opening a new tour operator business

Submitted: Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:28
ThreadID: 56335 Views:12884 Replies:7 FollowUps:8
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G-day all,
I'm planing to open a tour operator type business ... do I need a licence and in case where can I go to find more info ?
Thanks!

Luca
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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:34

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:34
I assume you mean 4wd tour operator. In which state ?
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Follow Up By: zumzum - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:46

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:46
In SA
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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:42

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:42
Depending which state you are in, it may be worthwhile checking out what the State Government can do for you...some States support small business to some degree. For instance, in Qld, there is Smart Small Business. They can help you with things such as licences, business analysis, business names etc.

Hope that helps.

Andrew
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Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:52

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:52
Don't take this the wrong way, but just asking that question shows that you may not understand the industry.

I will try to help, I wanted to set up a tour operation 15 years ago ,shortly after starting in the industry, you might call it a pipe dream.

The advice I was given was to spend some time in the industry and find out how it works, after 9 years I finally had a crack at it, I wasn't until 3 years ago I was able to give it a red hot go when I purchased a portion of a friends company, I run it as a new entity, The guy I bought it off still to this day gives me advice.

I bought a day tour to Jim Jim and Twin falls, and in a year or so will have a go at the private charter side of things, I do some charter work now but going into the up market side will take a lot more effort.

In the N.T. you have to have a tour operator permit for all the National Parks, For Kakadu and Uluru we need (MUST HAVE) a uni course, this course is a tour guide accreditation.

We have to do a police check every 5 years for our operator accreditation, we need a commercial vehicle license, we need to have a medical and a police check for our license every 5 years.

We need a senior first aid certificate, we are getting our business accredited, that in itself is not easy.

Our cars have to be inspected every 6 months this includes a certified fire extinguisher all sign writing to be in good order, the car must be detailed just to pass inspection this is on top of the car being in good road worthy condition.

Then there is finding your market and the the 10s of thousands of $$$ marketing, then hoping it works.

I was lucky when I bought my business because a lot of the marketing was in place, this has been a big factor to my success.

Hope this helps.

Cheers steve.







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Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:58

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:58
ditto... almost.
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Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:14

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:14
Anja just reminded me.

Public liability, commercial vehicle, and workers comp insurance.

I run a small operation 4 cars with 4 employee's and the insurance is a tad under $10000.

Then keeping the cars on the road, and if you do have a break down you must have a back up plan EG: access to another car to A: pick up the pax and B: do the tour the next day.

A tow truck in Kakadu is $1.85 per km in the Kimberly there is one guy in Kununurra, he will come any were any time to pick you up his fee is $5000.

Cheers Steve.

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Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 00:30

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 00:30
food accreditation
different accreditation in every state
parks licenses in every state where you operate

and then every thing you need to run every other kind of business.
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Follow Up By: zumzum - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:51

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:51
Thanks for the advices .... I'm in this business in SA since 8 years ago .... I'm working as fulltime guide for a well know tour operator in Australia specialized in small groups in 4wd .... I have allready my "niche" if I can say thad and I'm doing all my homework .....
I kno how difficult coul be running a similar business but .... my Dream is to to it by myself .....I learned a lot from this industry (still a lot to learn!) ....
Thanks for sharing your story!

Luca
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 09:06

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 09:06
Hiya Steve
Bit like the Pilot/Escort Industry, when it come to accreditations , although Pilots don't have to worry about carrying passengers as you do, but some think all you have to do is stick a sign and a couple of beacons on the roof and away you go , It's not that easy,The accreditation course are not cheap these days either, and every K throws a new challenge at you in the way of cranky ignorant tourists , not to mention the stroppy truckies that one gets very occasionally, and remember where every narrow bridge and bad section is .

.
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Reply By: Shaker - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:00

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 23:00
You could always start with a ..... business plan!
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Follow Up By: Member - Happy Gutz (QLD) - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 00:02

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 00:02
I might start with a ----Tow Truck
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Reply By: Member - Alex B - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 06:26

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 06:26
Hi Luca, roughly 80 % of new businesses fail in the first year or two...of which 90% didn't have a business plan.
As mentioned above...seek some help form your State Govt Small Business Development Dept or a proven Business Coach or Advisor - remember you will get what you pay for, and don't get ahead of yourself.
"Plan the work and then work the Plan"
Good luck
Cheers
Alex
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Follow Up By: zumzum - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:53

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:53
Thanks for the advise ....

Luca
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Reply By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 14:28

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 14:28
zumzum, send me a email with your phone number and I will put you in contact with FREE Goverment and Council run help for you if you are just starting a business....there are heeps of FREE training courses run that will be very helpful to you.

These people will also be able to point you in the right direction for any other assistance.

Not in the tourist industry but know people who are, you have to be certified through TAFE.

Send me your phone number to twoblackdogs@internode.on.net

Regards Richard



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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 16:02

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 16:02
Guys what a fantastic response to a simple complicated question, well done, makes me proud to be an EO member
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