No crises, political battles in the country will force a person to give up his beloved and pleasant hobby - tourism. Travel business at all times has remained and will remain the most constant and demanded type of service provision. Why not take advantage of such popularity and create a successful enterprise?

There are a lot of travel agencies. The competition is huge. But the flow of potential tourists is endless to one tour operator, while another is experiencing a constant shortage. There is a desire, potential, so everything will work out and you will be able to become successful in this form entrepreneurial activity.

Well, how open a travel agency, hints can be found here. The main thing is to, armed with this idea, make all the calculations correctly, think through all the steps using the tips presented here:

• What is the tourism business?
• Features of tour operator activity;
• Registration of a travel agency;
• Business plan for a travel agency;
• Operator search;
• Office space;
• Furniture, equipment, interior;
• An important component of success is employees;
• Website - face travel company on the World Wide Web;
• Bet on prestigious resorts for a beach holiday;
• What are the prospects for such a business.

This narrative does not have to be the basis for creating a business. But a lot of tips can be helpful.

What is the article about:

What is the tourism business

Under the concept of the tourism business, there are quite a lot of types of entrepreneurial activity. This is one of the most profitable destinations. Therefore, travel agencies are opening everywhere, which are destined to be successful.

Do not think: everything, this is my niche and I decided open a travel company. It remains to find an office, hire employees, place ads and the flow of customers is guaranteed. Haste, thoughtlessness of all steps, are the main mistakes of novice businessmen, and not only in the tourism industry. With all the seeming simplicity, it is quite difficult to survive and become the best in the world of fierce competition.

Choosing a tour that suits the customer is not enough for future success. First of all, it is necessary to realize in what direction the future travel agency will work and what services to provide. After all, each travel agency can carry out activities in several directions:

• tour operator activity;
• travel agency;
• timeshare.

If the first two activities are somewhat familiar common man, then what is a timeshare, many do not have even the slightest idea. Simply put, this is the sale of rights to club types of recreation. But even this gives little idea to a person whose activities were not related to tourism.

Moreover, a travel agency can be outbound, inbound, or inbound.

1. Outbound tourism is the rest and travel of citizens on the territory of other countries.
2. It is already clear that the internal is a journey or a rest on the territory of one's camp.
3. Accordingly, the entry is the rest and travel of citizens of other countries on the territory of our country.

The modern tourism business, in general terms, has a solid capital, provides a large number of well-paid jobs, closely linked to the most various industries. After all, tourism is the cumulative activity of a huge network of hotels, restaurants, transport companies, recreation centers, sanatoriums, health and sports complexes, entertainment venues, tour companies, private translators and travel companies themselves. The close relationship between such companies guarantees success in the future. Opening a tourism business and working alone will not work. Read more: What is network marketing. MLM business on the Internet.

Features of tour operator activity

Such a tourism business involves the work of a legal or natural person to provide intermediary services between a tourist and a travel agent for a commission. The peculiarity of this type of activity is that the tourist operator buys a tourist product (tour) and provides it to the latter, that is, directly to the tourist.

Recently, the tourism business combines the role of a travel agent and a tour operator. So, acting as a tour operator, the company independently forms a tour or offers a tour that was formed by another tour operator. Then such a company already acts as a travel agent.

If it is difficult to deal with such puzzles at first, then before opening a travel company, the entrepreneur must understand that the activity is carried out on the basis of current legislation. This requires:

• legal form of ownership;
• financial security in the form of a bank guarantee;
• liability insurance contracts;
• a license to conduct this type of activity, although not always.

All travel agencies must be listed in Single register.

It is more difficult to register an agency than just open a travel agency. Therefore, it is best to read and carefully study all step-by-step instructions. Despite the fact that this type of activity does not always require a license, the procedure itself to open a travel company is not simple. If in doubt, it is best to seek help from a reliable law firm, which, for a small fee, will help you smoothly go through this not so much complicated as painstaking procedure.

In the meantime, the lawyer will be involved in the preparation of papers, the future tour operator or agent can deal with other preparatory issues.

Travel agency registration

Registration of a tourism business provides for a number of features. A person who does not have experience faces a lot of problems when registering his agency. After all, this is not just a procedure for registering entrepreneurial activities. There are many more questions to be answered:

• determine the legal form of business ownership;
• leave a sensible business plan;
• develop a marketing concept;
• choose an office space;
• select staff;
• employee training;
• determine the style of the company;
• Organize paperwork and reporting.

These are far from all the issues to be addressed at the first stage. A person who does not have experience in this can simply panic at the first failure and give up everything, but having achieved the main thing.

And there will be failures and they will have to be overcome not so much because of our own ignorance, but because of the negligence of some officials. Nobody in state companies where registration takes place, business registration, will not explain anything. In such offices, you are more likely to encounter rudeness and this must be foreseen when embarking on the difficult path of creating your own travel agency.

It is more profitable to apply to a legal or consulting company that will help in solving these and many other complex issues even at the moment when the agency starts its activities. These are professionals for whom such a routine, paperwork is a familiar daily work. Or build a tourism business using a franchise.

Business plan for a travel agency

A well-thought-out business plan is not some smart paper. This is a personal, step-by-step program to promote your own business. Having such a plan, it is easier to carry out activities and analyze possible errors, causes of failures and ways to eliminate them. When compiling such a plan, it is necessary to include the most important points in it, using only real data and opportunities. These items may include:

• financial opportunities;
• operator selection;
• office and its renovation;
• marketing and advertising;
• office equipment and software;
• selection and training of personnel;
• upcoming expenses, including rent, utility bills, salaries, taxes, unexpected expenses;
• expected profit.

There can be many more points. It all depends on the personal preferences of the leader. But without experience, you can make mistakes or simply not take into account important points. Such as financial risks, strategic development of the company, tools for expanding the client base, and so on. nothing scary. Drawing up a plan, as well as registering a company, can be entrusted to a consulting company or lawyers.

These are people who are worried about the development of the company under their care. Therefore, if they fail, they conduct an audit and look for ways to eliminate errors. It is like a reliable teacher in the vast world of competitive business. But some questions are quite within the power to solve on their own even an absolute beginner. These simple but important questions from a strategic business plan will be discussed below.

Operator search

The task of the future successful operator is not only to open a travel agency, but also to make it prestigious and in demand, popular. It is difficult even at the preparatory stage, but possible. Feedback from grateful customers will be more useful in the future than any advertising. Therefore, it is important to take care of the prestige of your company, which depends not only on a bright sign.

Initially, especially if there is no experience, it is necessary to carefully choose a tour operator. This is a company that develops tours, approves routes, books tickets, pays for excursion programs and guide services. In a word, it provides the future tourist with everything necessary to make the vacation memorable, complete, interesting and, of course, at an affordable price. A new entrepreneur who is just planning to open a travel agency will have to offer all these formed tours to potential customers. The more tours sold, the higher the commission. Everything is simple. Such joint activities should not be carried out on verbal agreements.

This is preceded by an officially signed contract. Oral can only be a preliminary agreement, which is sealed on paper with signatures and seals after it is possible to collect all the documents and open a travel agency.

When choosing a tour operator, you need to understand that in this way you provide not only income, but also earn the prestige of the company. These should be reliable companies with a good reputation.

office space

Such a company cannot provide its services simply over the phone. Presence of office with prestigious, cozy conditions is obligatory. A person, having come to the office, should see the happy faces of hospitable employees. After all, he is sure that this person saw everything offered with his own eyes, so he talks about this tour with such enthusiasm. It is important to captivate, interest, prove that this particular offer is the best for him.

If such a conversation takes place in a shabby office, then it will not inspire confidence in the client. This may be a rented space, but in a crowded area where there are many offices and businesses. As practice shows, modern man prefers to pick up tours during lunch breaks or during a window in a busy work schedule. In the sleeping areas you can pick up an office. But the flow of people will be much less.

Well, it is most profitable to open offices of your company in large shopping centers. Walking in his free time in such a center, a potential client can simply see a bright sign and ask about offers for the near future. Not the fact that he will immediately acquire a tour. But the contacts of the company will definitely take into service if the conversation went exactly as it was described.

Do not be upset if a hundred past pairs did not choose a single tour and only the one hundred and first agreed to buy. 80 percent of those who passed today will try to charmingly return and purchase what was recommended to them here.

If the office space does not have proper repairs, then it is worth providing for such an expense item. Presentability is the prestige of a travel agency. It is equally important to take care of advertising. This is not only an advertisement in the press and its own website on the Internet, but also a bright catchy outdoor advertising, a prestigious sign. There is no way to create a layout of this yourself, you can ask the designer for help.

It is advantageous to place posters with the best resorts in the office, and distribute brochures with each visitor. the best deals. Brochures, booklets, catalogs will definitely be reviewed at home more than once. And not only hosts, but also their guests. Company name with website address, legal address, contacts should appear on almost every page. Therefore, the name needs to be considered. It should be simple, sonorous and simply memorable.

Furniture, equipment, interior

If you have to promote a new name in the vast world of the tourism business, you cannot save on the interior. This is how the first impression is created. After all, the client should not know that a huge fortune was spent on this chic, prestigious, comfortable environment. Maybe it was the last money. The visitor is sure that he got to the office of a reliable prosperous company that provides its services to high level. This is a costly undertaking, but it is future prestige and good fame.

Technical equipment is several telephone lines, computers with the Internet, a printer or an MFP. It is important to have software. Which will help to select the most profitable tours and book them.

An important component of success is employees

These are people who in the very near future should become reliable partners who can be completely entrusted with their business. It is advisable to choose employees from among people with experience in this field of activity. But, as practice shows, having gained experience in another travel company, such people open their own travel agencies. But, if you set a goal, then you can find such reliable assistants.

For the first time, you will need at least two managers. If the flow of customers increases, then you can expand the staff at any time. At first, it is not advisable to educate and train your own personnel. This can be done a little later, making out such newcomers as trainees for lower salaries. It is important that they are sociable people with a pleasant appearance and voice, able to conduct business or disposable negotiations, depending on the situation.

It is desirable that the lead manager has access and information about all the most prestigious and beneficial for both parties directions. It should be recalled that prestigious travel agencies often send their employees on study tours at the expense of the company. This practice greatly simplifies the work of the manager, broadens his horizons. A tour that the manager knows everything about sells much faster.

Moreover, it can be used as a reward system for your best employees. It is not necessary to fully pay for the tour to a colleague. It can be a family trip with a decent discount. At the beginning of your activity, it is quite expensive to make such gifts to employees. There is also a tax and other public services who really count on such gifts.

In addition to professionals of this level, you need another specialist who monitors financial condition firms and beyond. This is an accountant, who is rightfully considered the right hand of the boss. Without quality accounting, activities cannot be successful. Read more: How to open a coffee shop from scratch.

Website - the face of a travel company on the World Wide Web

A prestigious travel agency cannot do without a website. So you can declare yourself not only within the same city, region. The site will help to increase the client and base around the world. It is important to trust the creation of a site to professionals who are not only able to create a beautiful site with a convenient navigation system, but will also be constantly engaged in its promotion on the network. This is necessary for it to be in the first positions of all search engines on the Internet.

The site design should not be too catchy, but attractive enough. So that just one look arouses the desire to go to him. The navigation system is important for visitors. It is simple and understandable even for children, so that in an instant it would be fashionable to find a suitable tour with complete information about him.

Bet on prestigious beach resorts

In general, in the tourism business, the following areas are considered the most popular:

• beach tourism;
• business;
• sightseeing.

Beach accounts for more than 50 percent of the entire share. It should be emphasized, especially at the very beginning of activity, giving preference to the inexpensive and most popular resorts in Egypt, Bulgaria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria, Malta. Part of this list can be given to tours to Spain, Italy, southern France. A few months of work will help determine what is most in demand.

And another equally important aspect is the cost of the tour. It is easy to guess that the most popular resorts, the cost of vouchers for which does not exceed $ 500. This is an economy class for people whose wealth is not more than $ 800 per month. These are the majority, respectively, this is the most demanded segment of the market.

What are the prospects for such a business

The prospects for this business are quite large, even despite the huge competition. It develops rapidly and provides an opportunity to develop a personal agency. With such rapid growth, in a couple of years there will be a real opportunity to create not just an agency, but become a full-fledged travel operator with great fame.

This opens up even greater prospects. In this case, you can already create tourist tours and sell them through other travel companies not only in your city, but throughout the world. If this is possible, it is necessary to register in the Unified Register, insure legal liability. If such a prospect scares, you can remain in the status of a travel agency, but expand your network, choosing not only one city. This is an activity in which you need to constantly grow. Otherwise, a lot of competition will simply survive from this prestigious market.

New travel agencies are springing up like mushrooms. But not everyone is capable of withstanding the fiercest competition, and after a year no more than thirty percent of last year's newcomers remain on the market. Is not simple words, but static data. But having survived this struggle, new prospects and a stable, highly profitable business open up. Don't stop there. Only constant movement and the search for new, even more interesting directions will allow you to develop and advance. Good luck in a difficult, but promising and such an interesting field!

Increasingly, citizens of our country spend their holidays abroad, travel to different countries. But tourist trips around the country do not stop. , following this trend, is also developing. New agencies, tour operators appear, hotels are being built. not a very difficult process. The biggest difficulty is the huge competition. And before joining their close ranks, you need to decide in the role of whom you will act. Currently, two types of organizations are most common: Tour Operator or Travel Agent. So who are they.

What is a tour operator and travel agent

Tour operator - entity, which is engaged in the formation, promotion and sale of a tourist product, in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation "On the basics of tourism activities in the Russian Federation". Simply put, it is an organization that prepares and promotes tourism offers. The tour operator arranges food and accommodation at the hotel. Provides transport, excursions, etc.

There are several ways to sell a product. For example, using travel agencies. In this case, the entire responsibility for the quality of the services provided lies with the tour operator.

A travel agency is an organization that promotes and sells a tour operator's tourism product. In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation "On the basics of tourism activities." A travel agency can be opened by both a legal entity and an individual entrepreneur. This is an intermediary between tourists and the tour operator, who receives his commission. The travel agent buys a tourist product formed and ready for sale from the operator. And offers it end user. For this sale, receiving a cash reward.

Quite often, a travel organization combines the functions of a travel agent and a tour operator. For example, a travel organization forms and offers a tour of Italy, acting as a tour operator. And at the same time, this travel agency acts as a travel agent, implementing a tour to France, formed by another tour operator.

It is important to know that tourism happens:

• inbound - travel within the territory Russian Federation people who do not permanently reside in Russia;
• exit - travel of citizens of the Russian Federation abroad;
• internal - travel within the Russian Federation of Russian citizens.

Back to index

To open and operate a travel agency, special permits are not required by law. Therefore, this type of tourism business, as practice shows, is more common. Let's look at the main stages of creating a travel agency (travel agent).

Back to index

Business plan

At the first stages of opening any business, it is necessary to draw up a business plan. First you need to decide for what purpose it is compiled and for whom. For example, to obtain a loan, for a private investor, for oneself. It is necessary to calculate the amount of capital investments for a year, six months, a month. You can draw up a business plan yourself or order it from a consulting company.

Back to index

Choosing the name of the travel agency

Much depends on the successful name of the travel company. It helps to promote the company's services on the market, creates an associative range and style associated with the company. A successful name is well and quickly remembered, which is very important when there is a lot of competition.

Back to index

Site creation

Nowadays, to organize your business, you need the support of the Internet. Take care of creating your own company website. This service can be ordered from professionals, but it is possible to make a simple site on your own. To do this, you need to choose a hosting (the place of "physical" storage of your site) and a domain name. This is the address of your page, which should overlap with the name of your company. This will make it easier for potential customers to remember and find you.

There are many free and highly detailed website builders out there. Choose one and, following the instructions and tips, create your site. To begin with, it is enough to make a one-page site, where there will be information about you, contacts, a short list of services.

Back to index

Choice of tourist destinations

As experts advise, a narrowly focused business sells its goods and services better. Buyers often turn to specialized stores. The same rule applies in the tourism business. It is better to offer specific tours to your customers. For example: "Our agency selects medical tours in Russia using a unique methodology for children and adults." Instead of the sentence "We will pick up any tour." The first option is more informative and understandable.

Back to index

How to choose partner tour operators

When signing a cooperation agreement with a tour operator, pay attention to the availability, validity period and amount of financial security. To the number in the Federal Register of Tour Operators. For the duration of work in the tourism business. Pay attention to the number of employees in the state of this company, the presence of diplomas and awards. Find out where the tour operator's office is, its size and presentability, availability of management information, etc. There are no exact criteria for selecting the best and most reliable partners. Try to learn as much as possible about them.

Back to index

Where does the tourism business start?

So, where should you start when opening a tourism business:

• office selection. In order to organize a tourism business, it is necessary to find a suitable premises. It is worth choosing an office space in places with maximum traffic. In the hyped mall, in the business center, on the central streets of the city, next to the metro;
• preparation of a business plan;
• recruitment. According to experts, decency and diligence are the most important criteria in the selection of personnel. Quite often, aspiring entrepreneurs hire their friends and relatives. Perhaps this is not such a bad choice in the tourism business;
• advertising. Print business cards, advertise on the Internet, post or distribute flyers. Students can be hired for this work;
• paperwork. Find out about what documents you need to draw up to open your own tourism business in the relevant authorities. The main thing is to make everything legal.

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. tax code offers two best 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 more financial investment than registering an IP.

• 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 form of registration, 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 accumulation of potential tourists is the most best option office rental 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 copier, 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 the travel agency for the 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.

Professionally designed and well-run contextual advertising can dramatically increase the flow of those wishing to use tourism 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 conduct regularly electronic journal channel of new customers. Based on it, conduct analytics and statistics.

In order for new customers to become permanent, 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 profitable?
• 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 the right 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.

Sufficiently wide range boundary corridor net profit 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 switching to new stage 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 One federal register 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.

On the Russian market There are famous travel franchises:

• 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. Success stories Hardly ever. 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?!.

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 metro.

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):

Earn up to
200 000 rub. a month, having fun!

2020 trend. Intelligent entertainment business. Minimum investment. No additional deductions or payments. Turnkey training.

tables with reception places, chairs for employees, chairs for visitors, bedside tables with keys, a catalog rack, a wardrobe, hangers, a hanger rack,
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;
• formation policy wages;
• 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:

• 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.

Registration trademark.

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 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 the 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

• 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

An approximate plan for the monthly expenses of a travel company in Moscow (rubles)

Office and infrastructure

Room rental 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. Travel agency activities can be carried out by any legal entity or individual entrepreneur. 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. At the same time, the travel agent must comply with a number of requirements, statutory, 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 operator activities and to make the necessary legal action. 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 contracts for the sale of a tour product, insurance of its civil liability to consumers-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. Provides financial support 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.

Ready-made ideas for your business

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. the 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 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 tour sale 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, lack of bad habits, presentable appearance, competent Russian speech, sociability, 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 the
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. Most the best option- this 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, the system of fines works:

• ¦ the first month - no fines, an analysis of the reasons associated with a decrease in sales is required;
• ¦ second month and beyond: 40,000–49,000 rubles. - 10% is withheld from a fixed payment (30,000-39,000 rubles - 20%; 20,000-29,000 rubles - 30%).

The first months after the opening of a travel agency office, the planned payroll system, as a rule, does not apply.

Travel company courier payroll options

1. Salary 12,000–15,000 rubles, payment for a ticket, mobile phone working hours: Monday-Friday.

2. Salary 15,000–20,000 rubles, payment for a travel ticket, mobile phone, working hours: Monday-Saturday.

During the high season and increase in sales, it is customary for couriers to give a bonus of 20-30% of the salary. A courier is an important employee of a travel agency, so it’s better to pay extra on time, write out bonuses and work calmly.

On the market you can find offers from courier companies that deliver documents to anywhere
cities, they enter into a formal contract, bear full financial responsibility for cash and documents in the parcel.

Options for calculating the salary of the director of a travel company

1. Salary from 40,000 rubles.
2. Salary 18,000–20,000 rubles. + 1–5% of monthly income
agencies after deduction of expenses.
3. 12,000–15,000 rubles + 5-10% of monthly income after expenses.

It was just a small fragment of the book by Yulia and Georgy Mokhov "Travel Agency: Where to Start, How to Succeed" by the publishing house "Piter".

In the guide itself, you will find detailed advice on choosing a tour operator, organization of workflow, taxation, recommendations for promotion, working with a client base, and many valuable links to specialized Internet resources for practitioners in the tourism industry.

3795 people are studying this business today.

For 30 days this business was interested in 326514 times.

Profitability calculator for this business