Home Based Travel Business

This is the perfect business for stay at home moms and dads, retirees, and anyone wanting to avoid long commutes.

Any home travel business needs three things:

• Sales leads
• Travel suppliers (in other words, access to wholesalers)
• Agency accreditation (such as IATAN, etc)

Of course, obtaining these three things can be easier said than done, especially because there are a number of known scams online that purport to set you up with a home based travel business.

But if you are careful about investigating the opportunity and spend enough time to train yourself, it is possible to make quite a good living this way (and to earn free travel too!)

Two successful models

The first model is that of a home based travel agent. This means you actually field calls from prospective clients, research individual trips, secure competitive prices, and, once you make sales, you arrange for delivery of travel documents.

This model requires a relationship with a travel agency, since, in order to access wholesale travel suppliers, you need an agency affiliation, and, more importantly, an IATAN card.

The second model for a home based travel business does not require personal interaction with clients. In fact, it has totally flexible hours.

This second model is operating a travel website (or websites). Your site draws free traffic from websites, and your income can come from online advertising and affiliate sales agreements with online travel agencies, such as Travelocity and Expedia.

While I have made money through both these models, I prefer the second model, as it allows me to work at my own pace, free from the problems and aggravations that can come from dealing with live customers.

Combining both business models

If the idea of working directly with customers appeals to you, then I highly suggest this approach.

Owning a website that brings you a constant stream of free leads and referrals is like money in the bank as a home based travel business owner.

Many agencies either sell you leads or, at the very least, control the flow of leads. So if you have access to your own free leads, you can pretty much call the shots.

A running home based travel business can be fun, profitable, and fulfilling. So let's get started learning more about how to begin building your own website.