When Elliott joined The Travel Franchise at just 23 years old, he’d never worked in travel. Fresh out of university, he saw the opportunity as a flexible sideline — a way to build a business around his lifestyle, supported by his partner, Bethan.
Nearly five years later, that sideline has grown into a thriving, full-time travel agency. With over £1.3 million in sales, close to £500,000 in commission, and more than 330 bookings in a single year, Elliott is now approaching Diamond status — one of the highest achievements within our franchise network.
From evenings and weekends to full-time focus
For several years, Elliott balanced his growing travel agency alongside a full-time career in event management, squeezing in bookings during evenings and weekends.
But in late 2023, he took the leap and committed to the business full time.
““When I first started out, it was kind of like, ‘we’ll see what happens’. I ran my travel agency alongside my other job — evenings and weekends — but it got to a stage when I wanted to see where I could take it if I was solely focused on just the travel business.”
Elliott’s first year of being full time in 2024, brought another major milestone — the arrival of his baby boy.
“It was a really successful first full-time year — and life-wise, we became parents. It was a great balance of everything. Challenging, but very rewarding.”
Despite the demands of parenthood, Elliott kept his business thriving — supported by referrals, repeat customers, and a strong partnership with a concierge company. One of his standout bookings even topped £80,000.
And he didn’t skip the perks of being in the travel industry either. In 2024, he visited Antigua, Mykonos, Boston and New York (on a Jetset fam trip), and enjoyed a family holiday to Gran Canaria.
2025: Travel, growth, and family time
This year, Elliott’s travel calendar continues to be packed. Trips include Dubai, the South of France, Cyprus, a family adventure to Disneyland Paris for his son’s first birthday, and a tropical finale in Jamaica.
Although Bethan still helps with the business, for now, Elliott prefers not to hire staff.
“I enjoy the freedom I have, especially being a parent now. Eventually I might bring someone in for admin support, but for now, I’m happy managing it myself.”
It’s not just about the money
While Elliott is aiming for £1.5 million in turnover in 2025, success to him is about more than just figures.
“I love being a travel consultant. You meet so many different people, and when you get to know clients, you become good friends. It’s a nice feeling knowing that we’re working hard and building a good business for ourselves, but also making sure people are having good experiences and leaving a good impression on their lives.”
Would he recommend the journey to others?
“It’s great to see how much Not Just Travel is growing and how many people are doing so well. As long as you work hard, follow the model and believe in yourself, there’s no reason why you can’t make a success out of it. What you put in is what you get out.”
So what tips would he give those starting out?
“Be in it for the long haul. Everyone’s journey is different. But once that snowball effect kicks in, clients return, they refer others, and everything starts to fall into place.”
