Balloon ride booking agent

Tourists, couples, gift buyers and people planning birthdays, proposals or anniversaries. Hotels and wedding planners could also book for their guests.

A commission or agreed margin on each passenger or booking, plus extra from add-ons like photo packages, champagne breakfasts or private flights.

• Online marketing and selling
• Clear, friendly customer communication
• Organising bookings and rescheduling

• Check that every operator you sell for holds the Transport Canada approvals and insurance needed to carry paying passengers
• Some provinces regulate travel sellers or tour packages, so check your provincial regulator about registration
• Weather cancellations are common, so agree refund and rebooking rules with operators in writing and show them to customers
• Check the rules for taking customer deposits and handling gift voucher expiry in your province
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your website, marketing and booking tools. Because the licensed operator flies the passengers, you do not need to buy a balloon or aircraft.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on how many bookings and vouchers you sell and the commission you agree with operators. Weather cancellations are common, so plan for uneven months.

Check that every operator holds the Transport Canada approvals and insurance needed to carry paying passengers. Also check whether your province regulates travel sellers, the rules for deposits and gift voucher expiry, written refund terms with operators, and GST/HST registration.