Home-Based Travel Agent Resources
Feeling overwhelmed? Home based travel agent or not, this is the place to get started.
New Agents
If you’re looking to become a home based travel agent, you came to the right place! We know it can be a bit overwhelming so we chose a couple of our most popular resources for you to start with!
- Travel Agent Basics These articles will give you the ‘big picture’ on how things work
- 7-Day Set Up Challenge Get the foundations to set up your travel agency in a week
- Find the Perfect Host Agency Video 4 steps to narrow down your options to pick the best host for you!
- Host Agency List Now that you know what to look for and how to narrow it down, check out our host agency list with over 2,000 reviews!
Experienced Agents
So you're a veteran agent already running a successful home based travel agency? You'll want to check out these resources to help grow your agency and network even more!
- $100 Marketing Video Get new ideas for marketing your agency and getting new clients!
- Think Tank Group Our Facebook group for established agents to share ideas and develop relationships.
- FREE Travel Agent Forms Who doesn't love free things?! Get free forms to use in your office.
- Travel Agent Chatter Podcast Steph interviews travel agents from all walks of life.
Groups to Join
Home-Based Travel Agent, Resources and Reads
We write some seriously in-depth articles to help out newbie and veteran home based travel agents, as well as storefront agents. Below we've curated some blog posts that are a good fit for agents of different backgrounds and experience levels. Find the scenario that best fits your situation and take a look at the articles we've curated especially for you!
Still Exploring

5 Reasons Not to Abandon Your Dream to Start a ...

Host Agency Reviews Celebrates the New Year Wit...

How Do Travel Agents Make Money?

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? | 2023 Travel A...

How to Become a Travel Agent

The Hosted Travel Agent Longitudinal Report, 2020
The New Travel Agent Income Report, 2018

Travel Agent Career Outlook | An Insider's Take
![Travel Agent Commissions, Explained. [Infographic]](https://har-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/variants/eqovB12yLQnTLU2bFPMCisG9/40061fa75e26f7d220264a3e86a4b487a2e5814367eb31682b91300c868ada27.png)
Explaining Travel Agent Commissions [Infographi...

Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to ...

What do Travel Agents Do? [+VIDEO TUTORIALS]
Ready to Get Started

5 Steps to Finding Groups (It’s Not as Hard as ...

Tips for Choosing Travel Agency Names
Tips for Choosing Travel Agency Names

A Guide to Host Agency and Consortia Education ...

Who Are the Best Host Agencies and Franchises o...

Free Travel Agency Business Plan Template [Down...

Host Agency Reviews Celebrates the New Year Wit...

How to Become a Travel Agent

How to Protect Your Travel Agency from Credit C...

Setting Up Your Travel Agency’s Financials

A Travel Agent’s Guide to Charging Fees

The Beginner's Guide to Navigating & Paying Est...

Hidden Dangers of Independent Contractor Travel...
The New Travel Agent Income Report, 2018
![Travel Agency Accreditation Options [Infographic + More]](https://har-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/variants/h9mtV9qqdEPCXkjKuhn99Ywo/40061fa75e26f7d220264a3e86a4b487a2e5814367eb31682b91300c868ada27.png)
Travel Agency Accreditation Options [Infographi...

Travel Agency Business Structures: How to Choose

Travel Agent Training & Education, 2023

Travel Insurance Licensing is a Mess. Here's Wh...

Travel Leads: Here's Where to Find Them + How t...

Are you Protecting Your Travel Agency? Sample T...

Understanding Airline Fare Types

Verify and Optimize Your Business on Google

Yea or Nay: Using the Term 'Home Based Travel A...
Advice on Choosing a Host Agency

A Guide to Host Agency and Consortia Education ...

Belonging to More than one Host Agency

Best Host Travel Agency of 2021 | HAR's Luminar...

Host Agency Reviews Celebrates the New Year Wit...

Tips on How to Find the Best Host Travel Agency

Top 10 Benefits of Using a Host Agency

What Are Travel Consortia & Co-Ops?

What is a Host Agency?
Options Beyond a Host
![Travel Agency Accreditation Options [Infographic + More]](https://har-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/variants/h9mtV9qqdEPCXkjKuhn99Ywo/40061fa75e26f7d220264a3e86a4b487a2e5814367eb31682b91300c868ada27.png)
Travel Agency Accreditation Options [Infographi...

Travel Agency Franchise or Host Agency? A Crash...

What Are Travel Consortia & Co-Ops?
Legalities

What Travel Expenses You Can (and Can’t) Write Off

ASTA Global Convention, 2019: HAR Highlights

Do Travel Agents Need E&O Insurance?

Host Agency Not Paying Commissions? Here's What...

How Seller of Travel Laws Impact Service Fees [...

How to Protect Your Travel Agency During Turbul...

How to Protect Your Travel Agency from Credit C...

Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum 2019: HAR Highlights

Independent Travel Agent Contracts: 10 Things t...

Do You Need A Travel Agent License?

Travel Industry Lawyer List & Free Legal Docs f...

You Are Not Alone: Travel Agents Share Stories ...
Videos To Watch
Prefer to learn by watching? Perfect! Take a gander at our most watched videos.
Four Steps to Finding the Perfect Host Travel Agency
We’ve helped a LOT of home based travel agents find a host agency. We also answer a lot of the same questions because, as it turns out, most new home based travel agents feel confused, frustrated, and unsure of where to start or how to find a good host agency!
If that’s you, this video guides you through the questions you need to be asking yourself in order to narrow down your host agency options. You’ll also want to check out the Finding the Best Host Agency article for some more tips.
The $100 Travel Agency Marketing Plan
Get your popcorn ready and prepare for 35 minutes full of new travel agency marketing ideas. Without further ado, a recorded version so you can rewind, pause, and fast forward as much as your little heart desires.
Don't forget to check out our companion article of the same name. It offers a nice recap with some additional resources!
7-Day Set Up: A Travel Agency Challenge
- The day’s theme
- Actionable items
- Estimated time it will take you
- Exclusive resources!
At the end of the Challenge you'll not only have the foundation of your agency down, we'll send you a personalized certificate with the name of your new agency! Perfect for showing off on social media to really launch your agency ;)
Learn more about the 7-Day Set Up Challenge or, if you're all ready to go, sign up below to start the challenge today!
Podcasts to Listen To

Think accessible travel isn't profitable? This ...

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

Ashley Morris, Alpaca Your Bags Travel

Tips to Ensure You're Comfortable Booking Acces...

Becky Lukovic, Bella Travel Planning

Travel Agent Chatter, Vol. 11: Dale Page, Greyb...

Deb Fogarty, Be Well Travel

Grow Your Agency Using Social Proof + Sabbatica...

Four Years In (including Covid) and $2.2M in Sa...
Host contract that only allow you to book throu...

Vol. 15 | Hear from 5 Travel Podcast Hosts: How...

How to Start a Podcast: Advice from 5 Travel Po...

Janet Tracy, The Travel Dreamer

Multiple Brands, Groups + Using Radio to Promot...

Jennifer Doncsecz, VIP Vacations

🔴 Vol. 27 This advisor booked the largest ship ...

Karen Hurlbut, Hurlbut Travel

This agent charges between $60-$500/air tix. Le...

What's the difference between a host and a host...

When the commission is low, systematize your bo...

Lu Maggiora, Travel by Lu

Madeline Jhawar, Italy Beyond the Obvious | TAC...

Molly Williams, The Optimists Travel

Vol. 16: Corporate Events @ Sea + Using Lead Ma...

Travel Agent Chatter: Vol. 10 | Valerie Gossett...

Travel Agent Chatter, Will Medina

Zachary Russell, Zetting Travel
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Important Travel Trade Associations for a Home Based Travel Agent
While there are many benefits a host agency passes down to you, membership to certain organizations isn’t included. Your host may belong to them but that doesn’t mean you do. Many of the travel industry associations have continuing education, events, and networking opportunities for home based travel agents that will help take your travel agency to the next level. We’ve created a list of the travel industry associations for you to explore.
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Adventure Travel Trade Association
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American Society of Travel Agents
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Association of Canadian Travel Agents
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Association of Retail Travel Agents
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CCRA*
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Cruise Lines International Association
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International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
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ASTA Small Business Network*
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Professional Association of Travel Hosts
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Travel Professionals of Color
* These associations are focused solely on the needs of the home based travel agent.
Resources Outside the Travel Industry
These are not travel-specific organization, but hold value nonetheless. Here are some outside resources we think every home based travel agent should be familiar with:
Small Business Association (SBA)
If you have questions on state, federal, and local legalities for starting up your home based travel business and aren’t sure who to turn to, this is a great place to start. Beyond legalities, they also have great programs available for mentoring and supporting small business owners.
SCORE
A non-profit dedicated to helping small businesses. Mentoring, use of business tools such as Business Plan Pro, free legal counseling, and more. If you’re struggling on where to start in terms of setting up your home based travel business, stop in at your local SCORE branch.
Book Recommendations for Your Home-Based Travel Business
Here’s a list of books I’ve read and think would either help you with starting up your home based travel business, marketing it, or succeeding in the travel industry.
Ask For It
Buy this book. Male, female… it does not matter! Many entrepreneurs (myself included) need a little boost when it comes to fighting that voice in our heads telling us that we’re being too aggressive or asking too much. You’re not. I read this book before any big negotiation. Successfully raising pricing has more than paid for the $9 the book cost! It’s one I skim over a few times a year and reference a lot.
The Big Enough Company: Creating a Business That Works for You
While helpful anytime, I’d suggest this book before you jump into things so you can create your agency with the right frame of mind. Bigger isn’t always better and this book will guide you through what type of business you want and what type of business will work with your lifestyle. For many, you’ll never work as hard as you do for yourself so make sure it’s an enjoyable ride!
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
I highly recommend this for one simple reason. While you may love to travel and researching trips, it’s important to remember being a home based travel agent is more than just traveling and researching. There is bookkeeping, marketing, managing, sales, and more. This book helps you prepare for running a business and how to make sure it can run without you—something many home based travel agents forget. My two cents: The writing is a little cheesy at times but it’s easy enough to skim over.
Duct Tape Marketing: The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide
Thems are big claims, I’ll be the first to admit. But, I’m telling you, it really is the best book for low cost, effective marketing ideas. For any new business owner, getting the word out is the toughest part and what Duct Tape Marketing does is give you loads of easy to implement ideas. I suggest picking it up every 6 months of so and finding some fresh ideas and remind you to evaluate how your current marketing is going. Me gusta this book. Mucho. 🙂