How is a Homeworker Different to a Travel Agent?

Being a homeworker in the UK travel industry is a relatively new concept. The travel industry is also a very diverse group of businesses, and so it can get quite confusing to determine what term exactly applies to who and more importantly, where your new business falls.

The difference between a travel agent and tour operator is relatively well established in 2026. But if you’re just starting out and you know you want to sell pre-packaged holidays like a travel agent, it might not occur to you that becoming a homeworker is a very viable route for your business. Many businesses choose to start out in the homeworking space specifically because it can be more cost-effective, less initial stress, and offer more supportive options.

But now you must be thinking, “that sounds great, but what actually is the difference between a homeworker and a travel agent?” So let’s get into what the distinction is and whether a homeworking business could be the right place for you to start.

What is a Travel Agent?

Let’s lay out the basics first. A travel agent is going to be talking to a lot of travellers, selling the packages or bespoke offers that have been put together by their supplier and/or tour operator partners. Currently, there are some travel agents that are hybrids, and so they will also talk directly to the suppliers to make even more bespoke packages for their customers.

The important part to note with a travel agent, is that they are typically what a traveller is thinking of when they’re looking to book a holiday package. Most of the travel stores in the highstreet will be travel agents. They will get everything sorted for the traveller, and probably also have some expert advice to help them avoid any extra stress on holiday.

Travel agents are also a benefit to travellers because they have relationships with the suppliers and tour operators putting together the holidays, so they can get discounts that a traveller wouldn’t get on their own.

What is a Homeworker?

A homeworker is typically a more specific type of travel agent. In saying that, they are often referred to as completely separate things within the industry.

A homeworker will also be customer-facing, will sell holidays and packages put together by their partner tour operators and suppliers, and be a friendly voice of wisdom for the travellers looking to ease the stress of booking a holiday.

At the moment though, homeworkers don’t tend to become hybrids and do the work of a tour operator as well as a travel agent. This is in part because homeworkers are mostly travel professionals looking to be self-employed within travel, but not looking to take on the type of work that a tour operator is responsible for.

What’s the Difference Between Them?

So what’s the actual difference? Location. The main distinction between a travel agent and a homeworker is that homeworkers…work at home. Now, that was a lot of build up for a pretty self-explanatory answer, we know, but it isn’t just limited to that.

Homeworkers are essentially travel agents that don’t work in a store or office and establish their business entirely from home. This means that they will mostly be talking to travellers over the phone or by email or DM. It is also the reason that homeworking is considered a more cost-effective way to get started.

For many that want to establish their own travel business, establishing a shop straight away just is not viable. Fortunately, with the level of technology we have in 2026, being a homeworker is much more achievable when you’re starting out.

That’s the basic difference. Of course, it’s not entirely that simple. There are now some differences that apply only to homeworkers, but not necessarily all homeworkers.

We’re not going to make this complicated, don’t worry.

Since homeworking is easier, cheaper, and a more beginner-friendly way to establish your travel business, there are common ways for a homeworker to get started.

It might be that you simply don’t want to have a physical shop, in which case you will probably act very similarly to a travel agent. However, for some, the reason they establish a homeworking business instead of a travel agency or tour operator company, is because they want to be self-employed, but they don’t want to take on all of the stress of having your own business immediately.

Working as a Consortium Homeworker

This is where consortia come in! When most people talk about being a homeworker, they are very likely referring to working under a consortium. This tends to mean that you work alone, but a certain amount of your commission will go to the consortium in return for them taking over a few of the more costly or stressful parts of the business. This could be things like establishing branding that you work under, or taking over your marketing, doing the admin, and ensuring all legal aspects are taken care of for you.

If you’re inexperienced or uncertain about establishing your own business, this can be an easy way to start. But, it is important to remember that this isn’t the only way to operate as a homeworker. On the most basic level, a homeworker is still just an at-home travel agent, and if you’re just looking to reduce the costs that would go to a shop, but you want the freedom and control over your business and commission, that is still an option that makes establishing your business just a bit more accessible.

Regardless of where you want to start, the existence of homeworker travel businesses has made the travel industry so much easier to step into for many great professionals. There are some fantastic niches that we wouldn’t have without homeworking breaking down some barriers for people. So if you’re interested in starting your travel business, don’t dismiss the idea as farfetched, there are many ways to get started.

If you are still uncertain where to start and you want to talk through your options, you can contact PTS directly by calling 0207 190 9988 or emailing us at hellopts@protectedtrustservices.com.