Home-based cruise travel agent

Cruise lines pay you commission on bookings. Travellers usually pay the cruise fare, and some agents also charge a small planning fee for complex trips.

Commission on each completed booking, plus occasional planning fees and onboard credit or perks offered by suppliers. Income depends on how many trips you book and how much each trip costs.

• Good listener who can match trips to budgets
• Organized with bookings and deadlines
• Patient customer service
• Comfortable learning booking systems

• Some provinces require travel seller registration or a licence (for example BC, Ontario and Quebec), so check your provincial regulator
• Consumer protection or compensation fund contributions may apply depending on the province
• Errors and omissions insurance and possibly general liability insurance, so check what your host agency covers
• Commission is usually paid after travel, so cash flow can be slow
• Check with your municipality whether a home-based business licence is needed

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on whether you join a host agency or consortium and what training, insurance and tools you need. Check what your host agency already covers.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $3,000, depending on how many bookings you make and their value. Commission is usually paid after travel, so cash flow can be slow, especially at the start.

Some provinces require travel seller registration or a licence, for example BC, Ontario and Quebec, so check your provincial regulator. Also check consumer protection fund contributions, errors and omissions insurance, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence.