Coach ticket agent with a small counter

Students, newcomers, seniors, workers and travellers who prefer to book in person or pay by cash, plus people without a card or a smartphone.

Commission from the operator on each ticket sold, sometimes plus a small booking fee. Parcel handling or other services add income where operators allow it.

• Friendly customer service
• Comfortable with booking systems and cash handling
• Knowing routes and timetables

• Commission per ticket can be small, so check the numbers against rent before signing a lease
• Some operators sell mainly online and may not offer agent programs in your area, so confirm this first
• Some provinces regulate travel sellers (for example Ontario, BC and Quebec), so check with your provincial regulator whether ticket-only sales are covered
• Handling customer money and operator funds, so check settlement terms and keep clean records
• Routes and operators change, so don't depend on a single operator
• Check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on whether you take a small shop, a kiosk or a counter inside an existing business, and on the equipment and booking systems you need.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your location and the operators you sell for. Commission per ticket can be small, so check the numbers against your rent before signing a lease.

Check whether operators offer agent programs in your area, and ask your provincial regulator whether ticket-only sales are covered by travel seller rules, as in Ontario, BC and Quebec. Also check settlement terms and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.