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How to Start a
Senior Travel Business
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Getting Started with Your Travel Business for Seniors
There are many areas of senior travel that you can focus on. For example, some retirees may be interested in taking a vacation where they can learn more, whether it be a class or visiting a historical site.
Others may be interested in a volunteering trip, where they can take the opportunity to give back in a unique and memorable way. There's also the out-of-doors or adventure travel type who want to go hiking, camping or river rafting.
Seniors may want an organized vacation with a group of other seniors, or a planned activity with close family. What you want to do is decide on a "niche" of senior travel that interests you and specialize in that rather than trying to provide an all-in-one solution. You will have less competition and have an easier time trying to gain clientele. You will also have a better chance of building a repeat customer base with customers who enjoy a specific type of vacation.
- The Senior Journal website has a section dedicated to travel ideas, news and solutions specifically for senior citizens. When starting your own senior travel business, this is a good site to look for ideas about your target market and what it wants. AARP also offers good insight into the senior citizen market.
- Travel Spot will let you become a partner with them for free and start your own online travel business using their online travel booking system. Get a private branded site (already set up) that offers flights, hotel, cars, activities, featured deals and insurance to your website visitors.
- The Home-Based Travel Agent offers excellent start-up business advice that you can apply to your senior travel business. Aside from walking you through the business set-up and launch process, you get great tips on finding clients and thus building your business income. Recommended if you want to run your business from home. You'll find some great ideas on cutting costs and saving yourself money.
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- For a travel business start-up guide that covers mainly the basics of senior travel, cruises and tours, Entrepreneur magazine has put together the Travel Business Start-Up Guide, an overall education of the field. This is a good book to pick up, especially if you don't have much experience in the travel industry. I think you can get it used for about 10 bucks, so it's really a steal
- To reach the senior citizen market online, you can advertise your senior travel service on websites where seniors go to get information, such as www.seniorjournal.com, www.suddenlysenior.com or www.seniormag.com . High-traffic areas in your community, like libraries or your church may also be good spots to get the word out.
Checklist for Starting a Senior Travel Business:
- Get a business license. Check with your local government office to find out which licenses and permits you need for your travel agency business and application instructions.
- Open a basic business bank account with an FDIC-insured bank. You want to keep your personal finances and company finances separate. Also, your banker may be a good source of small business financing if you need any.
- Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. You can get referrals from other local business owners. Also, your banker may be able to give you some names.
- File your fictitious business name with the county clerk, or if you want to form a corporation, see how to incorporate your company.
- Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your senior travel business. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) is a good place to start. You can also get free quotes online for business insurance
- Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a professional business image.
- Order business cards. One of the cheapest ways I know of to advertise a business. See how you can design your own professional business cards online, plus simple tips for increasing your sales >> Free Business Cards
- How to get referrals: If you don't like "selling", and want to avoid marketing costs, word-of-mouth is a great way to grow a senior travel business. Getting referrals can be difficult or easy or completely ineffective, depending on the methods you use. Take the advice of expert David Frey, and get as many referrals as you can handle.
Senior Travel Business Resources to Save You Money:
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