Are You Losing Money by Staying with a Host Agency? Let’s Do the Math.

The Big Question: Should You Leave Your Host Agency? Over the past few months, we've had a wave of travel agents come to Antravia asking the same thing:

“I’ve built my own client base. Do I really still need a host agency?”

If you’re asking this too, you’re not alone. Below are real questions we’ve been asked—along with the financial realities we help agents uncover before they make the jump.

“I’m giving up 20% of my commissions. Isn’t it better to go independent and keep 100%?”

On paper, yes—keeping the full commission sounds better. But suppliers often reduce the commission rate when you’re not under a host. So that 100% might be from a lower base.

Example:
With a host: 15% commission × 80% split = 12%
Solo: 10% commission × 100% = 10%

What we do at Antravia:
We run the numbers for you. We compare your actual bookings against what you’d earn both ways, so you can make an informed decision—not just a hopeful one.

“What extra costs should I expect if I go out on my own?”

We’ve seen agents surprised by the true cost of independence. Here's what typically comes up:

• Seller of Travel licenses (e.g. FL, CA, WA, HI—all have rules)

• Surety bonds or escrow accounts

• E&O (errors & omissions) insurance

• IATA or CLIA membership

• CRM, business email, document templates

• Software for commission tracking, invoices, etc.

What we do at Antravia:
We walk through the exact setup and recurring costs based on your state, sales volume, and supplier mix—so you know where your money will go before you make the move.

“How does tax work if I leave my host and set up an LLC?”

When you’re no longer a W-2 or operating under someone else’s business umbrella, you take on:

• Self-employment tax (15.3%)

• Quarterly tax filings

• Bookkeeping requirements

• Tracking deductions for travel, internet, CRM, insurance, etc.

Many agents miss out on deductions just because they don’t track things correctly—or they panic at tax time because they haven’t set money aside.

What we do at Antravia:
We help you choose the right business structure (LLC, S corp, etc.), forecast your tax, and set up simple systems to track expenses and claim every deduction you’re entitled to.

“I don’t use my host for training or marketing. What am I really paying for?”

Even if you’re not using trainings, your host may be handling:

• Commission tracking and chasing missing payments

• Supplier relationships that grant you higher commission tiers

• Booking protection, insurance, or CRM tools

• Access to group cruise rates, consortia perks, and FAM trips

You’re not just paying for tools—you’re paying for infrastructure.

What we do at Antravia:
We’ll help you assess: Are you getting value from your host? Or just handing over a chunk of money for things you don’t need? Sometimes the answer is: switch hosts, not leave them.

“At what point does going solo make sense financially?”

We usually say: the higher your annual commission, the more worthwhile independence might be. But only if:

✅ You already have strong supplier relationships
✅ You’re happy to manage back-office admin
✅ You understand your numbers and margins
✅ You’ve mapped out your cash flow and tax
✅ You have support in place (not just a logo and website)

If you’re doing under $400K in annual sales and giving up 20%, chances are you’re still better off with a leaner host—not on your own.

What we do at Antravia:
We model all of this. You get a clear side-by-side comparison of what you earn now, what you’d earn independently, and what risks or admin time you’re taking on.

Final Word

There’s no one right answer. But you shouldn’t make this kind of decision without knowing your real numbers.

That’s where Antravia comes in.

Thinking about going solo?

Let’s talk before you make the leap. We'll look at your commission structure, tax setup, overhead, and payout history—and help you figure out what’s smart, not just what looks appealing.

👉 Book a free call with Antravia. One honest conversation can save you thousands.