Posted:04-January-2023
How one Mum's hobby grew into a dream full-time travel job with big perks
Mum of two, Amy Howerd, didn’t feel fulfilled working part-time for a software company. She longed for an interesting side hustle that she could run alongside her admin job.
Although she had never worked in the travel industry before, she loved organising holidays and wondered whether becoming a travel consultant would be rewarding and profitable.
After researching her options she decided to join The Travel Franchise in November 2019 and after completing her training she made her first booking as a Not Just Travel consultant the very next day. Pretty soon, Amy’s business grew so rapidly she couldn’t believe its success.
“I thought it would be a nice thing on the side, almost like a hobby,” says Amy. “But the job has ended up being better than I ever imagined. It’s completely changed my life.”
Because Amy had joined on the company’s Elite package, she was eligible for its unique Money-Back Challenge which means your franchise fee (£14,995) is refunded if you achieve a certain amount of commission in one year.
“Initially I hadn’t given much thought to the Money-Back Challenge as I didn’t want to put pressure on myself,” said Amy who considered the franchise fee as money well spent on a good investment.
“But after two to three months I could see I was doing really well,” she adds, admitting it was a huge incentive.
But Amy still couldn’t believe it when the £14,995 franchise fee was refunded. Stunned, she realised that she could use the money as a support mechanism to quit her part-time admin job.
Amy’s now a full-time travel agent, working around 40 hours a week, juggling school runs and the kids' activities around her work and loving it.
“As I’m working for myself at home I don’t have to ask for time off, I can work it around my life.”
Being a full-time consultant has also enabled Amy to sell expand her customer base and she’s now on course to hit £2 million-worth of holiday sales by early 2023.
“In 2023 I'd like to sell £1 million in holiday sales in a year – and it’s not unrealistic,” she says.
And as more bookings means more commission, she can also afford to take her family on more holidays including ski break every year.
“Previously we would have taken one holiday a year, but now we take several. I can simply pick up work while we are away,” says Amy.
As an Elite franchise owner Amy also gets invited on free mentoring trips abroad organised by The Travel Franchise’s customer-facing brand, Not Just Travel.
She travelled to Mexico in October 2022 with other NJT agents on the Elite Experience and had the opportunity to explore several high-end resorts and attend a series of classroom-style workshops with training on how to sell more holidays, find more customers and scale-up an agency fast.
“We learned how to boost enquiries, build our confidence, focus on repeat bookings and explore Mexico while staying in some incredible resorts,” says Amy. “I also found spending time with other agents really helpful.”
Interested and want to know more about The Travel Franchise?
The The Travel Franchise basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
