Home-Based rail travel agent

Leisure travelers, retirees, families and rail enthusiasts. The commission is usually paid by the rail operator or tour company, not the client.

Commission on bookings, which varies a lot by supplier and is often higher on packaged rail vacations than on plain tickets. Some agents also add a small planning fee for complex trips.

• Organized and detail-minded
• Good at listening and advising
• Comfortable with booking systems and online research

• Commission on basic train tickets can be low, so check what each supplier actually pays
• A few states require sellers of travel to register, check your state's rules
• Check whether the host agency charges fees and whether you need your own errors and omissions insurance
• Commission is often paid only after the client travels, so cash flow can be slow
• Check local home occupation and lease or HOA rules

Startup costs are typically around $200 to $1,000, depending on whether a host agency charges fees and what equipment or insurance you need. These are estimates, so ask any host agency about its fees first.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the bookings you make and what each supplier pays. Commission on basic train tickets can be low, and it is often paid only after the client travels.

A few states require sellers of travel to register, so check your state's rules. Also check whether your host agency charges fees, whether you need your own errors and omissions insurance, and any local home occupation and lease or HOA rules.