How to Start a Tour Business or Work as a Tour
Guide
As long as you enjoy being around people, you can enjoy the fun lifestyle of a tour guide operator - you
don't even have to like traveling. Read on and you'll understand why.
Step 1 How to Become a Tour Guide
Whether you decide you want to travel the world as a tour guide - or simply provide tours in your local
area, there are more opportunities than you can imagine. Tourists will pay to experience something unique and
interesting - even if you find it "commonplace" because it's in your own backyard. (You can understand - we've
all been tourists at some point).
And don't forget that people don't just want to see things - they want to do stuff. There are numerous tour
companies that revolve around sports activities - whether it's as extreme or adventurous as mountain biking or
rock climbing - or as simple and relaxing as walking. Some companies provide equipment and gear - others don't
or partner with another company who will. When you design your business to meet both your needs and your
clients needs - you will be the happiest.
Learn to become a tour guide operator from Cherie Anderson - who has worked successfully as a tour guide
operator for 20 years and has trained people to become tour guide operators for over 6 years. Who better to
learn from?
She shows you how to work in the tour guide field - how to get hired by a professional company - or
start your own successful
tour guide business.
 Another very good resource is Marc
Mancini's "Conducting Tours" . Mancini is a well-known travel industry speaker
who has worked with large companies such as American Airlines, Carlson Group and American Express. He
shares the secrets to conducting a successful tour - and especially important - how to address common
challenges that you may encounter.
Some other helpful online resources that you can use to get insight into the tour guide industry are the
United States Tour Operator Association which represents the tour operator industry and
the National Business Travel Association, which offers useful and up-to-date information on
the travel industry.
A tour guide certification is not required to start your own tour operator business, but it is recommended,
especially if you want to gain additional training in the travel field that can help your business, Penn Foster
offers an at-home "Travel and Tourism Specialist" training program. You can request a free information packet
here.
Wondering about customers? Infohub is the perfect website on which to advertise a tour business. This travel
website features all sorts of unique travel and tour ideas worldwide - specifically for your target market -
the traveler looking for organized trips or unique travel.
Starting a Tour Guide Business Business Checklist:
- Obtain the necessary business
licenses. Check with your
local government office to find out which licenses and permits you need for your tour business and how
to apply.
- If you plan to operate your tour business out of your home, check with your local government office about
zoning ordinances and possible land use restrictions
- Set up a business bank account with your local
bank. Make sure that the bank is FDIC is insured. It is important to keep your tour business and personal
finances separate, and often your banker can help with small business loans or financing.
- Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. You can get referrals from other
business owners you know or sometimes your banker.
- Register your business name with the county clerk, or if you want to form a corporation, find out
the advantages of incorporating your
business
- Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your cafe. The IIABA (Independent
Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) is a good place to start. You can also get free quotes online
for business insurance
- Set up your business phone
system. Whether you use a $5-a-month toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone
system, VoIP or simply add an additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated
line to establish a professional business image. If you accept reservations by phone, this can be very
important.
- Order business cards. One of the cheapest ways I know of to advertise a business. See how you can
design your own professional business cards online, plus simple tips for increasing your sales. Free Business Cards. See also: Design Your Own Logo
- Get a website. Save money by creating your own
website with simple online design programs, or outsource the job to an affordable website designer. Whether you sell tour reservations online - or you use
a website to display touring intineraries or business hours, it's important to take advantage of this
low-cost marketing resource that can help you get more customers.
- Need Clients for
your tour company? Don't worry! Marketing Expert David Frey shows you how. I used his advice to get my
own clients Click
Here to subscribe to his free newsletter or find out more about he finds customers for his business.
See also: Lead Generation Tools
More Tour Business Resources:
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