Personal Tour Guide

One of the most exciting small business ideas one could pursue is to set up a Personal Guide service. Also known as tourist guides, you can create an entire business based on your knowledge of local attractions and “hot-spots.”

This type of business is relatively inexpensive to start, and it does not require any specialized training. What this type of business requires is a vast knowledge of your local area, combined with a love for entertaining people.

Where To Begin

The first thing that you will want to do is find a creative name for your business and create a menu of tours that you will offer. You may wish to provide tours for historical sites, family entertainment complexes, or even tasting tours of the local cuisine. The different types of tours you can design arte endless, which provides you the ability to create a niche within this industry.

Once you have established what types of tours you wish to offer, and have registered a name for your company you will need to create a website and have business cards and brochures made. These three things will be your key marketing tools. Once you have completed these tasks, it is time to market your company.

Online and Offline Marketing

This type of business will require you to market your services both on and offline. You will need to reach a broad market to ensure that you place enough customers on your tours to make it profitable.

Offline marketing should consist of you introducing yourself and your business to local travel agencies, tourist attraction ticket sellers, and local business organisations. The more people that find out about your service, the more customers you will generate. Always remember that networking is imperative to success.

Online marketing will include several different techniques. One of the best ways for you to generate interest in your services is to create a travel blog. As you establish a following, you will watch your sales increase. Actively participate in other travel blogs, join forums that are related to your industry, and if possible make connections to major travel booking sites.

There are many ways to drive traffic to your site, you will have to review each option and see what applies to your current marketing strategies.

What You Need To Get Started As A Tour Guide

You will need to establish a method of transportation for your business. Most tour guides offer small, personalised tours and can get away with using a nice van for their service. If, at some point you start booking larger tours, you may have to rent a multi-passenger van for the day. If you are offering a walking tour, such as a downtown or boardwalk tour, you should make sure that there is available public transportation. If you are using your own car or van to conduct the tours, make sure you are properly insured to carry commercial occupants.

Most of your expenses will be related to marketing your company. There no other real requirements for equipment, other than a way to track your reservations and expenses.

Making Extra Money For Your Efforts

All customers like to feel that they are receiving something extra for their money. With holidays on a decline due to economic constraints, people have become very careful on what they spend. Offer your clients a bonus for signing on for a tour. A custom map with local restaurants and a discount coupon is always a welcome gift.

As a bonus, you can approach these restaurants and offer to place them on your tour maps for a price. If they do not wish to pay for the advertising, ask them to offer a coupon instead, and you will promote their establishment for free. This works out very well for both you and the restaurant owner.

Things To Remember

Being a tour guide can be a very exciting position. You will have the opportunity to meet many new people from all over the world. Clients that are satisfied with your services will spread the word to their friends and family, creating a constant stream of income.