Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of the future. Home travel businesses are the hot trend right now. So if you're considering becoming a travel agent, this brief guide will provide you with information you need to know.

First, there are generally two types of home travel businesses:

• Referral agencies
• Booking and selling agencies

Home based travel businesses that fall into the referral agency category do just that: they refer people to a travel agency. They may have several agencies they refer people to, but most generally have one travel agency that they work with on a regular basis. In return for the referrals from a home based business travel agent, the travel agency pays a referral fee or commission percentage on what the travel agency receives from the supplier. Part-time referral agents can earn up to $500 on each sale, and sometimes even more.

The home based travel businesses that fall into the booking and selling agencies category usually work with one travel agency. These booking and selling travel agencies actually do the booking and planning involved in making all the necessary arrangements for great trips.

These are people who enjoy attending to all the little details. They serve, more or less, as facilitators between their clients and a travel agency. Booking and selling home based travel business agents earn a lot higher percentage of the overall commission-but they DO do a great deal more work. A full-timer at this, however, can earn $50,000 or more a year.

Some things you want to consider before you decide to open your own home based travel business are:

• Do I need any special training or education?
• Should I pursue this part-time or full-time?
• Is my family supportive of my decision?
• Do I have a room in my home where I can set up an office?
• Should I get an extra phone line?
• What sort of office equipment do I need?
• What will I do about accounting?
• How do I manage my tax needs?
• Is this a job I will love?
• How much money do I want to make?
• Should I do any advertising?
• Do I have the contacts I need to pursue this business opportunity?
• If I don't, how do I make the contacts I need?
• Am I willing to put the necessary effort into this business?
• Does my state require me to have a business license?

Once you've answered all or at least most of these questions, you will need to make a business plan, outlining the steps you'll have to take to achieve your goal of having your own home based travel business. And a plan just isn't any good unless you follow it.

You also need to make sure your business plan is realistic. If you have to take a course to run the type of travel agent home business you want to have, deciding to open up shop next week isn't reasonable. By being realistic in your business plan, you will save yourself an untold amount of frustration as you start and grow your business.

And starting your own business, whether it's a cruise travel home business or a European vacation home travel business, can be frustrating. Be prepared for obstacles to raise their ugly little heads when you least expect them to, and roll with them as much as you can.

Your goal is to offer superior, professional travel services. Don't let a cranky client get to you. Always keep a pleasant, cheerful demeanor. You can scream later. Better yet, you have a laugh or two over it with friends, while sipping a glass of fine wine that you bought with the money you've earned as a home based business travel agent.

� Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is owner of Profitable Home Businesses. For more information on Successful Businesses check out Home Based Businesses. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses.

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