How to open a travel agency from scratch, where to start

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

If you decide to open a travel company, then you may have many questions that can only be answered by specialists with a sufficient level of knowledge and experience. Alas, there are not so many experts in this industry. At the same time, it is very important that all issues related to the organization of this business be resolved as soon as possible with maximum availability and correctness. Otherwise, you will simply give up on your idea, since starting a travel agency from scratch is quite difficult without the necessary amount of information.

Collecting documents

Opening a business in the field of tourism services requires certain documents. What you will need:

1. Declaration that you have a state registration.
2. The company's charter in two copies.
3. Decision to establish.
4. Original proof that you paidstate registration fee. It can be a payment order or a receipt.
5. Incorporation Agreement and a request for a copy of the articles of association.
6. Letter of guarantee from the owner of the premises at which the company is registered.
7. Original document that confirms the payment of the state fee for obtaining a copy of the charter, as well as the foundation agreement, for example, a payment order or a receipt.

Thinking about how to open a travel agency from scratch, you should first collect all the listed papers. At the same time, it must be remembered that the application for registration must be certified by a notary and signed by the applicant. After all, it is he who is responsible for the correctness and reliability of all information.

If you open IP…

If you decide to register as an individual entrepreneur, then you must provide:

1. Statement.
2. Name of the bank where the account will be registered.
3. List of services you will provide.
4. Evidence that you have been assigned an IIN. This is, of course, subject to availability.
5. Passport.

Where is the best location for an agency office

Not everyone will decide to start their own business in this area. So, how to open a travel agency from scratch without spending a lot of money? Here you can not do without outside help. Of course, not only money plays a decisive role. It is also very important where exactly the office of your company will be located.

While all the documents are being processed, you can start looking for a room. In order to open a travel company, you will need a room of no more than 20 square meters. There should also be a personal line for connecting telephones and the Internet. So, where is the best place to locate an office:

• City center. If you want to attract more customers by providing travel agency services, then the main street of the village can be an ideal place. The best place is located in a commercial or residential building on the ground floor. However, it should be remembered that the cost of renting such a room will be very high.
• Business Center. Placing an office in this building can also have a positive impact on your business. After all, in addition to outside visitors, employees of the business center can become your customers. The only negative is that you will not be able to place outdoor advertising and signage.
• Shopping centers. If you decide to open your office here, then you will find a large number of clients. However, renting a space in a popular shopping center can cost you a decent amount.

Sleeping areas. Here, a new travel company may be one of a kind. In addition, you can save on rent. The only downside is that you have to put in a lot of effort to get your agency noticed. To do this, you can use any marketing strategy

We select the right staff

Many entrepreneurs who have decidedto start a business in this area, they often do not fully realize that the personnel for such work must be selected carefully. After all, the human factor plays an important role in this matter.

The activities of travel agencies are based precisely on the well-coordinated work of the team. And for success, staff must be selected with special attention.

Who do you need

1. System administrator.
2. Accountant.
3. Sales Manager.

It is worth noting that the staff should gradually increase if the travel agency grows. Experts recommend hiring two sales managers. After all, they are the driving force behind your work. Managers promote your tourism product in the market. In addition, sales managers must be able to communicate with people. You should not hope that employment exchanges will offer you real masters. It is better to do an independent search for a free candidate.

First steps towards success

So, opening. Ideally, a travel agency requires a thorough study of the entire algorithm for creating a business plan. You don't have to be a professional in a particular industry. To begin with, you should carefully study the structure of this activity from the inside and make an analysis of the real situation of organizations that have been providing such services for more than a year.

To make things clear, let's look at a diagram that contains all the components needed to create a business plan and open a travel agency. Split itcan be on several points that are interconnected. Moreover, each stage plays an important role at the very beginning of the activity. That is why none of the items simply cannot be missed.

Company concept

The business plan of a travel company starts from this point. The concept of the company should fully reflect the type of activity. For example, an organization could be a tour operator, a travel agency, or a mixed service provider.

In addition, all documents must fully reflect all possible activities of the company. For example, rail and air tickets, travel insurance, visas, limousines, and transfer services.

Determine the list of services in advance

Before you open a travel agency from scratch, you need to decide on the list of services. At the request of clients, the company must provide an interpreter and a guide. The ideal option is an employee who speaks several foreign languages perfectly and is able to act as a guide. At the same time, the guide should know all the interesting places that tourists should visit.

A travel agency can buy everything you need for a trip. Traveling for tourists in this case will be even more pleasant. After all, they do not have to think about purchases and try to predict all the minor troubles. It is worth noting that representatives of travel companies very often practice such a service as booking tables in a restaurant. Its vacationers can visit immediately upon arrival.

Why is it needed

Those who have already started the tourism and hotel business, without fail draw up all the necessary documents if their client receives a passport. In addition, they readily provide an accompanying or personal guide.

Very often a person who travels abroad does not know a foreign language. As a result, this can make it very difficult for a vacationer to communicate with the local population. To prevent this from happening, many turn to a travel agency for help and hire an interpreter. It is worth noting that the company must provide a specialist in the field of foreign languages at the first request of vacationers.

Scheme for the implementation of all the main stages

Before you open a travel agency from scratch, you need to clearly imagine how it operates. Many did not fully work out their plan and as a result simply could not engage in this type of activity. Let's see how the technology for the implementation, promotion and development of a tourist product is built using the example of a specific trip:

1. To begin with, it is worth determining the supply and demand in the tourism services market.
2. Create a detailed description of the service the agency will offer to its clients.
3. It is necessary to develop and design the content of all company service processes.
4. Work out the route in detail.
5. Create a general movement pattern.
6. It is mandatory to draw up the list of services,which the client will be able to use immediately upon arrival at their place of rest.
7. Full research should be done on the itinerary the tour will take.
8. After that, the designed tour should be analyzed.
9. Then prepare all documentation.
10. Don't forget about control. It is better to choose the most efficient method.
11. After the development of the route itself and the preparation of all documentation, you should deal with advertising, various marketing moves and promotion methods. This will make your product in demand.
12. It is important to choose the right sales method, as well as methods for receiving payment from customers.
13. Of course, before selling, you should calculate the cost and final price of the tourist product.
14. Only after all this, sales begin, and then control over the quality of services provided and the process of customer service.

Travel agency from scratch: pros and cons

Everyone who wants to start a business in the field of tourism services faces a choice: start from scratch or buy a ready-made business. At the same time, many people forget that both the first and second options have their drawbacks.

A travel agency created from scratch has more advantages than a company bought out. You do not have to fight the old order, to win your respect from subordinates. In addition, many travel agencies that sell are unprofitable. As statistics show, 90% of those organizations that are for sale can be consideredcomplete bankrupt. However, starting a business from scratch also has its downsides. First of all, you will have to spend a lot of effort and, of course, time to develop routes, settle in a new premises and develop a client base. In addition, you will need investors to start a business in this area.

How much to invest

Opening a travel agency from scratch is a business that requires large investments. So how much money will it take? Let's calculate:

1. First of all, you need to register as a legal entity - from 25 thousand rubles.
2. Repair the premises and purchase furniture - from 75 thousand rubles.
3. Install computers and office equipment - from 60 thousand rubles.
4. Develop your corporate identity and solve the issue of printing - from 10 thousand rubles.
5. Create a company website - from 35 thousand rubles.
6. For other expenses, as well as for connecting telephones and the Internet - from 50 thousand rubles.

The result is a decent amount: about 255 thousand rubles. This is an approximate cost estimate for a travel company with three employees and an office in Moscow. In other regions, the cost will be much lower. It is worth remembering that the specified amount is required only for the beginning. Starting a business in this area is expensive. In addition, you will have to spend about 150 thousand rubles a month. Therefore, initially you should have in stock from 500 to 700 thousand rubles. The travel agency will begin to make a profit only after three months. If there is no such amount, then investors will help. To start a business inin this area it is mandatory to have initial capital.

Most important: going to market

The success of your enterprise depends not only on a well-located office, professional employees, but also on advertising. A lot of money should be invested in this part. Only good advertising can attract potential customers to you. Everyone needs to know about your travel agency. So, everything is ready and you celebrated the opening. The travel agency is ready for normal work. But where to get clients?

Don't expect a large stream of people who want to relax right away. To develop a small base of tourists, you need to spend a little time. If you approached the matter correctly, then they will soon talk about you. As you know, people are more willing to believe their friends and acquaintances than advertising. That is why it is very important for you at this stage to treat your customers with attention.

There is another option. You can open an agency based on franchising. An already well-known brand does not require promotion, and it will be much easier for you. After all, it does not require much effort in terms of advertising. How to proceed? You decide.