削减困惑:新旅行社的七个关键物品
byPaul Ruden/
Recently, I was quoted in a great article in Travel Market Report by Cheryl Rosen on “How to Become a Travel Agent: A Guide for the Perplexed.” My contribution mainly related to the importance of having a business plan, certain disclosures that every travel advisor (using ASTA’s new terminology) should make to reduce liability risk, and a realistic outlook on what is possible.
在本文中,我将扩展其中的一些主题并打开一些新主题,这与开展旅行咨询业务有关。这些观察结果适用于预期的业务是一员,家庭经营还是全投资的店面。
1.制定商业计划
关于商业计划的目的,如果您没有真正的计划,那么您可能没有真正的业务。这只是一个昂贵的爱好。提供有关创建业务计划的大量免费资源。许多是在线的,但不要忽略图书馆或当地书店。这是一个严肃的主题,需要仔细研究和起草,涵盖所有基本要素。准备计划将迫使您专注于成功企业的关键要素,并考虑如何处理每个人。
2.确定您的现金需求
这一主题的另一点是,现金用尽是大型企业杀手。您不希望自己有希望的倡议过早死亡,因为它比现金需求不足几千美元,您无法获得这笔钱。计划,计划,计划。写下来。算一算。通过一些“意外但可能的”意外情况考虑。您将无法涵盖所有可以想象的场景,也不应该尝试,但是应该考虑“最有可能的可能性”的影响。
3. Set limits on your initial financial outlay
一开始就准备亏钱。您准备损失多少,然后再达到恐慌按钮?计划亏损可以消除一些情绪,并帮助您更清楚地看到未来。
4.决定是否打折
Your business plan should also help you with important decisions like “discounting or not.” You should decide this in advance, not at the spur of the moment. Are you going to focus on clients who demand the lowest possible price, discounting in response to their unending demands for lower prices, or is your client base going to be luxury-capable clients who understand and accept the value of your service?
5. Choose your legal form
On the issue of the legal form under which the business is to operate, there are a number of reasonable choices in most jurisdictions. You should consult local counsel about this before making a commitment.
6.永不来的业务和个人资产
另外,这就是非常重要的,绝不混合您的业务和个人资产。如果您发现有必要从个人储蓄帐户中提取资金以承担业务义务,请遵循手续。永远不要直接从您的个人帐户支付商业账单。首先将资金转移到业务中,然后从业务帐户中付款。在您的个人和企业资产的分离方面进行操作,以便您可以说服地争论在最坏的情况下,您的个人资产无法偿还商业债务。这种方法还将帮助您对业务的表现保持清晰。
7.将投资者的详细信息以书面形式
Finally, related to the previous point, if you are going to have friends/relatives as investors in the business, it is imperative to have written agreements reflecting their capital contributions, how the money will be used, and how it will be returned (that is, how will the investors make money). Aside from the possible complications of having personal relations involved in your business, it is crucial that such investors be treated as what they are. Don’t assume everyone will remember what was agreed at the outset. They often don’t. Put it on paper and have everyone sign with a witness/notarization. Make sure all investors/lenders understand that you will run the business and their roles will be passive. Adhere to the saying, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”