How Profitable Is A Travel Blog? (Updated for 2024)
So you want to start a travel blog?
And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are travel blogs actually profitable?”
Especially considering:
- You could start a travel blog with as low as $50
- Based on our data, travel blogs generate an average of $1.43M per year
- You could see gross margins as high as 30% with travel blogs
There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.
But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a travel blog.
Let’s dive in!
Is a travel blog profitable?
Yes, a travel blog is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.
For instance, since average revenue is $1.43M per year with an estimated gross margin of 80%, you could expect to recover your investment within 5 months or even less.
But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your travel blog.
To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.
Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your travel blog is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.
Is a travel blog worth it?
If you’re wondering if a travel blog is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With travel blogs, you have the potential to earn $1.43M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).
Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.
With a market size of $, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.
Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a travel blog to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.
You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful travel blogs case studies.
Examples Of Profitable Travel Blogs
Here are a few examples of profitable travel blogs, and a few more details about them:
1. Travel Blogging 101 ($660K/year)
Shelley, a former travel magazine editor, started a travel blog after leaving her corporate job.
In just two years, she became a six-figure blogger and taught others how to achieve similar success.
Through her courses and blog, Shelley has generated significant income and plans to continue expanding her business and creating more courses in the future.
Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $660K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Travel blogger turns four profitable blogs into a six-figure business, increasing income by 3,113% from 2021 to 2022, and now teaches others how to scale quickly using her techniques.
2. The Wayward Home ($240K/year)
In 2017, Kristin stumbled upon an article about Michelle Schroeder-Gardner's blog, Making Sense of Cents. In it, she learned that Michelle was making $100,000 per month through blogging.
This got her interested in the idea and she started researching more about it. As a former journalist, Kristin has always enjoyed writing and interviewing people.
Being in the media, she was aware that stories about alternative living were gaining a lot of traction and hence, she decided to start a website where she could interview nomads and publish articles about their lives, living in vans, buses, and boats.
Thats how she embarked on the journey of creating her own blog.
Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
This case study article is about Kristin Hanes, the publisher at The Wayward Home, who grew her website to make up to $28,000 per month during peak season but experienced a decrease in revenue due to a Google update, showing the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and the need to adapt and persevere.
3. Not a Nomad Blog ($120K/year)
After moving to Germany, the individual in question decided to launch a blog to share her experience of living in Europe and provide some travel tips.
With time, she noticed that her blog's traffic was increasing, and she identified an opportunity to generate income.
To accomplish this, she enrolled in affiliate marketing courses and integrated affiliate links into her blog with the goal of earning a commission for any sales made through those links.
Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $120K/year
Not a Nomad Blog, founded by Monica Lent, generates an average of $10K/month through affiliate marketing, with a yearly income of $120K/year since 2013, focusing on SEO strategies to drive traffic and revenue growth.
Learn more about starting a travel blog:
Where to start?
-> How much does it cost to start a travel blog?
-> Pros and cons of a travel blog
Need inspiration?
-> Other travel blog success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a travel blog
-> Travel blog names
-> Travel blog Instagram bios
Other resources
How much can you make with a travel blog?
With a travel blog, you can make an average of $1.43M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).
You can start with an initial investment as low as $50. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 5 months.
How much does a travel blog make a week?
Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a travel blog ranges around $29.7K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $119K.
To know if your travel blog achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.
Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your travel blog.
How much do travel blogs owners make?
The income of a travel blog owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.
But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established travel blog is about $29.7K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.
While the potential for earning a good income as a travel blog owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.
Travel Blog Profit Margins
Generally speaking, a travel blog can expect profit margin of around 80%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a travel blog, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.
However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, travel blog owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, travel blog owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.
Travel blog owner salary
The salary of a travel blog owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established travel blog, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $23.8K.
But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.
Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a travel blog may be a promising business to start - but the success of your travel blog mostly depends on your effort and your approach.
If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable travel blog.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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