In the modern world there is a fairly large number of diverse ideas that any entrepreneur can use.
But first, it’s worth analyzing which case is better to open for a beginner. Residents of the post-Soviet space have always loved and will love a quality vacation with a high level of service.
Therefore, the tourism business continues to be one of the most relevant areas of entrepreneurial activity. However, as in any profitable sphere, there is quite high competition in this market segment. In this regard, in order to earn money through a travel agency, it is necessary to thoroughly approach the issue of service and quality of services. So, where to start, opening a travel agency?
Things to think about before opening
Tourism professionals advise, before opening an agency, to figure out what specific services will be provided. You can engage in tours focused on education, leisure, business, youth travel, excursions and other current destinations.
Do not know where to start by opening a travel agency? Before planning activities and possible profits, it is worth considering that this business is seasonal, which means that the time after September and until the beginning of May will be an inactive period. In this regard, it is worth initially thinking about what additional services will help create the so-called “financial pillow”.
It’s better to start activities a few months before the start of the season, so that potential customers have time to find out that another agency has appeared in their city with very attractive offers and brilliant service.
What do you need to open
If you decide to figure out where to start by opening a travel agency, then it is worth remembering a very important point. In order to be able to carry out vigorous activity in the field of tourism, you need to register an enterprise, honestly fulfilling all the requirements of the legislation of the country in this regard. Choosing a legal form, you should focus on LLC.
In addition, you will need to obtain a license. It is issued for a period of 5 years by the Department of Tourism. The submitted set of documents must contain information about the office. Based on this, it is worth concluding that the premises must be rented before licensing.
We look further at the question of where to start by opening a travel agency. It is worth starting the equally important step on which the success of the enterprise in the first time of its operation depends. It's about choosing a tour operator. By tour operator we mean a specific company that professionally develops various tours, has booked hotel rooms and its own charters. The function of the travel agency is to sell tours designed by the specified company.
Thus, before opening a travel agency, any entrepreneur needs to find several tour operators in order to be able to offer their customers a wide range of trips designed for a different budget. Such "suppliers" should be sought, focusing on those types of services that were originally identified as basic. Also, considering the prospect of cooperation with a particular company, it is worth considering its rating among other travel agencies and the overall percentage of trust on the part of customers.
It is worth making a choice in favor of a certain amount of commissions
In order to understand how to open a travel agency from scratch, it is worth thinking about cooperation.
As for the conditions of this process, it is mandatory to discuss the size of the commission that will have to be paid from the sale of tours provided by the operator.
The commission, as a rule, is from 8 to 10% of the cost of the package, although there may be other figures.
In any case, cooperation should be mutually beneficial, therefore, before agreeing to the conditions under which you have to work with a tour operator, you need to carefully study them and not make frankly unprofitable concessions.
The question of how to open a travel agency entails one simple condition. Choosing specific tours for sale, it is worthwhile to understand that in our time of high competition only worthy service makes it possible to take a confident position in the services market.
Start of activity
In order for the travel agency to be able to carry out its activities, of course, you need an office. Of course, if you manage to rent a room in the central part of the city, where there is a constant flow of people, it will be very good. However, even if you don’t find a place in the center, you should understand that the office is not the most important component of success.
Only high quality service will interest potential customers.
Stable and, moreover, growing income to the owner of the agency will bring secondary sales, which, in essence, are an essential condition for the success of any segment of trade.
If people, using the services of a travel agency, want to return next season, then the main goal has been achieved.
Therefore, you should not be guided by how many people passing by the office will see a bright sign with attractive offers from a travel agency.
The emphasis should be placed on high quality service and meeting customer needs. It is necessary to work on continuously expanding the base of regular customers, as they are the best advertising and guarantee of a stable income.
Office Requirements
However, returning to the office, it is worth noting that some conditions must be met. It is essential that the travel agency can be easily reached by public transport. Also, parking should be present near the office. As for the size of the room, it should be at least 20 square meters. m
Do not forget about the sign. It should be bright enough and large so that it can easily be seen from the street. If the travel agency’s office is on the second floor, it is desirable that the signboard contains information about the agency’s location inside the building.
One of the best places where you can place travel agency consultants is a shopping and entertainment complex. There are always a lot of people in such buildings, moreover, 6 square meters will be enough to place an office on the territory of such premises. meters.
Advertising activity
In order to understand how open a travel agency from scratch, Careful consideration of advertising is required. The travel company, which has just opened, has yet to develop a base of regular customers. Therefore, the first time you will have to very actively and competently advertise your services.
In order for an ad to work, you need to follow a few important principles. One of them is to focus on the target audience. It is necessary to analyze the contingent for the tours that the agency offers. It will be necessary to identify print and online publications that are read by representatives of the target audience. It is in them that it is worth giving advertising. It makes no sense to advertise in those magazines, newspapers, websites that are ignored by potential customers.
The second principle that is worth understanding is the need to be advertised in several publications and constantly.A single banner will not attract the necessary attention, as well as a note in one particular magazine. People should recognize the ads of the new agency, constantly see it on billboards, in newspapers and hear on the local popular radio. Then it makes sense to expect more or less pleasant results.
Creating a Network Resource
What do you need to open a travel agency and increase its popularity in record time? Any reputable agency should have its own website, which will be its face in the Internet space.
Moreover, the address of the resource posted on advertising posts and business cards will allow the client to carefully study all the offers of the travel agency without unnecessary haste.
The site is also a means by which you can create a subscription database of customers and subsequently send out letters of congratulations, information about new tours, attractive discounts, etc.
With the help of your personal network resource, you can provide the client with the opportunity to purchase tours without leaving home. Such a step will sharply increase the popularity and reputation of the entire enterprise as a whole.
Only one simple point should be taken into account: in order to do everything efficiently and competently, you will need to turn to a professional web designer for help. Only the original portal, combining a large number of functionality, can attract the attention of a large number of potential customers.
Expenditure
Before you open a travel agency, you should calculate the minimum amount of possible costs.
- The costs of organizational matters reach about 6 thousand rubles.
- Office rental, utility bills, repair work - all this will cost about 240 thousand rubles.
- Advertising activity - 150 thousand rubles.
- The salary of the staff is 500 thousand rubles.
- The costs of network and communications - about 100 thousand rubles.
Thus, the initial capital should not be less than a million rubles. However, with the successful work of the agency, all these expenses will quickly pay off.
Conclusion
As a result, it is worth saying that the key to success of any modern business is a high level of service and quality of the proposed product. If you give the client what he wants and please him with excellent service, then there is every chance to take a strong place in the market for services. We hope that this review helped to understand the question of how to open a travel agency.
