L’ouverture d’une agence de voyages est une activité très réglementée. Les premiers frais concernent donc les obligations administratives. n
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n La première est l’immatriculation auprès d’Atout France, obligatoire pour vendre des voyages. Son coût est de 295€ tous les trois ans. n
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n Ce montant reste relativement accessible, mais l’obtention de cette immatriculation nécessite un dossier solide. Deux éléments sont indispensables pour que celui-ci soit accepté : une garantie financière et une assurance de responsabilité civile professionnelle. n
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n La garantie financière protège les clients si l’agence n’est plus en mesure d’honorer ses engagements (faillite, cessation de paiement, etc.). Son montant dépend notamment du chiffre d’affaires prévisionnel. Dans la pratique, elle est souvent fixée autour de 200 000€, même si certains dossiers ont pu être acceptés avec une garantie de 50 000€. n
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n L’assurance professionnelle, elle, coûte entre 300€ et 1 500€ par an, également calculée selon le chiffre d’affaires prévisionnel. Ces coûts sont lourds, mais non négociables : ils sont la condition pour vendre des voyages en toute légalité, et pour garantir la protection du consommateur. n
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n Toujours dans les frais administratifs, il faut également prévoir les coûts de création de l’entreprise, généralement compris entre 200 et 600€, ainsi qu’un capital social suffisamment crédible. Même si aucun minimum n’est imposé, il est souvent conseillé de prévoir au moins 5 000€.
n
n La première est l’immatriculation auprès d’Atout France, obligatoire pour vendre des voyages. Son coût est de 295€ tous les trois ans. n
n
n Ce montant reste relativement accessible, mais l’obtention de cette immatriculation nécessite un dossier solide. Deux éléments sont indispensables pour que celui-ci soit accepté : une garantie financière et une assurance de responsabilité civile professionnelle. n
n
n La garantie financière protège les clients si l’agence n’est plus en mesure d’honorer ses engagements (faillite, cessation de paiement, etc.). Son montant dépend notamment du chiffre d’affaires prévisionnel. Dans la pratique, elle est souvent fixée autour de 200 000€, même si certains dossiers ont pu être acceptés avec une garantie de 50 000€. n
n
n L’assurance professionnelle, elle, coûte entre 300€ et 1 500€ par an, également calculée selon le chiffre d’affaires prévisionnel. Ces coûts sont lourds, mais non négociables : ils sont la condition pour vendre des voyages en toute légalité, et pour garantir la protection du consommateur. n
n
n Toujours dans les frais administratifs, il faut également prévoir les coûts de création de l’entreprise, généralement compris entre 200 et 600€, ainsi qu’un capital social suffisamment crédible. Même si aucun minimum n’est imposé, il est souvent conseillé de prévoir au moins 5 000€.
Costs to expect depending on your project
Beyond the legal requirements, several expenses will depend on how you plan to develop your activity:
• a CRM : to manage your clients, quotes and bookings, software is almost indispensable. Several travel-focused solutions exist, with subscriptions between €50 and €100 per month.
• a website : if you want to boost your online visibility, you’ll need a domain name and a website. If you build it yourself, budget around €300 per year. If you hire a professional, the budget typically starts around €1,500 and can exceed €15,000 depending on the features you want.
• a visual identity : logo, graphic charter, colors… This is what will allow future clients to recognize you. Again, the cost can be nil if you do everything yourself, or vary between €300 and €1,500 depending on the provider.
• marketing : online advertising, communication materials, trade shows, partnerships, referral partners or local press… The options are numerous and will depend on your development strategy.
• a commercial premises : working exclusively online remains the most economical option. However, if you want to open a physical agency, you’ll need to add rent, utilities, renovations, supplies, and any salaries.
• training : tourism is constantly evolving. It is therefore important to budget for ongoing training. There are specialized programs, as well as professional networks, associations (like Les Femmes du Tourisme) or cooperatives such as the EDV.
• familiarization trips : if you want to become a specialist in a destination or a type of travel, it can be prudent to budget for trips on site, meeting local partners or taking part in educational tours. This is often what then allows you to offer truly differentiating trips.
• a website : if you want to boost your online visibility, you’ll need a domain name and a website. If you build it yourself, budget around €300 per year. If you hire a professional, the budget typically starts around €1,500 and can exceed €15,000 depending on the features you want.
• a visual identity : logo, graphic charter, colors… This is what will allow future clients to recognize you. Again, the cost can be nil if you do everything yourself, or vary between €300 and €1,500 depending on the provider.
• marketing : online advertising, communication materials, trade shows, partnerships, referral partners or local press… The options are numerous and will depend on your development strategy.
• a commercial premises : working exclusively online remains the most economical option. However, if you want to open a physical agency, you’ll need to add rent, utilities, renovations, supplies, and any salaries.
• training : tourism is constantly evolving. It is therefore important to budget for ongoing training. There are specialized programs, as well as professional networks, associations (like Les Femmes du Tourisme) or cooperatives such as the EDV.
• familiarization trips : if you want to become a specialist in a destination or a type of travel, it can be prudent to budget for trips on site, meeting local partners or taking part in educational tours. This is often what then allows you to offer truly differentiating trips.
From an outsider’s perspective, the travel agent profession may seem straightforward. Booking a hotel online appears easy, but behind each file lie significant responsibilities, adjustments, small attentions, emergencies to anticipate, and numerous skills to master.
You assume responsibility by sending clients off to destinations around the world. This is precisely why the profession is so strictly regulated: these obligations exist primarily to protect travelers.
You assume responsibility by sending clients off to destinations around the world. This is precisely why the profession is so strictly regulated: these obligations exist primarily to protect travelers.
Can you get started with a small budget?
The good news is that yes. In recent years, new models, already well developed in English-speaking countries, are gradually arriving in France.
They allow you to legally practice the travel agent profession without having to set up your own agency right away. The principle is simple: you attach yourself to an already registered agency, which provides you with its license, its tools and its legal framework.
Depending on the models, you can operate as a business introducer or sell independently under the agency’s license, depending on the tools made available to you.
Read also: Independent travel advisor: the keys to getting started!
This opportunity, initially reserved for tourism professionals, is gradually opening up to people from entirely different backgrounds, notably those undergoing a career change. This evolution makes it possible to start without being confined to the travel planner status, which remains limited in support and can be off-putting to travelers.
In return, dedicated training and privileged support are provided to guarantee client protection all the way to the destination.
Opening your own agency therefore often requires tens of thousands of euros when you add up guarantees, tools and business development.
Fortunately, that is no longer the only way to practice this profession. Today, there are models that let you start gradually, test your activity and develop your client base before, if you wish, creating your own agency.
They allow you to legally practice the travel agent profession without having to set up your own agency right away. The principle is simple: you attach yourself to an already registered agency, which provides you with its license, its tools and its legal framework.
Depending on the models, you can operate as a business introducer or sell independently under the agency’s license, depending on the tools made available to you.
Read also: Independent travel advisor: the keys to getting started!
This opportunity, initially reserved for tourism professionals, is gradually opening up to people from entirely different backgrounds, notably those undergoing a career change. This evolution makes it possible to start without being confined to the travel planner status, which remains limited in support and can be off-putting to travelers.
In return, dedicated training and privileged support are provided to guarantee client protection all the way to the destination.
Opening your own agency therefore often requires tens of thousands of euros when you add up guarantees, tools and business development.
Fortunately, that is no longer the only way to practice this profession. Today, there are models that let you start gradually, test your activity and develop your client base before, if you wish, creating your own agency.
