If you’re passionate about travel and looking for a side line or you want to discover if switching careers is a viable option, becoming a part-time travel agent could be the perfect path for you.
What could be more rewarding than jetting off on your own adventures and then selling similar experiences to your clients (and being paid for it)?
In this article, we guide you on becoming a part-time travel agent so that you can turn those dreams into reality.
Spoiler alert: It’s not as hard as you might think!
Why becoming a part-time travel agent is a great idea
Going part-time as a travel agent can offer both security and flexibility, giving you the option of working part-time in another job or spending time with your family perhaps to look after young kids or elderly parents. Here’s some other reasons why some people opt to work as a travel agent part-time.
1. To travel more and take advantage of heavily discounted holidays.
As a travel agent, holiday providers will be eager to engage with you so you can experience what they offer to better sell the experience to your clients.
2. Explore and experience travel products that may not otherwise be accessible to average customers.
Many agents get the opportunity to experience inaugural cruises or excursions, as well as flights to new routes and upcoming destinations.
3. Become familiar with other cultures, and sell those great experiences to your clients.
Experiencing a new culture first-hand is exciting and allows you to sell the right holiday to the right client. You can post on social media to generate interest.
4. Generate a subsidiary income and pursue a side interest.
Becoming a travel agent part-time enables you to continue with your current job alongside your new venture, offering you financial security and flexibility in working hours. Some consultants maintain their full-time career, working evenings and weekends initially until they build up their customer base and business.
5. Create a professional and social network with people from around the world.
As you grow your business, you’ll meet many new people in the UK and abroad. And some consultants even make life-long friends on educational trips.
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How to become a part-time travel agent
Wondering how to become a travel agent from home? It’s easier than you think. Let’s take a closer look at what you should consider.
Can you be a part-time travel agent?
You may wonder if you can be a part-time travel agent without any former experience in the travel industry.
You absolutely can!
There are a few ways to establish yourself as a part-time travel agent. One of the most popular is to join an existing travel agency recruiting for that role.
However, working for someone else means you have less flexibility with your working hours and you may be better off in starting your own agency employing experienced staff or buying your own franchise.
The Travel Franchise, for example, is best known for taking new recruits who have never worked in the industry before and helping them launch their own part-time travel franchise with many becoming successful in their first year.
How to become a travel agent part-time
Here are the key steps in becoming a part-time travel agent:
- Decide upon a business model
Will you work from home, online, or in a brick-and-mortar business? Will you open a franchise or join a host agency? It will also be necessary to get your business plan in order.
- Apply for licences
You will need certain licences such as ATOL and it is also advisable to join ABTA if you open your own agency. However, if you join a franchise, they will have their own ABTA number and they will have partnerships with operators that have an ATOL.
- Decide on your budget
When starting your own travel agency business, you’ll need a substantial budget to start unless you decide upon franchising or joining an already-established travel agency.
Build a part-time business around your life
- Receive training
You’ll need to prioritise training for your part-time role. Franchisors and host agencies usually offer support and training as part of a package. No qualifications are necessary to become a travel agent, so you’ll want to do in-depth research on the training offered.
- Start selling holidays!
Once you have all of the above in order, you’re prepped and ready to start selling holidays, fulfilling dreams and making an income through commission.
How do I qualify as a travel agent?
Whilst there are no formal qualifications needed to pursue your dream as a travel agent, you will need to be aware of a few things.
- Licences
If you intend to sell flights alone or as a package, you must apply for an Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL). There are a range ATOLs catering to a variety of requirements, including franchise ATOL, small business ATOL, and so on. The standard ATOL is the most expensive option, so this will need careful financial consideration
- A Business Plan
This is the guidebook to your business success and ensures you’re on the right track for successful growth. As part of this plan, keep a record of your licences and organisation memberships.
- Trade Organisations
You will want to join a trade organisation to establish yourself as a trusted agent. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is the most well-known but it can also be an expensive option. There are other trade organisations which are more budget-friendly including Tourism Alliance and AITO.
- Time
Realistically, you will need to dedicate significant time to build your new venture. Even though you may start part-time, you may choose to go full-time after a while.
- Training
Try to find time to engage in the necessary training for your role. Whether part-time or at home, you will still need to invest in a good quality training programme to ensure your business is a success. Often, franchises and host agencies will provide long-term ongoing support and training, but if you go it alone, you’ll need to source and pay for your training and progression.
Start your travel agent franchise with The Travel Franchise today! Explore the different packages and learn more about what’s included in each one.
Is it hard to become a travel agent?
Becoming a travel agent has never been easier with the help of franchises and host agencies, but here are some considerations to take before diving in.
How much does a part-time travel agent make?
Curious about what commission a travel agent makes? Remuneration varies, but typically you might expect to make around 10-15% from sales commissions. This doesn’t consider all the extra perks of being a travel agent, such as free flights and hotel stays. Inevitably, the fantastic network of friends and experiences you collect becomes some of the most valuable parts of the travel agency business. The Travel Franchise offers some of the highest commissions in the industry plus it is ABTA registered, making it a worthwhile investment.
Inexperience
While not a barrier to entry, your inexperience might initially feel frustrating. However, remember that your success will also depend on the size of your network. Luckily, there are numerous training options available, and franchises and host agencies will provide much-needed support. One of the best opportunities you could consider is joining The Travel Franchise as you don’t need any sort of background in travel to join the award-winning company.
Whether you specialise or choose to go broad, the different franchise packages offered by The Travel Franchise are an excellent choice. Explore franchise packages today!
Still unsure? Read some inspiring success stories
Sasha’s story
Sasha, a newcomer to the travel industry, joined The Travel Franchise while still working in recruitment and within a year, she earned back her entire Elite franchise fee by winning the brand’s exclusive Money-Back Challenge.
Despite early setbacks, Sasha’s determination, the support of her Franchise Business Consultant and access to expert tools and training helped her succeed. Balancing both jobs, she leveraged her transferable skills from recruitment to connect with clients and build her travel business, even landing a £70,000 cruise booking.
Inspired by fellow agents, Sasha now has a five-year vision to grow her business, employ a team, and build a rewarding long-term career in travel.
Read more here.
Paul’s story
Paul, a 31-year-old business graduate, launched his part-time travel business with The Travel Franchise just five days after deciding to change career direction following a trip to Sri Lanka.
Balancing the venture with his full-time digital marketing job, Paul chose the affordable Lite package and began selling holidays without major financial risk. He found the induction training and community support invaluable, even attending the company’s conference for added inspiration.
Specialising in adventure travel, he quickly made eight bookings, which was enough to recoup his initial investment. He is now focused on growing his business organically, with plans to eventually go full time.
Read more here.
Jenifer’s story
After a 20-year corporate career, Jenifer decided to make a lifestyle change by launching a part-time travel business with The Travel Franchise. Drawn by her passion for travel and a desire for greater flexibility, she now runs her business on her own terms, fitting it around volunteering and family commitments.
Her travel experience and people skills have helped her land impressive bookings, like a £40,000 polar bear cruise that started from a casual conversation. Jenifer values the franchise’s supportive community, expert guidance from Franchise Business Consultant and the freedom to grow at her own pace, advising others to start comfortably and build gradually.
Read more here.
Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at these Trustpilot reviews to see for yourself.
Can I work as a part-time travel agent from home?
Yes, you can absolutely work as a part-time travel agent from home and many people across the UK are doing just that.
Part-time travel agent jobs from home offer the flexibility to earn extra income around your existing commitments, whether you’re a parent, full-time employee or simply looking for a rewarding side hustle.Unlike traditional travel agency jobs in the UK, there’s no need for prior experience or a physical office. With The Travel Franchise, you can launch your own business with full training and support, making it one of the most accessible travel agent jobs in the UK available today.
Tips for combining a part-time travel agency career with your lifestyle
Many people prefer to start part-time due to the work/life balance or other commitments such as another job or family. However, it is still necessary to carefully organise your time.
Below are some tips on how to combine your lifestyle with your new part-time travel agency career.
- How much time can you spare? Initially you may have to dedicate more time to make more money, so it’s important to consider how much you would ideally like to earn.
- Balance work-life hours. Your working hours will be determined by the kind of travel business you choose to run. An online business can be dealt with remotely throughout the day, but a brick-and-mortar version requires more regular hours.
- Prioritise! In the initial stages, you will have to dedicate more time and energy to your business. It is essential to consider your other commitments and work out how you can balance them with your new travel agency to ensure that you don’t become exhausted and end up wishing you’d never started.
Only have a few hours a week? No problem.
See how people are building travel businesses around their jobs, kids, and busy lives.
Find out what’s possible
Is becoming a part-time travel agent right for you?
Many people pursue part-time travel agent careers at different life stages. Some get started as they near retirement while others may be in the peak of their careers or seeking a career pivot. Whichever option applies to you, there are many reasons why you should consider starting as a travel agent with The Travel Franchise.
Ideal for a career change or second job
With your own travel franchise, the world is your oyster. No matter where you find yourself in life in terms of family or career, travel franchising is the perfect opportunity to grow and enjoy the life you want through the effort that you put in. The Travel Franchise is perfect for:
- Busy parents and mums returning to work: Looking for flexible jobs for mums that allow you to balance your child’s schooling, activities, your responsibilities and travel business? Look no further than our guide to becoming a remote travel agent as a mum returning to work.
- Retired professionals and early retirees: Yes, you can run a part-time business in retirement, allowing you to earn while helping craft the perfect holidays for people in your community.
- Ex-police officers and military personnel: Looking for part-time jobs for ex-police officers? Alternatively, are you a veteran leaving the military? Travel franchising could help you use your skills to your advantage as you organise, plan and assist with travel bookings to various destinations around the world.
- Teachers looking for a second career or career change: It is definitely possible to make a career change from teaching to travel. In fact, working as a travel agent with The Travel Franchise opens up opportunities to build a travel business around school hours and holidays.
- NHS and healthcare workers seeking flexibility: The Travel Franchise is also an ideal option if you are looking for a career transition or a chance to supplement your income. This part-time business for NHS staff is not to be missed.
- Experienced travel professionals starting a side hustle: And, of course, if you’re a seasoned travel professional, there are many opportunities for you. The Travel Franchise’s part-time side business for professionals is the ideal option that allows you to work in travel for yourself.
Curious what this could look like for someone like you?
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Start Part-Time, Grow Full-Time (If You Want To)
You now know that you can get started with different part-time travel agent jobs. But the real question is what do you want to get out of the experience. From travelling to different destinations, getting full training and support, having access to your very own Business Development Manager, tapping into a network of more than 450 suppliers and so much more, The Travel Franchise emerges as the top choice. Not convinced yet? Why not read these real-life stories to help you decide?
Start building your part-time travel business today
You were wondering how to become a travel agent part-time or in your spare time, and hopefully, it seems less daunting now, and you have the tools to go forward and make your new business venture a success.
If you want to chat to someone further about the opportunity, book a free appointment at www.the-travel-franchise.com
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