How to Start a Home-Based Travel Business

The travel industry offers opportunities to start a home-based business. The best way to get started is to affiliate with a host travel agency. Independent travel agents, those not affiliated with any host agency, retain 100 percent of their travel booking commissions, but are also responsible for tracking those commissions and handling all the accounting and establishing relationships with suppliers. It is recommended that only experienced travel agents attempt to start their business fully independent of a travel host.

1 Align with a host travel agency. These agencies provide independent contractors with the support of an established business. This usually includes your initial travel agent training, back-office accounting, commission tracking, and a booking engine. A host agency, due to its sales volume, can negotiate higher commissions than an individual with little to no sales volume. Other benefits include access to the host agency's consortium, which offers great travel deals for your clients, and use of its worldwide industry-recognized travel agency credentials (CLIA, IATAN, TRUE, ARC), which allow you to book travel products and services directly with travel suppliers and receive travel supplier training (provided you meet the qualifications).

2 Find a host travel agency. Network with individuals who are working in the home-based travel agent market and obtain referrals so you can make an informed decision. Visit the host's website, find out what type of support is available and what benefits are offered, and ask about the firm's affiliations, licenses and other credentials. Contact the Better Business Bureau to check the host's credentials. For a list of host agencies from around the country, visit the Home Based Travel Agency Network online (see Resources).

3 Compare fees and benefits. Host travel agencies vary widely in terms of the benefits they offer, the percentage of commissions they pay, the type of training you receive, the support available, and whether supplemental income is paid for other activities, such as referring new business to the host agency. For example, one agency might not charge a "start-up fee," while another might charge as much as $750 (2009 prices). Some agencies charge monthly fees to pay for the cost of shipping supplies to their agents. Balance costs and revenues. Agencies that offer higher commissions often charge higher monthly fees.

4 Inquire about tracking. Some host agencies require you to submit tracking forms to verify your commission. The better agencies will track sales and commissions for you.

5 Purchase error and omissions insurance if it is not already included in the host agency's travel agent agreement. Many host agencies include this coverage as one of their benefits, but you also can purchase it through sites such as Travel Agent Protect or The Berkely Group (see Resources).

6 Ask about ongoing education. Agencies that offer free seminars give you the opportunity to learn from other agents who successfully run businesses out of their homes. Check whether the company offers online courses and interactive training.

How Does Electricity Travel to Your Home?

Spinning

In most forms of electric generation, mechanical rotating energy is turned into electricity in coal, nuclear and geothermal power plants, where water is heated into hot steam, which is then used to turn a turbine---a device like a giant fan. In hydroelectric generation, flowing water turns the turbine, and in wind power, the wind turns it. The turbine is hooked up to a generator, which actually produces the power.

The Generator

The generator has a rotating magnet surrounded by coils of wire. As the magnet turns around, the direction of its magnetic field flips from negative to positive and back again. This field permeates the wire. When wire is permeated in this way by a moving magnetic field, it creates a moving current in the wire. This current is called AC, or alternating current electricity, because it changes from positive to negative to positive continuously instead of flowing in one direction.

Step It Up

The power is then put through a device called a step-up transformer. When a wire coil with a changing current running through it is put next to a coil without current running through it, the current from the first wire produces a current in the second. If the second coil has more turns of wire than the first, it receives a higher voltage current than the first wire. A set of coils working this way constitute a step-up transformer.

Cables and Substations

Voltage needs to be stepped up because it might have miles to travel before it gets to your house. Voltage is like pressure---it controls how hard the electricity pushes. Electric wire is a pretty good conductor, but it resists the flow of electricity somewhat. Having high voltage keeps the electricity flowing efficiently without slowing down or losing power. If the electricity has very far to go, it might pass through a substation, where it is boosted again on the way to its destination.

Step It Down

When the electricity gets to your house, it is run through a step-down transformer. In the United States, this reduces it to 120 volts, but in most other countries, the electricity comes in at 210 to 240 volts. Either way, the electricity is at a much safer level then in the electric main. Even if you were to accidentally get an electric shock from it, it probably wouldn't seriously injure or kill you.The electricity runs through a power meter that records how much you use, and then into the fuse box or circuit breaker in your house. From there, it flows into all the power outlets and built-in appliances.

How to Find Out What My Travel Trailer Is Worth

Going on vacation with a travel trailer can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a big hassle. Eventually it comes time to sell it, and the first order of business is finding out what it is worth and how to price it. You don't want to price it too high because you will end up holding onto it forever. You also don't want to make it too low because you will be losing money and literally selling yourself short.

1 Clean and detail your travel trailer. This helps you see what potential it has and also raises the value of the trailer.

2 Get the name, make, model and year of the travel trailer.

3 Go online to RVTrader.com and search your criteria to see what similar models are going for. Keep an eye on the condition of them and compare them with yours.

4 Call people with similar models and ask them if they still have their trailer. If they don't, ask them nicely what they sold it for and if they got a lot of calls. This is the best way to get an idea of what your trailer is worth.

5 Put your travel trailer online for free on classified sites like craigslist. Start your price high to see if you get any nibbles.

How to Travel After Retirement

You've worked hard all your life, raised a family and now the kids are on their own. It is time for you to retire and you need to figure out what you do now. You're too young to sit in a rocking chair, so you decide to travel. After all, you have no responsibilities to anyone but yourself. Here are some tips for traveling after retirement.

1 Visit your children. This is especially good if your children are in different parts of the country. You can then see the sights in various locations as well as visit your children and grandchildren.

2 Make a list of the places you want to see. All those places that you only dreamed about seeing you can now visit. They may be spots in the US or other parts of the world. Maybe you always wanted to see Italy or Ireland, the grand canyon or Disneyland--wherever it is you can now do it.

3 See how much it will cost. You may have to take your trips in steps. Depending on how well you have planned for your retirement, will depend on how often you may be able to take those trips.

4 Buy a RV, if your budget will allow it. If your budget won't allow it, you could sell your home, which will then give you the funds to buy a RV. Living out of a RV may be a bit of an adjustment but it will definitely be a plus in the end because it will allow you to make more trips.

5 Check out the airplane schedules. If you are interested in traveling abroad, you can find out when the best rates are and take your trips then. You don't have to answer to anyone so treat yourself when the time is right.

6 Try a cruise. Cruises are great because you pay one price up front and everything is included in that price. Cruises go to places such as Hawaii, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Alaska.

7 Go to a travel agent. Sometimes it is worth what you will pay the travel agent to get the best price for your trip. You may find there is a package that includes things you never even imagined--and it doesn't cost anything to examine the possibilities.