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Work
at Home Ideas - Home Based Travel Agent
by Angella Kay,
The Light Keeper.com
A love of travel, a nose for good deals and a desire to help
people have fun are great qualities for a travel agency - and
it's a job you can do at home!
Tools you'll need:
First of all, let's look at the "hype" of becoming
a home-based travel agent. You may have seen the spam ads promising
big money for little work, and how you can "break into
the travel business" in five easy steps. Like all spam
and schemes, this one is false. Becoming a home-based travel
agent is much like any other job: you must be willing
to work to succeed. Success, as in any business, is based on
your commitment and dedication.
That said, a home based travel business is a good fit for someone
who is well-traveled, or loves to read and talk about traveling.
You'll use your friendly demeanor to interact with clients and
your love of travel to excite them about their own travel plans.
You'll also need some negotiating skills, for both clients and
vendors.
My advice to everyone considering a work at home business is
to write a business plan. Your business plan
should outline your goals and your intentions to achieve those
goals, your focus (customer service, quality at an affordable
price, etc.), and your long-term goals for the business. In
addition to being an extremely useful business tool, a business
plan can help motivate you when you need it most. One book I
found very helpful was The
One Page Business Plan: Start With a Vision, Build a Company!
by James Horan, Jr. You can also do a search on Google
for how to write a business plan and get some useful links.
Check with your state and county offices for business name
requirements. Some jurisdictions only require a DBA (Doing Business
As) to run a business, while others may require a Business License.
You can also contact the Small Business Administration, which
can hook you up with a retired professional in your field for
advice and mentoring.
You'll need a computer with Internet access to book online
fares or do research on travel opportunities and packages, and
you'll need e-mail access to communicate with clients and vendors.
Your own domain name and website are a good idea for any business:
they give you a professional look and allow you to be in control
of your e-mail. Keep in mind that most people would rather communicate
with susan@acmetravel than susanacmetravel@hotmail. Spammers
have done their part to make everyone suspicious of e-mail,
and having your own domain name can a long way toward making
clients (and potential clients) comfortable with your online
communication.
Business cards and personalized stationary are also keys to
a professional look. You can print your invoices on personalized
stationary, and handing out 2-3 business cards to your clients
can help them get the word out to the friends about your business.
Tie your website look with your business stationary for a clean,
cohesive branding image. The more your clients and potential
clients see your logo and business materials, the more cemented
in their minds your business becomes.
Taking all of the above into account, sit down and figure out
a budget for your business. Decide how much you can spend on
your website, your printed materials and any other materials
you need. These items are often negotiable (consider bartering
with a printing company, exchanging your travel agent services
for their printing services), but things like taxes, business
license/name regulations and banking fees are not. Be sure to
include those in your cost estimates. And don't forget your
own salary!
Also keep in mind that you will be able to write many of these
materials off during tax time. Consulting a tax professional
(again, consider bartering your services for theirs!) will help
you figure out what you can and can't deduct, and can save a
lot of headaches at the end of the year.
Getting Clients
Once you have your business materials printed, your website
ready and your reference materials in hand, you'll need to start
finding clients. One of the best ways to find clients is through
networking. Make sure your website is optimized for
the search engines (your web designer can help you with this),
and post fliers around town. Writing a press release is another
good way of getting the word out about your company.
Some ideas for finding clients:
Join a Referrals Group or the local Chamber of Commerce.
These are great groups for finding leads and getting your name
out there in the business world.
Approach businesspeople you know. Your dentist, your
local flower shop, your favorite small bookstore - many of these
business owners need and use the services of travel agents.
Ask for referrals. If a client loves the work you did
for them, let them know you'll offer a 10% discount on future
work if they refer new clients to you. Word of mouth is one
of your strongest assets.
What Not To Do:
Don't spam. Whatever you do, don't spam. Even if you're
down to your last penny and aren't sure where your next sale
will come from - DON'T SPAM! Spam is a very touchy subject,
and doing so may result in your e-mail and website being shut
down, not to mention your reputation completely gone. Most people,
bombarded by spam, simply aren't willing to give someone a second
chance; once a spammer, always a spammer, they reason.
Don't make promises you can't keep. If a customer
says they can get a cheaper fare online, don't promise them
a fare you won't be able to get. Your goal is to sell the customer
on your service, not necessarily your price. Remember
that good business isn't always about being the cheapest - it's
about providing good value for the money, and good value often
translates as affordable and quality service. Distinguish yourself
from the rest by proving you provide the highest quality of
customer service.
Good luck in your career as a Home Based Travel Agent!
Links
Travel
Agency Business by Cindy Soto - article on BizyMoms.com
about owning a travel agency business
Agent
I.D. Scams, or, The Instant Travel Agent (Usenet Posting)
- very informative
Related Books, eBooks and Materials
How
To Get Started as a Home-Based Travel Agent by
Lee LeFaivre
Excerpt: "Do you enjoy the freedom
of working at home? No traffic to battle - no worries about
your wardrobe.
Do you like to travel? Do you enjoy planning a trip, seeing
the sights, and experiencing other cultures? Maybe becoming
a home-based travel agent is for you...
Some organizations (including some large agencies) realized
that if they supported home-based agents properly, they had
a really good deal. They pay an agent a portion of commission
when they sell something and they don’t have to pay for
office space, salaries, or benefits.
The end result - There is an atmosphere in the industry
today that not only smiles on home-based agents, it actively
encourages them."
Angella Kay is the webmaster
at The Light Keeper.com, a website for at home parents. Sign up
today for The Light Keeper's Journal,
a free weekly newsletter highlighting at home parenting!
Copyright 2003
by Angella Kay.
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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