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Legal Checklist For Starting a Homebased Agency

Does your state have a Sellers of Travel Law? To find out, contact the Attorney General's Office.

* Check for zoning ordinances at your local city hall.

* Find out whether or not you need a license to operate within the state you reside and plan to have your business. Contact the Department of Commerce, the county clerk's office and the Small Business Administration if you have one in your city.

* Decide whether or not you should incorporate by speaking with an attorney.

* Open a business banking account for all of your funds received from sales or suppliers. It is very important that you have a separate account for your personal finances, especially at tax time.

* Register your business name with the county clerk's office.

* Purhcase E&O insurance for your agency. Some organizations like NACTA (The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents) have special group rates for E&O that you may be able to take advantage of.

* Set up your accounts with suppliers. Contact them by telephone or fax.

* Make sure you have at least two phone lines for your business. One line may be used as a fax/internet line and the other line for taking calls from clients. It is very important that you separate your personal home line from your business. Business lines will received a free listing in the yellow pages.

* Print your stationary, business cards, etc. Contact paper companies which carry pre-printed papers for the most professional, yet economical look for your agency. You can find samples of these papers as stores such as the Office Depot and Office Max. Buy in bulk through mail order for the best prices.

* Contact trade magazines, local newspapers and television stations about your new agency. Come up with an interesting angle for your business - a niche that will bring you extra publicity. Write press releases, send post cards, create a web site, share on newsgroups, contact your friends and relatives and THEIR friends and relatives... All of these things will add to your eventual success as a home-based agent.