Fan trips to matches and tournaments
Put together travel and ticket packages for fans following one sport or team to big matches at home or abroad.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
7,667 UK companies in this field, 33% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 79120 “Tour operator activities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You pick a sport or team you know well and organise trips around key fixtures: travel, hotel, match tickets and a bit of local know-how. You buy in the parts and sell them as one package.
Your first three steps
- Choose one sport and a handful of fixtures, then price a sample trip including travel, hotel and tickets
- Speak to an insurer, and find out how to put financial protection in place for your packages (and ATOL if flights are included)
- Build a simple booking page and offer a first trip to a supporters' group or a social media community you already know
Who pays
Supporters, friendship groups, supporters' clubs and small companies treating clients or staff.
How it makes money
A margin built into each package price, paid by deposit and balance. Group bookings and repeat customers for the same fixtures help the numbers.
Skills that help
- Detailed knowledge of your chosen sport
- Organised, with an eye for detail
- Negotiating with hotels and travel suppliers
- Calm when plans change
Watch out for
- Package travel rules: check the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 and what financial protection you need
- ATOL licensing or agent arrangements if you sell flights as part of a package, check with the CAA
- Ticket supply: only buy from official or authorised sources, as resale and touting rules can apply
- Paying suppliers and deposits up front before customers have fully paid
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, check what cover suits you
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: fan trips to matches and tournaments
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a sports fan travel business?
Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on the trips you plan and the suppliers you use. These are estimates only. Paying suppliers and deposits up front is worth planning for.
How much can you earn organising fan trips?
Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many trips you sell and their size. These are estimates, and the idea assumes at least about 10 hours a week.
What rules apply to selling fan travel packages?
Check the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 and what financial protection you need. Check with the CAA about ATOL if flights are included. Only buy tickets from official or authorised sources, as resale rules can apply.
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