Are you a travel enthusiast who loves to travel across any destinations and share experiences? Then you might be the right guy to become a travel agent. But you might be unanswered how much does it cost to become a travel agent. Do not worry, we will answer your every question related to becoming a travel adviser and how much it costs to become a travel agent and start your own travel agency.
A travel agency startup is indeed a paradise for a traveler who also loves to help others with traveling. However, as with every startup, becoming a travel agent levied some costs and efforts that newbies are unable to understand.
But before we start and tell you how much it costs to become a travel agent, we have a few questions for you that confirm your suitability as a travel agent. Also remember, if someone says to you that you can become a travel agent for free, he/she straightly lying to you.
Are You the Right Person to Become a Travel Agent?
- Do you love traveling anytime and anywhere?
- What does inspire you to travel?
- Do you assist your family members and friends to plan their vacations?
- Do you offer to help someone even if he/she doesn’t ask you during travel?
- Do people seek advice from you before they plan their travel?
- Do you research any place before you travel?
- Are you available anytime if someone calls you at any time?
- Do you have sales skills? (passion alone doesn’t succeed you in this business)
If all the listed questions are “Yes” then congratulations, you are the right fit guy to become a travel agent. Let’s understand how much it costs to start a travel agency or become a travel agent.
Also read: How to Travel Smart: Low-Cost Lodging for Young Adventurers
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Travel Agent?
If you want to fulfill your dream of becoming a travel advisor, you must understand how much expense it requires. In a nutshell, the cost varies from a minimum of $100 to $2000 on an average end. It depends on factors like whether you want to become an independent travel agent, want to take a travel agency subscription, or want to take a franchise of an already established travel agency.
Let it segregate based on the type of travel agent –
- Subscription model: Starts from $99
- Franchise model: Ranges from $300 – $9,000
- Independent model: up to $2,000
Cost of a Subscription model to become a travel agent
The subscription model is a new trend to achieve your dream of becoming a travel adviser. The cost of the subscription provider varies widely depending on the services they are offering – training, skills, certifications, experience, etc. They charge from $99 to $3,000 based on the services. The more services, the higher will be the charges, however, you can ask them to customize services based on your requirements.
If you wish to start a startup instead of working as a travel agent, it may cost you more. You necessarily have to obtain a license and certifications to become a skilled travel agent. Later on, you have to hire your staff and manage other things as a business that add up more cost to it.
Franchise Model to Start a Travel Agent Business
A franchise model is the best way to grow quickly in this field as you don’t have to take care of anything however, it may cost a lot of expenses. This business model may cost up to $2000 per annum. If you don’t have any prior knowledge and looking at how much does it cost to become a travel agent then we recommend the franchise model. Though this is not a promotional article, you have to do your research to find the best one.
It helps you to establish your own brand, services, and product though charges a hefty fee. So, if you have a good budget and passion for starting a traveling agency then you should go with a franchisor. They give shape to your business and provide support, however, they may charge a good commission or royalty based on your profits.
How much it Cost to Start an Independent Travel Agency
When you have a passion for traveling and helping tourists, an independent travel agent is the best form of service you can start. However, it takes a lot of effort, money, and time but instead of working alone, it is recommended to work with a host agency. The host agencies are business providers that work with you on a contract basis and offer support, resources, training, partnerships, etc.
Along with this, a host agency also provides skills to independent travel agents that are requisite for this business. A travel agent also needs extensive training, customer service skills, legal formalities, certifications, etc. Even though you can do all this alone, it requires a lot of knowledge and skills, and a host company may help you.
However, we aren’t pushing you toward contracting with a hosting agency, you can do this all your own if you are ready to put in your all efforts.
Conclusion
Starting a travel agency or travel business is a dream of many but lacking knowledge and support leads to nowhere. As with every startup, becoming a travel agent costs you a certain amount and today we have tried to answer this. By reading this article, you may have your answer to the question – How much does it cost to become a travel agent? Still have any queries? Don’t hesitate to comment and discuss your thoughts.
