In the tourism business, not only the financial side of the issue is close, but also his idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe possibility of traveling around the world. This business provides an opportunity to make new acquaintances and learn a lot of new things.

What does it take to open a travel agency from scratch?

Before deciding to open a travel agency, it is important to understand that there are two types of services in this market:

• services of a tour operator who develops a route and takes care of all organizational issues
• travel agency services. It sells the operator's ready-made tours and receives a commission percentage for this.

In turn, agencies work in two directions:

• domestic tours
• international tours

It is necessary to immediately determine the priority direction of the business. Choose the main category of tourists with which you are going to work.

More cost-effective for a large city is the opening of a car wash. Read the instructions about: what difficulties await, what profitability and how to build a business process.

When opening a travel agency, a guide to an LLC will undoubtedly come in handy: where and how to register, what premises to rent, which tour operators to choose and whom to hire.

How to start a travel agency?

1. We choose the organizational and legal form. The tax code offers two optimal options:

• registration of a travel agency as an LLC (legal entity)

No tour operator will refuse to work with a legal entity. Registering an LLC is a more solid and fundamental approach to doing business. The level of trust among customers is higher than in a travel agency registered as an individual entrepreneur.

Mandatory presence of authorized capital. As a result, the registration of an LLC requires a larger financial investment than the registration of an individual entrepreneur.

• registration of a travel agency as an individual entrepreneur (individual)

Small costs compared to opening an LLC, the package of documents is minimal.

But not all tour operators work with travel agencies that are registered as individual entrepreneurs. The level of trust among customers is lower than for a travel agency registered as an LLC.

Special documents for opening a travel agency are not required.

2. When you have decided on the registration form, there are still a few organizational issues.

Necessary:

• pick a suitable name
• determine registration address
• select activities in accordance with the classifier
• pay the state duty
• sign the application for registration in the presence of a notary

Additionally for LLC:

• determine the size of the authorized capital (minimum - 10,000 rubles)
• if there are several founders, it is necessary to fix the size and nominal value of the share of each founder

Choose a room

For a travel company that has opened, it is better to choose a cozy room of modest size. The best option for a travel agency is to rent small premises. 20 sq.m. is enough in a passing place with a developed infrastructure and convenient parking.

The city center or a place of congestion of potential tourists is the best option for renting an office for a travel agency.

Particular attention should be paid to the sign. It should be bright and rich colors. A neon light box or three-dimensional letters will do.

We decorate the interior of the travel agency

If the room needs repair, then it will have to be done. It is important to remember here that the clients of travel agencies are not poor people. They highly appreciate coziness and comfortable environment.

For the client's corner, for the first time, it is enough to put a coffee table and a sofa. Add corporate identity and tourist paraphernalia to the overall interior of the office.

Jobs need to be prepared for employees. For 2-3 people, you will need desks, chairs, computers, telephones, office supplies, one shelving unit per office, and a multifunctional device with a photocopier, printer, and fax machine.

Take your choice of Internet Service Provider seriously. This link with the outside world can really spoil the business if there is a weak Internet speed or, even worse, systematic failures.

After all the preparations, you can receive employees.

What to look for when recruiting

A rule that applies to any business.

Do not hire your relatives and best friends! This is not a field of activity where they can provide you with all possible assistance. Friendships rarely develop into business relationships. Accept people from whom there will be a return.

Ideally, if they already have experience in a travel agency. But first of all, try to discern the personal qualities of the candidate:

• his manner of speaking
• how correct speech and competent presentation of thoughts
• Is he able to separate the main from the secondary?
• can focus on the task at hand
• how seriously he takes the matter
• how he presents himself to others
• how to communicate with strangers
• How broad is his horizon?
• how to deal with conflicts.

A travel agency is about working with people. Therefore, the quality of the applicant is more important than the accumulated experience.

Enough 2-3 managers who will deal with sales, search and customer service. At first, you can do without an accountant, a programmer and a cleaner.

The salary that motivates the staff consists of the minimum wage (5554 rubles). Everything else is interest (bonuses) from concluding contracts with clients. You should not save on this part of the salary if you want to have productive employees in your agency.

Choice of tour operator

The question is no less important than the choice of an Internet provider. The wrong choice of operator can also cause big losses to the firm.

In order to minimize all risks, it is worth concluding an agreement with at least ten tour operators. Of these, half should specialize in your main area.

For example, if a travel agency operates on a route to Egypt or Bali, then half of the operators with whom you are going to draw up an agreement must work strictly in this direction.

When choosing a tour operator, do not forget to be guided by its degree of fame, reliability, how long it has been operating in this market. The percentage of remuneration to a travel agency for sold vouchers is 5-16% of their value.

Initial rewards are small. But as soon as the first group of tourists returns from the trip, the percentage of commissions increases depending on the tickets sold. Any tour operator is interested in increasing sales volumes, so the terms of cooperation with promising travel agencies are being reviewed.

A good help is a single search base for tours and tour operators. The most common tourindex.ru. Acquiring access to the database will greatly facilitate the work. The cost of annual maintenance on the site is about 26,000 rubles.

Registration on the site tour-box.ru will help a young travel agency. After registration, access to the tour booking system will be provided.

All preparatory work has been completed. You can take the first clients, but where to get them?

Customer acquisition

First clients are remembered for a long time. There are many ways to attract and ... a lot.

Even at the stage of opening a travel agency, it is desirable to create your own company website. This will greatly facilitate the work of finding customers. Today it is the most effective tool for finding clients.

A professionally created and competently launched contextual advertising can dramatically increase the flow of those wishing to use tourist services.

It is equally important to master e-mail marketing and build your own subscriber/customer base.

Do not neglect and write off well-known search options:

• media advertising
• banner ads and billboards
• radio announcements
• broadcast on television channels
• connection of promoters for the distribution of leaflets
• word of mouth

Clients sometimes have a habit of showing up suddenly, from where you don't expect them at all. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly keep an electronic journal of the channel of new customers. Based on it, conduct analytics and statistics.

In order for new customers to become regular, often provide discounts, bonuses, periodically hold promotions.

Is it profitable to open a travel agency: payback and profitability

Three main questions before opening a travel agency.

• How much does it cost to open a travel agency?
• How quickly will the investment pay off? Is it beneficial?
• What yield should be expected?

Before answering the first question, it is worth remembering how much money was spent. Each has its own investment. Everyone is individual, so the numbers are very approximate.

According to the most conservative estimates, investments range from 300,000 rubles. and higher.

With a correctly chosen strategy and the absence of "pitfalls", you can count on the payback of a business in six months.

And then comes the most crucial moment. To hold on, gain a foothold and confidently take their place in the business of providing tourist services.

An indicator of confidence that you have reliably strengthened your position is the sale of 500 tours per year. When this figure is reached, you can count on a stable monthly net profit in the range of 50,000-100,000 rubles.

What is profit made up of?

This is the percentage of tours sold by the travel agency of the tour operator with whom the contract was concluded. After the sale, the travel agency collects its percentage and transfers the remaining amount to the operator's account or vice versa. First, the entire amount is given to the operator, and the operator then transfers the percentage to the agency.

A fairly wide corridor of the net profit range depends on the season. The tourism business is a seasonal business.

Dead season: forewarned is forearmed

For a newly minted travel agency, the off-season is the biggest test. For the first two years, loss planning will be the wisest decision. But this is not enough.

If you approach this issue wisely, then you need to start preparing for winter in April, before the upcoming May holidays.

During the off-season there is a system of discounts. This is specially done in order to somehow attract tourists and stay afloat.

Additional types of income when there are no people who want to go on vacation:

• visa processing services
• self-sale of air tickets

The main work is to increase the client base. In the low season, you can always offer your customers vouchers to holiday homes and domestic tours in Russia.

How to develop a travel agency: a further strategy

When the travel agency is firmly on its feet, it is worth moving to a new stage of development. It makes sense for a travel agency to move to a new status by registering as a tour operator.

With mass tours, some difficulties may arise due to high competition. Therefore, at first it is better to focus on the formation of an individual tour for your regular customers. Here you are free to set your own prices.

Additionally, you will need:

• purchase a liability insurance policy
• enter the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators

How to start a franchise travel agency

A very good option for beginners in the tourism business. There are two types of franchising:

• independent travel agencies of federal significance with a developed regional network
• tour operator retail

Isn't it easier to buy a travel agency franchise?

Certainly this is the simplest solution. With the acquisition of a franchise, you have all the conditions in order not to go bankrupt in the first year and not fly out of this market.

You are getting:

• ready-made business model
• ready brand
• contact with the tour operator
• streamlined business processes

You just have to choose a quality franchise. Of course, it costs money, but this investment is guaranteed to save your travel agency from bankruptcy.

There are well-known tourist franchises on the Russian market:

• Hot tours (http://www.hott.ru)
• Orange (http://apelsin.travel)
• 1001 tour (http://www.1001tur.ru)

And in order to keep abreast of events in the tourism business market, do not forget to follow the news of Rostourism, keep your finger on the pulse and periodically look at the Law "On Tourism".

How to open a travel agency at home?

Unfortunately, experts do not advise doing this. There are practically no successful examples. Opening a travel agency at home is not solid, does not inspire the confidence of tourists and creates additional minor problems. Yes, and inviting people to the office is much more respectable than to your apartment. Of course, you can arrange meetings with tourists in public places, but the effect of such meetings is doubtful.

* Calculations use average data for Russia

A fragment of the book by Yulia and Georgy Mokhovs “Travel Agency: Where to Start, How to Succeed” by the publishing house “Peter. Published with the permission of the publisher

Do I have enough money to open a travel agency? Should I risk my last savings or not? How long does it take to pay off investments in the tourism business? How much will I earn? Create your own travel agency or buy a ready-made one? Or join a franchise network? Is it difficult to make a travel agency business plan? What are the requirements for a travel agency office? How many employees will you need to hire? Where to look for footage? What tour operators do you work with? Which countries sell tours? Limit yourself to a narrow specialization or sell everything in a row? Open air and railway ticket offices immediately or later? How to attract clients? How much to spend on advertising? Do tourists have a lot of complaints? And still…

SHOULD I OPEN A TRAVEL OFFICE OR NOT?!.

Increasing sales without investment!

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We will try to dispel all your fears and support the desire to open a travel agency. But we guarantee: everything that is written here is a real reflection of the state of affairs in the tourism business, without exaggeration and omissions.

Development of a business plan for a travel company.

We will offer for review a diagram that reflects the main parameters and items of expenditure that can be used when compiling a business plan for a travel company (agency).

1. The concept of a travel agency

Kind of activity:

• travel agent;
• tour operator;
• mixed activity.

Additional services:

• sale of air and railway tickets;
• transfer services, ordering limousines;
• visa processing;
• insurance;
• preparation of documents for registration of foreign passports;
• services of an individual guide accompanying;
• translation services;
• sale of guidebooks;
• sale of related products for travel;
• realization of gift certificates;
• booking and ordering tables in restaurants, tickets for events;
• rental of tourist equipment;
• Car rent.

Priority tourist destinations:

• by type of tourist destination;
• according to the cost of tours;
• by country;
• by type of tourism.

2. Organizational plan

Travel office location:

• center;
• outskirts;
• distance from the subway.

office status:

• rent;
• own premises;
• otherwise.

Office type:

• showcase office on the first line;
• in the business center;
• in the administrative office building;
• in the mall;
• on the first floor of a residential building.

Office size:

• two jobs, three five jobs;
• one-room, two-room, three-room, more than three rooms;
• free planning (number of meters).

Office Furniture (Cost Calculation):

tables with reception places, chairs for employees, chairs for visitors, bedside tables with keys, a catalog rack, a wardrobe, hangers, a hanger rack,
a board for information and special offers, a sofa for visitors, a coffee table, a safe, blinds, a mirror, dishes (for employees, for receiving visitors), photo frames and permits, plants.

Office Equipment (Cost Calculation):

computers, telephones, fax, printers (minimum 2), scanner, copier, TV, CD and DVD player for showing films about countries and resorts, air conditioning, water cooler, first aid kit, clock, stationery, wall map of the world or globe.

Office design project:

• space zoning;
• design of the premises according to the concept of a travel company;
• floor plan.

3. Competitive environment

Competitors in selected travel destinations.
Competitors within the radius:

• building;
• district;
• cities;
• country (if applicable).

Primary competitive qualities of the future travel agency.

4. Production plan

Staff:

• staffing;
• payroll policy;
• training.

Tour sales technology:

• search and booking of tours;
• scheme of interaction with partners;
• registration of payment for tours;
• document flow;
• delivery and issuance of documents.

The range of travel agency services:

• by seasons;
• by directions;
• by country;
• by price;
• by target audience.

Pricing policy of the travel agency.

Features of the sold tours.

Corporate identity development:

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• contractor;
• list of required items;

Website creation:

• concept and functions of the site;
• contractor;
• cost and terms of work.

Setting up a sales office.

• signboard;
• pavement sign;
• pointers;
• a plate with the mode of operation and details of the company.

Printing products(description, circulation, contractor, production time, cost):

• booklet;
• Business Cards;
• letterheads.

Opening presentation.

• budget size for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months;
• advertising media.

Structure and rules of maintaining the client base.

6. Legal aspects of opening a travel company

Legal form of a legal entity.

Taxation system.

Drawing up a lease agreement.

Required permits depending on the type of tourism activity.

Trademark registration.

Purchase and registration of cash register equipment (if necessary).

Ordering forms of strict reporting "Tourist ticket".

Bookkeeping (independently, with the involvement of an accountant, consulting company).

Legal support of activities

7. Financial plan

Sources of funds.

Amount and duration of investment.

Plan of initial expenses.

fixed cost plan.

income plan.

Payback plan.

8. Conclusion

Long-term development plan.

9.Applications

Approximate costs for the establishment of a travel agency in Moscow,
lump sum:

Registration of a legal entity and execution of necessary permits for tour agency activities: 20,000–25,000

Furniture and office preparation for sales: 50,000–100,000

Office equipment and communications 100,000–150,000

Corporate identity development 15,000–25,000

Website development and registration 20,000–45,000

Trademark registration 50,000-100,000

Training of employees 5,000–30,000

Additional possible costs

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• Purchase of a ready-made tourism business, payment for legal services to support the transaction
• Payment for services for the selection of premises
• Payment for recruitment services
• Payment for connection services
• Internet and additional telephone lines
• Payment for the services of a consulting company

The cost of tours even in the same category of hotels is different, and the choice of tourists does not always fall on the 3 * level of accommodation. Therefore, in order to make an income plan, it is necessary to analyze the season prices for selected destinations with the data of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels and compare them with the expected amount of income

Approximate plan of monthly expenses of a travel company in Moscow (rubles)

Office and infrastructure

Rent of premises 25 m2 - 50 000

Communication services 3000

Internet 5000

Water (cooler) 500

Stationery 2500

Other administrative expenses 6000 Staff salaries

Wage

• Director 35,000 +%
• Manager 19,000 +%
• Manager 16,000 +%
• Secretary-manager 12,000 +%
• Courier 16 000
• Accountant (outsourcing) 10,000
• Cleaning lady 3000

Advertising budget

• Legal subscription service 7000 rub. months
• Payment for the system of online booking and search for tours 1200 rubles / month.
• Refilling cartridges 400 rubles/month.

Unforeseen expenses 10,000 rubles.

Total 241,500 rubles. + percentage of salary

Choosing the status of a travel company. Tour operator or travel agent?

After the abolition of licensing of tour operator and travel agency activities in 2007, a mandatory state procedure was established only for tour operator activities. Any legal entity or individual entrepreneur can engage in travel agency activities. The only thing that determines the status of a travel agent today is the existence of an agreement with a tour operator, according to which the travel agent, on behalf of and at the expense of the tour operator, sells the tourist product formed by the tour operator. In this case, the travel agent must comply with a number of requirements established by law, which we will discuss below.

But first of all, it is necessary to find out why it is so important to understand the difference between travel agency activities and tour operators and to take the necessary legal actions in time. The fact is that the law establishes a mandatory requirement - all tour operators registered in the territory of the Russian Federation are required to have financial security. Financial security is a guarantee of the tour operator in case of non-performance or improper performance of the contract for the sale of the tour product, insurance of its civil liability to consumers and tourists.

From the financial security funds, the affected tourists are compensated for the actual damage they have suffered, for example, the cost of the tour if it did not take place, or the difference in cost if the rest time was reduced. Financial security is provided by an insurance company or bank guarantor. The law establishes the minimum amount for which an insurance contract or a bank guarantee contract must be concluded; today it is 10,000,000 rubles. for international tourism (in/out) and 500,000 rubles. for domestic tourism.

The cost of servicing financial collateral is on average 1–1.5% per year of the amount of collateral.

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For example, from the minimum amount of financial security for international tourism in 10,000,000 rubles. the cost of the insurance premium will be 100,000–150,000 rubles. It is this amount that will need to be paid annually to the insurance company for the tour operator's civil liability insurance contract.

The contractual scheme of work of a travel agent in the implementation of tours looks something like this:

1. the tour operator concludes an agency (commission) agreement with the travel agent, according to which the agent is instructed to sell (sell) the tours formed by the tour operator for a fee;
2. a travel agent attracts a client (tourist) and concludes an agreement with him on the sale of a tourist product, receives the documents necessary for the design of the tour;
3. the travel agent sends the tour operator an application for booking specific travel services for the client (tourist), - indicating the dates, number and data of tourists, hotel, level of transportation, excursions and other components of the tour;
4. the tour operator confirms the application of the travel agent and issues an invoice for payment;
5. the travel agent transfers to the tour operator the documents (or information) necessary for processing the tour (for example, for a visa);
6. the travel agent accepts the final payment from the tourist (in cash, issues a cash receipt or a strict accountability form);
7. the travel agent makes payment to the tour operator minus the remuneration due to him (by bank transfer or in cash at the tour operator's cash desk);
8. the tour operator issues to the travel agent the documents on the tour necessary for the tourist to travel;
9. the travel agent gives the tourist documents on the tour and all the necessary information to the tourist;
10. the travel agent reports to the tour operator - sends the agent's report (act) indicating the amount of the sale of the tour and the amount of remuneration;
11. the tour operator signs the agent's report and issues an invoice for the services provided under the agency agreement.

But it should be borne in mind that the outlined scheme reflects only an ideal version of the workflow.

In practice, a travel agent can expect various surprises; firstly, the tour operator may refuse to conclude an agency agreement with you and offer a contract of sale, as a result, your legal status will change, it will be necessary to adjust accounting and document flow;

secondly, when making payment under the tour operator’s agreement, you suddenly find that the invoice has been issued for payment to the address
another company or, by making payment through the cash desk of the tour operator, you will be given a cash receipt for the physical
a person with the stamp "paid" without the seal of the organization.

Travel company staff

The optimal staff of a small travel company looks something like this:

• ¦ leader;
• ¦ manager1;
• ¦ manager2;
• ¦ secretary with extended range of duties;
• ¦ courier;
• ¦ bookkeeper;
• ¦ cleaning lady.

Director.

The head of a travel company is a key figure and solves a large number of issues, both economic and strategic, but in addition to him it is desirable to have at least two sales managers.

The head can also be the chief accountant, cashier, sign documents and process the receipt of funds.
If the head of a travel agency is a hired employee, he must have at least two years of work experience, this is the minimum time for which a specialist can go through all the "seasons" of the travel agency - high, low, "dead" - and learn how to manage the company. If the head - the founder of the travel agency has no experience in tourism, this is not a tragedy. It is necessary to invite managers with experience to work and develop a strategy, assortment, and advertising policy of the company together with them.

Travel company manager.

His responsibilities include: negotiating with clients and partners by phone and in the office, organizing tours with tourists, booking tours and processing documents with tour operators, monitoring the fulfillment of orders, price changes, requirements for documents provided, terms of cooperation, special offers.

A universal manager must maintain and improve his qualifications (master classes, seminars, promotional tours), work at exhibitions and workshops. Requirements for managers: higher education, experience in tourism, no bad habits, presentable appearance, competent Russian speech, communication skills , initiative, ability to resolve conflict situations, responsibility.

A manager without work experience should at least strive to work in tourism and have a specialized secondary or higher (incomplete higher) education, since this significantly affects the general level of culture. On
teaching someone who strives for knowledge is a grateful thing, but find out the long-term plans of this candidate so that
the invested efforts and funds were not wasted - perhaps he will use the knowledge gained in another travel agency.

travel agency secretary

receives incoming calls, distributes them according to the specialization of managers, answers general questions (“How can I get to you?”, “What time do you work until?”), ensures timely ordering of the necessary stationery, household goods, monitors the work schedule of the courier , carries out the instructions of the head, receives visitors and guests of the office. It must be understood that sometimes it is very difficult to do without the help of a secretary, especially in the high season - in the summer, when the phone rings at the same time and the client is sitting in the chair.

Secretaries are also entrusted with filling out questionnaires, recording and registering incoming and outgoing mail, answering corporate email, ICQ, Skype.

As a rule, a secretary is hired after a few months of the start of a travel company, when the phone rings constantly, and clients come to the office demanding attention.

Courier

A very important and responsible position. With the forces (feet) of this person, money, passports, documents should go to the tour operator. Therefore, when choosing a candidate for this position, follow a simple rule: a person must be checked in all possible ways - call the previous place of work, confirm the correspondence of the place of registration and place of residence, call the home phone and talk with relatives, ask for recommendations. These measures are not redundant. The problems that may arise due to the actions of the courier are, without exaggeration, catastrophic - the loss of foreign passports and documents, theft of funds that the courier transports daily. The best option is a relative or acquaintance, but, unfortunately, such candidates are not always found.

Accountant-cashier,

certainly a necessary specialist, but the cost of his services for a small travel agency is too high (in Moscow from 30,000 rubles). Therefore, most travel agencies use the services of law firms or a visiting accountant. This staffing solution allows to reduce the cost of accounting by at least three times.

Wage and bonus schemes in the tourism business

In the tourism business, there is a general trend towards higher wages. This is due to the existing personnel "hunger". Specialists with experience move to another company, where they offer a slightly higher salary for the same full-time position, and this can happen every six months.

Tourism Manager Salary Options

The tour is considered sold at 100% payment.

1. Interest-free system: salary 22,000–30,000 rubles.

2. Salary + interest:
Salary 10,000–15,000 rubles. + 10% of the tours sold by the manager.
Salary 15,000 + 10% after the implementation of tours for more than 150,000 rubles.
Salary 15,000 + 10% of the proceeds from sold tours, divided among all managers.
Salary 18,000–20,000 rubles. + 5% of the tours sold by the manager.
Salary 18,000–20,000 rubles. + 10% of all sold tours, divided among all managers.

3. Planned system: a fixed salary is paid when the plan is fulfilled; for example, from 50,000 rubles. (meaning the company's income, not the total cost of tours). When the plan is exceeded by more than 50,000 rubles. + 10%, more than 100,000 rubles. + 15%, over 250,000 + 20%.

During the low season (January, February, May, June) the plan is 50%. At the same time, the former fixed salary is paid.

If the plan is not fulfilled, with the exception of the low season, a system of fines works.

The tourism sector, despite the fact that it has been experiencing certain difficulties for several years, remains quite profitable. Any person who does not have large savings can engage in the tourism business. In addition, such entrepreneurial activity brings a lot of positive emotions, because it becomes possible to assist people in organizing recreation. However, there are still some nuances that should be taken into account in order not to lose the funds invested in this business. We will tell you about all the intricacies of how to open a travel agency from scratch so that you do everything right.

Features of the tourism business

Before you open a travel agency, you need to understand what a travel agency is, what is the essence of its activities. First of all, it is necessary to learn the meaning of some concepts.

A travel company is an institution that acts as an intermediary between a travel operator and a person who wishes to go on a trip. It can fulfill obligations:

• Tour operator - a company that must develop and advertise through the media various tours that are in the greatest demand among the population;
• A travel agent is a company that implements tourist tours: makes transfers, sells tickets, takes care of the accommodation of customers and organizes excursions for them.

You also need to know before you open a travel agency in Russia what will be the responsibility of your company. As a rule, a travel agency provides the following services:

Issue visas to clients in accordance with the requirements of the tour operator with which the contract is concluded. If something is done wrong, the travel agency should be held responsible for it.

Issue to customers a full package of documents necessary for the trip:

• Tickets (air and railway);
• Medical insurance;
• Accommodation voucher;
• A memo about the state to which the tourist is sent;
• Book all services requested by the client;
• Timely pay for the work of the tour operator.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you have decided to open a travel agency from scratch with no experience, think over and calculate what positive and negative moments may come your way.

The main advantages of the tourism business include:

1. It is developing rapidly, which means that you will be able to provide services to people not only in Russia, but also abroad, which will also bring you big profits;
2. You will have a large choice of travel operator, in addition, you will be able to conclude cooperation agreements with more than one operator, with several at once - this is the first thing you need to open a travel company;
3. The flow of those wishing to go on a trip is constantly growing, and it does not end all year round;
4. Paperwork is simple, done quickly and fairly cheaply.

Now consider a few negative points that you should be aware of before you open a travel company:

1. Quite a high level of competition - a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs are thinking about how to open a travel agency from scratch, because they understand the profitability of this business;
2. If you do not pay due attention to the advertising campaign to promote your travel agency, then you can completely lose customers and be left without orders (in this case, the risk of losing your investment increases);
3. In the warm season, the demand for tourist trips is much higher than in the cold season, but this is a moot point, because there are also winter resorts where people are happy to go on New Year and Christmas holidays.

Activity registration

If you want to open a travel agency, you need to carefully read the State Law “On Tourism”, which describes all the requirements for how to open a travel agency from scratch without work experience. We will list you in detail what you need to open a travel agency:

A travel agency can be registered as a legal enterprise LLC or as a private institution of FLP.

To register a new institution in the public register, one resident is enough, who can sell tours domestically and abroad.

You will have to obtain a written commitment from any banking institution that will guarantee to pay for the services of a travel operator if this cannot be done by a travel agency (without this guarantee, no operator will agree to cooperate with the agency). However, the bank will issue an appropriate guarantee only if the founder of the travel company provides a package of documents, which will include:

• Certificate of state registration;
• Charter;
• Current account information;
• Copies of contracts confirming the lease of the premises where the company is located (if the premises are personally owned by the owner, then you need to provide a document confirming ownership);
• Passport;
• A copy of the TIN of the head;
• Certificate of registration with the tax service.

It is necessary to develop special client agreements that you will conclude with clients who will order tours from you. Everything should be written in these contracts: the date of payment, the date of issue of the tourist voucher.

It will also be necessary to develop rules for tourists: who will meet them in the country where they go, accompany them, conduct excursions. It is advisable to include these rules in the client agreement so that the tourist signs the document after reading them.

It is also recommended to conclude an agreement with an insurance company, however, this is an optional moment. If you want your clients to be insured, then it is better for them to provide a medical policy and other types of insurance for property (for example, for a car).

Recommends to conclude a sub-agency agreement with any airline through which you will buy tickets for your customers. This is very beneficial, because in such cases, airlines offer many lucrative bonuses.

Draw up a rough business plan on how to open a travel agency in order to know what expenses await you, how to act so that they are reimbursed faster and begin to turn into consistently high incomes.

Site Selection Criteria

If you do not have your own premises, then the main thing you need to open a travel agency is to find a suitable place to rent it. We have put together a few location options that you can consider before starting a travel agency in 2020:

You can open a travel company in the central area of ​​the city. It is desirable that:

• The room was at least 20 m² in size;
• It should be located on the first floor of any apartment building, but still it is better to choose office buildings;
• A bright advertising sign should be hung on the premises so that people passing by can see what services you provide (the fact that your travel agency is located in the city center will make them confident in your prestige and high level of customer service).

You can open a travel agency in the business center building. What you need to open a travel agency in such an institution:

1. The premises should have a fresh modern renovation so that the agency looks presentable and solid;
2. You will be able to serve not only tourists who will come to you from other parts of the city, but also employees of a huge business center;
3. However, you will not be able to advertise in such territory;
4. There is a pass system at the checkpoint in any business center, which will repel customers.

You can choose a room for a company in a shopping center. We will give you some basic recommendations in such an institution:

• Choose a boutique where there are always a lot of people (for this, it is better to consider departments that sell clothes, shoes or electronic equipment);
• You need to be prepared for the fact that in such an institution you will have to pay a high price for rent.

You can open a travel agency in a residential area of ​​your city:

• There is always a large crowd of people who can become potential clients of your agency;
• You don't have to pay a lot for rent;
• There won't be much competition in such an area.

Room and interior equipment

There is another very important point that you need to know before you open a travel company from scratch - it must be designed in a modern, fashionable style. You must understand that if you have an old room at your disposal, then repair is what you should definitely start opening your travel agency with. All costs for this must be provided for by you and included in the business plan.

The premises of your company should always be clean and comfortable. This is necessary so that your customers, when they come to the office, can completely relax and unwind in it. This is especially true when there is a queue of people. You need to lay out different magazines, catalogs, coffee makers on the tables. Also hang interesting things on the walls that will inspire your customers to go on a trip.

To open a travel agency from scratch without work experience, you need to purchase furniture and necessary equipment. It is not necessary to choose expensive models, an economical option is also suitable, as long as it all looks decent and beautiful. You will need:

• Computers with printers and necessary software;
• Office tables, chairs;
• Soft sofas;
• Armchairs and coffee tables;
• Air conditioner;
• Coffee makers with appropriate utensils;
• Phones;
• WiFi.

Financial investments

Of course, if you decide to go into the tourism business, you need to know exactly how much it costs to open a travel agency from scratch. We note right away that you do not have to make large investments. Your main expenses will be:

• When renting a room;
• For the purchase of equipment and furniture;
• With an advertising campaign;
• To pay the fee if you decide to open a franchise travel agency.

It is important to consider that the answer to the question of how much it costs to open a travel agency depends to a greater extent on which city you live in. After all, if you live in a metropolis, then the rent for the premises will be higher than in the provinces. You only have to spend about 30-60 thousand rubles a month on rent.

In order to put the chosen room in order (it must meet certain standards), buy the necessary furniture, appliances and draw up all the necessary documents, you will need to have about 200,000 rubles at your personal disposal.

To promote your travel agency, you will need at least 100,000 rubles. However, we note that this amount is relative, it depends more on the channel that will carry out the advertising campaign.

Also, when discussing the question of how much it costs to open a travel agency, you need to know that you will still have to pay wages to your employees. As a rule, it should be 15 thousand rubles stably and another 20% of the monthly profit of the travel agency.

Also keep in mind that the next 6 months after you open an agency, it will not bring you any profit. Therefore, you need to have some financial resources in reserve, through which you can build a business.

Approximate profit

Living in an economic crisis, you will probably have a question whether it is profitable to open a travel agency, whether others will use your services. Definitely will be, because, as a rule, people who could afford to travel before will be able to do it now. Therefore, do not hesitate to open a travel agency in 2020 if you have the desire to work in this interesting field and the necessary amount of savings.

If you learn how to sell more than 500 tours a year, then your travel agency will make a profit of 50-100 thousand rubles a month. This is enough to establish itself as a popular segment of the tourism business. The more tours you sell, the more you can earn. If such layouts suit you, then do not hesitate for a long time whether it is worth opening a travel agency, and immediately get down to business.

Travel agency as a business model

Business payback periods

The second most important question of those who decided to open a travel agency in 2020 from scratch is how long it will pay off. Here you need to be aware that this moment largely depends on how you start. If you create a large turnover of the tour from the first days, then in the first year of work you will earn 600-800 thousand rubles, which means that you will return the invested personal funds.

However, experienced entrepreneurs who have been spinning in this area for a long time claim that the payback period for a travel company is 2 years, at least. But we do not advise you to be equal to someone else's achievements. If you have seriously approached the question of how to open a travel agency from scratch in Russia, then you will find a way to quickly unwind in order to return your investment and start making a profit.

At the end of this article on how to open a travel agency, we want to give you some useful tips on how to quickly promote your business and get a consistently high income from it:

• If you wondered how to open a travel agency at home, then for promotion you only need to have an official website at your disposal, through which you will carry out all the work. Opening a travel agency from scratch at home is much easier and more economical. At least you can save the extra 200,000 rubles. It is better to invest some of this money in creating a unique site. Consult with experts on how to open a travel agency at home so that your activities are official and in demand;

People have different ideas about vacation: for some, a week spent on a tropical beach would be ideal, others prefer traveling and sightseeing, and others cannot imagine leisure without hiking and rafting on mountain rivers. In all this diversity there is one common feature: when going on vacation, everyone tries to change the situation and spend time away from home.

Given this demand for tourist travel, many entrepreneurs are thinking about how to open a travel agency from scratch: step-by-step instructions in this case suggest two possible ways to create and grow a business. In the first case, an entrepreneur can focus on the mass sale of popular tours and take part in active competition, while in the second case, the emphasis is on expensive individual and exotic tours. Considering that hundreds and thousands of destinations are currently available to the consumer both within the country and abroad, it can be assumed that everyone who is sufficiently balanced and responsible to create their own travel company can find and occupy their unique niche in this market.

Features of the tourism business

Before opening a travel agency in Russia, an entrepreneur should consider the features of this business, get an idea of ​​the structure of the tourism services market and assess the state of affairs in the industry, which is currently determined by the following factors:

• On popular destinations, agencies offer similar or identical products, thus creating a high level of competition;
• The market is dominated by independent companies - despite the large number of proposals, no more than 8-10% of entrepreneurs seek to open a franchise travel agency;
• About 30% of newly created entities close within the first year of operation;
• Market leaders use dumping in competition, artificially lowering prices for popular tours;
• Business is subject to both positive and negative external influences - championships, festivals and mass holidays attract the attention of tourists, while natural disasters, political and military actions, terrorist threats cause a significant decrease in demand.

Travel company formats

Taking into account the size of the starting capital and their own ambitions, an entrepreneur can open a travel agency in 2018 from scratch in one of the following formats:

1. Independent company. This option is more suitable for professionals with personal connections, experience in the industry and contacts with tour operators. Among the things you need to open a travel company, you should name the registration of SPD, office rent, purchase of equipment and recruitment;
2. home agency. For entrepreneurs who do not have the required start-up capital, this option is preferable, since you can open a travel agency at home with minimal investment: it is enough to have a computer, printer and telephone to work. The format of a home agency is also not suitable for beginners, since it implies the presence of its own client base and an extensive circle of contacts. How to open a travel agency at home: you need to register an individual entrepreneur, ensure a presence on the Internet and social networks, and organize a platform for meeting with clients in the nearest cafe;
3. Internet agency. Such a sales channel can be both additional for an independent company and the main one for a home business format. To open a travel agency in 2018, you need to develop an online store, attract programmers to organize access to the offers of tour operators, connect payment systems and think over a mechanism for providing online consultations.

Buying a franchise. For beginners who do not have sufficient experience, with the required amount of start-up capital, it is easier to buy a ready-made business model and open a franchise travel agency, since network agencies usually provide their partners with:

• Software, systems for viewing and booking tours;
• Training;
• Opportunity to open a travel agency from scratch without experience using a well-known brand and recognizable corporate identity;
• Legal and advertising support;
• Increased commission rate;
• Support in resolving conflicts with tour operators.

Franchises costing from 150 to 450 thousand rubles are available on the market. It should be noted that the companies offering them impose certain requirements on office space, interior design, and stipulate a mandatory sales plan: such factors must be taken into account in order to understand whether it is worth opening a travel agency in this way.

Choice of tour operator

An entrepreneur considering how to open a travel agency should also understand the technologies for creating and selling tourism products. In fact, the tasks of travel agencies are limited to finding buyers and selling ready-made tours, which are developed by larger companies - tour operators. It is they who form the tourist packages, including:

• Visa support and paperwork;
• Delivery of tourists to the place of rest by planes, trains or buses;
• Transfer (transportation of clients from the airport to the hotel and back);
• Accommodation and meals;
• Health insurance.

When concluding agreements with one or more tour operators, the agency's income will be formed from a commission of 9–12% of the cost of each tour sold, which the product supplier pays to intermediaries. The interest rate is reviewed twice a year, thanks to which large travel agencies that sell a large number of vouchers achieve an increase in deductions of up to 15%.

How to open your own travel agency, where to start? First of all, you need to choose 8-10 reliable tour operators. Half of them should sell vouchers corresponding to the profile of the company (for example, to Turkey or Egypt), and the rest should close other directions, including individual programs and tours to exotic countries; this division allows us to offer customers interesting products even after the end of the tourist season. When choosing operators, it is recommended to pay attention to the following factors:

1. Duration of existence and active work;
2. The presence of positive and negative customer reviews;
3. Financial security of the operator and the amount of the insurance contract;
4. Priority areas of work;
5. Availability of purchased rooms in popular hotels;
6. The presence of branches nearby, which greatly simplifies the workflow and the procedure for issuing visas for tourists.

Advantages and disadvantages

Is it worth opening a travel agency in 2018? To answer this question, the entrepreneur must carefully weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of this type of activity. The positive aspects of the tourism business include:

• A wide range of tour operators offering favorable terms of cooperation;
• Loyal requirements for the amount of start-up capital, the ability to open a travel agency from scratch at home with a shortage of funds;
• Simple process of company registration, no licensing;
• The development of the tourism industry in Russia, the emergence of many budget and exotic tours within the country (for example, to Karelia or Kamchatka);
• Formation of the belief among potential buyers that they should have a rest every year, if possible away from home or abroad;
• Opportunity to cooperate not only with private consumers, but also with corporate customers.

Speaking about whether it is profitable to open a travel agency, it should be taken into account that today the market is 85-90% full, as a result of which only companies that offer non-standard services and open new directions survive. Thus, in addition to the high level of competition, among the disadvantages of the tourism business are:

• Unpredictability of demand and the impossibility of accurately forecasting profits;
• Exposure to the influence of economic and political factors;
• Seasonality (between November and March, sales fall by 40–50%).

Activity registration

Business in the field of tourism without the legalization of the enterprise is not only illegal, but actually impossible: tour operators will simply refuse to enter into cooperation agreements with individuals. Therefore, before opening a travel company, you need to choose one of the available organizational and legal forms (IP or LLC) and submit an application for registration to the appropriate authority, indicating the desired taxation system. Depending on the expected profit structure of the company, the simplified tax system at a rate of 6% (income) or 15% (income minus expenses) is preferable.

Obtaining a license at the moment does not apply to what is needed to open a travel agency: only the activities of tour operators are regulated by the state. However, the owner of an intermediary agency, in order to increase consumer loyalty, can also officially confirm his status: for this, he should submit an application to the Federal Tourism Agency, attaching documents on financial security of responsibility to it. In addition, the staff of the licensed company must consist of employees with secondary specialized or higher education in the field of tourism, and the manager will additionally be required to have at least three years of experience in the industry.

Location selection

Experienced entrepreneurs consider the search for a suitable premises to be one of the most important tasks in the tourism business: when considering what is needed to open a travel agency, one should take into account not only the format, but also the target audience of the agency. When selling exclusive services, the company is placed in a business district in a building with convenient parking, while when selling mass tours, priority is given to crowded places with average incomes - central streets, shopping or entertainment centers, bus stops and metro stations. Before opening a travel agency in a chosen place, it is advisable to make sure that it is possible to place a signboard that is noticeable from afar, which increases the flow of customers by 25-30%.

In the city center, a rented space of 20–25 m² on the ground floor of a residential or administrative building is used as an office: such a location will enhance the agency's status in the eyes of clients. Other advantages of this option include high traffic and transport accessibility, and the possible lack of parking and increased rent are among the disadvantages.

Considering how to open a travel company from scratch in a business center, the availability of ready-made offices with repairs, connected utilities, communication channels and services, including cleaning and security, should be mentioned as a positive aspect. The disadvantages of this location are the presence of a throughput system and the impossibility of placing a sign on the facade of the building.

In shopping centers, you can also find a suitable place to open a travel agency: what needs to be done first of all is to assess the traffic and purchasing power of visitors in order to select the most popular offers. There are two main disadvantages in this case: high rent and shortage of free space in popular shopping malls.

In a densely populated residential area, the number of potential clients is most often limited to the office within walking distance. When calculating how much it costs to open a travel agency from scratch, you need to take into account the relatively low rent and the possibility of buying an apartment on the ground floor with its subsequent transfer to non-residential stock. In the absence of direct competition, the main task of the company becomes to regularly inform local residents about popular offers by posting ads and posting advertisements in mailboxes.

Room and interior equipment

After the conclusion of the lease agreement, the premises need to be repaired, the managers' workplaces should be equipped with tables and computers, and the waiting area for visitors with comfortable sofas, coffee tables, a water cooler or a coffee machine. The total cost of preparing the premises includes:

Room preparation

Item of expenses	price, rub.	Qty	Cost, rub.
Rent for the period of repair	1200	25 m²	30 000
Office design project	1500	25 m²	37 500
Repair work	2 000	25 m²	50 000
building materials	1 500	25 m²	37 500
Plumbing	7 000	1	7 000
Lighting	1 500	6	9 000
Air conditioner	25 000	1	25 000
Illuminated signboard	25 000	1	25 000
Total:			221 000

It is better to entrust the development of a single corporate identity for a signboard, exterior and interior design of an office to a designer: when calculating how much it costs to open a travel agency, you should take into account such design costs. Geographical maps, souvenirs from different countries, exotic masks, globes, aquariums with bright tropical fish are used as additional decor elements: the visitor must understand at first glance that a travel company is located here.

When choosing furniture, you can choose one of the standard options or order the manufacture of cabinets, tables and shelving in the workshop: the difference in price will not be significant. Before you open a travel agency from scratch, you must additionally purchase:

Equipment

Name	price, rub.	Qty	Cost, rub.
Furniture
Work table	15 000	3	45 000
Worker's chair	3 000	3	9 000
Chair for client	1 000	6	6 000
Corner sofa	28 000	1	28 000
Coffee table	5 000	1	5 000
Rack	5 000	2	10 000
Filing Cabinets	8 000	1	8 000
Safe	12 000	1	12 000
information board	4 000	2	8 000
Hanger	4 000	1	4 000
office equipment
Computer	18 000	3	54 000
Specialized software	9 000	1	9 000
Dedicated line	2 000	1	2 000
Office network with switch	10 000	1	10 000
Phone line	6 000	2	12 000
Office PBX	5 000	1	5 000
MFP network	15 000	1	15 000
Telephone set	2 000	2	4 000
Presentation LCD TV	18 000	1	18 000
Promotional Products
World map 150x200 cm	4 500	1	4 500
Globe 40 cm	5 000	1	5 000
Catalogs and advertising	15 000	1	15 000
Shelves for souvenirs	1 500	4	6 000
Stationery	10 000	1	10 000
other expenses	20 000	1	20 000
Total:			324 500

Before opening a travel agency, the business plan should also be supplemented with expenses for the purchase of specialized software that automates the work of the company and provides a quick view of the offers of all tour operators: a manager who manually opens dozens of sites is unlikely to be able to quickly serve the client. The price for the program is 8-9 thousand rubles, and the subscription fee for access to the tour selection system is 2100 rubles per month.

Staff

You can open a travel agency on your own from scratch without work experience only in a home format - in all other cases, the company needs sales managers. A novice entrepreneur is unlikely to be able to lure experienced workers from other firms, so it is better to invite young specialists to work and train them in the future in order to get a professional team in a year.

To get acquainted with the product, employees are regularly sent on short study tours, compensating them for the costs after selling a certain number of vouchers in these directions. It is logical to assume that an employee who has seen the resort and the hotel with his own eyes is able to tell about it much more colorfully and convince even a skeptical client.

The director of the company (who is also the owner) can perform administrative functions, engage in advertising, search for new partners and replace managers during their absence. Hiring an accountant, a system administrator and a cleaning lady full-time is not advisable: the incoming specialists will also cope with a small amount of work. When calculating how much it costs to open a travel agency, you need to provide for the costs associated with wages:

Agency staff

Financial investments

When considering how to open a travel agency, how to start a company, it should be understood that without detailed cost planning, the chances of business success remain small. Travel agency investments include:

Initial Costs

The amount of current expenses depends on many factors: motivation schemes for managers, advertising campaign format, taxation system and intensity of use of communication channels (with per-minute payment for telephone calls and traffic limitation by an Internet provider):

Estimated running costs

Profit and payback periods

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“I want to open a travel agency, what profit can I expect?” Beginning entrepreneurs are primarily interested in the answer to this question. Meanwhile, it is possible to calculate the income of a travel company based on the average cost of tours sold to typical representatives of the target audience. For example, in a large city, the main consumers (75% of sales) will be single and family tourists who mainly buy vouchers to Turkey, Greece, Spain and Egypt at a price of 35-55 thousand rubles per person. The remaining 25% is the budget corporate segment, as well as expensive tours to tropical countries and island resorts.

When studying how to open a travel agency from scratch in Russia, you need to understand that at first a large influx of visitors is not expected: the newly created agency will conclude 45–60 contracts in the summer months and 25–30 in the winter. By the next season, satisfied customers will return, which will lead to an annual increase in the number of orders by 1.5–2 times.

So, if you sell 50 tickets per month with a commission of 4,000 rubles for each, the agency's income will be 200,000 rubles. Considering current expenses of 154,600 rubles, we can expect a monthly net profit of 45,400 rubles. Thus, with a profitability of 29%, the payback period for the business will reach 12-13 months.

An entrepreneur interested in how to open a travel agency from scratch with no work experience should be aware that even with a timely launch of a business and an active advertising campaign, the likelihood that the company will not make a profit in the first months is quite high. Therefore, it is recommended to create some financial reserve, designed to ensure the functioning of the agency, including in the off-season. In addition, you can use additional sources of income:

The idea of ​​organizing your own business in the tourism sector can be a profitable investment. Demand for such services is currently growing all over the world, and the fact that with a small investment of money you can end up making a significant profit attracts start-up businessmen to engage in just such a type of activity. How to open a travel agency from scratch so that it is profitable and quickly pays off the invested funds - we will analyze in detail all the necessary steps for its formation and prosperity.

How to start organizing

So how do you start a travel business? The first step should be to draw up a business plan, which will contain all the necessary actions for its organization, as well as a miscalculation of the necessary investments, a projected payback period and the amount of monthly profit.

Step-by-step instructions on how to open a travel agency contains the following items:

• analysis of market saturation and the possibility of opening in a particular region;
• obtaining information about existing competitors, their main advantages and disadvantages;
• registration as a private enterprise or LLC;
• choosing the location of the agency's office, drawing up a lease agreement, buying premises or deciding to place the agency itself at home;
• determination of the main types of services provided;
• acquisition of the necessary org. appliances and furniture;
• search and recruitment of personnel;
• conclusion of contracts with tour operators;
• organization of advertising;
• opening.

Consider the most significant stages of how to open a travel agency from scratch in Russia.

Tourism infrastructure

Registration and paperwork

Registration of a travel agency includes the following steps:

1. choice of organizational form (it can be either an individual - an individual entrepreneur, or a legal entity - most often an LLC);
2. selection of a suitable company name and legal address;
3. the registration process, after which you will be issued a government certificate;
4. purchase of a cash register, its registration and registration at the place of provision of services.

In the event that, having wondered how to organize a tourism business from scratch, you choose the form of management of an LLC, then you will need to determine the size of the authorized capital, as well as formalize the founders. The minimum amount of the authorized capital must be at least 10 thousand rubles and is subject to distribution among the founders of the LLC.

Room location

How to open a travel agency from scratch in order to attract as many potential buyers as possible to it? One of the answers to this question is the convenient and advantageous location of your office. The main options that will be most beneficial for you are the following:

• in high traffic areas. These may be areas in which organizations are located, other offices - the city center, its more lively areas. On the one hand, in such places, office rent is more expensive than in less crowded places, but then you will have to spend more money on advertising the business;
• inside the shopping center. This option is also very beneficial in terms of a large flow of people. In addition, it can cost you less than renting a separate building or premises;
• in sleeping areas. The flow of people in such places is somewhat less, but by renting a room near public transport stops or facing a busy road, it is quite possible to ensure that your company will be in sight. Then the presence of those wishing to use the services will be considerable;
• The most budget option for the location of the office is to organize it at home. How to open a travel agency at home, is it really possible? Recently, when using the Internet you can get acquainted with the services of various companies, discuss over the phone aspects of what kind of vacation the client prefers, this option is often used by novice businessmen. Of course, for this you still need to allocate a separate room in your house or apartment, equipping it accordingly. As practice shows, such an option, with skillfully organized advertising and other marketing moves, can generate income even more than those firms that pay expensive rent for an office in the city center.

Services provided

One of the first and important stages of the process of how to open your travel agency from scratch is the choice of the direction of the type of activity, as well as the range of services provided. The list of possible ones included in the package of tourist services is as follows:

• organization of delivery of the client to the place of rest (air flight, travel by car, etc.);
• delivery from the place of arrival to the hotel (transfer);
• resolving issues related to hotel accommodation and, in particular, food;
• organization of related services (excursions, additional events);
• delivery of the client to the station (airport) and back to the place of departure.

The tourism business itself can have the following directions:

• excursion tours;
• tours aimed at rest or recreation of children;
• beach vacation;
• organization of treatment (mainly preventive direction);
• business tours;
• shopping tours;
• educational trips;
• gastronomic tours.

It is worth noting that your future travel agency as a business will get the more opportunities for its profitability, the more services you can provide. This is mainly due to the fact that in this way the circle of potential customers increases. At the same time, do not forget about the quality of your work - positive feedback from people who have used the services of your company can be a good advertisement in the future.

Having chosen the premises for the location of the office, first of all, it will be necessary to repair and decorate it (if necessary). At the same time, it is important to remember that the services of travel agencies are mainly used by wealthy people, and comfort and cozy atmosphere are very important for them. You can add some elements of company attributes, photos of countries and places that your client can visit to the interior of the agency.

From furniture and office equipment you will need the following:

• tables and chairs for company employees;
• computers or laptops;
• printer (this can be a monoblock that combines the functions of a printer, scanner and fax);
• telephone;
• stationery;
• Internet equipment. It is worth noting that in the work of a travel agency, the speed of the Internet is very important, as well as its constant availability, because most of the operations performed by the company's employees will be carried out with the help of it;
• furniture for clients. For starters, it can be a comfortable sofa, armchairs and a table.

Resort hotel

Recruitment

After equipping everything necessary for working in the premises and carrying out repairs, you can begin to recruit staff.

When dealing with the question of how to become a travel agent at home, you may not even hire employees at first, providing services in person. In this case, you can somewhat reduce the cost of buying furniture for employees, and, as an option, use the one available in the house if it is of good quality and condition.

One of the important points of the question of how to become a travel agent from scratch is the selection of personnel who can most profitably present the services provided by your company and convince the person who comes to you to become a client. In this regard, when selecting employees, the following points should be considered:

1. if possible, employ people who already have experience in this field - such a person will not need to be additionally trained and explained the principle of work;
2. future employees of the company should look neat, communicate politely, competently and correctly;
3. employees of your travel agency should be fluent in computer programs, be a confident Internet user.

After the selection of employees, it will be necessary to officially employ them by concluding employment contracts with them.

Conclusion of contracts with tour operators

An equally important point on how to open your own travel agency from scratch is the conclusion of agreements with tour operators.

One of the distinguishing features of a travel agency from a tour operator is that the agency, when providing services and selling ready-made tours to customers, already offers a ready-made package - that is, it cooperates only with the tour operator. The tour operator, on the other hand, contacts hotels, airports, train stations, tour agencies, and in case of any violations of the contract (provision of improper services, discrepancy between the declared service and the actual service, problems with the delivery of customers), it is he who bears legal responsibility.

As a rule, it is better to enter into agreements with several operators that offer trips to different parts of the world and will satisfy any age category of customers and will meet their financial capabilities.

After you start working on the sale of a certain tour, you will return its cost to the tour operator, and receive direct profit from the sales margin. The markup in most travel agencies is about 10-15% of the cost of the tour and, as a rule, this is quite enough to recoup the investment and receive a monthly income.

Marketing activities and ways to increase income

Having considered the main points of what is needed to open a travel agency, one cannot fail to mention the need for marketing moves that consist in advertising and promoting your business. Of these, the following are worth noting:

• advertising in the media - television, radio, print publications (especially pay attention to popular magazines);
• outdoor advertising. This is, first of all, the design of the facade of your office space, a bright sign that glows at night, you can also install billboards and banners in other areas of the city;
• Internet advertising. In addition to all possible options for online advertising, it is imperative to create your own website, one that will contain all the necessary information for customers - a list of possible tours, their basic conditions, payment, organizational issues. It would be nice to separately provide the opportunity to write reviews about the work, because the comments of grateful customers will help attract even more people who want to use your services;
• providing regular customers with discounts and bonuses;
• control over the quality of services provided and prompt response to problems that have arisen in order to quickly solve them and, as a result, receive positive emotions for vacationers.

Depending on the range of services provided, the number of clients, the presence of branches, the monthly profit can start from 50 thousand rubles per month, and its upper limit will depend only on the efforts you have made in developing the business.

As practice shows, capital investments in the organization and opening of a travel agency pay off in less than one year.