Become a Travel Agent Part Time, No Experience Needed
Many people plan trips for friends and never get paid. Claudia Rosenfeld shows how to become a travel agent part time, with no experience needed.
Host: Bernie Franzgrote
Become a travel agent part time with no experience. Knack 4 Business with Claudia Rosenfeld shares how commission, licensing, and training really work.
GROWTH CATEGORY: Sales & Revenue
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You've probably planned a trip for a friend and never got a cent for it. You picked the hotel, compared the prices, and read the reviews. That is a travel agent's job, and someone else is keeping the pay. Claudia Rosenfeld has been there, and she found a way to get paid.
Claudia Rosenfeld is a travel designer and the founder of Trips with Claudia. In this conversation, she explains how to become a travel agent and turn a love of travel into a side hustle. She shares how a travel agent earns commission, what licensing and training are needed, and why anyone can start part time while keeping a day job. She also talks about purposeful travel, how an agent helps clients when plans go wrong, and who can partner with her, such as wedding planners and retreat coaches.
Watch the full conversation here:
Many people plan trips for friends and family and earn nothing for it. Claudia Rosenfeld, founder of Trips with Claudia, has been a travel agent for seven years and now builds a team of new agents. She explains how licensing, training, and commissions work, so you can start part time without quitting your job.
Who this is for
SMB owners, solopreneurs, corporate escapees, and anyone who loves to travel and wants side business ideas.
Key Lessons
1. You are probably doing the work already. Claudia's story began with a friend's question. You travel a lot, so why not save money and make money too? She started with her own trips. If friends and family ask you to plan theirs, you already have the first skill.
2. The big sites keep the commission, and you can earn it instead. Every booking carries a commission. When you book on a large travel website, the site keeps it. As an agent, Claudia gets a cashback commission on her own trips, or a discount if she books direct. One friend of hers booked a cruise for 30 relatives and earned nothing. After she got licensed, she got her cabin free and a commission check.
3. You need time and a willingness to learn, not experience. Claudia started with her own travels and thirty countries visited. Providers, including cruise lines, offer training. She is clear that it takes effort. You will not get rich in a week, and no business pays like that.
Practical Steps
- Write down the trips you've planned for others. Count them. That is your starting proof of interest.
- Look up your local licensing rules. In Florida, Claudia says you fill out a form, pay the fee, and get your travel seller license. Check what applies where you live.
- Pick one lane to learn first. Claudia focuses on cruises, group trips, and vacations with a purpose. Choose one and learn it well before adding more.
About the Guest
Claudia Rosenfeld is the founder of Trips with Claudia, and she recruits and mentors new travel agents. Connect: LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube
Listen on Audio
Partners on this episode
- Canada Growth Network: a business community with a full CRM suite and real introductions, $47 CAD/month.
- Gentry Learning: Fred Crouch's real estate courses, listings, an Investor Club, and a free newsletter.
- Wise: send and receive money across borders without the bank fees.
FAQ
Do I need experience to become a travel agent?
No. Claudia started with her own trips. Providers, such as cruise lines, offer training, and you learn as you go.
Can I do this part time?
Yes. Claudia ran her agency part time for years while running a local business. Many agents keep their day jobs while they grow.
Is booking through an agent more expensive?
Not always. Claudia says the price can match what you find online. The agent adds support, and your commission goes to a small business owner.
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- Work with Claudia or join her team of travel agents
K4B Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Catherine, also known as Cat Herd, of Purple Panda Creative Marketing, for introducing Claudia to Knack 4 Business. This is the introduction that made this episode happen.
