Since the expansion in popularity of the work-from-home lifestyle, home-based businesses are now a well-established and widely accepted method of making a living. In fact, 70% of home-based businesses are still considered successful three years after their launch.
With a Dream Vacations franchise, you can own and operate a home-based or remote franchise – working from your house or from anywhere in the world. Here’s how Franchise Owner Shane Smartt works with his business partner, Trapper Martin, and several associates to meet the travel needs of their clients.
Becoming a Remote Franchise Owner
Shane and Trapper started their Dream Vacations work from home franchise in 2010 on a part-time basis. Trapper decided to make the business his full-time job in 2015 and Shane followed suit in 2019. The pair, who refer to their team as “Your Vacation Heroes,” believes the franchise offers the perfect blend of flexibility, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for travel.
“It allows us to work from anywhere on our own terms while helping others create unforgettable travel experiences,” Shane said. “Since taking the nomadic leap post-pandemic, our lifestyle has transformed a bit. We have more control over our time, can balance work with personal interests and enjoy the satisfaction of running a successful business. It’s been empowering and incredibly rewarding.”
Transparency and Referrals
Although Shane’s business is based at his home in Belle Isle, Florida, there are times when he’s working while traveling more than at his house. Each remote travel agent in his Dream Vacations franchise is transparent with clients about their remote working environment and constantly informs customers of their availability.
“We always have updated voice mail greetings and email auto replies with updated contact hours, etc., so there is never a surprise if there was is a slight delay in response. If you see any of my social media profiles, you can see I have a saying at the top, ‘Work Abroad – Vacation @ Home.’ The clients literally see the travel in their feeds,” said Shane.
Shane acknowledged his remote franchise gets many of its clients from referrals. Existing customers often tell new clients how the franchise operates – and they see the benefit of having experienced travelers as their travel advisors.
“Now clients usually start their conversations with, ‘Where are you now?’ They love it. They trust us with their vacations because they know that we are traveling and experiencing what we sell. Would you trust a chef who doesn’t eat his own meals?” Shane said.
Tools of the Trade
Shane deploys various technologies to run his home based travel agency franchise, including something as simple as the iPhone’s Notes app, which syncs across devices. As a Dream Vacations Franchise Owner, he can leverage a powerful arsenal of tools to run his franchise, such as Cruise Control—the internal Dream Vacations enterprise resource planning system (ERP). This tool works on computers, tablets and phones so that managing a booking on the fly is easy in any location. RingCentral is another commonly used technology.
“It’s a VOIP software suite that allows us to make/receive phone call and text messages on all our phone numbers from any device over a data or Wi-Fi connection without breaking the bank on fees or charges while traveling abroad. This also allows us to always have an agent on call allowing us to quickly address any hiccups that arise,” said Shane.
Shane’s team also uses the workspace within the RingCentral platform as a launching pad to organize trip designing and to-dos. Shane and Trapper can assign tasks to each other or different associates if necessary. Being able to stay in touch and informed is a crucial aspect of running a remote franchise.
“Our associates are on the road a lot, so we have several communication methods from our private Facebook group for informational or low priority message to the ubiquitous group text thread for immediate or high priority messages,” Shane said.
Challenges and Advice
In the life of a franchise owner whose team operates remotely, issues come up just as they do in any other business. Shane and Trapper deal with customer concerns in the same manner they would if the team was in one location.
“We may have to skip a tour or a special meal, but it’s the trade-off for being able to do what we do. You can’t get upset or frustrated with the matter because you have to provide your client with the best service they have come to expect,” said Shane.
To get started as a Dream Vacations Franchise Owner, Shane advises aspiring entrepreneurs to lay the groundwork first by telling your clients about the services you’re providing and the methods you’re using so there are no surprises.
Shane and Trapper are representative of the dedicated, passionate Dream Vacations community – one of more than 2,000 “travelpreneurs” thriving through this opportunity.
Seize Your Dream Vacations Franchise Opportunity
As the owner of a Dream Vacations remote franchise, you have the freedom to work on your own schedule from anywhere in the world with an internet connection while reaping the rewards of owning a franchise business.
Plus, with the support and resources of an industry powerhouse recognized as the #1 franchise in travel, you’ll be in business for yourself – but never by yourself. Sign up for our informational franchise webinar today to learn how to start a travel agency from home with Dream Vacations!
