Group and niche cruise planner

Cruise lines pay commission on the cabins booked. Group leaders and travelers pay their fares, and the leader may receive a free or discounted berth based on the cruise line's group policy.

Commission on each cabin in the group, plus any cruise line group incentives. Larger groups mean larger bookings from a single sales effort.

• Organizing people and payment deadlines
• Clear communication with groups
• Selling and relationship building
• Staying calm when plans change

• Some states require sellers of travel to register or hold a license, check your state's rules
• Group contracts have deposit and cancellation deadlines, make sure everyone understands them
• Groups can take many months to fill, so income may arrive late
• Check insurance, such as errors and omissions cover, and recommend travel insurance to clients
• Keep clear records of who has paid what

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $3,000, depending on your tools, marketing and any registration you need. It is also worth checking insurance, such as errors and omissions cover, before you take bookings.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on how many groups you fill. Groups can take many months to fill, so income may arrive late. The estimate assumes about 15 hours a week at minimum.

Some states require sellers of travel to register or hold a license, so check your state's rules. Also check insurance such as errors and omissions cover, and make sure everyone understands the deposit and cancellation deadlines in group contracts.