The Travel Franchise is the UK’s number one franchise for people new to travel. With over twenty years in the market, more than 750 successful travel consultants and a business model that has been tested, refined and proven over two decades, it gives aspiring entrepreneurs everything they need to launch their own home-based travel agency from scratch, regardless of prior experience, and begin earning industry-leading commission from day one.
In both 2025 and 2026 the company was named Best Lifestyle Franchise in the World and Best European Franchise at the International Franchise Association’s Global Franchise Awards, two years running. It is also one of the top ten franchises in the UK overall, the only travel franchise to achieve that recognition, sitting in the rankings alongside major household brands. The business is backed by celebrity brand ambassadors TV broadcaster Eamonn Holmes OBE and double Olympic champion Daley Thompson CBE.
Two packages designed around your life
The Lite Mentorship Programme is the most accessible entry point into the travel industry available in the UK today. Starting from the equivalent of £28 a week, it is designed specifically for people who want to enter the travel industry gradually and part time without giving up their current income or their existing commitments. Every Lite consultant is paired with one of twenty hand-picked experienced travel professionals from the very first day. Both parties earn commission on every booking that completes. It is a true business partnership from day one, not a training scheme or a shadowing programme, but a real commercial arrangement in which both sides are invested in the same outcome.
The results from the Lite programme have been remarkable. One consultant generated over £81,000 in sales within her first two and a half months, including a single £50,488 booking for a complex six-and-a-half-week itinerary to Canada and Alaska. She had no prior travel experience. Her mentor handled the booking. She found the lead, managed the relationship and earned her share of the commission. When she is ready to upgrade to Elite and handle bookings independently, the knowledge, the client base and the confidence will already be in place.
“I can highly recommend the Lite package. Working with an experienced consultant from day one is great. A really great way to start a travel business.”
The Elite package at £14,995 plus VAT is the most popular and the most complete version of the business. It includes five days of intensive live online training delivered in small groups and rated excellent on Trustpilot, a dedicated Business Consultant from day one, two fully funded overseas mentorship retreats as standard, the unique Money-Back Challenge which gives you the chance to get your initial franchise investment refunded if you hit a set level of commission in your first year, and the full technology suite. For anyone ready to commit fully and build something with genuine long-term earning potential, it is the strongest travel franchise opportunity available in the UK today.
What the business actually involves
Franchisees earn commission from travel suppliers every time they plan and book a holiday for a client. The average commission is around ten per cent of the booking value. The average UK holiday is worth approximately £4,500, generating around £400 per booking. Franchisees keep up to 75 per cent of what they generate, one of the highest commission splits in the sector. Two consistent bookings a week produces over £40,000 a year. As the client base grows and repeat bookings and referrals compound, the income grows with it. High-ticket niches like luxury tailor-made itineraries, cruises, destination weddings and group travel generate some of the highest commissions available in the entire retail sector, often for the same effort as a standard booking.
The consultant’s role is to find customers, build relationships and book holidays. The franchise handles everything else: the technology, the supplier negotiations, the ticketing, the admin, the back office and the ongoing training and development. Franchisees are never left to figure things out alone. The support is there from day one and it stays there for the entire journey.
What is included
- Five-day live online training rated excellent on Trustpilot, start booking holidays the same week
- Access to over 450 ABTA and ATOL bonded travel suppliers with exclusive trade-only deals unavailable to the public
- Dedicated Business Consultant providing one-to-one coaching and support six days a week
- Head office operations team handling all ticketing and travel admin so franchisees can focus on selling
- Free weekly webinars, in-person training events and annual company conferences
- Two fully funded overseas mentorship retreats to luxury destinations included in the Elite package
- Personal marketing website, ready-made social media content and professional marketing materials from day one
- TProfile quotation tool to create stunning interactive client proposals that convert enquiries into bookings
- NJT Smart AI, an AI platform built specifically for travel consultants, provided completely free
- Vision CRM acting as a personal assistant for client management and commission tracking
- Partners in Travel scheme to build a client base through local business and charity partnerships
- Investment refund guarantee on the Elite package: hit a set commission level in your first twelve months and receive your entire £14,995 back in full, the only offer of its kind in the travel franchise sector
Real results from real people
98 % of The Travel Franchise’s franchisees had no travel background before joining. Former teachers, police officers, NHS workers, corporate professionals, military veterans, paramedics and stay-at-home parents have all built thriving businesses by following the same proven model with the right support behind them. Many earn £40,000 or more part time. Full-time franchisees regularly achieve six figures. Some have built businesses generating millions in annual sales.
“We finished training at 3pm on the Friday and by 4.30pm on the same day we had our first booking. And it was from a complete stranger. What an amazing feeling!”
The Elite package also includes something unique: the chance to get the entire franchise fee back. It works like this. If an Elite franchisee reaches a set level of commission within their first twelve months, The Travel Franchise refunds their entire £14,995 investment in full. No small print. No conditions beyond hitting the commission target. For franchisees who follow the model and put in the work, it means the business can effectively cost them nothing. Dozens have achieved it, some in as little as six months. It is the most compelling proof available that The Travel Franchise genuinely believes in its own model.
“There were other similar companies but The Travel Franchise and its customer-facing brand Not Just Travel pulled me in due to the high level of support.”
How Three Home-Based Travel Consultants Got Their Franchise Fees Refunded in Their First Year
Last month, three travel consultants celebrated a remarkable achievement: in their first year with The Travel Franchise, they earned enough commission to have their £14,995 franchise fees refunded.
Known for providing exceptional training and support to people new to the travel industry, The Travel Franchise has an enticing perk for those who join its Elite package. If consultants hit a specific sales target in their first year, the franchise fee is returned. This unique offer is the brainchild of co-founder Paul Harrison, who designed the programme to encourage a winning mindset from the start.
“It’s a challenge to push people to achieve greatness early on,” says Paul. “If our consultants succeed, we succeed. The franchise fee covers the infrastructure, booking technology, and continuous training and support. But when our consultants reach the sales target, they generate enough profit to earn back their initial investment.”
In November, three consultants — Dawn, Michelle, and Jennie — proved that with hard work and determination, the refund challenge is well within reach. All three were new to the travel industry when they joined the franchise.
Meet Jennie
Jennie achieved the challenge in under seven months, a remarkable accomplishment given that she also runs a property restoration business. Jennie joined The Travel Franchise in February 2024, and in just five months, she had made 70 bookings.
“I was committed to hitting the MBC (Money Back Challenge) from the start. It’s an incredible feeling to have achieved it so quickly,” Jennie shares. “I think I’ll spend my refund on treating myself to some holidays!”
“I’m really enjoying it. It feels more like a hobby than a job.”
Meet Dawn
Dawn, who previously worked in a private equity firm in London, made the switch to something she’s truly passionate about — travel – after going on a cruise in November 2023 and meeting a group of travel agents who spoke highly of their jobs.
Despite being relatively new to the industry, Dawn was one of the company’s top sellers last month and although she works flexible hours around her family she has high-reaching goals for her company.
“I want to build a multi-million-pound, successful business that offers exceptional service, just like I’ve seen others do within the network,” Dawn explains. “It’s definitely achievable, but it takes time and dedication.”
Meet Michelle
Michelle, who joined The Travel Franchise in December 2023, brings a sales background to the table but emphasises that sales experience is not necessary to succeed.
“This isn’t a hard-sales job,” she says. “What’s essential is putting yourself out there in your community, meeting people, and building relationships. Be passionate about travel, engage with others, and develop a personal, friendly rapport.”
As a proven MBC winner, Michelle offers advice to newcomers or those considering joining the franchise:
“Just do it! Don’t overthink it or waste time — get out there, meet people, and start building your business. Even if you’re doing it part-time or still working full-time elsewhere, dedicate as much time as you can to your new business. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it grows.”
A Winning Mindset Leads to Success
These three inspiring travel consultants prove that with commitment, passion, and the right support, achieving success in your first year is not only possible — it’s highly achievable. Even if you work part time. By embracing the challenge and focusing on what matters most — building relationships and offering exceptional service — they’ve not only earned back their franchise fees but have set themselves on a path toward long-term success.
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