuba diver, I know not only the popular destinations but others that are off the beaten path, equally safe and adventurous for all travelers.” This helps travel agents establish a competitive edge, and hopefully convince potential clients to choose them for their expertise.

What are the benefits of being a travel agent?

“Flexibility tops them all,” says Kapoor-Miller. “And the ability to start without industry knowledge. If you worry that you are too old for this job, the good news is that this is a job you can enter and enjoy at any age.”

Another great perk is the "Familiarization trip,” says Ellis. “Tourism boards and hotels invite agents to visit and familiarize themselves with a particular country and its properties. After all, any accomplished salesperson should learn everything they can about their products first-hand...even if they're in Bora Bora.” It's hard work, but someone's got to do it. 

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Travel Agency

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Travel Agency – Learn from Real Entrepreneurs

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on December 13, 2021

Investment range

$2,150 - $10,600

Revenue potential

$78,000 - $300,000 p.a.

Time to build

0 – 3 months

Profit potential

$62,000 - $90,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Starting your travel agency? Here are the most vital considerations:

• Choose a location — Select a location that is easily accessible for clients and employees. Consider whether you will operate from a home office, a commercial space, or offer remote services.
• Niche — Decide on the types of travel services you will offer, such as leisure travel, corporate travel, group tours, cruises, and destination weddings. Consider whether you will specialize in specific niches, such as adventure travel , luxury travel, or eco-friendly trips.
• Travel agent certification — Consider obtaining travel agent certifications such as those from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or The Travel Institute to enhance credibility and access to industry resources.
• Booking software — Invest in travel booking software and tools to manage reservations, itineraries, and client information. Look for solutions that integrate with global distribution systems (GDS) for access to flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Register your business — A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple. Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the best LLC services on the market.
• Legal business aspects — Register for taxes, open a business bank account, and get an EIN .
• Website and online presence — Create a professional website showcasing your services, destinations, client testimonials, and contact information. Offer online booking options and maintain active social media profiles to engage with potential customers.
• Partnerships — Build relationships with airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other travel service providers to generate referrals and access exclusive deals.
• Learn from real entrepreneurs who run a travel agency:
• The Journey of Building a Premier Travel Agency with Casey Halloran
• How Zoom Vacations Found a Niche in Luxury Gay Travel

Interactive Checklist at your fingertips—begin your travel agency today!

You May Also Wonder:

Is a travel agency profitable?

If you run your online travel agency from home, you could have profit margins of up to 80%. Costs to run your travel agency are very low, and you’re paid around a 10% commission on everything that you book. As a home-based, one-person show, you could make $60,000 per year to start, and much more once you’re established.

Should I rent an office space for my travel agency?

Consumers are turning to online travel agencies more and more, which you could easily run from home. If your business grows fast and you need to add staff, you may want to have an office.

How can my travel agency compete with Expedia?

Some consumers prefer the personal service of a smaller online agency that can offer more local, personal insights about travel destinations. The key is to differentiate yourself in some way. You could specialize in certain locations, a specific type of lodgings, such as cabins, or in a type of vacation such as corporate retreats.

What are the main activities of a travel agency?

Travel agencies engage in activities such as providing travel advice, booking travel arrangements, managing logistics, and offering specialized services tailored to clients’ needs.

Is it hard to run a travel agency?

Running a travel agency can have challenges due to intense competition, evolving industry dynamics, regulatory considerations, seasonal fluctuations, and the need for customer satisfaction and crisis management. 

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Every business has its pros and cons, and a travel agency is no exception. You should weigh these carefully to decide if the business is right for you.

• Flexibility – Work from anywhere, even while traveling!
• Minimal Training – Get accredited for free online
• Travel Discounts – Travel agents get top deals and reduced prices
• Demanding Work – With clients around the world you’re on call 24/7
• Fierce competition – Top sites like Expedia, travel networks, advisors, and more

Travel agency industry trends

The US travel agency industry expanded an impressive 75% in the decade leading up to 2020, which saw a massive pandemic-driven downturn. 

In 2021, many travel agents saw a surge in business as travelers unsure of all the constantly changing Covid-19 rules and restrictions turn to them for help, rather than booking their own trips. Global travel advisor InteleTravel experienced a 35% increase in business, not from the disaster year of 2020, but from 2019, which had set records.(( https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/travel/summer-vacation-travel-agents.html ))

Consumers are also turning more and more to online travel agencies, with a study by Expedia showing a 25% increase in the use of online agencies in 2020 alone. Brick-and-mortar agencies seem to be a dying breed, with British travel icon Thomas Cook closing in 2019.(( https://advertising.expedia.com ))

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – Market research firm IBISWorld values the industry at nearly $48 billion in 2022.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/travel-agencies-united-states/ ))  
• Growth forecast – The industry is expected to grow further as the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted a 5% annual growth through 2030 in the employment of travel agents.(( https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/travel-agents.htm )) 
• Number of businesses – More than 73,000 travel agencies are operating in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/travel-agencies-united-states/ ))
• Number of people employed – The industry employs more than 250,000 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/travel-agencies-united-states/ ))

Trends and challenges

Trends in travel agency industry include:

• Home-stay rentals like Airbnb(( https://stepbystepbusiness.com/business-ideas/start-an-airbnb-business/ )) outperformed hotels in 27 top markets during the pandemic
• Book-now-pay-later options, such as those offered by Expedia and Booking.com, are gaining popularity
• Travel agencies undergoing digital transformation in response to the growing demand for online services

Challenges in travel agency industry include:

• Rising gas prices are impacting travel behavior
• Compliance with global Covid-19 protocols
• Keeping up with digital marketing opportunities

What kind of people work in a travel agency?

• Gender – 76% of travel agency managers in the US are female, while 24% are male. (( https://www.zippia.com/travel-agency-manager-jobs/demographics/#gender-statistics ))
• Average level of education – 64% of travel agency managers hold a bachelor’s degree.(( https://www.zippia.com/travel-agency-manager-jobs/demographics/#degree-level-types ))
• Average age – The average age of a travel agency manager is 51 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/travel-agency-manager-jobs/demographics/#age-statistics ))

How much does it cost to start a travel agency?

The startup costs for a travel agency range from about $2,000 to $10,000, with an average of around $6,000. The high-end includes the rental of office space and a larger marketing budget, but you could easily run your online travel agency from home to cut costs.

How much can you earn from a travel agency?

The commission paid to a travel agency by travel vendors such as airlines and hotels is generally about 10%. Some travel agents also charge a nominal consultation fee for each booking, typically between $30 and $50. Those will be your two revenue streams.

The average cost of a one-week domestic vacation is $1,500 per person. The profit margin for a home-based travel agency is usually about 80%. With an office and staff, your margin will likely drop to about 30%.

In your first year or two, you could work from home and sell five two-person vacations each week. At a 10% commission, this would mean $78,000 in annual revenue. You’d have about $62,000 in profit, assuming an 80% margin.

As your brand gains recognition, sales could climb to 1,000 two-person vacations a year. At this stage, you would rent an office and hire staff, reducing your profit margin to 30%. With expected annual revenue of $300,000, you would make about $90,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a travel agency. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Competition – Big and small online firms; self-booking travelers
• Client Acquisition – Time and marketing will be required to build a reputation

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13 Steps to Start an Airbnb Business

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Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Successful Glamping Business

Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a travel agency, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

As a travel agency, you need to find a way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Research online travel agents and booking platforms to see their offerings and prices, while keeping an eye out for something that might be missing.

Perhaps you could specialize in travel to an under-appreciated region, such as Southeast Asia, and build a network of relevant contacts and vendors. Or you could focus on finding travelers the most incredible home-stay rentals at the best prices.

You could specialize in family vacations, corporate retreats, or honeymoons. The potential niche options in the travel industry are nearly endless.

What? Determine your services and travel offerings

Travel can involve many facets, and you can handle some or all of them, in addition to flights, lodgings, and car rentals. These might include:

• Booking tours and excursions
• Dining recommendations/reservation
• Travel insurance
• Visa and emergency services

How much should you charge for travel agency services?

Travel vendors, such as hotels, airlines, and car rental firms, pay a commission to travel agents that’s generally about 10% of the booking. For instance, if you book a $1,200 flight on Turkish Airlines for your client, Turkish Airlines will give you, the travel agent, a $120 commission.

As a result, booking flights with a travel agent sometimes costs the traveler slightly more than booking directly with the airlines or through a travel site like Expedia or Orbitz. Thus, to attract customers and boost sales travel agents rely on discounted travel packages.

For instance, a return flight from Chicago to Cancun and a 6-day stay at a four-star all-inclusive resort, plus ground transport, might cost a traveler $1,000 or more to book directly. But travel agents get significant discounts from vendors because they place volume orders, so you’d be able to offer this trip as a $599 package deal.

Even after paying your commission, the traveler still saves a chunk of money by using your services, rather than booking themselves. And keep in mind, the discounts offered by vendors are likely to increase as you become a more established agent. You may be able to negotiate commissions from tour operators and excursion companies as well.

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will depend on the concept you’ve chosen for your agency. If you’ve decided to specialize in family vacations, you’ll be targeting parents. You might find them on sites like Facebook or LinkedIn, rather than Instagram or TikTok.

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to run your business from home to keep costs low. But as your travel agency grows, you’ll likely need to hire workers and may need to rent out an office. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on Craigslist , Crexi , and Commercial Cafe .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Travel Agency Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better
• The name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “travel” or “bookings”, boosts SEO
• Choose a name that allows for expansion: “Wanderlust Adventures” over “Beach Bum Vacations” or “Honeymoon Haven Agency”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Travel Agency Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive Summary: Present an overview of your travel agency, highlighting its focus on providing personalized travel planning and booking services for various types of travelers.
• Business Overview: Describe the services of your travel agency, including custom travel itinerary planning, booking accommodations, flights, and special experiences.
• Product and Services: Detail the range of travel packages offered, such as luxury vacations, adventure tours, and corporate travel services.
• Market Analysis: Assess the current travel market, identifying target customer segments like families, honeymooners, or business travelers.
• Competitive Analysis: Compare your agency to others, focusing on your unique offerings like specialized destinations, personalized service, or exclusive deals.
• Sales and Marketing: Outline your strategy for attracting clients, using methods like online marketing, partnerships with travel providers, or attending travel expos.
• Management Team: Highlight the experience and expertise of your team in travel planning, customer service, and business management.
• Operations Plan: Describe the process of service delivery, from client consultation to trip execution and post-travel follow-up.
• Financial Plan: Provide an overview of financial aspects, including startup costs, pricing strategy, and anticipated income.
• Appendix: Include supplementary documents such as travel industry certifications, partnership agreements, or detailed client testimonials to support your business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to travel agencies.

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your travel agency will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just needs to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans : This is the most common method, but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans : The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants : A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Venture capital : Offer potential investors an ownership stake in exchange for funds, keeping in mind that you would be sacrificing some control over your business.
• Friends and Family : Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding : Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal : Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a travel agency. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.

Step 8: Apply for Travel Agency Licenses and Permits

Starting a travel agency requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your travel agency business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.

You may want to use industry-specific software to manage bookings and scheduling, such as TravelPerk , TravelCEO , and TravelOperations .

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero .
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

Your website should showcase your offerings, customer testimonials, and detailed information about destinations.

Your clients are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Leverage Social Media : Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to share stunning travel imagery, customer stories, and travel tips. Engage with your audience through regular posts, stories, and responses to comments.
• Content Marketing : Start a blog or a YouTube channel providing valuable content like travel guides, tips, destination reviews, and travel trends. This not only helps in SEO but also establishes you as an expert in the field.
• Build Partnerships : Collaborate with local businesses in your chosen travel destinations, such as hotels, tour operators, and local attractions. This can lead to exclusive deals or packages that you can offer to your clients.
• Email Marketing : Collect emails through your website and social media channels and send out regular newsletters with travel tips, special offers, and new package announcements.
• Customer Reviews and Referrals : Encourage your clients to leave reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor or Google. Word-of-mouth referrals are powerful, so consider offering incentives for referrals.
• Attend Travel Expos and Events : Participate in travel expos, seminars, and networking events to build contacts and stay updated on the latest industry trends.
• Offer Personalized Services : Tailor your services to meet individual client needs. Personal touches can make a big difference in the travel industry.
• Utilize Paid Advertising : Invest in targeted ads on social media and Google to reach potential clients. This can be particularly effective when you have special offers or new packages to promote.
• Stay Informed and Flexible : The travel industry is dynamic, so it’s important to stay informed about global travel trends, destination updates, and customer preferences.
• Sustainable and Responsible Travel : With growing awareness about environmental and cultural impacts, promoting sustainable and responsible travel practices can set your agency apart.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your travel agency meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your travel agency could be:

• Travel to Asia’s best secret destinations
• The best local insights and insider adventures
• Vacations for the whole family, from grandma to the baby!

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a travel agency, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in travel agencies for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in travel. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a travel agency would include:

• Travel Agents – sales and bookings
• General Manager – scheduling, accounting, staff management
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media, other marketing

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.

Step 13: Run a Travel Agency – Start Making Money!

Owning a travel agency means sharing the joy of travel for a living. What could be more fun? It’s also a huge, high-growth industry that you could tap into and grow a profitable business. Startup costs are low, and all you need is a simple accreditation — there’s no real training required. You just need a good concept for your agency and a great marketing plan. Having a strong online presence in this digital age is also an absolute must.

You’ve started off on the right foot by reading this guide, and now you’re ready to begin your trip to entrepreneurial success!

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Travel Agency Name
• Create a Travel Agency Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Travel Agency Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Travel Agency - Start Making Money!

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How to Start a Travel Business in 10 Steps

• February 16, 2022

The travel and tourism industry is one of the industries that has a significant impact on the global economy. And even though the pandemic has been harsh , starting a business in this sector can still be a good idea, if done correctly. 

Plus, with new trends emerging due to the pandemic, and as things start going back to normal, travel and tourism are slowly recovering. And while starting any business entails risks, if you’re willing to commit time and effort, starting your own travel business could be the best idea you’ve ever had.

1. Invent Your Brand 

Working on your idea is the first step when starting any business. This will help you invent your brand, with all of its elements. Decide what kind of travel business you want to run, choose a name, create a logo and a slogan. Make sure that they are powerful, so that once your brand is out there it will be easily recognizable. 

2. Work on Your Business Plan

Many decisions and tasks go into creating a business, and from the moment you decide that you are going for it, you should start working on a business plan. This is a dynamic document that describes the business in great detail. It contains an overview of the business, a market analysis, customer analysis, operational plan, marketing plan, financial plan.

Working on a plan for elements like marketing can allow you to allocate resources effectively. For example, marketing using postcards is a powerful and versatile strategy that combines the personal touch of direct mail with the visual appeal of a well-designed advertisement for a travel company. You will have to research what size is a standard postcard in mm and create your design accordingly in order to create something that appeals to your target demographic. All of these factors are a part of a strong business plan and the details will ensure the smooth execution of tasks such as these.

Your travel agency business plan will help you execute every task and strategy more efficiently, make better decisions, and avoid mistakes during the first phases of your project. More than that, once you start working it will help you run your business successfully, and eventually, grow.

3. Choose a Specific Niche

For new travel businesses, it’s a good idea to start with one specific market niche. Instead of offering many services, focus on something specific and excel at it. This means that you won’t have to compete with too many experienced travel agencies and, most importantly, you will be able to provide complete and high-quality service. 

4. Formalize Your Company

To start working you will have to fulfill a series of legal requirements to formalize your company, including registering your company and getting any necessary permits and licenses. The rules and regulations can vary depending on the adventures you want to offer, as well as the region you live in. You’ll also, at this point, have to choose the location from which you want your business to be run. For example, if you want to work from home and bypass having a real headquarters (so to speak), it might be worth investing in the services of a  registered office  provider. This way, you’ll be able to have an address to which potential customers can direct their calls and mail, without it all stacking up in your front room and running up your broadband costs. You’ll present a much more reputable face to clients should you opt to use a service that provides you with an address in a recognisable central business district, too!  

5. Identify Your Potential Clients

Whenever you are communicating something, or in this case trying to sell something, you must know who is interested. Identifying who might be interested in the services or products you are selling, will help you create so-called buyer personas . This, in turn, will help you determine the best ways to reach your target audience, or in other words, develop a winning marketing strategy. Also, it may help you find additional small ways in which you can increase your profit. 

6. Develop an Efficient Financial Plan

Aside from the funds you need for the initial investment, you need to make sure that you are ready to cover any expenses you may have in the first months. Some of the expenses you need to consider include registration fees, tax payments, renting an office, buying furniture, technology, hiring a marketing agency, creating a website, insurance, salaries, taxes, etc. 

7. Find Knowledgeable Employees

Efficient and productive employees are the most important part of any successful business. Make sure that the people you hire are experienced and knowledgeable so that you can rely on them for the tasks you assign to them. Also, once you are sure you have the right people, make sure to do anything in your power to retain them. 

8. Create a Website

It’s almost impossible to run a business without a website today, and most travel agencies operate entirely or at least partially online. People buy everything online these days, and travelers can find anything they are looking for on their devices. To offer a good user experience, and keep visitors interested, your website should be fast, easy to navigate, it should look well and it should be mobile-friendly.

9. Use Social Media

Social media is a great place for reaching your target audience. With a combination of paid ads and valuable content, it can be the ideal channel for promoting your brand and increasing visibility.

10. Offer Interesting Content

Even people who can’t afford to travel want to read about new places. Travel is addictive, and most who have traveled will do it again. This is why offering good content can be so effective when it comes to promoting such businesses. 

Starting a travel business is risky but, if done right, it can be very profitable. These steps can help you make sure that you aren’t missing something important and that you make the right decisions for a strong start. 

Related Topics

• hospitality careers
• setting up a travel business
• travel business
• travel careers
• travel jobs

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

11 travel business ideas to get you started

Starting a business  in the travel industry can be a lucrative opportunity where you’ll provide travel services to individuals and groups looking to get away, celebrate a milestone or travel for work. As people increasingly prioritize experiences over material goods, demand is consistently on the rise  for travel-related services. The consistent demand makes a travel business an appealing recession-proof business idea  as well. 

11 travel business ideas to inspire you

Here are eleven travel business ideas  to help you choose the right niche.

Travel agency services

Adventure travel planning

Luxury travel planning

Cruise planning services

Business travel management

Destination wedding planning

Cultural and historical tours

Family vacation planning

Eco-friendly travel services

Solo travel planning

Group travel packages

01. Travel agency services

Provide comprehensive travel planning services, including itinerary creation, accommodation bookings and transportation arrangements. This type of service is usually on a commission basis, earning you a percentage of the total travel cost.

02. Adventure travel planning

Specialize in planning adventurous trips, such as hiking expeditions, wildlife safaris and extreme sports vacations. This niche can attract clients seeking unique and exciting travel experiences.

03. Luxury travel concierge

Offer premium travel concierge services for high-end clients, including luxury accommodation, private transportation and exclusive experiences. This niche can be lucrative but requires attention to detail and a network of luxury service providers.

04. Cruise planning services

Focus on planning cruise vacations, including cruise line selection, itinerary planning and shore excursions. Cruises are popular among various demographics, providing a broad client base.

05. Business travel management

Specialize in managing corporate travel needs, including booking flights, accommodations and coordinating business events. This type of service requires a strong understanding of business travel requirements. This can be a great scalable business idea , as you can work with multiple businesses around the world or big corporations with multiple locations.

06. Destination wedding planning

Provide destination wedding planning services, helping couples organize and execute their dream weddings in exotic locations. This niche combines travel planning with event coordination.

07. Cultural and historical tours

Design and organize tours focused on cultural and historical experiences, catering to travelers interested in learning about different cultures and exploring historical landmarks.

08. Family vacation planning

Tailor travel packages for families, including child-friendly accommodations, activities and transportation. This niche can be rewarding, catering to families looking for stress-free travel experiences.

09. Eco-friendly travel services

Differentiate your business by offering eco-friendly travel solutions, appealing to clients with a focus on sustainable and responsible travel practices.

10. Solo travel planning

Cater to solo travelers by providing customized itineraries, safety tips and group travel opportunities. Solo travel is a growing trend, and this niche can tap into a lucrative market segment.

11. Group travel packages

Create and organize group travel packages for various interests, such as culinary tours, wellness retreats or photography expeditions. This niche can attract like-minded individuals looking for shared travel experiences.

How to get started with your travel business idea

Apply your industry knowledge and experience.

Develop a deep understanding of various travel destinations, accommodations, transportation options and industry best practices, depending on the travel services you offer.

Choose your specialization or niche

Consider specializing in a specific travel niche or industry to provide tailored services. This can help you gain a professional reputation in a particular niche, attracting repeat business and new clients. Pro tip: Create a business plan  to map everything out.

Build a professional network

Establish connections with travel service providers, hotels and other industry professionals to enhance your offerings. Consider creating a website  to expand your online presence and market your travel services.

Choose a legal structure for your business

Decide on the legal structure of your business, such as a sole proprietorship , LLC  or corporation . Ensure you comply with any regulations or licensing requirements in the travel industry.

Determine your pricing strategies

Choose your pricing model, whether it's service fees, commission-based or a combination. Research local market rates and competitors to ensure your pricing is competitive and reflective of the value you provide.

Travel business examples (built on Wix) to inspire

Wanderlust adventures.

This travel agency offers a variety of adventure travel packages, including hiking, wildlife safaris and cultural experiences.

Luxe Life Ventures

A premium travel concierge service providing exclusive luxury travel experiences for discerning clients.

CruiseDreams Planning

Specializing in cruise vacation planning, CruiseDreams helps clients find the perfect cruise experience tailored to their preferences.

Travel business ideas FAQ

What types of travel services can i offer in my travel business.

The travel industry offers a wide range of services. You can consider offering general travel planning, adventure travel, luxury travel concierge, cruise planning, business travel management, destination wedding planning, cultural and historical tours, family vacation planning, eco-friendly travel services, solo travel planning and group travel packages.

How can I attract clients to my travel business idea?

What equipment and supplies do i need to get my travel business idea off the ground, how do i determine pricing for my travel services, how can i ensure the safety of my clients during their travels, how can i differentiate my travel business idea from competitors, how can i expand my travel business idea as it grows, other business ideas to consider.

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• Corporate Finance

Corporate Business Travel: Everything You Need to Know

Katie Miller is a consumer financial services expert. She worked for almost two decades as an executive, leading multi-billion dollar mortgage, credit card, and savings portfolios with operations worldwide and a unique focus on the consumer. Her mortgage expertise was honed post-2008 crisis as she implemented the significant changes resulting from Dodd-Frank required regulations.

Corporate business travel involves the movement of individuals representing their organizations for work-related reasons. Whether it’s attending client meetings, industry conferences, or sealing business deals, this practice covers a range of activities essential for professional growth.

In the interconnected global business environment, where face-to-face connections matter, corporate business travel plays a central role in sustaining and expanding enterprises across borders. Businesses face challenges in optimizing this crucial element of their operations. Strategic considerations must be taken into account to use this element of business to its greatest potential.

Key Takeaways

• Corporate business travel can unlock new opportunities for business growth, offering the possibility of reaching new markets, connecting with a wider pool of prospects, or developing brand presence and reputation.
• Traveling for business has many benefits for individuals as well, providing them the chance to meet fellow employees, grow their career by participating in different opportunities, and network within the industry, not to mention experience new destinations.
• Business traveler safety and security are top priorities during corporate travel.
• To ensure that travel goes smoothly and stays within budget, companies should implement corporate travel policies and best practices for employees traveling on behalf of the company.

Importance of Corporate Business Travel

There are many business-related reasons to travel. It can encourage team building, promote learning, offer different perspectives, provide connection to a wider network, open up new markets, and drive sales. And whether or not the trip is for a specific purpose (such as a conference or a retreat), the benefits for employees and companies alike can extend beyond the stated intent of the trip, building confidence, cultural competency, relationships, and company reputation.

Many employees consider the opportunity to travel for work a desirable job perk, as it can offer the chance to venture somewhere that they may not ordinarily go, or to have a trip paid for by their company. And although expenses are associated with travel from a corporate perspective, they may be well worth the return on investment in terms of potential leads or sales—plus, many travel expenses are tax- deductible .

Types of Corporate Business Travel

Corporate travel can take many forms, including the chance for employees and executives to attend events, such as meetings, conferences, industry networking sessions, and fairs. Or a trip may take advantage of educational opportunities such as training sessions, seminars, and workshops. Retreats and guided trips can make for valuable team-building time in new contexts that unlock different perspectives and strengthen working relationships.

Businesses may send their employees to a different location to network, sell, teach, learn from, or generally connect with external contacts or internal employees in regional offices, or to act on behalf of the company in some way.

Additionally, from a client perspective, business travel may occur as a form of due diligence , ensuring that your vendors or suppliers are legitimate, legal, and compliant organizations—for example, traveling for regular audits to confirm that what you think is happening at your supplier organizations is actually happening.

Creating a Corporate Travel Policy

From a company perspective, travel can be a challenge to administer and manage . Costs can easily balloon out of control; travel logistics can be time-intensive to arrange; employees traveling on behalf of the company must be granted a great deal of trust; and like any form of travel, business travel can open up risks to safety, security, and health.

No matter the size of the business or the frequency or complexity of travel, a corporate travel policy can be a helpful tool for any company to set expectations for its employees, communicate guidelines and processes, keep expenses within budget, and streamline booking and logistics.

In creating a corporate travel policy, companies might consider the following for both domestic and international travel, as applicable:

• Purpose(s) of travel
• Which employees are eligible to travel
• Booking and expense approval processes
• Risks and liabilities of travel and how to manage them
• Expectations for employee behavior, including acceptable and secure uses of technology, personal vs. leisure time, communication, and entertainment while traveling
• Eligible expenses for employees while traveling, including per diem rates if applicable
• Determine if employees will be reimbursed for their expenses or given a corporate credit card to use
• Financial tracking, record-keeping, and reimbursement processes
• Acceptable booking practices and costs, including preferred agents or vendors
• Travel insurance

Of course, policies must also be communicated and enforced to ensure compliance and fairness. Including a travel policy as part of a corporate handbook or reviewing it in an onboarding or training module can be a good way to ensure that all employees receive and understand the information. Making it easily accessible for future reference on a shared drive or company portal will encourage employees to refer to it often.

Business travel managers estimate, on average, that spending on domestic and international corporate travel is at 77% and 74%, respectively, of where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Setting a Corporate Travel Policy

Corporate Business Travel Best Practices

There are many best practices that both employees and companies can keep in mind around corporate business travel to ensure that it is a successful experience. These encompass everything from administration and financing to employee behavior and well-being.

Booking Corporate Travel

Booking travel can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. To improve the booking process, save on costs, and streamline expense reporting, it can be helpful to designate preferred travel agencies, online platforms, vendors, and lodgings for employees and executives to book with. If the size of the company allows, it can also be helpful to hire an employee or team specifically to oversee and administer corporate travel, or designate this duty as part of an employee’s broader job description.

Managing Travel Expenses and Budgeting

There are many financial considerations when it comes to corporate business travel, and expenses and budgets must be carefully managed to keep costs under control. Many travel expenses are tax-deductible and can be written off, representing potentially significant savings for a company. Setting a budget and clear guidelines for employees about what can be an expense and what cannot is a must, as is creating and enforcing policies and procedures around tracking and reporting expenses.

Many corporate credit cards offer travel rewards and cost-saving opportunities for business travel, as do many other vendors and suppliers in the corporate travel industry. Businesses can take advantage of these to reduce inefficiencies and save on costs.

How to Manage Corporate Travel

Ensuring Traveler Safety and Security

As with any trip, business trips are not without safety and security risks, including the potential for political or civil unrest, crime, illness, injury, accidents, emergencies, natural disasters, cybersecurity breaches, or theft.

To protect their employees against unexpected and undesirable circumstances, at a minimum, businesses will want to have a travel insurance plan in place. It’s also helpful for businesses and employees to undertake some form of travel risk assessment to aid them in navigating potential risks, and outline safety and emergency preparedness guidelines within a corporate travel policy.

Employees should also know how to call if something goes sideways, such as hotel booking issues. A travel agent? A supervisor? If there’s a hurricane, you don’t have a car, and your flight is canceled, can you book another last-minute flight to get around the weather to get home? These details should be planned ahead for.

Maximizing Productivity During Business Trips

The overlap of business and leisure, sometimes referred to as “bleisure,” is one of the main draws of corporate business travel. However, there can also be pitfalls associated with this gray area. It can be difficult to stay productive while working remotely, whether due to the many distractions of a new environment (positive and negative), or because the trip entails an increased workload or time spent away from day-to-day job duties.

Employees looking to manage their time efficiently while away should get clarity on the intended purpose and expected outcome of their trip, and their employer’s and teammates’ expectations for their workload and communication frequency. They can also plan ahead to make the most of their travel time and downtime, and anticipate time zone differences to ensure smooth communication and adjustment to jet lag.

It’s important for employees to maintain work-life balance while traveling on behalf of work. Researching food, entertainment, and fitness options and preparing accordingly can pay off in terms of mental and physical wellness, especially for frequent travelers.

Tips for Business Travel Etiquette

Traveling anywhere, whether domestically or internationally, comes with responsibilities and expectations regarding employee behavior. Perception is one of the most important factors to remember when traveling as a representative of your company. You represent your company out in the public, so you need to ensure you’re displaying any key values that your company represents when interacting with vendors, clients, and peers.

This applies to cultural sensitivity as well. Travelers should do research in advance of their trip to ensure that they can be mindful of local customs and professional etiquette and behave with awareness and respect. Even the basics, such as learning appropriate forms of greeting or how to handle money and payment, and committing a few common words or phrases to memory can go a long way toward demonstrating good intentions and building a new relationship across cultures.

Sustainable and Responsible Business Travel

Recognizing that corporate travel can have a negative impact on the environment, many businesses and individuals are reexamining their travel practices and policies to see where they can make improvements. One example is reducing emissions by booking different means of transportation when possible. In general, seeking out vendors or companies that promote sustainable travel practices and responsible tourism, and that support local communities and ecosystems, can be a good first step to reduce environmental impact.

Technology and Tools for Corporate Business Travel

Software and technology tools can be immensely useful across all aspects of corporate business travel. Travel management and booking platforms; apps for tracking expenses, navigation, or converting currency; and translation and communication tools are all things that employees and businesses alike can take advantage of before, during, and after traveling.

When it comes to technology, it’s important to account for cybersecurity risks and only bring what is necessary to reduce the potential impact of damage, loss, or theft.

Managing Business Travel Expenses

What Is an Example of Corporate Business Travel?

There are many work-related reasons to travel, but many businesses will have their employees travel for conferences, events, sales and networking, seminars, meetings, team building, retreats, and to open up new business growth potential.

How Does Corporate Business Travel Work?

Corporate travel is simply travel for business-related purposes, so the nature of the trip will depend on its length and purpose. Companies whose employees travel frequently on behalf of the business should consider creating a corporate travel policy with information and guidelines for their employees.

Who Handles Corporate Business Travel?

Some businesses employ internal teams or individuals to manage corporate travel and business trips. At other times, employees are responsible for making their own arrangements within guidelines laid out by the company. There are also corporate travel agencies that businesses can leverage to streamline and optimize their bookings and costs.

The Bottom Line

Corporate business travel can be an invaluable path to both business growth and individual career development, building strong relationships and teams. No matter what form it takes, it’s prudent for companies to collect, implement, and communicate best practices for business travel to their employees in a company handbook or corporate travel policy. This should incorporate areas such as expense and booking management, safety and security, productivity, sustainability, technology, and employee behavior and etiquette.

Michela Buttignol / Investopedia

Internal Revenue Service. “ Understanding Business Travel Deductions .”

Global Business Travel Association. “ GBTA Business Travel Industry Outlook Poll .”

Harvard Business Review. “ How to Work and Travel at the Same Time .”

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10 Steps to Starting a Travel Agency from Home

If you're thinking of starting a travel agency from home, you're in luck. The cost to become a travel agent is relatively low and there are plenty of opportunities for someone with the passion to sell travel. Not only that, but starting a travel agency from home is becoming the most popular route to become a travel agent .

"Home-based independent advisors continue to dominate the travel agency landscape, accounting for 72% of travel advisors." -Phocuswright

According to Phocuswright's US Travel Agency Landscape 2023 , "Home-based independent advisors continue to dominate the travel agency landscape, accounting for 72% of travel advisors."

Want to throw your hat into the ring and start your own travel agency?

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. We're here to help support you and answer your questions as you start out on your new entrepreneurial journey!

PS: If you can't answer the question ' what do travel agents do ', let's have you read up on that first before you go all in on starting your own travel agency. 🤗

10 Steps to Starting Your Travel Agency From Home

Here's a summary of the steps to start your travel agency from home. If you've already completed some of the steps, you can click on the link to shortcut which step is best for you!

• Find your travel agency niche: Finding a travel agency niche is a great way to hone in on what about travel you're most passionate about. If you develop a niche, you'll be building your travel agency business on a strong foundation of your strengths, interests, and personal networks. Not only that, it will help you give direction as you start (and grow) your agency!
• Choose your travel agency name: This is often a step advisors struggle with, but don't skip it! Travel vendors need a travel agency name for their records. Make sure you have one ready so you can start selling travel.
• Choose a Travel Agency Business Structure: Most new-to-industry advisors will be choosing between a sole proprietorship or a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). It's a matter of balancing host requirements (if you go with one), business protections, your agency model, and your budget.
• Create a Travel Agency Business Plan: A travel agency business plan is a document that will help you cat herd all your amazing ideas for your business. It helps you define your mission and goals, helping you think through the process on how to get there. Best yet? We have a free 15-page travel agency business plan template you can use!
• Register Your Travel Agency with the State + Feds : This is a critical step so to legitimize your travel agency. You can register your LLC through the Small Business Administration (SBA) resource to find the steps to get registered with your specific state. This will enable you to do other fun steps like starting a business bank account.
• Get an FEIN : This is optional but recommended, here's why: It's free to get an FEIN, takes just a few minutes and if you move to a business structure that requires an FEIN in the future it will save you a few steps!
• Set Up Your Travel Agency Financials : Separating your business bank account from your personal account is required if you set up an LLC. But frankly, we recommend setting up business financials regardless of your agency model.
• Choose Between a Host Agency, Travel Franchise, or Your Own Accreditation: There are a lot of choices in which direction to go with your travel agency. Do you have your own vendor relationships and want to get your own travel accreditation? Do you want to partner with a host agency under your own brand so you take advantage of their aggregate sales volume? Do you want a turnkey agency option with a franchise? This will help you choose.
• Check Out Host Agency Reviews' Resources Page : Our resources page gives you tips on how to optimize our site to help start your travel agency from home.
• Sign Up for 7 Day Setup Accelerator Course: Within each of these steps, there are many many many other steps to starting a travel agency from home. (Yes, just like nesting dolls.) Our course gives you the tools and knowledge you need to go from the seed of an idea to hanging the shingle out for your travel agency!
• Bonus: Read up on what you can expect in terms of income potential as well as time and financial investment.

I know. It can be totally overwhelming. But if you're starting a travel agency from home, these steps will help prepare you to feel 10,000% (no those extra zeros are NOT typos!) more confident. What are the preliminary steps you need to take when starting a travel agency? Funny you should ask . . .

Here are the steps to take to start your travel agency from home:

1. Find a Travel Agency Niche

A niche is your friend. When you start your home-based travel agency, a niche will help you establish your brand, create your travel agency name, and allow you to focus your energies. Starting a travel agency without a niche is like traveling without a compass (or, let's be honest, a smartphone). Are you going to be focusing on a destination? Maybe you'll be like Andres Zuleta, who specializes in Japan tours:

Or maybe you'll focus on a type of travel, like Deb Fogarty, who specializes in cruising:

Or maybe you're like Will Medina and have a love for destination weddings and honeymoons:

Or maybe you're more attracted to the corporate world and aim to book travel for corporations like Karen Hurlbut:

Whatever your niche, it's the first problem to solve when you're starting your travel agency! We have a free brainstorming exercise to help you find niches that you're passionate about.

Try out our free brainstorming exercise on how to develop your niche here !

2. Choose Your Travel Agency's Name

Vendors will need a travel agency name for their records so have one ready before you start selling travel.

Whether you go with a host agency or choose to go independent, you're going to need a name for our agency. The vendors (hotels, cruise lines, airlines, etc) will need a travel agency name for their records so have one ready before you can start selling travel. Having a niche already picked out can help you as you decide on your travel agency's name .

Starting your travel agency (from home or otherwise) is a lot of work. The last thing you want as your travel agency opens its doors is a letter saying you've infringed on someone else's trademark! We help you through the things you need to consider when choosing a name for your agency. Are their any competitor's with similar names that will make it harder for you to pull up at the top of the search engines? Are the URLs available? Are their any copyrights? Is it too long to neatly fit on marketing materials? We go through this and a whole lot more, so dig in!

Here's the things to consider when choosing your travel agency's name!

3. Choose a Travel Agency Business Structure

You can change your business structure as your needs evolve.

A base step in starting your travel agency from home is deciding on a business structure. There's a lot that goes into what is the best fit for you. Do you have personal assets like a house or car that you want to make sure are protected? How much money do you want to spend?

We help you understand the different business structure options for your new travel agency : Sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, S Corp.

As you're starting your travel agency, you may feel like the low cost of a sole proprietor makes the most sense for you. It's important to know that you can change your business structure as your needs evolve.

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. While it's more expensive, and may not be feasible for everyone as they're starting their travel agency, the protection it offers to your personal assets is incredibly important as your business grows.

And what the heck is an S Corp anyhow? Don't worry, we'll give you the scoop and let you know when that should be a consideration for you.

4. Create Your Travel Agency Business Plan

Next step in starting your travel agency? A business plan!

While a travel agency business plan isn't technically required to start an agency, it is something I highly recommend. I didn't write a business plan when I started this site but I also knew online marketing, SEO, and the travel industry front and back. I also had the industry connections to make it work. Most people starting a travel agency from home either don't have experience in starting a company or they don't have experience in travel. This is where a business plan can help.

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. Will you stick to that plan 100%? Definitely not. But it gives you something to refer back to and helps you organize your thoughts. Plan to take a chunk of time to work on it as it's not something you want to do willy-nilly.

Not only that, but we made it really easy with our free 15-page travel agency business plan ! All you need to do is download our template and adapt it to your agency.

While I didn't write a business plan for Host Agency Reviews, I did write a VERY detailed travel agency business plan for you. :) It's completely filled out with a fictitious travel agency. That's helpful because you can use some of the data and ideas in there on your travel agency's business plan.

Here's a peek of the business plan. Just to note, this version is not editable! To get the editable version, download the travel agency business plan template (an editable version of the one below).

That was good stuff, right? So let's move on to some more logistics, getting your government paperwork in place.

5. Register Your Travel Agency with the State ... and Feds!

You're doing great!

Starting a travel agency from home isn't as tough as you thought, is it? When you have a road map, it's easier to navigate the start-up process.

Registering with the State

Ok, now that you've:

• nailed down your niche,
• come up with your name,
• and settled on a business structure.

The next step is letting the state government know you've got a company. The Small Business Administration (SBA) website shows   how to register your company's name by state . If you are an LLC, the SBA also has a state-by-state guide on how to register your LLC .

A word of warning: When doing a DBA, your business, even though they have different names, are still legally considered the same entity.

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. Do yourself a favor and when those certificates come in, keep them handy in a file for your company's legal documents.

When you start your travel agency, you may have registered it as Margarita Travel. But over time, that might change.

Let's say you fell into becoming the local destination wedding expert that everyone turned to. Margarita Travel works, but you want to have a more romantic name for those clients and different branding. So you create a new brand, Beach Romance , that specializes in destination weddings.

Do you need to let the state know about this new company, even though it's really your same company? Yuppers.

You'll need to file a DBA with the state. DBA is an acronym for "Doing Business As." It's also sometimes referred to as a fictitious name, trade name, or assumed name.

Your DBA is essentially saying, 'My formal company is Margarita Travel, but I also go by Beach Romance.'

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 one thing to know about DBAs is that they don't create a separate entity. DBAs just allows you to legally operate under different names.

A word of warning: When doing a DBA, your businesses, even though they have different names, are still legally considered the same entity. That means if someone sues Beach Romance for a honeymoon gone wrong, Margarita Travel is also being sued since it's the same company.

Registering with the Financial Crimes enforcement network

And can we talk about the Feds for a moment? They're doing their part to cut down on money laundering. (Score!) And... since money laundering happens through businesses, you're going to have to do a little paperwork with them. (Boo!)

You'll fill out the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) form to make sure you're on the up and up. :)

Don't worry, it's not too painful despite the fact the they name of the government org in charge—Financial Crimes Enforcement Network—sounds like they're going to send a SWAT team into your home at any moment.

6. Get an FEIN (Optional, but Recommended)

A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is like a social security number for your company. It's a number to identify your business and is sometimes referred to as an EIN.

Technically, you do not need an FEIN if you're a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC with no employees since you can use your social security number to file taxes.

However, I personally prefer not to give out my social security number if I don't have to. :) I also like to get my pencils lined up from the get-go.

It's free to get an FEIN and takes just a few minutes. A huge plus in getting one right off the bat when starting a travel agency is that if you move to a business structure that requires an FEIN, you won't have to worry about changing out your SS# for an FEIN on legal documents, bank accounts, etc.

Also, make sure to check in with your tax professional when it's tax filing time—for certain business structures, you may still file under your SS# even though you have an FEIN.

Confusing, I know. That's why you go to the professionals! 😊

7. Set Up Your Travel Agency Financials  

Like the FEIN, when you're 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!

Separating your personal bank account from the business account from the start makes accounting easier and will help you keep track of business expense write-offs.

Wondering what travel expenses you can write off as a travel advisor ? We've got a resource for that too. :)

Important to note: If you choose a business structure that offers personal liability protection, like an LLC, you need to keep your business and personal money separate. If you are mixing finances and paying personal bills out of your business account, or vice versa, that opens you up to personal liability.

The argument is that, yes, when you started your travel agency you chose an LLC structure, which protects your personal assets. BUT, clearly, the business and the owner are not separate entities because the owner is making business payments out of their personal bank account (or vice versa). And if you're one and the same, then your personal assets are also the business's assets.

There's a lot to consider when it comes to travel agency financials and getting the foundations laid.

Don't worry, we walk you through all things having to do with your travel agency's financials :

• what to consider when choosing your bank,
• the documents you need to have ready for the bank,
• what business credit cards are best,
• the most common software travel agencies use for their bookkeeping, and
• how to find a bookkeeper for your agency

8. Decide if a Host Agency Is Right for You

We mentioned host agencies at the very beginning of the article. And maybe you noticed the name of our site. We're big fans of host agencies for people starting a travel agency . . .but it's not for every agency out there.

That said, our travel advisor research reports continually show that new advisors almost always choose the host agency route.

Your next step is going to take a lot of research. You need to decide if you want to go with a host agency, franchise, or go independent.

Questions you might have:

• How do you know if you should go with a host agency, travel agency franchise , or if you should be independent and get your own accreditation ?
• How do you decide which travel consortium to join if you are independent?
• How do you choose a host agency when there are 200+ listed on the site ?

Don't you worry, little bird, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, but we have answers to all these questions. :)

To start, check out our article, " The Top 10 Benefits of Using a Host Agency . " If you read that and decide a host agency is a good fit for you, you'll move on to our article on choosing a host agency and take a look at our best host agencies of 2024 .

Oh, and we've got a great tool for you to help narrow down your list of host agencies and/or travel franchises in our choosing a host agency article. It's a nifty spreadsheet to help you narrow down your top host agency picks ! 😊

9. Read our Home-Based Travel Agent Resources Page  

We put together a page with loads of links so you don't have to scour the web. Here she be, the Home-Based Travel Agent Resources page. 😊

Not only that, connecting with host agencies, travel franchises and consortia couldn't be easier! You can go directly to a host's profile to write them via Host Agency Reviews' Q&A feature. The beauty of this is that tons of agents will also get to learn from your question too!

10. Sign up for HAR's 7 Day Setup Accelerator Course

Phew. That was list was a little overwhelming, wasn't it?

The fact is that there's a lot of groundwork that needs to take place in order to start a travel agency.  Wouldn't it be nice if someone with tons of experience who's helped over 10,000 agency get started could walk you through the setup?

We've got an option for that too! It's called our 7 Day Setup Accelerator course .

But don't take our word for it. Hear from some of our students on the value of bite-sized instructional videos, a supportive community, and access to the HAR team:

The course is written and taught by HAR Founder, Steph Lee, and professional Educator, Bridget Lee. It includes nine chapters with 70+ instructional videos, course quizzes, peer accountability, and monthly meet-ups with HAR members and industry experts. Check out HAR's 7DS Accelerator course below!!

As you can see, there are lots of things to do as you start a travel agency from home. But we're here to offer you a TON of resources and support.

So take a deep breath and we'll do it step-by-step together!

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. 

Starting a Travel Agency from Home: What to Expect Time-Wise

In general, it will take a few years to get your agency off the ground.  This is the case with nearly all entrepreneurial endeavors.

Our travel advisor research reports continually show that it typically takes about 3 years to really start generating a sustainable income.

Here's why it can take time to see the cash flow when you starting a travel agency:

• It takes a while to build a client base and develop your brand
• Even when you do make your first bookings, you're not paid commission until after your client completes their travel (or after final payment for some vendors). So, if you make 7 bookings in January but the clients aren't traveling until November, you can see how your first-year money might be tight.
• Travel is something most people only do 1-2 times a year. Even with referrals and repeat clients, it can take a lot longer to build a steady business compared to a new restaurant or other service industries. 

Starting a Travel Agency from Home: What to Expect Money-Wise

And money. You probably want to know what you can expect when it comes to money and starting that travel agency from home, huh?! 😊

I hate to admit it but there is no one set answer. It depends on soooo many factors. 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.

Here's some hard data on travel agent income and travel agency start up costs in the first 5 years of business!

Even more travel agent income data

Want to dig into travel agent income data even more? Here's a great reading list that will give you an idea of what you might expect to earn when starting a travel agency: 

There's a lot of things to look forward to when it comes to a travel agent career . Check out our (free) annual event, Host Week , to get a flavor of what you can expect once you decide to start a travel agency.

The travel industry opens possibilities of traveling to beautiful places to help you do your job better. You'll get to attend things like FAM trips , ship inspections and go on site inspections. When you sell enough, you'll have access to travel agent rates .

All that said, it's important to understand that you still have to (*ahem*) work if you're a travel advisor- --you just get to have a lot more fun doing it than most people (yay)! :)

Questions? Ask Away.

I grew up in the travel industry and have I've worked with thousands of agents looking to start a travel agency. It's totally my jam. And it's not just my jam.

The entire HAR team is here to help you start (and grow) a successful travel agency. Ask us questions in the comments, drop us a line via email, or reach out to us on social. We love helping bring new people into our amazing industry! 🤗

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July 2021. We updated this resource and republished it on publish date above.

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20 Best Travel Business ideas You Can Start

Travel is a great way to get away from it all and relax. So many countries around the world benefit from regular tourism, in terms of their economy, keeping history alive, and sharing traditions with newcomers. There are many unique ways to explore the world, that there is a huge market for travel business.

There are plenty of ways to start a travel business. For example, you can open a bed and breakfast or rent out a room in your home. Or you can become a tour guide or cruise line captain. There are also opportunities to earn extra income through affiliate marketing.

Because the travel industry encompasses a lot of different areas, there are so many ways that you can set up a business which fits in with your skill set and experience. Travel businesses include hotels, tours, cruises, airlines, car rentals, and complete vacation packages.

The great thing about setting up your own business is that you can tap into your own background knowledge and stick to areas of interest for you. This could be entertainment, accommodation, or even social media representation.

If you’re thinking about starting a travel business, here are 20 travel business ideas to inspire you as well as show you how many business opportunities there really are. If you want to start a travel business, you’ll need to consider several things before launching your venture. That is why this guide aims to encompass all the small details as well as bigger picture opportunities for your travel business.

The Travel Industry

Firstly, it is worth noting that the travel industry is arguably the largest industry in the world. This is because there are new trends or changes in tourist behavior which shake things up, and keep businesses on their toes. There are so many types of vacations, that it’s no wonder why the travel industry are kept on their toes every year. Tourists want something new and exciting, which is why this industry continues to blossom.

The Six Segments of the Travel Industry

Because there is so much variation within the industry, there are six main segments which business have been known to base their concept off. It could be worth using these for inspiration to see how you can take your existing experience and apply it to a travel business.

The travel industry can be divided into tourist boards, travel services, accommodation, conferences and events, attractions and tourism services. Depending on the type of lifestyle you lead and how much travel you want to do yourself, it could be worth taking a closer look into the types of travel businesses within these segments, that you could set up.

Some of the most popular areas that travel businesses function in are providing a particular service to tourists and travelers like hotels or entertainment. On the other hand, you could set up a global enterprise, which allows you to spend more time traveling.

These businesses typically take a little more work to set up and begin making profits, but it can be highly rewarding to work towards this lifestyle. Not only that, but it will be easier to reach a higher number of people who are interested in what your business has to offer.

20 Best Travel Business ideas

1. Travel Blogger

One of the most popular businesses involved becoming a travel blogger. Because this is a slightly less traditional path to take, the steps are a little less clear-cut when it comes to generating a profit and setting up a business as a travel blogger.

However, it is recommended that you begin by exploring your local area and places that you have always wanted to travel to, and recording your experience online. Most people enjoy writing their own blogs about how they found a certain destination or experience, and it can be a great way to share your thoughts with like-minded people.

Most people set up travel blogs online where they can use it like a journal when they are visiting somewhere new, whereas others will make small notes and write up their experience once they return home. It could be a great way to spend more time traveling if that is a goal of yours.

2. Occasion/Travel Photographer

Wedding photographers earn a great deal of money for a single day, but it is hard work. If you have experience capturing weddings or taking portraits for someone, you could set up a business for travel photography or international weddings.

This could go a long way for a travel business, especially if you are offering occasion package deals such as a reduced price for multiple days consecutively. One of the most important things that is definitely worth investing in is high quality cameras and the right equipment.

Make sure you have some basic skills and experience before setting up this type of business, because there is a reason why wedding photography is such an expensive industry. You could use travel photographs that you have taken to accompany your blog posts, submit them online, or build your own social media presence. This can help you build a professional profile for yourself as a respected travel photography business.

3. Translator

For those who are more experienced with a particular language or multiple different languages, it could be worth setting up a business as a translator. Depending on your level of expertise and the versatility of the languages that you are able to translate, you can make a business that works for you.

You could advertise yourself on an international scale, or focus on a particular area where you think your skills would be best used. Translators are always in high demand, and it is worth setting up a business for yourself if this is something that you are passionate about.

Of course, the main drawback is that you will need to be able to speak at least two languages sufficiently in order to earn an income as a translator. This can be a little challenging if you are less familiar with new languages, so it isn’t always the best option for everyone.

4. Independent Travel Agency

It may seem a little unusual considering the downfall of many large travel companies, but there will always be a market for travel agencies. For this reason, it could be exciting to start your own enterprise and begin offering clients and tourists a series of vacation packages.

It could be worth comparing some best rated deals and other companies from the area to figure out estimated prices and different types of accommodations, as well as flights. Consider what kind of target audience you want to reach, and design package deals that you think are the most suitable.

For example, if you want to offer child-friendly vacations to families, or more affordable options with a little more flexibility. Other options include creating more local eco-friendly travel options. This is a great travel business idea for those who are more experienced with organizing large events and co-ordinating different services at the same time.

You could set up a small office space or storefront where people can stop by and ask for advice. Alternatively, you could benefit from the online world and work remotely from wherever you are in the world.

5. Travel Vlogger

While most people document their traveling experiences using written blogs, video-based media is becoming more popular. Some people prefer to film themselves using small cameras when they are traveling. This can create a more immersive experience for followers and their audience. The concept of video-based blogs is becoming more popular, and it can allow people to make a living in this way if it is taken seriously.

Becoming a travel vlogger typically goes hand-in-hand with social media. This is because it is usually the best way to reach your target audience, and the type of individuals that will watch your videos. It is a great way to build your online presence and boost your business as a travel vlogger.

6. Vacation Planner

Another travel business idea that could work with your skill set is to become a vacation planner. This is ideal for someone who wants to share their knowledge about a particular area and encourage people to explore unique destinations.

This can be a little challenging to start up if you have less experience traveling to certain areas, but it is nothing that the internet can’t help with. Consider setting up your own business as a vacation planner if you are a highly organized individual who likes to fill someone’s schedule.

Remember that there are many things that need to be considered when planning somebody else’s vacation. This includes whether they want to be more active or spend more time relaxing, and what type of food or hobbies they enjoy the most.

It is worth making sure that you have a great system in place for organizing certain activities, events, and scheduling appointments. This is highly needed when it comes to working as a vacation planner, as somebody else’s enjoyment is your responsibility.

7. Bike Tour Services

If you have more experience with bikes and renting or riding bikes on different terrains, then you could set up a bike tour service in a particular area where tourists spend more time. It could be beneficial to rent a storefront or a stand for people to visit and see what type of tours you are providing.

Take a closer look at the local attractions and begin creating bike routes which are suitable for beginners. You could then create slightly longer or shorter routes, with more challenging options. It could also be useful to set up a rental service for your bikes, if people want to explore an area at their own pace.

Because of this, it is useful that you have at least five bicycles which are good for beginners on hand at any time. They should be stable and comfortable, in order to encourage people to get the most out of their experience. You will also need to think about the price range that is realistic for bike tour services, and consider offering group package deals for a particular day or size of group.

It is also worth finding a reliable weather prediction app so that you can cancel or avoid booking certain days when heavy rainfall is expected. In addition, you should try to provide child seats which can be attached to the back of a bike when needed. Alternatively, customers can be shown to a daycare center or local childcare service if necessary.

8. Travel Consultant

This is slightly different to a vacation planner and a travel agent, as travel consultants are usually in charge of more complex issues. They need to figure out solutions to unique situations and make sure that everything goes according to plan.

You could become a travel consultant if you want to make sure that people have the best experience possible when they are travelling or on vacation. Complex issues that are normally handled by a travel consultant include ironing out logistical concerns with business trips, or new parents who are traveling to a foreign country for adoption purposes.

Because the role of a travel consultant is naturally varied and relatively complex, you will be more immersed in the culture and local environment than other businesses, which would require you to cater for tourists a little more. Working as a travel consultant could be an ideal way to see the world and travel to more unique places.

Because the work is largely international, you could set up your own business specializing in complex situations and more challenging situations to put yourself and your services as a travel consultant on the map for potential clients.

9. Open Your Own Bed And Breakfast

This is a growing market, and there are more people who are turning their homes, spare buildings on their property, or other locations into bed and breakfasts. It can provide a home away from home for tourists, and does not need a great deal of work on your part.

There are many services which can help you get set up and on the market for visitors, and it is worth considering this as a travel business idea. Even if you are less familiar with this concept, there are plenty of help guides with information about opening your own bed and breakfast.

You can use this as a way to generate more income on a regular basis, or to save up for your next vacation. If travel is your passion, and you want to spend more time exploring new places, you could rent out your home while you are away.

Make sure that your pets, plants, and other necessities are accounted for, and that your personal possessions are safely locked away. If you are thinking about opening your own bed and breakfast, it is important that you are offering regular rates for rooms.

Make sure that guests will have adequate access to bathrooms, and that the breakfast services are also of a high standard. Bed and breakfasts are a lot more personal than hotels, so guests often want this type of service and interaction.

10. Create A Travel App

If your area of expertise lies with developing apps, coding, and programming software, then you could set up a travel business by creating an app. You can create an app to connect travelers with others in the area, or provide useful suggestions for activities and popular places of interest.

Other travel app ideas include translation software, suggestions for common phrases in the native language of a country you are visiting, or showing places to eat or stay overnight that are not fully booked.

The great thing about travel apps is that you do not have to be in a particular country or location to do this. This means that you can create your own travel app from the comfort of your own home, as long as you have a stable internet connection and access to the necessary databases.

You could also connect with other companies when you are setting up your travel app, like websites that find the best deal for hotels, or airline companies. This allows you to generate more popularity and increase the general market for your business.

11. Rent Out Your Property For Vacations

If you have empty rooms in your home, or even entire buildings that aren’t used as frequently, then you could rent out your property for vacations. If you schedule it right, you could host somebody while you are out of town. This can get you a little more money while making sure that your home is occupied at all times.

Not only can this deter unwanted guests, but it allows you to share the joys and peace that your home provides with others. Like the bed and breakfast business, it is important that you lock all of your valuable and personal belongings away somewhere safe, or remove them beforehand.

Of course, you will need to consider pets and plants, which should be moved elsewhere if possible before you leave for your vacation. However, this can be a great way to earn extra cash when you are on vacation.

12. Language Speaker

Being able to speak a country’s language well is a highly valuable skill. Many people make the most out of this by creating their own business offering lessons to children, translation services, and representing someone who does not speak the language.

This is a great way of traveling more while earning a living, because you can act as a guide for people and negotiate certain contracts with local vendors if you are able to generate tourism. Set your travel business around your particular language skills, and consider learning more about the particular uses as well as local colloquialisms which are used in certain areas.

Improving your knowledge of the language and subtle differences that exist between certain regions could also help you to teach tourists about the cultures. This can be a useful way to prevent people from disrespecting certain traditions and avoiding any potential preconceived notions.

13. Glamping Service

This is something that is usually done on a plot of land that you own or rent, and it is much easier to do this locally to you. You can attract tourists to your state by setting up a glamping business. Glamping is known as “glamorous camping”, because it provides a little more luxury than what is typically offered by regular camping.

The accommodation can be as simplistic as a weatherproof hut, a large tent, or even a tree-house. Full beds are normally provided, and guests are typically left to their own devices once they are settled. Glamping sites are normally seen as more high-end camping grounds, with more facilities than you would expect.

14. Pet Sitting Business

Another way that you could start a travel business is to promote pet sitting services. You could offer to take care of people’s pets while they are traveling, or set up a kennel business. This can be a safe place for dogs, cats, and other beloved household pets to stay and play with other animals while their owners are traveling.

While this does not directly involve traveling, you could always use a pet sitting business to save up for trips and build a reputation as a respected business for potential investors in the future.

15. Create An Adventure Club

This is a great option for more adventurous individuals who want to share their enthusiasm and stay active. Because it is a little more focused, it is important to do some market research ahead of time to see if there would be a demand for it. You could choose to focus on climbing walls, long hikes, kayaking, or other high energy sports.

Most adventure clubs are suitable for kids and adults, and it is worth being flexible to suit a range of potential customers. This could make your business a great tourist destination, or allow you to travel around and offer this experience internationally.

If you know someone or a group of people who consider themselves more physically active and enthusiastic about outdoor adventure, you could hire them to work for your business. This allows you to spend more time promoting your brand and expanding your team where necessary.

16. House Sitting Services

You can help people have more peace of mind by taking care of their pets, homes, and plants. Keep things moving while they are traveling and make sure that everything is being taken care of in their homes. This is an ideal solution for people who live in areas of high crime rates, or who are planning a long trip away.

You could keep on top of the laundry, vacuum, offer pet walking, or just keep someone’s home occupied while they are away. Setting up a business as a house sitter is surprisingly easy. The first step is to build your reputation and gain a customer base in the area that you live.

Once you have a reputation, it is worth taking a closer look at the different ways of advertising your business. Think about the type of people you are trying to attract, and how they will be able to reach you when needed. This can be done using social media, email, or over the phone.

It is important that you have a reliable method of scheduling your time before booking people in for house sitting services. This can prevent any possible overlap that can occur when you are setting up a business that has a lot of moving parts at once.

17. Boutique Hotel

Some people are willing to pay extra for a luxurious experience, and it is worth using this to your advantage. Interestingly, boutique hotels are actually considered some of the most profitable in the tourism industry. This is because there is a great deal of work which is needed to ensure that guests receive the best possible experience.

From chefs using only the highest quality ingredients, to sleeping on the most luxurious material, boutique hotels could be great investment opportunities for travel businesses if you have the initial funds necessary.

18. Tour Guide Services

For those who have more knowledge about a particular area, region, or country, you could start a business as a tour guide. Showing people around places and teaching them about certain traditions or ceremonies that took place there is a highly rewarding experience.

Not only that, but it allows people to appreciate the culture of a country without disrespecting anything unknowingly. You do not need to speak the language in order to be a tour guide, but it helps if you learn some basic phrases ahead of time.

Additionally, you could focus your tours on less well-known areas and attractions that are often overlooked by tourists. Take the time to think about how you can offer a unique experience, and learn about the less popular history of a place. Off-the-beaten-path tours are interesting because they tell stories of populations that are long forgotten, and bring these traditions to life.

19. Traveling Event Organizer

Weddings, parties, work events, and other ceremonies are enjoyed around the world. You could set up a business as a traveling event organizer if you are confident managing multiple teams of workers at the same time.

It is a juggling act to keep everything running smoothly and organized, which is why there is such a high demand for traveling event organizers globally. Working as a traveling event organizer is just as easy to do within the local area as it is internationally, which is why you could easily earn a living while traveling.

Think about what type of experience you want to provide clients with, and the type of potential target audience you are targeting. This could be larger scale events with hundreds of guests or more intimate gatherings, organizing business retreats, or weddings specifically.

20. Ecotourism

So many people are becoming more concerned about their carbon footprint, and the impact their actions have on the environment. Because of this, there are considerably more travel businesses that focus on ecotourism coming into the light.

These services show how we can give back to the natural world, and can even teach us ways of protecting the environment. Because the emphasis is on protecting the natural environment, most ecotourism businesses will show you how to explore your local area with a fresh perspective.

Alternative methods of transportation which are kinder to the planet are also encouraged for those who want to travel a little further. These include trains, public transport, and vehicle sharing services. Teaching people about local wildlife and the importance of giving back to the natural world is incredibly rewarding.

Many ecotourism business owners enjoy showing people how our actions have consequences for the natural environment. It is a great way to encourage people to create more sustainable habits and make more responsible choices in the future.

Like we’ve mentioned before, there are so many areas that you can choose to specialize in when it comes to creating your own travel business. This is because the travel industry is an umbrella term which refers to tourist boards, accommodation, transportation, local attractions, and many more aspects.

Because there is such a wide variety of routes you can decide to go down, it is worth finding a specific market that allows you to use your background knowledge and existing skills. For example, if you are fluent in a particular language, then you could offer your services as a translator or local tourist guide.

People who are more physically active and enthusiastic about spending time outdoors could create a business based on an adventure club, which would be ideal for children and adults. Alternatively, you could set up a business through the form of a travel app, which can make the entire experience much more seamless.

The great thing about the travel industry, encompassing so many areas of interest and skill, is that there are so many opportunities to create your own business that helps people who are frequent travelers. Make sure you are finding something that you are passionate about before finding a way to turn it into a service or product that other businesses or tourists can pay for when they are traveling.

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Small Business Trends

How to start a travel agency.

If you love to travel, are highly organized and enjoy working directly with people, becoming a travel agent is an awesome career choice.

You’d think with the ease of using search engines on the internet; the travel business wouldn’t be thriving. But it is.

According to statistics, a person may spend (waste) 20 hours on internet research before booking a flight. The internet is clogged with info, which is why the benefits of using a travel agent will always be valuable to most travelers.

What is a Travel Agency Business?

A travel agency is a company that provides travel and tourism booking services and planning for people. This can include making arrangements for things such as air travel, vehicle rental, hotels/lodging and travel insurance. Before you get started, find out how do travel agents make money and see if you can find out new ways to generate income.

Travel agencies can offer a wide range of services, including:

• Booking flights and hotels: Travel agencies can help you find the best deals on flights and hotels. They can also book your transportation and accommodation and even help you with things like visa applications and currency exchange.
• Planning itineraries:  Travel agencies can help you plan your itinerary, taking into account your interests and budget. They can also recommend popular tourist destinations and activities.
• Offering travel insurance:  Travel agencies can help you purchase travel insurance, which can protect you in case of flight cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies.
• Providing customer service:  Travel agencies provide customer service to help you with any problems that may arise during your trip.

There are two main types of travel agencies:

• Retail travel agencies:  These agencies sell travel packages to the general public. They typically have a physical location, such as a storefront or a call center.
• Wholesale travel agencies: These agencies sell travel packages to other businesses, such as airlines, hotels, and tour operators. They typically do not have a physical location and operate online or through a call center.

Starting a travel agency business can be a great way to turn your passion for travel into a successful business.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Travel Agency?

The cost of starting a travel agency can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the agency, the location, and the type of services offered. However, in general, you can expect to spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars to get started.

Here are some of the expenses you’ll need to consider when starting a travel agency:

• Business license and permits:  You’ll need to obtain a business license and any necessary permits from your local government. The cost of these fees will vary depending on your location.
• Travel agency software:  You’ll need to purchase or lease travel agency software to manage your bookings and reservations. The cost of this software will vary depending on the features and functionality you need.
• Marketing and advertising:  You’ll need to invest in marketing and advertising to reach potential customers. The cost of this will vary depending on the channels you use and the reach you want to achieve.
• Office space:  If you plan to have a physical office, you’ll need to rent or lease space. The cost of office space will vary depending on the location and the size of the space you need.
• Staffing:  If you plan to hire employees, you’ll need to factor in the cost of salaries, benefits, and training.

In addition to these expenses, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of travel, meals, and other expenses associated with booking travel for your clients.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to reduce the cost of starting a travel agency. For example, you can use free or low-cost marketing channels like social media and email marketing. You can also start your agency as a home-based business, which can save you on the cost of office space.

How Much Can You Make Owning a Travel Agency?

The average salary for someone working for an established agency is $19 per hour. The average annual earnings for independent travel agents is $36,000. That varies depending on your geographical location and the type of travel business you’ve chosen as a specialty.

18 Important Steps to Start Your Own Travel Business

Here are key steps to take to get your start in the travel industry. You should decide early whether you want to work for a travel company or work on starting a travel agency.

1. Complete Relevant Training

Colleges and business schools offer associate and four-year degrees in tourism. There are some independent educators, such as The Travel Institute , which offer certifications.

All these studies will include courses in business management, marketing, accounting and customer service. As part of ongoing education, you should also keep tabs on international affairs and weather events.

2. Look at the Competition

Agencies in the travel industry typically offer all types of services but specialize in a certain niche. For example, some travel agencies focus on luxury travel, and some focus on the adventure travel industry.

Savvy travel agents know their competition well, especially before starting their own business.

3. Choose Between Host Agency, Independent Travel Agent, and Franchise

Under the umbrella of a host agency, you can work as an hourly or salaried employee. In addition to your regular pay, you may be eligible to earn commissions.

If you’re starting a travel agency, you’ll be working independently. Your source of pay will be the fees you charge clients plus commissions you earn from travel suppliers – such as airlines, hotels and rental vehicle companies. Some businesses function solely as online travel agencies, often focusing on arranging corporate travel.

You can also opt to purchase a franchise, such as Dream Vacations . A franchise will provide training programs. Both a host agency and a franchise have the advantage of existing vendor partnerships.

4. Find a Specific Niche and Target Market

Maybe your idea of a dream vacation is renting bicycles and traveling to an Inn in New England. Or you might prefer canoeing wilderness rivers, and staying in tents. Maybe you’d like to book an all-inclusive trip, where the price includes airfare, lodging, food and beverages.

Your preferences aren’t what’s most important. You need to think about your potential clients and customers. Learn the demographics of your local community area and the average income of potential customers.

5. Choose a Business Name and Register Your Travel Agency

Before you lock in on the name, go to the website for your secretary of state. That’s where businesses are registered. You can check to make sure the name you’d like to use isn’t similar or the same as a travel agency already in existence before you spend money on business cards or a website.

6. Write a Travel Agency Business Plan

Here are some helpful tips for making your business plan. A business plan should include key elements of a business plan for travel companies:

• New business name and website
• Business physical location
• Business Structure
• Niche in the industry
• Forming partnerships (cruise lines, hotels, rental companies, etc.), especially once you’ve been a travel professional for over a year
• Plans for marketing/expansion in the industry

7. Open a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account is a fundamental step for any budding travel business. It not only separates your personal finances from your business transactions but also enhances your professionalism.

When selecting a bank, consider factors like fees, transaction limits, online banking features, and customer service quality. Additionally, look for banks offering perks for small businesses, such as waived fees for the first year or low minimum balance requirements.

A dedicated business credit card is also advisable for handling business expenses and potentially earning rewards.

8. Make Sure You Have the Licenses and Permits Required in Your State

General Business License as required by your business location.

Travel Agents License – If required by your state.

Federal employer identification number (EIN) is needed for paying business and payroll taxes, if you have employees. You’ll need the EIN when you file taxes.

Zoning – If you’re working from a home office, you must make sure your residence meets the zoning requirements for home-based travel agents.

9. Create a Travel Agency Website and Choose a Location

You may start your own travel agency with the glitziest, most informative and most gorgeous website imaginable.

But its use will fail if it hasn’t been correctly linked – called search engine optimization. Unless you’re very savvy about this, it will pay you to hire a professional to make sure clients find your new company and social media accounts. That’s a key part of your marketing strategy.

10. Sort Out Your Accounting Software

You’ll need to manage travel contracts, travel bookings, invoices and receipts, vendors and more on the financial end. Here are some of our recommendations:

• Fresh Books
• itouroperator

11. Choose a Business Structure

You’ll need to choose a structure for starting your travel agency. Many travel agencies choose the Limited Liability Company or LLC. The LLC allows you to protect your personal assets, especially if you’re operating in your own home.

Other common structures chosen by many businesses in most states include partnerships and corporations.

12. Get Your Taxes in Order

Understanding and managing your tax obligations is crucial for a travel business. Firstly, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes, especially if you plan to hire employees.

Familiarize yourself with the various taxes you’ll be liable for, including sales tax, payroll tax, and income tax. Use reliable accounting software to keep meticulous records of all financial transactions.

Consider consulting a tax professional or accountant to navigate complex tax regulations, ensure compliance, and identify possible tax deductions specific to travel agencies.

13. Purchase Business Insurance

There are common insurances needed, such as BOP (business operators), professional liability, commercial liability, errors and omissions, and general liability insurance.

If you’re going to sell travel, you need to offer travel insurance. What if travel restrictions suddenly impact a location? What if a natural disaster destroys the plans for a beach wedding destination?

14. Join Travel Associations

Here are a few which will serve as additional resources for you (help you with finding customers):

• American Society of Travel Advisors
• Association of Independent Tour Operators

15. Set Up Your Office and Invest in Equipment

You’ll need typical office equipment such as computers, software, internet, phone system and fax. If you’re offering travel services face-to-face, you’ll need comfortable furniture, a conference room, and ample parking.

16. Marketing

Effective marketing is key to the success of a travel business. Begin by identifying your unique selling proposition and target audience. Develop a marketing strategy that includes a mix of online and offline tactics.

Utilize social media platforms to engage with potential clients and showcase your offerings. Create informative and appealing content, such as travel guides, tips, and destination highlights.

Consider email marketing to keep your audience updated with the latest deals and offers. Attend travel expos and network events to build relationships and partnerships. Always track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts to refine your strategy.

17. Find Partners

Partners can include elements of a destination – a motel, B&B, restaurants, or spas, for example.

A partner can also be a media company, such as a newspaper, radio, or television station. You buy advertising with them and negotiate a reduced-price trip for an owner or manager.

18. Build Trust with Your Customers

Building trust with your customers is essential for the longevity and reputation of your travel business. Maintain transparency in your dealings, clearly communicate travel plans, and be upfront about costs and potential issues.

Provide exceptional customer service by being accessible, responsive, and empathetic to client needs and concerns. Encourage feedback and reviews from customers to improve your services. Develop a system to handle emergencies or unexpected travel issues efficiently.

Consistently delivering on your promises and providing memorable travel experiences will foster customer loyalty and lead to repeat business and referrals.

How to Compete with Big Brands in the Travel Industry

The travel industry is competitive, and it can be difficult for small businesses to compete with the big brands. However, there are a number of things you can do to give yourself a fighting chance.

Here are some tips on how to compete with big brands in the travel industry:

• Focus on a niche market.  Instead of trying to compete with the big brands on everything, focus on a specific niche market that you can specialize in. This could be a specific type of travel, such as ecotourism or adventure travel, or it could be a specific group of travelers, such as families or business travelers.
• Offer unique experiences.  Big brands often offer the same generic travel packages. To stand out from the crowd, you need to offer unique experiences that your customers can’t find anywhere else. This could be anything from a private tour of a hidden gem to a customized itinerary that’s tailored to your customer’s specific interests.
• Provide excellent customer service.  This is one area where small businesses often have an advantage over big brands. Big brands can be impersonal and bureaucratic, while small businesses can provide more personalized and attentive service. Make sure your customers feel like they’re valued and that you’re going above and beyond to make their travel experience as smooth as possible.
• Use technology to your advantage. Technology can be a great way to compete with big brands. You can use social media to connect with potential customers, use online booking tools to make booking their travel easy, and use analytics to track your performance and make improvements.
• Be creative with your marketing.  Big brands often have big budgets for marketing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete. Be creative with your marketing and find ways to reach your target audience without breaking the bank. This could include using social media, running contests, or creating original content.

Here are some additional tips that you can follow:

• Build relationships with travel suppliers.  This will give you access to better deals and will help you to provide your customers with a more personalized travel experience.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest travel trends.  This will help you to offer your customers the most in-demand travel experiences.
• Be flexible and adaptable.  The travel industry is constantly changing, so you need to be able to adapt your business accordingly.
• Never give up.  The travel industry is a tough one, but if you’re passionate about travel and you’re willing to work hard, you can succeed.

Competition in the travel industry is fierce, but it’s not impossible for small businesses to succeed. By following these tips, you can give yourself a fighting chance to compete with the big brands.

What are the legal requirements for starting a travel agency?

The legal requirements for starting a travel agency vary by country and region but may include obtaining the necessary licenses, permits, and registrations.

How do I choose a niche or specialty for my travel agency?

Consider your interests, expertise, and target market to choose a niche, such as adventure travel, luxury vacations, or corporate travel.

What technology and software do I need to run a travel agency?

You’ll need travel booking software, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and a user-friendly website to handle reservations and inquiries.

How can I build relationships with travel suppliers and vendors?

Attend travel industry events, join travel agent associations, and establish strong communication with suppliers to build beneficial partnerships.

How do I market and promote my travel agency to attract clients?

Utilize digital marketing strategies, social media, content creation, and collaborate with influencers to increase your agency’s visibility.

What financial considerations should I keep in mind when starting a travel agency?

Plan for initial startup costs, ongoing expenses, and potential fluctuations in the travel industry. Budget for marketing, staff, and technology investments.

How can I provide exceptional customer service and stand out from competitors?

Focus on personalized travel planning, attentive communication, and 24/7 customer support to create a memorable experience for clients.

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How to Start a Travel Agency

Most travel agencies earn revenue through commissions. Consumers often choose agencies because they help cut down on time needed to research various locations and book accommodations. A popular trend in the industry is online agencies, which operate mostly or exclusively online.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee. Northwest ($29 + State Fees) DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a travel agency by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Travel Agency
• Form your Travel Agency into a Legal Entity
• Register your Travel Agency for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Travel Agency
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Travel Agency
• Get Travel Agency Insurance
• Define your Travel Agency Brand
• Create your Travel Agency Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your travel agency. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Travel Agency Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a Domain Now

Powered by godaddy.com, what are the costs involved in opening a travel agency.

While some sources suggest you can pay a host agency $400 to $1,200 to get started from home, there are host agencies that don’t charge you anything to use them as your host. A host agency basically takes care of all the regulatory and back office requirements and splits the commission with you as the business owner.

To start your own independent agency may cost you between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on the markets you serve and your existing book of clients.

What are the ongoing expenses for a travel agency?

Fortunately, expenses for this type of business are low and are limited to printed brochures and typical office paperwork. If you are working through a host agency, some or all of your advertising may be paid for.

Who is the target market?

Most clients and customers are people who want to travel to another country. While domestic agencies do exist, the market is really in international travel these days. The types of clients an agency might serve depend entirely on the current market place. Client needs range from simple vacations to corporate retreats to medical tourism.

How does a travel agency make money?

Commissions are the way in which travelling agencies have traditionally made the majority of their income. Airlines and hotels would pay agencies a certain fee for utilizing their companies when booking for a client. However, with the recent proliferation of booking technology, including Google Travel, travelling apps, and company websites, these businesses are more accessible to consumers and no longer rely on travelling agencies to promote their services. For this reason, airlines and hotels have largely stopped paying travel agencies commissions. As a result, travel agencies have been forced to adapt, focusing less on simple bookings and more on navigating complex itineraries and the legalities of travelling in specific regions or countries. They have shifted to charging flat rates for bookings and hourly rates for consulting services related to planning travels and navigating legalities.

Travel agents working independently typically charge $30 for booking a flight, $50 for sleeping accommodations in a single destination, and $100/hour for research and planning advice. If a travel agent manages to procure commissions from an airline or hotel, these will typically be around 10%.

How much profit can a travel agency make?

First-year income for a home-based agency is between $30,000 and $50,000. As the business expands, revenues can rise to over $100,000, but this usually requires hiring other agents and staff support.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Travel agencies that specialize tend to make more money. For example, according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), travel agencies can bring in between $30,000 and $50,000 per year. General agencies or agencies that offer only leisure travel services make the least, while corporate and medical tourism specialties tend to make the most.

There are several types of specialties in the travel industry:

• Leisure Agent
• Corporate Agent
• International Agent
• Medical Tourism Agent

A leisure agent books primarily leisure and vacation travel. For example, this might include family vacations or sabbaticals.

Corporate agents primarily book travel for corporations. Usually, corporate clients are looking for business trips or retreats. Often, the corporate client needs special attention, including complex booking schedules that include both accommodations, local travel, and entertainment

Medical tourism is a highly specific niche segment of the industry. These agents research countries for medical patients who want treatments that are either not available or are too expensive in their home country. For example, a patient may be looking for an experimental cancer treatment which is only available in a particular country.

International agents book international travel plans. These could be for corporate clients but are typically for individuals. These individuals may be looking for universities abroad, a new country to buy property in, or even a new country to move to.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your travel agency is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your travel agency were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

Form Your LLC Now

Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Fourteen states require a Travel Sellers Registration License to sell travel. A license can be obtained through an application, which typically involves a fee and supporting documents such as membership in a professional association. Here is a list of states requiring Travel Sellers Registration Licenses.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

A travel agency is usually run out of a physical location. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to an travel agency business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for you business’ location to ensure your travel agency business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Travel Agency needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Travel Agency.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a travel agency

Most new agency owners come from an established agency and have a book of clients. If you don’t start with an established agency, you must advertise your services. The best source for clients are referrals.

How to keep customers coming back

Agencies that are the most successful are specialty shops. For example, a travel agency might specialize in medical travel or corporate travel. A general agency will find it difficult to compete in today’s market.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is perfect for individuals who are passionate about travel, love learning about and visiting new places, and are very detail oriented. Travel agency owners have very flexible hours but usually only after they have an established book of clients.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a travel agency?

Day-to-day activities of a travel agency owner include checking faxes, phone messages, and incoming emails. You may also meet with clients and book numerous client trips during the day.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful travel agency?

There is no formal education or certification required to become a travel agent, but some states require you to have a license to operate as an agency:

Aside from that, there are voluntary certification programs that may help you enhance your knowledge of the industry and of travel in general:

Certified Travel Associate (CTA)

To get the CTA, you must have 18 months experience in the industry. You must take 8 core classes and 4 electives. You can finish your course in 3-6 months, but you have up to 12 months to finish. Cost for this course and exam is $350 and $250 for the test only. To maintain this certification, you must complete 10 CE credits each year.

Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC)

You must have 5 years experience in the industry and a CTA designation. There are 10 courses to complete, including a 3,000 word “white paper” assignment (in which a complex issue is explained concisely in a report). You must finish in 12 months, but may finish in 9 months. Cost is $550 for the course and exam or $320 for the exam only. To maintain this certification, you must complete 10 CE credits each year.

Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE)

This designation is only for non-consumer sales roles. You must have 5 years experience. The course consists of 100 videos, each 10 to 15 minutes in length. You must also complete a 2,000 to 3,000 word “white paper.” It takes 18 months to complete the course. Cost is $550 for the course and exam or $320 for just the test. To maintain your certification, you must commit to the annual Travel Institute membership and take 10 CE credits each year.

What is the growth potential for a travel agency?

Most small travel agencies are started as home-based businesses. Larger agencies adopt a traditional office model. Agencies can be run as a single-owner business or as a multiple-employee organization.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

How and when to build a team

A travel agency can be built with a single owner. However, time is the limiting factor. Because this business carries a low overhead, your need for employees is limited by your time in the business. When it’s time to expand, most agency owners hire another agent or support staff so they can delegate responsibilities.

If you start with a host agency and want to move away from it, then you would expand by hiring administrative personnel to handle the regulatory and back office functions.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• American Society of Travel Agents
• Franchise opportunity

Real World Examples

• Independent travel agency
• Large travel agency

Further Reading

• Courses and books on how to become a travel agent
• Description of different types of travel agents
• Advice on being a travel agent

Additional Sources

• Travel Institute
• Host Agency Reviews - How Much Do Travel Agents Make? A Travel Agent Salary
• Host Agency Reviews - Do You Need a Travel Agent License?

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

How to Start a Travel Business: The Ultimate 10-Step Guide

Nowadays, people rarely find enough time to plan their entire trip alone. From purchasing the tickets to booking a suitable hotel, etc., there is so much that needs to be taken care of each time you travel to any place.

With the advent of science and technology, people continue to explore different online platforms in their quest for travel-related information. Consequently, travel businesses have started to thrive!

Yesterday, while returning from my game at the Red Door Escape Room , I crossed paths with an old friend who has recently started her own travel business. We headed to a nearby pub to grab a few drinks and chat.

There, she told me all about how she built her travel business from scratch and made it a blooming success in no time!

Through this article, I will share with you all the knowledge I gained from her about opening a travel business. So, read on to learn the detailed process of starting your travel business.

What do you mean by a travel business?

Simply put, a travel agency business refers to having a business catering to the needs of tourists and travelers. From offering booking services for railways or airways to even planning a trip itinerary, this business has several aspects.

How much will it cost me to start my travel business?

Honestly, you don’t need to get special certificates or accreditations to start your travel business. You may often come across travel agents who have only completed their high school diploma and have flourished in the travel business! So, you need not wait to get training or certificates.

For starters, you can gain practical hands-on knowledge by starting to work as a part-time travel agent for successful agencies. With the knowledge you gain from your work experience, you will be ready to launch your own business.

After that, you must spend your time and efforts judiciously to launch your travel agency business. Once you start making a name in the market, you will soon discover how training and certifications become equitable to your tax deductions!

Thereafter, all you need to do is spend your time and efforts judiciously, to launch your travel agency business. Once you start making a name in the market, you will soon discover how training and certifications become equitable to your tax deductions!

Your initial costs will vary based on whether you are looking for a dedicated office space or are willing to work from home. However, there are a few minimum necessities, like reliable high-speed internet and office equipment like desktops, etc., that you cannot do without.

Now, keeping these few details in mind, let us take a look at the essential steps for launching your travel agency business:

10 Steps For Starting Your Travel Business

1. seek your niche.

The first and most vital step in starting your travel agency business is looking for your niche. Finding your workplace will help you establish a firm brand name and your business in no time!

In contrast, launching your travel business without choosing a specific niche may lead to the eruption of a lot of chaos. Without a predefined place, your business may risk going haywire and losing its specialty. the eruption of a lot of chaos.

Without a predefined niche, your business may run the risk of going haywire and losing its specialty.

One of the most common mistakes that travel agencies is prone to be the notion of trying to sell it all. Consequently, their hunger to sell everything in the travel and tourism industry undeniably makes them fall into the neck-deep market competition.

Since start-ups lack more experience and resources than others, it is not wise to do this. their hunger to sell everything in the travel and tourism industry undeniably makes them fall into neck-deep competition in the markets.

Since start-ups lack much experience and resources in comparison to others, it is not a wise thing to do. So, find your niche in the travel and tourism industry. By picking your niche market, you can swiftly reduce the levels of competition that you would have otherwise faced.

It also offers you an excellent potential to grow and develop your business, especially since you have fewer competitors. and find your niche in the travel and tourism industry.

By picking your niche market, you can swiftly reduce the levels of competition that you would have otherwise faced. It also offers you a good potential to grow and develop your business, especially since you have fewer competitors facing you.

2. Do some relevant training

Some relevant training can help you sharpen your skillset before launching your travel business. While colleges and universities offer four-year degree courses in tourism, many independent educational institutions are offering you certificate courses too!

Generally, these studies incorporate separate courses in business management, marketing, accounting, and customer services. It will also do you good if you keep yourself updated on the latest international affairs and weather events to complement your knowledge.

3. Knowing your target audience 

Before you start any kind of business, understanding your target audience forms a crucial aspect. Only when you know your target audience inside out can you work judiciously to satisfy their needs.

With the coming of efficient search engines like Google, this task has become easier than ever before! All you need to do now is some online research to figure out the demographics of the people who are most likely to be interested in your business.

Once you do it, you can then work on focusing your marketing tactics on attracting them. Exploring the statistics of people in your area who seem most interested in traveling can also offer you a heads-up.

You can do some online research to find out the approximate number of people who spend their time traveling or are at least interested in it.

4. Remain aware of your competitors

No matter in which industry you wish to set up your business, you will likely face at least some competition. Remaining aware of your competitors in the market can offer you some great insight into streamlining your travel agency business.

You can research your competitors to determine the marketing strategies that help them attract their audience. With the help of this data, you can understand which of your marketing strategies is falling flat after that.

You can then rule out those abundant strategies and replace them with effective marketing techniques. You can even find out which methods of your competitors are not bearing fruit so that you can stray clear of them when it comes to your business.

5. Considering your finances

Remaining clear about your financial obligations is also vital in setting up your travel agency business. To start your business, you must pay insurance premiums and fees to attain your business licenses.

Further, you will also need to pay your taxes on time. Hence, all this points towards the fact that you will need a proper cash flow to build up and run your travel business successfully.

While considering finding out a possible cash flow for your business, you must draft a rough idea of your project income. With the help of data collected from the present travel markets and your local target demographics, you can get some idea of your potential income. After that, you can figure out the viability of your travel agency business.

Furthermore, you must also try to figure out any likely unforeseen expenditure that your business may be prone to encounter. For prices like these, you can keep a separate fund with some cash reserve that you can spend under such emergency circumstances.

Though expenses may seem low during the initial few days of starting your business, they will continue to increase over the years. Hence, you must consider having a proper and efficient cash flow to regulate all your business expenses.

6. Choose a suitable name for your travel agency

Choosing an attractive and catchy name for your travel agency is yet another factor you must focus on. You need to come up with a name that it easy-to-remember and recollect.

Picking the right name for your travel agency business may often seem to be a tricky and challenging affair to overcome. You can take help from your friends or family to figure out the right name for your travel business.

Now once you have decided on the perfect name for your business, there are a few areas where you need to check it:

After finding out the name for your travel agency business, you also need to work on securing the domain name for the same before any other company takes it away.

Read More: Taglines for Travel Agency Travel Instagram Names Travel Team Names Tour & Travel Podcast Names

7. Drafting your travel agency business plan

Now, you need to sit down with a pen and paper to draft a business plan for your travel agency business. Making a foolproof and effective travel business plan will help keep your business on the right track.

It will further guide you through your future business endeavors and help you succeed in your market.

Ensure that your plan incorporates the following key factors:

It also might seem reasonable for you to enter into partnerships during the initial stages of establishing your business. You can forge alliances with cruise lines, hotels, rental companies, etc., to expand the reach of your business.

It will also help you to develop your marketing tactics and spread the name of your travel agency business far and wide.

Your business plan must also incorporate the available resources that you may utilize as you kickstart your travel agency business. Determining your business goals and objectives is also essential to your business plans.

8. Consider all the legal aspects of your business

It is also essential for you to consider and cover all the legal aspects of your business to run it successfully. As a travel business, there are certain legal obligations and requirements that you need to fulfill.

Different countries have different licensing processes for travel agencies. When it comes to the US, travel agency businesses, need not undergo any training, testing, or qualification to attain their license.

Instead, all that they need to do is fill up a form. However, different states in the US, like California, Florida, and others, have their way of handling travel agencies’ licensing process.

Hence, it is vital for you to cautiously go through the federal laws of your state and country to attain your business license and run your travel agency swiftly.

Businesses often rely on contacting a host agency to find out all about the federal laws they must abide by. The host agencies can also inform you about the registration process and guide you through the entire licensing process.

Yet another vital factor that you cannot forget is attaining a trademark for your business. For instance, you may think of your business logo as a kind of trademark for your business that remains unique to you.

Hence, you can legally register your logo with the concerned authorities to ensure that no one steals it away from you.

9. Set up your goals and objectives

Once you start your travel agency business, you may often feel triggered to set up high goals and objectives almost instantly. But remember that the key to bolstering your travel business to success lies in underlining small and achievable goals.

Ensure that you are setting up realistic and practical plans for your business to achieve. Several experts suggest it is best for travel agencies to set up small and realistic targets for their companies to achieve during the initial years.

Base your goals on the knowledge of your current business expenses, costs, and salary structure. Once you set aside the total of this money, all the remaining money you earn will be your extra profits from sales! This way, you can set up realistic sales targets for your business.

10. Hiring efficient employees

Your travel business can only run efficiently when you have the required human resources. Hence, hiring efficient and competent employees to work for you becomes a vital process. During the initial days, you can just hire some staff to work on online bookings under your agency.

However, businesses running inside a physical office space will need more employees to work for you. While going through the hiring process, ensure they have at least some work experience. Having efficient employees working under you will help you streamline your business and offer excellent customer service.

So, these are the steps needed for opening a travel business! We have underlined the ten essential steps of starting your travel business. Keep in mind these steps as you start working on building up and running your travel agency business in no time!

Author Bio: Charlotte Lin is a content creator at escaperoom.com . She’s a passionate young woman, a mother to an amazing nine-year-old, and an avid reader. Over the years, writing has helped her explore and understand the world as well as her own self. She loves to travel, meet new people, and spend quality time with her daughter. You can find her on LinkedIn .

Grind Success is a place where entrepreneurs, start-ups, and business owners can find wide-ranging information, advice, resources, and tools for starting, running and growing their businesses.

7 Revenue-Boosting Strategies for Your Travel Business

Briana Morgaine

8 min. read

Updated February 26, 2024

Not only is the travel industry one of the largest in the world, but it encompasses a wide variety of business types and customer needs.

This makes the travel industry easy to break into, as there are plenty of niches to fill, but difficult to stand out in, as large players (think major airlines, hotel chains, and services like Uber and Lyft) dominate the market.

To help your travel business stand out and bring in more revenue, here are seven research-driven, data-backed strategies you can implement today—or plan for once you’ve got your business up and running.

• 1. Ask for referrals

Customer referral programs can be an effective way to increase revenue for your travel agency, if implemented correctly.

In an effort to suss out the actual statistical effectiveness of referral programs, Referral Saasquatch did a roundup of customer referral program statistics, and found that 65 percent of new business comes from referrals, and 92 percent of respondents trusted referrals from people they knew.

Sami Belbase, President of Encore Jets, listed asking for referrals as number one in his list of most effective strategies for improving revenue. When it comes to why he advocates for a referral program, Sami is succinct: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

Now, the process of asking for referrals can be a bit tricky—in fact, Hubspot found that the discomfort employees often feel when asking for referrals was why many referral programs fail. To combat this, they compiled some useful tips and referral templates to help with the process, which can be implemented by your sales team.

• 2. Establish a strong social media presence

If your travel business isn’t using social media to its advantage, it’s a good idea to pick and commit to a few social profiles at the very least.

While each business will have a slightly different user base with different social media habits, there’s a good likelihood that your customers use social media for travel purposes. A report by Deloitte found that over a third of people use online booking for their vacations, and the same report indicated that most travelers will discuss their trip on social media sites as soon as the day they return.

Sami Belbase recommends a “multi-channel strategy” when it comes to social media, and attests that a well-executed social media strategy has been one of the most effective tactics for boosting revenue for his business, Encore Jets. “Each platform is slightly different and built for a different purpose,” he says. “Harness the benefits of each and compose a multi-channel strategy while keeping an integrated campaign in mind.”

• 3. Motivate your team members (especially your sales team) with great incentives

When it comes to increasing revenue for your travel business, your sales team is on the front line.

So, how do you encourage your sales team to work as hard as they can to bring in the most clients and book the most trips possible?

“The biggest boost in sales has been through the motivation of our sales employees through personal incentives,” says Emmelie De La Cruz, Digital Marketing Manager for Shofur. “Our top sales rep is going to be awarded an all-expense paid trip to the NBA finals if he meets his sales goals this month.”

The data backs up the success of sales incentive programs: Blackhawk Engagement Solutions found that when structured properly, sales incentive programs can increase employee performance by up to 44 percent. Not only that, they found that annual revenue increase was three times higher among companies that use tangible sales incentives!

“This kind of personalized approach to employee incentives is a much better motivator that commission, and helps to build team morale,” says Emmelie. “When our team is happy and excited about the work that they do, it translates into better interactions with our customers and thus, more sales.”

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• 4. Encourage your customers to leave reviews

We all know online reviews are of huge importance —how many times have you looked up a restaurant, only to be put off by negative reviews on Yelp?

The importance of good online reviews doesn’t just end with dining, however. “Real customer reviews are the answer to more business,” says Natasha Malinsky, Shopping and Lifestyle Consolidator for ShopNYC Tours. “TripAdvisor is golden, and customers treat it like a travel bible.”

But just how important are online reviews for increasing revenue? Studies suggest that when it comes to buying decisions, 90 percent of consumers are influenced by reviews, and 87 percent of potential customers will not consider a business with a low rating on review sites.

All that being said, how do you get your customers to leave you reviews?

Simple— just ask.

• 5. Establish a personal connection with your customers

While revenue-boosting strategies tend to focus on bringing in new customers, don’t forget the importance of returning users.

Returning customers should be getting plenty of your attention: The likelihood that you’ll be able to sell again to an existing customer is 60 to 70 percent, while selling to a new customer is only five to 20 percent.

So, knowing this, how can your travel business make sure that you build a solid connection with your existing customers, to keep them coming back? Simon Harding from Theatre Breaks recommends reaching out personally.

“We contact those who have just booked, to make sure the booking process is okay, and we contact those who have just come back to make sure they had a good time,” he explains.

“It is really personal. We try to keep our own customers so that we establish a relationship with them,” says Simon. “Okay, it is a bit of extra work, but life in a travel agency has its ups and downs and we are finding it saves time because, by keeping up the communication, we know what the client wants to do next, earlier. So, no last minute rushes, and more chance of finding a deal.”

For Simon and Theater Breaks, reaching out to customers personally also has had the added benefit of increasing customer reviews and word of mouth, which has benefitted business. “While we are talking, we do now ask for official reviews,” he says. “We now have the opportunity to find out where customers are most likely to leave a review and help them to do so.”

• 6. Go where your customers are

While social media and other online marketing is certainly effective, there is something to be said for getting down in the trenches and actually going where your customers spend time.

David Feldsott, founder, and CEO of PanTrek, recommends just that. “We went out to find our potential customers, in the real world,” he says.

“Since we are an online travel agency that sells inter-city bus tickets, our target consumers are typically millennials (students, tourists, young professionals, and backpackers),” says David. “So, we went to hostels and hotels and told the staff about our website to make their job fielding questions easier, went to local universities and advertised to the students, posted on travel forums where tourists seek answers to common questions about bus travel, etc.”

PanTrek saw a marked improvement in their business as a result of actually speaking to their potential customers. “People checked out our product, fell in love with it, and our business took off via word-of-mouth,” says David. “We brought in new customers who didn’t know our service even existed and they spread it to other travelers they met along the road.”

This isn’t just one business’s success talking—word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful, with an estimated 500,000 conversations generated from every 1,000 customers. Not only that, but 92 percent of customers trust word-of-mouth recommendations over advertising.

• 7. Establish strategic partnerships

A strategic partnership involves your business coupling up with another business for an arrangement that benefits you both.

In the context of the travel business, this could look like an agency partnering with a hostel at their destination, where travelers get a discounted rate on a room.

Partnerships can be incredibly effective when it comes to boosting revenue. Just look at this case study from Kissmetrics, which details how one business’s partner network was responsible for a 1,983 percent increase in revenue!

Sami Belbase has had huge success with the partnerships he has established for Encore Jets. “The strongest way to partner with another company is leading in with the interest for a client,” he explains.

“[For example], when my client has a need to book at a high end property in, let’s say, St. Tropez, I will call a couple real estate firms, speak directly with someone in upper management, and discuss my client’s interest in their property. Immediately, a level of trust, and mutual interest will be stimulated between my agency and the real estate agency. Almost always they will propose a partnership moving forward as they have clients that need my service.”

• Ready to get started?

Maybe you’re still in the planning stages, and not quite ready to implement these strategies yet. If that’s the case, you’re in luck—we’ve done a lot of the legwork for you.

First, check out my other article, How to Start a Travel Agency. It’s filled with advice from entrepreneurs who have started successful travel businesses, and it covers the basics you’ll need to get started.

Second, make sure you check out Bplans  free travel and tourism sample business plans, which will give you a framework for how to structure your own business plan, and maybe some inspiration, too.

Bri Morgaine is a seasoned content marketing leader with a decade of experience in copy editing, social media operations, and content strategy— having honed her skills at industry giants like Palo Alto Software and Andreessen Horowitz.

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Travel Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]

Interested in starting a business in the travel industry?

If done right, creating a travel-related business could lead to exciting opportunities (and let you make money by helping others explore the world).

But, what are the best business ideas in the travel industry?

We put together some of the top travel business ideas you can start today.

For each idea, we'll share real-life examples from successful businesses to help you understand what's needed.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a travel agency ($178K/month)

If you’re a passionate traveler with an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a travel agency could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even build a full-fledged business. As an agency, you could link travelers to a multitude of services—accommodation, transportation, and adventure tours—essentially curating personalized travel experiences.

An online travel agency offers a flexible way to enter the market. By obtaining necessary certifications, performing market research, and focusing on effective marketing strategies, you could succeed in this venture with relatively low startup costs.

To maximize earnings, you could negotiate discounts with industry service providers and charge clients within the market rate, ensuring both competitiveness and profitability.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Marissa Daniels runs a successful travel agency, Spread Your Wings Travel, that hit $100,000 in sales within a year of launch and provides payment plan options for its all-inclusive vacations, and she hopes to help 100 families supplement their income through the business.

2. Start a travel blog ($124K/month)

Starting a travel blog could be an excellent avenue for supplementing your income or even launching a full-fledged business, especially if you're passionate about travel. If you live on a tropical island or frequently visit such destinations, your firsthand experiences can provide a wealth of engaging content. You could share insights about the exotic creatures, clear oceans, palm trees, and the myriad of water activities available, drawing in readers who are planning their next tropical getaway.

By focusing on a niche like tropical island destinations, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in these specific experiences. Monetization options are plentiful, including affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and even partnerships with local businesses. This way, you can turn your love for travel into a lucrative side hustle or primary business, sharing your adventures and tips with a wide audience craving authentic travel advice.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,600,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

Two friends started an online book club that now has 570 members and generates £10,500 MRR, by addressing the problem of 'Tsundoku,' charging a monthly subscription fee for one non-fiction book, one inspiring meetup, and one custom cocktail, inspiring conversation and community.

3. Start a travel company ($259K/month)

Starting a travel company could be an exciting and profitable way to supplement your income or even create a full-fledged business. Combining your passion for travel with entrepreneurial skills, you could offer unique packages that include transportation, lodging, and entertainment tailored to specific niches, such as adventure travel, luxury escapes, or family vacations.

Given your love for exploring new destinations, you could leverage your firsthand experiences to create trip plans that appeal to a wide range of clients. By focusing on carefully curated travel packages, you could help others enjoy stress-free vacations while turning your travel expertise into a thriving business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $1,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)

Under30Experiences is a travel company for people aged 21-35 that runs small group trips around the world, with over 800 five-star reviews on Facebook, Google, and Yelp combined, and nearly hitting $5M in revenue before the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Start a travel guide website ($14.2K/month)

Starting a travel guide website could be an excellent way to supplement your income or launch a side business, particularly if you have a passion for travel and a knack for communicating your experiences. You could focus on a niche market, such as train travel in Europe or eco-friendly destinations in Asia, providing detailed information and insider tips that aren't easily found elsewhere. By creating high-quality, engaging content, you could attract a loyal audience who rely on your expertise for planning their trips.

Your travel guide website could range from a simple blog to a comprehensive resource, complete with maps, itineraries, and booking links. With a solid SEO strategy and the right marketing efforts, your website could rank high in search engine results, making it easier for travelers to find your content. Linking up with other relevant websites and directories could further boost your visibility and credibility, potentially opening the door to partnerships and sponsorships down the road.

In an increasingly digital world, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly could also enhance user experience and keep readers coming back. By staying updated with regional events and travel news, you could offer timely and relevant advice, positioning yourself as an authority in your chosen niche. Whether you’re looking to make a little extra money on the side or build a full-time business, a travel guide website offers plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurial-minded individuals.

How much you can make: $50 — $30,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $8,250 (?)

TravelMamas.com founder Colleen Lanin shares how she turned a family travel blog into a business that generates $15K in monthly revenue through ad network sales, affiliate sales, sponsored posts, book sales, public speaking appearances, and media campaigns.

5. Start a planner brand ($18.8K/month)

Starting a planner brand as a travel enthusiast could be a rewarding venture that supplements your income while leveraging your industry expertise. Imagine designing travel-focused planners that cater specifically to the needs of fellow travelers, helping them map out their journeys, track expenses, and organize their itineraries. Your unique perspective allows you to create products that resonate with your audience, from custom travel layouts to packing checklists and destination guides.

The growing demand for personalized planning tools means you could market not just physical planners, but also versatile digital versions and accessories like stickers or travel-themed inserts. This endeavor provides the perfect blend of creativity and organization, turning your passion for travel into a profitable side business or possibly a full-fledged enterprise. By fulfilling a niche market demand, you'll gain the satisfaction of helping others streamline their travel experience while building a brand rooted in your love for exploration.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $50,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Chasing Planner Peace is a planner company that has expanded from selling planner inserts on Etsy, to offering a one-stop shop customizable planner experience with over 300 inserts, a planner line, and various other related products, gaining a monthly revenue of around $25,000 at its busiest time of year.

6. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)

Starting a subscription box business could be a fantastic way to supplement your travel-related income or even transition into a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture. You could curate monthly boxes filled with travel essentials, unique souvenirs from different destinations, or even regional snacks and foods, appealing to both frequent travelers and travel enthusiasts who want to experience the world from home.

These services are in high demand due to their personalization and exclusivity, allowing you to offer a unique touch that aligns with your travel knowledge and expertise. By understanding your niche market, creating visually appealing boxes, and maintaining quality products, you could build a loyal customer base and enjoy a profitable side business or main hustle.

Ultimately, launching a subscription box business leverages your existing knowledge of travel trends and consumer needs, turning your passion for travel into a sustainable income stream.

How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.

7. Start an outsourcing business ($484K/month)

If you're a travel professional looking to supplement your income or start a side hustle, consider launching an outsourcing business. Many travel companies and agencies seek to outsource non-core activities, such as administrative tasks, customer service, and marketing efforts, allowing them to focus on essential functions like trip planning and client relations. By offering specialized outsourcing services tailored to the travel industry, you could tap into a growing market eager for efficient and cost-effective solutions.

To get started, identify a niche within the travel sector and develop a detailed business plan. Invest in the necessary technology and equipment to deliver high-quality services, and consider hiring staff to support your operations. By delivering superior service and effectively marketing your business, you could attract and retain clients, making your outsourcing venture a profitable addition to your travel expertise.

How much you can make: $50,000 — $1,399,996/month

How long does it take to build: 140 days (?)

This case study follows the founder of SupportNinja, a company that specializes in providing back-office and customer support outsourcing for tech companies, which generates over $9M ARR, has over 100 clients, and has seen a growth rate of 3,684% in the past 3 years.

8. Start a flight tours business ($772K/month)

Starting a flight tours business could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even carve out a completely new career in the travel industry. With the growing demand for unique and thrilling experiences, offering scenic air tours taps into a lucrative market of travelers seeking unforgettable aerial views of picturesque locations.

This business allows you to set your own schedule, providing flexibility while indulging your passion for adventure and beauty. By offering tailored flight experiences, you could provide your clients with memories that they will cherish for a lifetime, making this a fulfilling and profitable venture.

How much you can make: $43,000 — $1,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)

Envi Adventures, a Troutdale, Oregon-based air tour business, grew from making $7,000 in a month in its first year to over $30,000 a month in its second year, using Instagram and influencer marketing to create an interactive, personalized experience for guests.

9. Become an author ($227K/month)

As a travel enthusiast, you could leverage your experiences and insights to establish yourself as an author. By writing travel guides, memoirs, or articles, you could share your unique perspectives on different destinations, cultures, and travel tips with a broader audience. This could not only supplement your income through book sales and royalties but also open doors for speaking engagements and workshops.

Through traditional publishing routes or by self-publishing, you have the flexibility to choose the best path for your work. Self-publishing, in particular, offers complete control over your content and marketing strategy, allowing you to reach your target readers more effectively.

With your expertise in travel, you could create compelling narratives or informative guides that resonate with fellow travelers and inspire others to explore the world. Authorship provides a platform to monetize your passion for travel while building a meaningful connection with your audience.

How much you can make: $200 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

This case study follows full-time thriller and action-adventure author Nick Thacker who earns between $10k to $20k per month from writing, predominantly through Amazon Kindle Unlimited sales, and goes in-depth into his self-publishing strategy which maximizes sales and minimizes costs, such as developing a mailing list and utilizing print-on-demand services.

10. Start a niche newsletter ($38.1K/month)

If you have valuable travel insights that you believe deserve a wider audience, starting a niche newsletter could be a great way to supplement your income or even build a completely new business. By curating focused travel content for a specific audience—whether it's off-the-beaten-path destinations, budget travel tips, luxury escapes, or sustainable tourism—you could meet the demand for high-quality, specialized information that helps travelers make informed decisions.

Creating a niche newsletter will involve consistent research, writing, and marketing. You'll need to grow and maintain a subscriber list, craft engaging content, and perhaps incorporate sponsorships or advertisements. Although it requires initial effort, a niche newsletter can become a sustainable and rewarding venture, providing both financial and personal fulfillment in the travel world.

How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,055 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Sex blogger turns a free WordPress blog into a $2,000 a month part-time digital business by investing in education, self-hosting, and building relationships within the NSFW community.

11. Start a short story vending machine business

Starting a short story vending machine business could be an intriguing avenue for supplementing your income as a travel professional. These vending machines, filled with engaging short stories, can be placed in high-traffic areas such as airports, bus stations, and hotels where travelers frequently seek brief entertainment. Offering a unique and culturally enriching diversion, these stories could captivate an audience looking for a memorable way to pass the time during their journeys.

Integrating short story vending machines into your travel-focused environment could not only generate additional revenue but also enhance the overall customer experience. By combining your expertise in the travel industry with this innovative concept, you could create a niche business that distinguishes your services from competitors, attracting more clients who value both practicality and creativity.

12. Start a virtual events business ($257K/month)

How much you can make: $20,000 — $897,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

Entire Productions is a fast-growing event and entertainment production company with an emphasis on experience design, primarily working with corporate clients including many Fortune 500 companies in the tech and pharma industries, boasting a growth of 148% and a goal of reaching $20M annual mark.

13. Start a niche investment platform ($167K/month)

Starting a niche investment platform could be an innovative way for you to supplement your income or even launch a side business in the travel industry. With your existing knowledge of global destinations, you could create a platform specializing in real estate investments in popular tourist locations or unique travel experiences like wine-tasting tours and adventure sports. This type of platform could attract investors looking for asset diversification outside volatile stock markets and align well with your expertise.

You could leverage modern technology to build a transparent trading ecosystem that offers flexible portfolio combinations, making it easier for specialized investors to participate. The exclusive user base you create would not only benefit from customized investment opportunities but could also contribute to recurring revenue streams through transaction fees and premium subscriptions. Given your familiarity with travel trends, your strategic insights could provide added value to investors passionate about global travel experiences, transforming your platform into a thriving business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month

Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.

14. Start a sell used phone business

If you're passionate about travel and looking to make some extra money, starting a business selling used phones could be a practical and lucrative option. As a traveler, you often encounter various technology needs and changes, making it easy to spot good deals on used phones in different markets. By buying and selling these devices, you could leverage the unique opportunities presented while traveling and turn it into a profitable side business.

Moreover, your extensive travel experience can help you tap into international markets, where you might find demand for certain phone models higher than in your home country. This global perspective gives you an edge in sourcing and selling, allowing you to maximize profits. With a strategic approach, you could create a steady income stream that complements your travel lifestyle perfectly.

15. Start a winter sports equipment rental business

Starting a winter sports equipment rental business could be an excellent way to supplement your income, especially if you're enthusiastic about winter sports. With numerous winter activities like cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and speed skating attracting people to snowy destinations, there's always a demand for quality rental gear.

Many people find owning winter sports equipment uneconomical and prefer renting for short-term use. By offering rental services, you could cater to this segment of travelers, providing them with affordable, top-notch gear while earning extra money. This business could cater to tourists and locals alike, making it a practical option for travel professionals seeking entrepreneurial opportunities.

How much you can make: $90,000/month

Hagan is a ski mountaineering gear company that has 50% annual growth and focuses solely on backcountry ski touring, resulting in the world’s widest selection of mountaineering skis.

16. Start a BBQ tools business ($270K/month)

Starting a BBQ tools business could be a lucrative addition or pivot for your travel enterprises, tapping into the increasing demand driven by an upsurge in hotels, restaurants, and the popularity of homemade barbecue. With more people staying in vacation rentals and engaging in local culinary experiences, offering quality barbecue tools as part of your travel packages or through an online store could attract a substantial audience.

If you possess artisan skills and have an understanding of the BBQ industry, you could even venture into the production of customized or specialty tools. This not only supplements your income but also leverages the growing market for high-quality, unique BBQ accessories. Capitalizing on these trends could diversify your business portfolio and create a steady stream of additional revenue.

How much you can make: $40,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)

How long does it take to build: 275 days (?)

BBQGrills.com is an online retailer of outdoor kitchen equipment, BBQ grills, and patio heaters that earned $2 million in sales within its first year of business through a focus on quality, performance, and customer service.

17. Start a time tracking app ($76.1K/month)

If you're looking to diversify your income or start a side business while leveraging your experience in the travel industry, developing a time tracking app could be a lucrative opportunity. As a travel entrepreneur, you could cater this app to travel agencies, tour operators, or freelancers who need to track the time spent on various projects, client interactions, or travel logistics.

Given the growing demand for time management solutions, especially in a remote work-friendly world, your app could help improve productivity and efficiency for your users. By offering analytics and reporting features, you can provide valuable insights into how time is spent, aiding in better decision-making and resource allocation. Entrepreneurs and smaller travel enterprises would find such a tool indispensable, creating a market ready to invest in your innovative solution.

To begin, clearly define the project scope and outline your development approach. Assemble a team and draft a project plan with specific timelines. Once prototypes are tested and suitable API solutions identified, publish the app to start making an impact in the industry.

How much you can make: $350 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

Labor Sync is a mobile application that provides business owners with the ability to track the time and GPS location of their mobile workforce and after just one year of use, they saved $104,000 across 45 employees despite starting off with no funds for advertising or marketing.

18. Start a personal finance newsletter ($595K/month)

As a travel professional, you could leverage your expertise and experiences to start a personal finance newsletter that caters specifically to fellow travelers and adventurers. Imagine offering practical strategies on budgeting for trips, maximizing travel rewards, and smart saving techniques while on the road; your unique insights would resonate with a niche audience eager for advice tailored to their lifestyle.

Given the steady growth in interest around financial education, a personal finance newsletter focused on travel offers a fantastic opportunity to build a dedicated readership. Sharing actionable content like destination-specific budgeting tips, investment strategies for digital nomads, and savvy spending habits for frequent flyers can set your publication apart from generic finance newsletters.

By combining your travel expertise with financial guidance, you create a valuable resource that helps others manage their money effectively while pursuing their passion for travel. This venture not only supplements your income but can also evolve into a fulfilling full-time business with the potential for both financial and personal rewards.

How much you can make: $160 — $3,000,000/month

Financial media company MarketBeat, founded by Matt Paulson, provides objective financial information and real-time market data to empower individual stock investors to make better trading decisions, generating approximately $8 million in revenue in 2019 and ending the year with over 1.3 million unique email subscribers due to a freemium model with 75% of revenue from advertising and 25% from subscriptions.

19. Start a classic car storage business

Starting a classic car storage business could be a lucrative side venture for anyone interested in the travel industry, especially if you have existing connections within transportation or hospitality sectors. With your understanding of logistics and the travel habits of car enthusiasts, you could cater to classic car owners who need a secure place to store their vehicles while they are traveling or during the off-season.

Owning a classic car often requires specialized care and secure storage solutions, and there's a growing demand for trusted facilities that provide these services. By leveraging your knowledge about the travel lifestyle and forming strategic partnerships, you could create a premium storage experience aimed at affluent travelers who value their prized vehicles.

This business not only allows you to supplement your income but also aligns well with travel by serving a niche market that appreciates mobility and luxury.

20. Start a buttons business

Starting a buttons business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a professional in the travel industry. Imagine creating custom buttons featuring popular travel destinations, landmarks, or travel-related slogans. These could become sought-after souvenirs for tourists or promotional items for travel agencies and tour operators.

By leveraging your expertise and network within the travel sector, you could easily identify trends and preferences among travelers. Furthermore, an online presence through a website and social media would allow you to reach a broader customer base, including both local tourists and international travelers. Offering customization options and excellent customer service would ensure repeat business and positive word-of-mouth, fueling the growth of your buttons business.

21. Start a social media analytics business ($177K/month)

As someone with a background in travel, starting a social media analytics business could be a highly lucrative side venture or even a full-time career shift. You could help travel agencies, hotels, tour operators, and other businesses within the travel industry understand their social media metrics to improve their online presence and marketing strategies. By offering insights into engagement rates, audience demographics, and performance trends, you could enable these businesses to make data-driven decisions that boost their brand and revenue.

There's a growing demand for actionable insights in social media, especially in a competitive field like travel where online presence can significantly influence consumer decisions. With the right analytical tools and expertise, you could become an indispensable partner for travel businesses looking to outpace their competitors in the digital space. This could be an excellent opportunity for you to monetize your data analysis skills and passion for travel while helping other businesses thrive.

How much you can make: $12,000 — $749,998/month

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

Metricool, a SaaS social media management tool, built a business with a Freemium model, starting with just $50k in investment and now boasts over 5,000 clients, more than 400,000 users, and over $1 million of annual recurring revenue.

22. Start a classic car products affiliate marketing business

Starting a classic car products affiliate marketing business could be an exciting venture if you're passionate about travel and historic cars. As someone constantly on the road, you could leverage your journeys to explore various car shows, meet classic car enthusiasts, and photograph rare vehicles, all of which could feed into engaging content for your affiliates.

You could monetize your reach by promoting classic car parts, accessories, and related memorabilia through your travel blog or social media channels. This niche market often targets an affluent audience willing to invest in high-quality products, providing you with lucrative commission opportunities.

By combining your love for travel with a focused affiliate marketing strategy, you could create an additional income stream, making every road trip even more rewarding.

23. Start an amazon vine program business

If you're a travel enthusiast looking to supplement your income, consider starting an Amazon Vine Program business. By joining the Amazon Vine Program, you could receive free products in exchange for writing honest reviews. This opportunity is especially valuable for travel professionals, as you could review travel-related products such as luggage, travel gadgets, and accessories, making your insights highly relevant and trusted by fellow travelers.

Incorporating this side business into your travel career could enhance your credibility and provide you with a steady stream of new and innovative travel gear. Furthermore, the reviews you write could drive traffic to your travel blog or social media channels, creating additional income streams and boosting your online presence. This symbiotic relationship between your travel expertise and Amazon Vine reviews could be the perfect way to diversify your income and expand your professional horizons.

24. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be a fantastic way for you to leverage your travel expertise and supplement your income. You could share travel tips, destination reviews, packing guides, or even vlogs of your own adventures. By creating engaging and high-quality content, you could attract a dedicated audience who shares your passion for travel.

Furthermore, YouTube's established monetization system allows you to earn through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. The platform’s popularity offers you the potential to grow your channel and transform it from a side hustle into a full-fledged business. By staying consistent and creative, you could build your own YouTube Channel success story and enjoy the added benefit of doing what you love.

How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.

25. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)

Starting a career coaching business could be an excellent side venture or primary income source for travel professionals looking to leverage their expertise in a flexible, fulfilling way. With your extensive experience in the travel industry, you could offer unique insights into career paths within travel, hospitality, and tourism, providing personalized guidance on resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement.

Your familiarity with various travel roles and industry trends allows you to support clients navigating professional transitions and growth opportunities specific to this sector. By offering both in-person and virtual sessions, you could tap into a broad client base, empowering individuals to achieve their professional aspirations through specialized advice and accountability. This entrepreneurial opportunity also lets you monetize your natural motivational abilities and human resources expertise while enjoying the freedom to set your own schedule.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month

Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.

26. Start a home theater business

If you’re a travel enthusiast looking to supplement your income, starting a home theater business could be an exciting opportunity. You could design and install custom home theaters for clients who crave a cinema-like experience from the comfort of their own homes. This venture allows you to combine technical skills with creative design, setting up the perfect audio-visual equipment and acoustics.

You could also offer additional products like automation systems and custom lighting, increasing your revenue streams. With a background in customer service, electronics, or even design, you could provide a premium service that enhances people’s entertainment lives. Ultimately, this could turn into a sustainable business that grows through referrals and satisfied customers, making it a blockbuster addition to your entrepreneurial journey.

How much you can make: $4,000,000/month

Case study of World Wide Stereo, a consumer electronics company with a profitable $56 to $62 million business, known for their excellent customer service and online shopping experience, as well as their focus on providing a higher quality of entertainment and environmental control through electronics.

27. Start an ice cream equipment business

Starting an ice cream equipment business could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income, especially if you're already familiar with the travel and hospitality sectors. As someone who understands the fluid demands of seasonal businesses, you could leverage your network to supply essential machinery like freezers, mixers, and dispensers to both new and existing ice cream parlors in tourist hotspots.

You could identify and source high-quality equipment, building strong relationships with reliable manufacturers to ensure your products meet your customers' needs. This venture could cater to a wide variety of clients, from small startups seeking compact machines to large chains in need of robust systems. With some initial capital to purchase inventory and an eye for durable equipment, you could find consistent demand, turning everyone's favorite treat into a sweet business opportunity.

How much you can make: $65,000/month

How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)

Midnight Kitchen Tools founder Michael Chou shares how he identified a need in the market for ergonomic kitchen tools, and built a successful business through Kickstarter campaigns, e-commerce capabilities, and partnerships with other companies.

28. Start a yard work service business

For entrepreneurial-minded individuals in the travel industry seeking to diversify their income streams, starting a yard work service business could be a lucrative side venture. You could leverage your flexible schedule and travel expertise to offer unique seasonal services that cater to homeowners who are away vacationing or business travelers needing regular yard maintenance.

Moreover, the seasonal nature of yard work aligns perfectly with travel cycles, offering opportunities for targeted business during peak travel times. This venture could not only supplement your income but also build a solid client base in your local community, providing a stable source of extra revenue even when travel bookings fluctuate.

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The Benefits of Outsourcing Business Travel Services to Streamline Operations

In today’s fast-paced business world, travel is an essential part of many companies’ operations. Whether it’s attending meetings, conferences, or visiting clients, business travel plays a crucial role in maintaining and expanding a company’s network. However, managing business travel can be time-consuming and complex. That’s where outsourcing business travel services comes into play. By entrusting your travel arrangements to experts, you can streamline your operations and enjoy a wide range of benefits.

Cost Savings

One of the primary advantages of outsourcing business travel services is cost savings. Travel management companies have established relationships with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies that allow them to negotiate discounted rates on behalf of their clients. They also have access to advanced booking systems that can help identify the best deals and optimize your travel budget. By outsourcing your business travel needs, you can take advantage of these cost-saving opportunities and ensure that every dollar spent on travel is well-optimized.

Time Efficiency

Managing business travel can be incredibly time-consuming for internal teams who already have numerous responsibilities on their plate. From researching flights and accommodations to coordinating itineraries and handling last-minute changes, the logistics involved in arranging corporate trips are intricate and require meticulous attention to detail. By outsourcing these tasks to dedicated professionals who specialize in business travel services, you free up valuable time for your employees to focus on their core responsibilities. This not only improves overall productivity but also reduces stress levels within the organization.

Expertise and Support

Business travel management companies employ experienced professionals who are well-versed in all aspects of corporate travel planning. They stay updated with industry trends, understand visa requirements, manage loyalty programs effectively, and possess extensive knowledge about international destinations – ensuring that all aspects of your trip are handled efficiently while adhering to legal regulations or cultural nuances specific to each location.

Additionally, outsourcing your business travel needs provides you with 24/7 support. Travel management companies often have dedicated customer service teams that can assist with any travel-related issues or emergencies that may arise during your trip. Having this level of support available at all times offers peace of mind and ensures that your employees are taken care of, no matter where they are in the world.

Enhanced Travel Policy Compliance

Maintaining a travel policy is essential for companies to control costs, ensure consistency, and manage risk effectively. However, enforcing compliance with the travel policy can be challenging when managing travel arrangements internally. By outsourcing business travel services, you can collaborate with experts who have experience in designing and implementing effective travel policies. They can help you analyze data and identify areas where policy compliance can be improved.

Moreover, many business travel management companies offer reporting tools that provide detailed insights into your company’s travel expenses. This allows you to track spending patterns, identify cost-saving opportunities, and make data-driven decisions to optimize future travel plans.

In conclusion, outsourcing your business travel services can bring numerous benefits to streamline your operations. From cost savings and time efficiency to accessing expertise and support available around the clock, partnering with a business travel management company allows you to focus on what matters most – growing your business while ensuring seamless corporate travels for your employees.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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These US airports rank highest for customer satisfaction

Minneapolis-saint paul international airport topped other mega airports when it came to customer satisfaction.

Misty Belles on latest in travel demand: We're seeing a 'really strong' interest for the festive season

Virtuoso Vice President of Global Public Relations Misty Belles on the latest trends in the travel industry and reveals the top destinations for travelers.

Traveling through an airport to catch a flight can often be a busy and chaotic time for many passengers. Some airports, though, can make the experience more enjoyable – or at least easier – than others.

According to J.D. Power’s "2024 North American Airport Satisfaction Study," 60% of North American air travel passengers it surveyed indicated that they enjoyed their airport experience to some extent.

Using metrics like "ease of travel through airport; level of trust with airport; terminal facilities; airport staff; departure/to airport experience; food, beverage and retail ; and arrival/from airport experience," the study determined how mega-, large- and medium-sized North American airports performed when it came to overall customer satisfaction.

THESE ARE THE TOP-RATED AIRLINES FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

These are the mega airports that J.D. Power found scored the highest for overall customer satisfaction. The study considered airports that handle more than 33 million flyers annually to fall in the "mega" category.

1. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport

Passengers check-in near the Delta gates at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images / Getty Images)

When it came to overall customer satisfaction, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport topped other mega airports, scoring 671 out of a possible 1,000. Brian Ryks, the CEO of owner Metropolitan Airports Commission, said the No. 1 ranking "acknowledges the work and focus of all airport employees and our partners who ensure our airport facilities, services and hospitality are maintained at the highest levels and exceed travelers’ expectations." 

2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Travelers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. (Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport’s score was just 28 points lower than Minneapolis'. Roughly 800 flights by 17 airlines take off from the airport each day.

THESE CITIES OFFER THE BEST COMMUTES FOR WORKERS

3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

An American Airlines plane taxis at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on November 9, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

More than 48 million travelers went through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which placed third with a 633 customer satisfaction score, over the course of last year.

4. John F. Kennedy International Airport

Exterior view of JFK Airport in New York on Nov. 19, 2023. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked No. 4 for overall customer satisfaction, J.D. Power said. The airport is located outside of New York City in the borough of Queens.

5. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Shuttle vans waiting for passengers arriving at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas. ( HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, fifth among mega airports, provides flights to 193 domestic and 67 international nonstop destinations, according to its website.

In addition to mega airports, the study identified which large- and medium-sized airports travelers found most satisfying.

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For large airports serving 10 million to 32.9 million passengers annually, John Wayne Airport in California’s Orange County received first place, J.D. Power said. Indianapolis International Airport scored 687, making it the medium-sized (between 4.5 million and 9.9 million passengers a year) airport with the highest customer satisfaction.

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Business Insights

16 adventurous travel business ideas (2024), march 11, 2024.

The travel industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, reaching over $1.6 trillion by 2028 . As more people prioritize experiences over material possessions this presents a major opportunity if you have been thinking about starting a travel business. Whether you want to start a boutique travel agency focusing on specific clientele or launch an adventurous excursion company, possibilities in the travel sector are endless.

If you still cannot figure out where to start, we got you covered with some of the most inspirational and profitable travel business ideas among globetrotters.

Best 16 travel business ideas

Here are some creative and profitable travel business ideas that you can start right away:

Local experience tours

Local experience tours offer immersive local experiences to tourists and travelers. This can be a good business idea because it allows visitors to deeply engage with local cultures, foods, activities, and people. Rather than just sightseeing, guests get to participate in unique adventures and make meaningful connections. For example, they may learn traditional cooking techniques from local chefs or join neighborhood walking tours led by long-time residents. This helps travelers create memories that a standard bus tour cannot provide. Meanwhile, it funnels tourist dollars into local communities and connects residents with appreciative guests.

How much you can make: $50,000-$150,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $5,000-$10,000 How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Eco-friendly travel planning

Eco-friendly travel planning specializes in planning vacations focused on sustainability. This business would consult with travelers to suggest eco-friendly transportation, lodging, tours, and activities at each destination. Promoting green travel helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions. It also allows tourists to reduce their environmental impact through mindful choices. As more people seek eco-trips, a travel agency well-versed in this niche can match values-driven clients to the right locations and vendors. The differentiator is expertise in vetting and curating the most planet-friendly getaways.

How much you can make: $50,000-$100,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $2,000-$5,000 How long does it take to build: 2-4 months

Digital nomad services

It is a business that provides services to digital nomads. The business would help digital nomads be productive and enjoy their nomadic lifestyle. It could offer services like a membership program to access vetted wifi hotspots, discounts at co-working spaces, a network of trusted housesitters and property rentals, social meetups and events, job boards, and more. The goal would be to simplify logistics and create a community for remote workers on the go.

How much you can make: $40,000-$80,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $1,000-$3,000 How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Travel blogging and vlogging

Travel blogging and vlogging refer to creating a blog and video blog to document travels. It involves creating written and visual content based on experiences visiting new destinations and sharing reviews about things like hotels, restaurants, attractions, and tours. There is a large audience of people who enjoy following along on others’ trips for inspiration on where to go as well as trustworthy recommendations. The blog and social media posts have the potential to generate clicks and shares as readers find the first-hand information helpful. All the content created while traveling opens up diverse moneymaking avenues. For instance, ads and affiliate marketing related to hospitality and tourism with commissions on reservations made.

How much you can make: $30,000-$100,000 How much does it cost to start: $1,000-$5,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Local guide services

By providing local knowledge, insider tips, and unique perspectives, a local guide service can help travelers discover hidden gems, understand the culture and history of a place, and create unforgettable memories. Moreover, this business model has low startup costs and can be easily scaled based on demand. It also supports the local economy by promoting small businesses and cultural attractions. With the rise of online platforms and social media, it has become easier than ever to market and book local guide services, making it a viable business opportunity for entrepreneurs passionate about their communities and eager to share their expertise with others.

How much you can make: $30,000-$60,000 How much does it cost to start: 1,000-$3,000 How long does it take to build: 2-4 months

Vacation rental management

It is a business that helps homeowners rent out their vacation properties. Owners hire this service to advertise listings, screen guests, manage bookings and payments, coordinate check-ins/outs, handle maintenance issues, and overall take care of all aspects of making the property available as a successful rental. The service benefits owners by maximizing occupancy and rental rates and it also benefits guests by providing professional management and good experiences. Overall it connects homeowners and travelers in a mutually beneficial way through convenient, managed vacation rentals.

How much you can make: $50,000-$150,000 How much does it cost to start: $10,000-$20,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Custom travel accessories

Custom travel accessories allow customers to personalize and customize their travel accessories. This business would offer products like luggage tags, passport holders, travel pillows, blankets, and more that could all be customized with the customer’s name, initials, favorite colors, and patterns. Customers appreciate custom accessories that feel made just for them. The business would cater to this demand by providing quality customizable products and a seamless online ordering experience. This allows customers to get the travel gear delivered right to their door.

How much you can make: $30,000-$100,000 How much does it cost to start: $5,000-$10,000 How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Budget-friendly travel

Budget-friendly travel would help budget travelers by curating affordable travel packages, hotels, activities, and transportation options. For example, packages could bundle reduced-rate rooms with discounted local attractions, meals, and airport transfers to provide an entire trip for a reasonable price. Customers would simply choose their destination and desired budget, and receive an all-inclusive, cheap but high-quality travel experience. By hunting for travel deals, pre-arranging discounted group rates, and negotiating prices for budget bundles, the business does the hard work for the customer.

How much you can make: $40,000-$80,000 How much does it cost to start: $2,000-$5,000 How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Luxury cruises and upscale all-inclusive

Luxury cruises and upscale all-inclusive is a worthwhile business idea to consider because many high-income people desire lavish getaways with top-tier amenities and easy convenience. The business would arrange deluxe experiences including six-star cruises with private balconies, butler service, and gourmet dining or five-star beach resorts offering elite spas, golf, and personalized adventure excursions. It solves the hassle of intricate travel planning for demanding luxury guests. By leveraging partnerships and global connections, the business can facilitate access to hard-to-book suites, dream locales, and elite recreations for well-to-do travelers seeking the ultimate, no-compromises holidays tailored specifically to their desires.

How much you can make: $100,000-$250,000 How much does it cost to start: $50,000-$100,000 How long does it take to build: 12-18 months

Glamping offers the experience of camping outdoors combined with more comfortable, outfitted tents, beds, furniture, bathrooms, and other amenities more commonly found in hotels. This can appeal to those who enjoy nature and the outdoors but don’t necessarily want to rough it in a traditional tent fully. There is demand for off-the-grid vacations and glamping caters well to this market. The start-up costs may be higher than traditional campgrounds to furnish the upscale tents and build suitable restrooms/showers. However, the nightly rates charged to guests offset this over time. It allows for seasonal hospitality without large permanent real estate. The modular and transportable nature also provides flexibility if relocating the glamping resort is necessary.

How much you can make: $50,000-$150,000 How much does it cost to start: $20,000-$50,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Go solo or go social

Go solo or go social provides a platform for people to access services, either individually or in a social setting. The premise is that some services are best-enjoyed solo while others are more fun with company. For example, a massage may be preferred alone while going to a dance class could be more enjoyable with friends. The business would allow users to search for and book various services, selecting if they want to partake solo or if they want to facilitate a group social experience around the service. This can help service providers reach more customers, especially younger demographics interested in social experiences. It also caters to solo customers unable or unwilling to coordinate groups. Allowing both individual and shared services widens the target market.

How much you can make: $30,000-$60,000 How much does it cost to start: $2,000-$5,000 How long does it take to build: 2-4 months

Crypto trips

Crypto Trips accepts payment in cryptocurrencies and rewards customers with crypto tokens or NFTs. This allows crypto enthusiasts to spend their assets on memorable life experiences while earning exclusive rewards. It makes cryptocurrency more usable in daily life. The agency would partner with hospitality vendors to build travel packages that crypto holders could purchase with their preferred coin. Along with the trips, customers would gain access to unique digital collectibles from that destination. As cryptocurrencies gain mainstream traction, a crypto-based travel agency creates a practical use case while catering to a tech-savvy audience.

How much you can make: $50,000-$100,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $5,000-$10,000 How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Sleep tourism

Sleep tourism is an idea where people travel specifically to get high-quality sleep. It would involve setting up accommodations designed specifically for optimal sleep health. This could be attractive for those who struggle with poor sleep at home due to noise, light, uncomfortable beds, etc. Quality sleep is increasingly seen as vital for physical and mental health, yet many do not prioritize it. This business would cater to that need, becoming a sleep-focused travel destination. Visitors could enjoy comfortable beds and bedrooms, carefully regulated temperatures and lighting suited for sleep, soundproofing, and possibly amenities like soothing music or scents. The sleep tourism business would be founded on the understanding that quality sleep underpins health, performance, and well-being. Providing an environment optimized solely for excellent slumber, it allows travelers to experience the proven benefits of great sleep.

How much you can make: $50,000-$100,000 How much does it cost to start: $10,000-$20,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Adventure travel guide service

Adventure travel guide service connects adventure travelers with experienced, local guides at their destination. Many people want more immersive, off-the-beaten-path experiences when they travel. However, finding trustworthy, knowledgeable guides can be challenging, especially in developing countries. This service would vet potential guides, connect them with clients based on adventure activity interests and trip details, and take a percentage from the guide fees. It would make adventure travel easier to plan and provide income to local guides.

How much you can make: $40,000-$80,000 How much does it cost to start: $5,000-$10,000 How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Corporate travel management

Corporate travel management specializes in booking and managing business travel for companies. Many large companies spend a significant amount on employee travel but find coordinating all the flights, hotels, transportation, and other details very time-consuming which makes it a profitable business idea. A corporate travel management company simplifies the process by customizing travel booking platforms, negotiating discounts with travel vendors, providing a dedicated account manager, organizing group travel, and streamlining expense reporting.

How much you can make: $75,000-$150,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $10,000-$20,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Destination wedding planner

A destination wedding planner business helps engaged couples plan and execute their dream wedding in a romantic, exotic destination away from home. A destination wedding planner also often costs less than a traditional domestic wedding. A planner could provide end-to-end planning services to make travel arrangements, book venues, and vendors, manage legal paperwork, suggest ideas to personalize details and coordinate the event. They simplify the process for the couple while also getting a commission from referring vendors.

How much you can make: $50,000-$100,000 annually How much does it cost to start: $5,000-$10,000 How long does it take to build: 6-12 months

Success in this vibrant industry demands blending creativity, adaptability, and comprehending your audience. Yes, we know that the road ahead may be paved with challenges, but the rewards of building a successful travel business are well worth the trek. From the personal fulfillment of turning your passion into a profession to the financial freedom of a flourishing enterprise, the potential payoffs are immense. For those brave souls embarking on the journey of travel startups , the future holds boundless opportunities.

More must-read stories from Enterprise League:

• Creative and profitable 3D printing business ideas .
• Some of the worst business ideas you should steer clear from.
• Profitable and funny business idea that you can start today.
• Healthcare business ideas with growth potential.
• Box truck business ideas with profit potential.

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

One of the best tablets for work travel I've tested is not made by Microsoft or Lenovo

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Asus ProArt PZ13 is an artistically aligned laptop and is on sale right now at Best Buy for $1,100.
• It's ready to help pro-level artists with its vibrant OLED touchscreen, long battery life, and supportive apps.
• The device is held back by a limited array of ports and a substandard keyboard. 

A couple of months ago, I tested out Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 , a laptop that doubles as a tablet. It has Qualcomm's next-gen chipset and a lot of great features that made me enjoy the machine. I highly recommend it to business professionals who frequently travel. It seems Asus must've seen the Surface Pro and thought to itself, "We can do better." The result of this inspiration is the Asus ProArt PZ13 .

Also: I tested Lenovo's Windows laptop that doubles as an Android tablet, and it has so much potential

I mentioned the Surface Pro 11 because the two share many similarities, although the ProArt model is better suited for artists and creative professionals.

Upon lifting the laptop out of its box for the first time, you'll be greeted with a 13.3-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels) OLED touchscreen. Its resolution isn't as high as Microsoft's laptop, although the ProArt PZ13 more than makes up for this with image-enhancing apps.

It has Dolby Vision, support for the entire DCI-P3 color gamut, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black for ultra-dark shadows. Everything works together to ensure a stunning visual experience, except for the 60Hz refresh rate. That's a fine speed, but I would've liked to have 120Hz. At 60Hz, motion and animations on this laptop can look a little blurry.

Also: One of the most versatile laptops I've tested also has one of the best displays

The device has a really neat feature called Creator Hub. It's a dashboard app that lets you adjust the PZ13 on the fly. The most impressive of its many tools is Color Control, which lets you change the on-screen color gamut at any time. For example, the DCI-P3 option tweaks the colors so they're best suited for movies while Display P3 is recommended for artists as it more accurately displays hues. You can even adjust the color temperature. 

Creator Hub gives creative professionals a great amount of flexibility. Although I'm not an artist myself, I certainly appreciate having the ability to fine-tune my experience instantly.

Asus' machine is no slouch either, as inside the ProArt PZ13 is a Snapdragon X Plus chipset. I was able to maintain about 60 tabs open without experiencing any major slowdown. I had videos playing and Twitch streams running, and I could still check out my email without any issue.

Sadly, I couldn't get a specific benchmark number on the SoC (system on a chip). None of the major benchmarking tests have been updated for the Snapdragon X, but hopefully, that day will come soon.

Also: This lightweight laptop has one of the best displays I've seen, and it's not a MacBook Air

Like other Qualcomm-based laptops, the ProArt PZ13 has a ridiculously long battery life, and for once, the marketing materials were correct. This device ran for over 21 hours straight when on the Best Power Efficiency mode. I left it on overnight and was shocked to see it was still active in the morning. On Best Performance mode, the model manages to outperform most Intel-based laptops, as it lasted for about 14.5 hours on a single charge.

These battery times are perfect if you ever need to take the ProArt PZ13 on the road. There's no need to worry about the laptop dying on you at the worst moment.

The tablet is 0.35 inches thick and weighs a little under two pounds. Asus throws in a muted-green protective cover with the purchase. The cover adds some bulk to the device, although not by much. It'll fit snugly inside a bag.

As much as I like Asus' new computer, I didn't like the ProArt PZ13's keyboard. Asus states it has a 1.4mm key travel distance. On paper, that should ensure a good typing experience, but I felt the keyboard was flimsy. Pressing a key bends the accessory a bit.

Also: I tested Lenovo's Windows laptop that doubles as an Android tablet, and it has so much potential .

Furthermore, there are very few ports. You get three in total: two USB-C inputs and an SD card reader. Granted, the device is somewhat thin, so perhaps Asus couldn't find room for any more ports. Still, it could've at least included a headphone jack.

My last critique is admittedly a nitpick. I would've appreciated a free stylus in the overall package. Microsoft's 11th-gen Surface Pro had one when I got it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So unless you already have a pen, you'll have to buy one for the PZ13, which isn't a big issue since the laptop is fairly cheap.

ZDNET's buying advice

Prices for the Asus ProArt PZ13 start at $1,100 on Best Buy , which is a steal. There is a more powerful version available on Asus' website --  for $1,649 , you can purchase a ProArt PZ13 sporting Qualcomm's Hexagon NPU, delivering extra power.

Other than that, they're the same device. Get the Hexagon version only if you are expecting heavy workloads.

How we test laptops

We use a combination of methods to test laptops here at ZDNET. First, we acquire data from benchmarking software to analyze a system's metrics under the hood, and compare those to advertised numbers. Then, we spend an extended amount of time with the laptop (usually a week or two) using it the same way a typical consumer would, in order to analyze its portability, form factor, and how well the battery  actually  holds up, among others. For an extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive  laptop testing methodology .

• Benchmarking:  We run a series of tests to put the computer's hardware through the wringer in order to see what it's capable of.  Cinebench  is one of the most commonly-used hardware testing suites, which tests the laptop's rendering performance on single and multiple CPU cores.  PCMark 10  is another powerful program that covers a wide variety of tasks performed in the workplace.
• Processor:  The "brain" of the laptop, and one of the most important factors that determines performance. This is tested in benchmarking software.

The display:  Brightness is measured in "nits," and color spectrums are tested in benchmarking software.

The graphics processor (GPU):  We test the GPU with a combination of benchmarking software, gaming, and media playback. 

Physical form factor:  We carry the laptop around for at least a week and note how well it commutes.

• Battery testing:  We test a unit's battery in a few ways. A handful of benchmarking programs have their own battery testing components, but we also will just let the laptop run for as long as it can under a medium load. 
• The human element:   As we mentioned earlier, metrics and system data is important, but numbers alone don't give you the full picture. This is where we weave in our personal experience with the device and tap into the practical use cases that consumers actually care about. 

Ultimately, our goal is to break down the capabilities of each and every laptop we test into digestible terms that people find useful.  

Featured reviews

One of the best samsung tablets i've tested is not a flagship (and it's on sale), this 13-inch laptop i recommend for work travel is not a macbook or a dell (and it's on sale), one of the best lightweight laptops i've tested made me forget about the macbook air.

A California Gen Xer who retired early to Colombia on a $3,423 monthly pension explains how much he pays for housing and other bills

• Jeremy Teitelbaum, 56, moved from California to Colombia for a more affordable retirement.
• Rising living costs in the US are driving many retirees to seek cheaper options abroad.
• Teitelbaum's $3,423 monthly pension covers his expenses in Pereira, Colombia.

To Jeremy Teitelbaum, the weather in Pereira, Colombia, feels like "eternal spring." The 56-year-old never gets tired of the cool breeze, light rain, and reliable sunshine.

Teitelbaum moved to the city about a year ago. After a health scare, he left his career as a speech communications lecturer in San Luis Obispo, California, and chose to move abroad .

"I don't think there really is anything about the US that I miss," he said.

According to documents reviewed by Business Insider, he lives on his $3,423 monthly  teaching pension . Teitelbaum can start  collecting Social Security  in six years when he turns 62, but his pension covers everything he needs in Pereira right now. He said prices in Colombia are much lower than in the US.

As the cost of living continues to rise across America, it's becoming common for older adults to move abroad. International retirement offers travel experience, and many feel their money goes further. BI has heard from people who moved from Texas to Panama , California to Italy , and Minnesota to Mexico .

According to the Social Security Administration,  over 700,000 US workers  retired abroad in 2022, the latest available data. This trend comes as millions of baby boomers are living on fixed Social Security or pension incomes with limited savings . On such a tight budget, many struggle to afford necessities like housing, food, and healthcare as they age.

Teitelbaum hasn't ruled out a part-time job. But, for now, he feels financially comfortable and is enjoying retirement .

"It's a very relaxed lifestyle," he said.

Teitelbaum says life in Colombia is cheaper, and he plans to continue traveling

Teitelbaum stays busy. He volunteers a few hours each week teaching English as a second language and takes Spanish classes. He also walks his dog, goes swimming, socializes with friends, and takes day trips to nearby towns and landmarks.

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His one-bedroom apartment costs less than $500 a month, and his utility, water, and cell phone bills add up to about $150 monthly. The rest of his budget goes to groceries, restaurants, social activities, and any healthcare he needs. Teitelbaum said life in Colombia costs about 25% to 50% less than in California.

Once he begins collecting Social Security, Teitelbaum said his teaching pension will be reduced. Even so, he feels confident he will have enough income to live on in Pereira — and he has several thousand dollars in savings to pull from if he has unexpected expenses.

Not all older adults can afford to move abroad in retirement, and some find their pension or Social Security incomes aren't enough to pay the bills. But Teitelbaum doesn't plan to return to full-time work — or to America — anytime soon.

He hopes to travel next to Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, and maybe Italy. But, no matter where he calls home, Teitelbaum said he will still visit Los Angeles to spend holidays with his daughter.

"Wherever in the world I am, I'll always come home for Thanksgiving," he said.

Have you chosen to retire abroad? Are you open to sharing your experience? If so, reach out to this reporter at [email protected] .

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SAPD says 22-year-old man shot multiple times at North Side business, dies at hospital

Officers were dispatched to the shooting around 2:15 a.m. saturday.

KSAT Digital Team

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police said it is investigating a deadly shooting at a North Side business.

Officers were dispatched to the shooting around 2:15 a.m. Saturday in the 3800 block of Blanco Road.

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When they arrived, police interviewed witnesses of the shooting. The witnesses told police that an unknown suspect got into an argument with a 22-year-old man.

The suspect left the location and later returned with a firearm. The suspect then fired the weapon at the man, striking him multiple times, police said.

It is unclear how many times the victim was struck by gunfire.

Witnesses told SAPD that the victim was then taken to a local hospital by other individuals. Authorities said the 22-year-old man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Officers said they do not have any information on any potential suspect. The department’s investigation is ongoing.

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