The Travel Franchise has beaten growth forecasts by more than 30%, with at least one new travel consultant joining most working days this year.
Further rapid growth is expected on the back of May’s £1,000 franchise offer, its cheapest ever, which has now been extended until the end of June.
In the past five months alone, co-founders of the company and its customer-facing brand Not Just Travel, Paul Harrison and Steve Witt report it has welcomed more new consultants than in the entire year of 2022.
“The resurgence in travel shows no signs of abating as consumer confidence has been buoyed by recent glorious sunshine and the recent energy cap,” says Witt.
He adds: “Consumer mood is good and this translates into significant bookings. Many of our members are taking home £10-30k in income each month.”
Examples of some of Not Just Travel’s high flying agents include Ami Wood, a mum whose part-time hobby grew into a full-time award-winning travel agency on course to take £1 million in holiday bookings this year, and Elliott Prendergast, who sold £700k worth of holidays last year working in his spare time alongside his full-time job.
Neither had worked in travel before.
The Travel Franchise is unique in that it specialises in providing travel franchise packages to people new to the travel industry. Around 98% of people who invest in one of its franchises have never worked in the industry before, with induction taking just five days. Beyond the initial training, support and mentorship is ongoing to ensure businesses become successful.
“Agents earn a salary from the commission travel suppliers give them every time they sell a holiday. As we share a small percentage of that profit we want them to sell as many holidays as they can and this year they really are!”
As The Travel Franchise grows its number of agents, profits are set to skyrocket but the company’s co-founders are committed to reinvesting funds to invest and expand adding key members to its management team.
Last month it announced that one of the biggest figures in the travel industry, Derek Jones, had joined as a non-executive director. Former CEO of the giant Der Touristik Group UK and MD of tour operator Kuoni, the addition of Jones is a clear sign that the company means business.
“How does a company with ambitions to be number one in its sector, and which has more than doubled in size in the last year, keep its edge and stay in front? Simple. It brings the very best talent into the business,” says Witt.
The announcement comes on the back of the appointment of industry heavyweight Chris Harrison who has taken up the senior management position as commercial director. The company is also expanding its team of business development managers.
Every new recruit is assigned a business development manager who is on call to help and assist make those first few bookings and then advise on how to grow and develop your business.
Support remains a top priority and key to The Travel Franchises’ success as reflected not only by rising profits but in its burgeoning trophy cabinet. For the past eight years, it has won the coveted title of Homeworking Travel Company and many of its consultants, such as David Walker, are winning or shortlisted for industry awards this month.
Harrison says that although the extension of the £1,000 franchise offer is expected to bring on more new recruits, its Elite (£14,995) package remains its most popular. The franchise package includes a place on two company mentorship and training retreats overseas, access to higher commissions, plus the ability to get the franchise fee fully refunded via the company’s unique Money-Back Challenge.
“Consultants that achieve a certain amount of commission in their first year, in effect, get their business for free,” says Harrison.
“Dozens and dozens of consultants have achieved this, including Becky Westaway, a former PR consultant, who smashed the Challenge in just seven months.”
Westaway trained with NJT online in December 2021 and took her first booking just days after training by simply telling friends and family to spread the word about her new business. Now she’s on course to reach a million pounds in bookings by December 2023.
“I really love what I do. I’m developing a business for myself that’s really exciting. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s changed my life.”
This article comes courtesy of The Travel Franchise, the UK’s number one homeworking travel agency for people new to travel. Investors open a home-based travel agency and have the ability to plan and book hundreds of ABTA-bonded holidays under its customer-facing brand, Not Just Travel.
