A Bank Certificate showing a Capital of not less than rupees two lakh. A statement showing assets and liabilities duly certified by an appropriate authority. An attested copy of National Tax Registration Number. Attested copies of lease/rent agreement /proof of the ownership of the premises. If you’re someone who loves travel, meticulous planning, and helping others have great experiences, consider becoming a travel agent and starting your own business.

Becoming a travel agent can be fairly inexpensive, as business ventures go, and you can often get away with limited staff and little upfront cost.

That being said, success largely depends on finding the right niche in a fiercely competitive market, given the rise in online direct to consumer travel booking sites. So, if you want to be successful, you’ll want to focus a lot of your effort into your market research, branding, and marketing. You’ll need to know who needs your services—your target market—and what they’ll be willing to pay. 

If this sounds right up your alley, keep reading. I’ve interviewed several founders of successful travel agencies for their advice on everything you need to get started, and I’ve also included plenty of links and resources to help you work through the process of starting your own travel business.