I recently heard from an agent who said she felt severe exhaustion from working on a client’s extensive travel projects. Yet, despite running herself into the ground, she didn’t ask for help because it would have cost her money that wasn’t in the budget.

Most home-based agents are often a one-man band starting up on a tight budget, but what many fail to realize is that there comes a time when it is essential to invest in building up a team, or being part of a team, such as a supportive host agency, if they want to move their business forward.

A number of home-based agencies are launched by people who have honed skillsets in former careers – but what they don’t realize is that running an agency requires a whole new set of skills. If you don’t have the necessary expertise to market the business, manage the budgets or handle the paperwork, then it is far better to outsource these functions to those who have the time and expertise in these areas so that you can focus on your core activities. You can move your business forward only when you have the time and energy to focus on your client and on the activities that will increase your income.

Building a support team, however, doesn’t have to result in high staff costs. Here are some strategies and tips that you can put into action immediately.

SIMPLIFY YOUR BUSINESS

Weed out the unprofitable and the hard-to sell travel products. Figure out what you do best in terms of bringing in the business and then find ways to delegate other tasks.

SEEK SUPPLIER SUPPORT

Your preferred suppliers provide expert assistance that doesn’t cost you anything. Rather than trying to design a complex trip yourself, use those suppliers to help you connect all of the dots and in the end make you look like a pro.

HIRE INTERNS

Hire interns and participate in co-op programs. Many college students are interested in internships for modest or no pay in order to gain experience or earn the academic credits that they need to graduate. Colleges and universities also offer co-op programs with local businesses to provide work opportunities for students. Although interns generally work part-time hours, co-ops are often full-time, with at least minimum wage pay expected.

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Before you commit to taking on a detailed and complicated itinerary, make sure you’ve clearly outlined to your client an estimated research time. Don’t be afraid to charge a research fee – and make sure you tell your customer in advance about change fees, should they change their mind.