Balloon ride booking agency

Tourists, couples, families buying gift vouchers, and people planning proposals, birthdays or anniversaries.

A commission or a markup on each passenger seat or private flight booked. Gift vouchers and package deals, such as a flight plus a champagne breakfast, can raise the value of each sale.

• Online marketing and selling
• Customer service and clear communication
• Scheduling and organizing
• Building relationships with local operators

• Check that each partner operator holds a current FAA commercial pilot certificate and aircraft insurance, and get this in writing
• Weather cancels many flights, so set clear rebooking and refund policies and agree who bears the cost with each operator
• Some states regulate sellers of travel or tours, so check with your state and local authorities
• Check your sales tax obligations and business license requirements with your state and city or county
• Consider general liability and professional liability insurance, and ask partners to name you on their policy if possible
• Bookings are seasonal and depend on the weather, so plan your cash flow

Estimates suggest startup costs of typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your website, marketing, insurance and the booking and voucher tools you choose. You partner with operators who fly, so you do not buy a balloon.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on your commission arrangements, how many operators you work with and seasonal demand. The minimum time estimate is about 10 hours a week, and weather affects bookings.

Check that each partner operator holds a current FAA commercial pilot certificate and aircraft insurance, in writing. Set clear weather rebooking and refund policies, and check state rules for tour sellers, sales tax, business licenses and liability insurance.