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ess and James, a couple from Newcastle, were feeling the strain of their demanding careers. Jess, an emergency vet, was struggling with night shifts, while James, a management consultant, worked long hours at his desk. “We both wanted a way out – especially me,” says James. Their turning point came while planning a family holiday when Jess’s mum jokingly said, “You should be a travel agent!” That offhand comment sparked an idea. Jess, who had always loved organising trips, suggested they explore a travel franchise – and the couple never looked back. “The emotional toll of my job was getting to me,” says Jess. “Planning holidays made me happy, so I thought, why not turn it into a career?” Jess and James joined The Travel Franchise in April 2024, and within just 10 months, they hit the company’s Money-Back Challenge – earning back their £14,995 franchise fee by reaching a set commission target. “We were buzzing! We hit the challenge the same day we closed on our new house. It was overwhelming in the best way,” says James. With their refund, the couple plan to invest in home renovations and, of course, more travel. “Travel is not just an outlet for us – it helps our business too,” Jess adds. BUILDING A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH James has since left his corporate job to focus on travel full-time, while Jess continues part-time as a vet. They admit it was only possible due to the training and support provided by The Travel Franchise – 98% of its franchisees have never worked in the travel industry. “We had no business experience, had never worked in travel, and had never been self-employed,” says Jess. “The learning curve was steep, but the freedom is incredible.” The couple continue to learn while they earn money, with commission paid on every holiday booked. “The five-day training gave us the confidence to start booking holidays immediately,” says Jess. “But every day you learn more and every franchisee gets a Business Development Manager (BDM) to turn to when you need it. Deb is our BDM and she’s been fantastic!” OVERSEAS MENTORSHIP RETREATS Jess and James say that attending the franchise’s free mentorship retreats abroad (in their case in Crete and Orlando) was also a game-changer. Next month they’ll attend the company’s Seminar at Sea cruise around the Norwegian Fjords to learn more about boosting their cruise sales. Their advice? “If you’re passionate about travel go for it – it’s life-changing,” says James. “It’s not a get- rich-quick scheme, but if you put in the effort, the rewards are absolutely worth it.” Call 0800 084 8128 Email [email protected] J Established: 2001 Number of franchised outlets: 675 Location of franchised outlets: Nationwide FRANCH I SE OVERV I EW Ditch the 9-to-5 and build a dream travel business L I F E S T Y L E Jess and James were new to travel when they joined The Travel Franchise in 2024, but now they have a thriving business F O R F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N Minimum required capital: £2,995 71 WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM THE TRAVEL FRANCHISE Behind the Brand | PARTNER CONTENT