Jess and James, a couple from Newcastle, were feeling the pressure at work.
Jess, an emergency vet, was struggling with the long night shifts, while James, a management consultant, was often chained to his desk from 8am to midnight.
“We both wanted an exit strategy from our jobs — me more than Jess,” says James.
One day, while planning a family holiday, Jess’ mum made a light-hearted comment: “You’re so good at this! You should be a travel agent!”
That comment sparked an idea. Jess suggested to James that they explore the possibility of investing in a travel franchise and the rest is history.
“The emotional toll of emergency work was weighing upon on me,” says Jess.
“I found joy in planning holidays, and I realised I wanted to do more of that. When my parents joked about me being a travel agent, I decided to explore it.”
Jess and James joined us in mid April 2024. Fast forward just 10 months, and they’ve been so successful booking holidays they’ve achieved the Money-Back Challenge, a unique incentive where we refund your £14,995 Elite franchise fee if you hit a certain commission target within your first year.
“We’re absolutely buzzing. It’s crazy to think, but we actually hit the Money-Back Challenge on the same day we closed on this house that we just moved into. We’re both equally happy and exhausted!” says James.
And what will they spend the £14,995 refund on?
“Probably a mix of house expenses and our own travel,” says Jess.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do on the house, but we also want to get back to travelling. It’s a privilege to be in this position, and we want to travel more — it’s not just for us, it’s also great for our business!”
James quit his job and now works full time in the travel business while Jess still works part time as a vet.
Both absolutely love their new venture — but it hasn’t been without its challenges.
“There have been lots of ups and downs, and plenty of learning on the job. Neither of us had ever run a business before, worked in travel, or been self-employed. It’s been a steep learning curve,” explains Jess. “But the freedom it gives us is incredible.”
James says that they love being in control of our own business — creating our own hours and making our own decisions without any ‘overlords’ to report to.
And the couple credits their training and support from the team – every consultant gets a personal Business Development Manager when they join and, after just five days training, they can earn while they continue to learn.
“The training was exactly what we needed to get started without overthinking it,” says Jess.
“And Deb, our Business Development Manager, has been amazing. She’s motivational, celebrates our wins, and is there when things aren’t going so well. We absolutely love Deb!”
The couple also contribute their success to focusing on a niche. Jess, with her veterinary background, has marketed her business to fellow vets and focussed on bucket-list tours, safaris and adventures.
“We’ve quickly moved away from focusing on family and friends, and instead, we’re focused on the veterinary profession. I’ve worked with vets all over the country, and that trust and rapport has really helped build our business.”
The couple also say it’s important to focus on something you love.
“For us, safari and adventure travel is where we’re most passionate and knowledgeable. Our marketing has become more focused on that niche, and it’s paying off.”
Jess and James also found our mentorship retreats abroad invaluable. Two are included in the cost of the Elite franchise package and many people say they’re worth the franchise fee alone.
“We went to the Millionaires Retreat in Crete last October, and right after that, we went to the Elite Experience in Orlando. Both were phenomenal! It wasn’t just the business sessions — it was also the chance to connect with other consultants. We’re part of WhatsApp groups now, where we ask questions and help each other out. It’s been great to see that we’re not alone in this journey,” says Jess.
Next, they’re looking forward to joining our company cruise — a Seminar at Sea where we cruise around the stunning Norwegian Fiords and bring experts onboard to coach agents on how to master the cruise sector.
Looking ahead, they envision a future with more time to travel and preserve the freedom that was the whole point of their business.
“We definitely want more time to travel and pursue what we love,” says Jess. “I also want to return to charity work. I used to do a lot of vet work abroad, but the stress of my previous job got in the way. Now, with our business doing well, I hope we can spend more time traveling and contributing to causes that are important to us.”
“I lived in Australia for two years, and part of our vision for NJT was to create a business that allows us to live in other countries and travel when we want.”
Their Advice for Anyone Thinking About Joining?
“Do it — 100%. It’s the best decision you’ll ever make,” says James. “It will be scary and uncomfortable at times, but that’s part of the journey. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Push through the fear, because the rewards are absolutely worth it.”
Jess agrees.
“I’m really happy we invested in The Travel Franchise. The support, tools, and resources they give you set you up for success. But it’s important to go into it with the right mindset. This isn’t a quick fix to become a millionaire. You have to put in the work. The franchise gives you the tools, but it’s up to you to make it work.”
