If you're thinking about starting a career in travel, you've probably wondered how modern travel advisors make money and what setup works best for them. The truth is, the travel industry has changed a lot over the years, but travel agents are still in demand because they offer something online booking sites can't — personal service and expertise.
Before you jump in, it's important to know about the different travel agent business models so you can choose the one that matches your goals, budget, and lifestyle. Let's break it down in simple terms.
Traditional Office vs. Home-Based
The first big choice is whether you want a physical office or prefer to work from home.
Brick-and-Mortar Travel Agency:
This is the classic model — a storefront where clients can walk in, talk face-to-face, and plan their trips. It works well for high-end or complex bookings, group travel, and building local trust. But running a physical office comes with higher costs — rent, utilities, and staff salaries add up quickly. Plus, you'll mostly serve people in your local area.
Home-Based Travel Agent:
Many new agents today choose to work from home. All you need is a laptop, internet, and a phone. This model gives you flexibility to work from anywhere, set your own hours, and reach clients beyond your neighborhood. The biggest challenge is marketing yourself — without a storefront, you'll need to find ways to attract and keep customers online or through referrals. The good news is your overhead costs are much lower.
Hosted Agent vs. Franchise
If you're new to the travel world, you might not want to do it all alone. This is where host agencies and franchises come in.
Hosted Travel Agent:
A popular option for beginners is to work under a larger host agency. This means you run your own business but get access to your host's deals, booking tools, training, and support. In return, you share a part of your commission or pay a small fee. It's like having a safety net while you learn the ropes. For example, many agents partner with trusted companies like International Vacations to get started.
Travel Franchise:
A franchise is similar to owning a branch of a bigger brand. You pay an upfront fee and royalties, but you get a well-known name, strong systems, supplier relationships, and sometimes national marketing. A franchise can help you build trust quickly, but it also costs more than other models and gives you less freedom to change how you work.
Online Travel Agency (OTA)
Some entrepreneurs go fully digital and run an online travel agency. This works like a mini version of big sites such as Expedia. You build a website where clients can book flights, hotels, or packages themselves. You earn through commissions or booking fees.
The benefit is that your agency can run 24/7 and reach clients all over the world. The downside is you'll compete with huge OTAs, so you'll need good marketing skills and possibly a tech team to keep your site running smoothly. Also, since this model is less personal, you might need a lot of bookings to make a good profit.
Which Travel Agent Business Model Is Best for You?
There's no single “best” way to run a travel business. Many successful agents start as hosted, home-based advisors because it keeps costs low and provides support. Later, some open their own storefront, buy a franchise, or even grow into an online agency.
Here are a few questions to help you choose:
Do you like face-to-face meetings or working online?
Do you have money to invest in an office or franchise?
Do you want full independence or help from a host agency?
How comfortable are you with marketing yourself?
One of the best parts about this industry is how flexible it is. You can work full-time, part-time, alone, or with a team. And you get to help people create memories that last a lifetime.
So take your time to learn, pick the model that fits you best, and get ready to build a rewarding career as a travel advisor. If you want to explore hosted options or training, International Vacations is a great place to start your journey.
