You do not need a specific state travel agent license, college degree, or years of industry experience to become a travel agent in Montana.
You do, however, need the right business setup, supplier access, booking tools, training, and a clear plan for attracting clients.
A Montana travel agent can work remotely, start part-time, and book trips across the U.S. or internationally. Host-agency support can also simplify training, supplier relationships, commission processing, CRM access, and insurance.
We offer new and experienced advisors access to training, supplier certifications, CRM technology, E&O insurance, booking resources, and ongoing support under one host-agency setup. Yeti currently charges a one-time $99 membership fee with no monthly or annual agency fees.
So, what steps should you take to start a travel business in Montana?
Step #1 – Learn the Requirements to Become a Travel Agent in Montana
Montana does not generally require a specific professional travel agent license before you can work as a travel advisor.
A Certified Travel Associate designation or college degree is also not a standard state requirement.
Professional certification and legal business registration are separate matters.
A certification can demonstrate industry knowledge and strengthen professional credibility. Credentials such as Certified Travel Associate are voluntary rather than state licenses required to work as a travel agent.
Business requirements matter more if you create an independent business entity, use a business name, or establish your own agency.
Depending on your setup, check:
- Montana business registration requirements
- Local city or county licensing rules
- Business-name registration
- Federal tax requirements
- Insurance needs
- Recordkeeping responsibilities
Requirements can vary by structure and location, so confirm current state and local rules before accepting clients.
Previous tourism or travel experience can help, but it is not required to become a travel agent in Montana.
Skills such as communication, organization, sales, customer care, and problem-solving transfer well into travel planning.
Step #2 – Research Montana’s Travel Market and Choose Your Niche
Choosing a specialty can make marketing easier and help clients understand what type of trips you plan best.
Montana offers opportunities across outdoor travel, luxury vacations, family trips, winter tourism, and nature-focused experiences.
Montana welcomed about 13.2 million nonresident visitors in 2025, and those travelers spent roughly $5.6 billion across the state.
Travel and tourism also supported approximately 52,610 Montana jobs, showing how significant visitor activity is to the state’s economy.
Potential niches include:
- Adventure and outdoor vacations
- National park trips
- Luxury resorts and lodges
- Cruises
- Family vacations
- Honeymoons
- Destination weddings
- Anniversary trips
- Group travel
- International vacations
- Ski trips
- Winter vacations
- Eco-tourism
Starting with two or three related specialties can make supplier training and marketing more manageable.
Local destination knowledge can help a Montana travel agent provide more useful recommendations.
Glacier National Park is one clear example. Familiarity with seasonality, lodging locations, transportation, weather, and activities can help when planning trips into Montana.
Step #3 – Decide How You Will Operate Your Travel Business
A new travel agent generally has two main options.
You can establish a fully independent agency or work as an independent advisor through a host agency.
Census Bureau data counted 109,660 nonemployer establishments in the state in 2023, showing that running a business without employees is already a familiar model across Montana.
For many beginners, a host agency reduces the amount of infrastructure they need to create on their own.
Industry data indicate that travel advisors account for roughly 70% of cruise bookings and 60% of tour packages, while U.S. travel-agency sales are projected to grow from about $128 billion in 2025 to $165 billion by 2028.
Host support can include:
- Supplier relationships
- Agency credentials
- Commission processing
- Training
- Booking resources
- CRM technology
- E&O insurance
- Marketing support
- Advisor communities
- Administrative assistance
Our advisors give access to supplier certifications, Travel+ CRM, E&O insurance, support, and booking opportunities across cruises, hotels, theme parks, and other vacation categories after applicable training is completed.
You do not have to make travel advising your full-time career immediately.
Many advisors begin with personal bookings, family trips, referrals, evenings, or weekends. Experience grows as they learn quoting, deposits, supplier policies, client communication, and commission tracking.
Step #4 – Choose a Host Agency
Host selection can affect supplier access, training, technology, commissions, insurance, and daily operations.
Compare hosts across several areas before joining:
- Upfront and recurring costs
- Advisor commission percentage
- Supplier access
- Booking technology
- CRM software
- Training
- Mentorship
- Marketing resources
- Administrative assistance
- E&O insurance
- Professional affiliations
- Contract terms
Yeti Travel uses a one-time $99 membership model rather than recurring monthly or annual agency fees.
Supplier commission and advisor commission split are not the same thing.
Supplier commission is the amount a hotel, cruise line, tour operator, resort, or other provider pays on an eligible booking.
Commission split determines how much of that payment goes to the advisor.
Many commissionable travel products pay around 10%, though rates can vary by supplier and product type. Some may pay around 5%, while others can pay more.
Step #5 – Register and Structure Your Montana Business
Independent travel advisors generally operate as self-employed businesspeople, so legal, tax, and financial setup should be handled early.
Possible business structures include:
- Sole proprietorship
- Limited liability company
- Partnership
- Another structure appropriate for your situation
Professional tax or legal advice may help when choosing a structure.
For advisors considering an LLC, Montana currently lists a $35 filing fee for domestic Articles of Organization. Business-name registration is listed at $10 per year, although additional requirements and costs can depend on the business setup.
A client may book months before departure, while supplier commission often arrives only after travel is completed and the supplier pays the agency.
Yeti’s current contractor terms provide for eligible advisor commissions to be paid after client travel once Yeti has received supplier payment.
Your records should account for:
- Supplier commissions
- Host-agency commission shares
- Client planning fees, if used
- Marketing expenses
- Technology costs
- Professional memberships
- Business insurance
- Education and travel-related business expenses
Interesting Fact: Montana had 141,011 small businesses in the latest SBA state profile, accounting for 99.2% of businesses statewide and employing more than 264,000 people.
Step #6 – Get Access to Travel Industry Credentials and Booking Systems
Anyone planning to become a travel agent in Montana should decide how the business will operate legally.
Possible structures include:
- Sole proprietorship
- Limited liability company
- Partnership
- Another structure suited to your situation
Your choice can affect taxes, personal liability, ownership, administration, and recordkeeping.
Professional tax or legal advice can help if you are unsure which structure fits your plans.
Organize Business Finances Early
Travel commissions often arrive after the client has completed travel and the supplier has paid the agency.
Accurate records should track:
- Supplier commissions
- Host-agency commission shares
- Client planning fees
- Marketing expenses
- Technology costs
- Professional memberships
- Insurance
- Other business expenses
Yeti’s current contractor terms provide for eligible advisor commissions to be paid after travel once supplier payment has been received.
We Wrote About Surrounding States
| State | What to Know Before You Start |
| Idaho | No general travel agent license is required, so business setup, training, and supplier access are the main considerations. |
| Wyoming | Focus on proper business setup, practical training, and access to booking systems and travel suppliers |
| North Dakota | Review business registration, local requirements, training, and supplier relationships before launching |
| South Dakota | A relatively straightforward entry path, with business setup and professional training being the main things to consider |
| Colorado | No general travel agent license is typically required, but business registration, training, and supplier access still matter |
FAQs
Closing Thoughts
Starting a travel business in Montana does not generally require a specific travel agent license or college degree, but it does require preparation.
Focus on your business structure, niche, host relationship, supplier training, booking technology, and financial systems.
Yeti Travel can simplify several of those steps through a one-time $99 membership, self-paced training, supplier certifications, E&O insurance, Travel+ CRM access, advisor support, no standard minimum sales requirement, and an initial 70% advisor share of eligible gross commissions.
Qualified Summit Plus members can move into higher commission tiers under current program rules.
