Balloon Biz

How to Open Your Own Hot Air Balloon Business

Are you a hot air balloon enthusiast? Have you ever thought of making your hobby into a business? Thousands of people around the world make a very good living providing hot air balloon rides. The first thing you need to do is educate yourself about the things you need to do before opening a business.

Of course, you'll need land zoned for giving hot air balloon rides. By visiting your local municipal building, you can find out all the requirements as far as land is concerned. You'll also need to be certified by the FAA to fly a hot air balloon. This is achieved by taking an exam and logging a particular number of flight time hours with a qualified instructor.

== Travel Tips == Paris hot air balloon... The world famous Louvre museum is in this city; with almost a third of a million exhibits, you will not be able to see everything in one trip. If you are in Paris on a short stay you must plan your time well; unfortunately it has so many visitors each year that some people are unable to see their favorite works. Over the years, Paris has been home to many of the world's famous artists; these include Monet and Picasso who very fortunately left some of their work here for all to enjoy.

It may be a good idea to test water first. Many people start off by giving hot air balloon rides for a company before starting their own business. The money you make working for someone else can be used as capital for your own business. A hot air balloon costs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000, about as much as a new boat or car. You'll need accessories such as extra tanks, repair kits, and other components to make your flights safe as possible. These extras will run a few thousand dollars on their own.

Make sure that you have sufficient insurance coverage. You'll need hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of insurance coverage to make sure you don't get sued by an unhappy customer. It rarely happens, but if you are unlucky and you weren't insured, you'd be in big trouble. Most customers won't even consider a hot air balloon provider that's not insured.

Finally, you'll need a crew! Not only does your crew help set up and take down the balloon, they also will need to follow the balloon on the ground to meet it when it lands and collect passengers and equipment. This is called a chase crew, and their wages will vary depending on your local area and personal preferences. Pay your crew well to ensure you'll get the best workers your money can buy. A happy crew is a successful crew...and a pilot is nowhere without one!

== Travel Tips == Air fare idea... The ability for the traveler to be flexible is the key factor when it comes to getting good deals. If you are prepared to be flexible on the day and time of year when you travel, you can nearly always have a cheap seat. By slotting people into empty seats airlines save money, so if you are agreeable to modifying your dates to suit their agenda, then you can capitalize. The problem with most airlines is that once you have booked a flight, you can only switch travel dates by paying an additional, hefty cancellation of amendment penalty. The other point about being flexible when looking at flights is that if you want to change or cancel your flights without incurring a charge, you will most likely have to pay for the expensive full fare.

So how much should you price your hot air balloon ride for? That's up to you! There are many creative ways you can make money. Think about creating special package deals for groups, families, and couples. Hot air balloon rides range in price from $100 up to $500 or more per person, depending on the company and amenities offered. Most companies offer post-flight brunches complete with champagne to celebrate a successful flight. Some even offer commemorative photographs.

With the right education, some creativity and effort, you can own and operate a thriving hot air balloon rides business that will keep customers coming back for more!

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