How to become a travel agent for free?

So, you're planning on sharing your passion for travel with guests from all over the world? Want to sell vacations to Sandals Resorts, Royal Caribbean, Universal Orlando, or maybe even river cruises with Viking Cruise Line?

Yeah, a lot of people love the idea of becoming a travel agent, working from home, and leaving their old job behind to connect with guests and book thousands of trips. That all sounds great in theory, but… is there actually a way to become a travel agent for free? Or do you need to pay something to start selling vacations?

You have two options if you want to become a travel agent: you can go independent or join a host agency.

If you become an independent travel agent, you’ll always need to pay for something. You’ll need certifications to start selling - which can range from $500 to $2,000 - or even more if you plan on building your own travel startup.

The easier (and usually more effective) way to become a travel agent is to join a host agency. Host agencies are like an umbrella: they protect you and give you support. They also come with all the certifications you need to start selling. That’s exactly what we offer at VacationLab.

We’ve got our own dashboard, free guides, free training courses, and hundreds of planning tips and reviews on our sister site, Famvia. Everything is free to use, and yes, you can join us and spend zero dollars.

When you join a host agency, though, you do split your commission. That’s basically the “price” you pay for having all that support. At VacationLab, the split starts at 70/30 and can go up to 80/20, with you always getting the bigger slice of the pie. Some host agencies, however, ask for a 50/50 split, which can feel pretty harsh, especially when you’re just starting out.

Do keep in mind that joining a host agency doesn’t always mean you won’t have to pay anything. Some host agencies charge monthly or annual fees, usually around $50. This price covers access to their training programs and support. Always make sure to read the fine print on any host agency you're researching, and ask during interviews if you’ll need to pay for anything out of pocket.

Here at VacationLab, we don’t have any extra charges… you can always join us for free! We think monthly fees are extremely not cool, especially when you’re just starting out and trying to build a client base.

So, want to become a travel agent and pay zero costs? Send us a message and let’s talk! At VacationLab, we offer support, training courses, guides, and much more, for the absolute price of zero. The only cost you’ll ever have is for any optional courses outside our agency. Until next time!