Starting an agency that provides Hunting Consultation

[Rohan]

Yes James, one step at a time. Company has been registerd and I will be getting the certificate end of next week. I am in the stage now where I have to start taking off my little orphan's hat and asking people to put pennies in it!

Thanks for the information surrounding websites, very valuable.

Rohan Peacock

From the sounds of things you are progressing one step at a time. Sounds good.

The Video camera is a great move and with practice we hope to see some of your footage.

While building your web site use Google as a guide. You will want your business to be on the first page, however no further back that the 3 page when you put in search queries.

We have seen some that have built nice to great web sites that can only be found by using the exact web address. You generate business when parties can find your web easily.

 

[Rohan]

Hey hunters,

I just got stiffed by an investor who, up until this morning, was willing and more than ready to make an investment into my company for the past year. He dropped the news on me this morning like the Hiroshima atom bomb!

Luckily I have been simultaneously working on my plan B which is a contingecy plan for if he ever decided to pull out. So I am not sunk. But, what an idiot. I have less respect for people who use the rhetoric of language to weezle out of the responsibility they laid on themselves ie I never said he should make a commitment he could'nt deliver on, he reassured me he was capable. Maybe I am naive, but I have learned something today.

Anyway, I am still on track. Things might be slightly slower and smaller in scale initially, but this will breathe a new sense of urgency and diligence into my spirit and I am not going to let a few play on words about money fluster me.

I have been meeting with an agent from an accounting firm who is guiding me. She will be at my side until I receive the necessary funding. I have taken all suggestions made by you guys and others very seriously and will incorporate those ideas into my grand scheme, obviously a little tweeking here and there will take place.

Anyway, good luck to all and lekker jag manne!

 

[sestoppelman]

Stick with it! It will work out for you! Best of luck!

 

[Rohan]

Thank you. I know if I work at it somethings got to give!

Stick with it! It will work out for you! Best of luck!

 

[Rohan]

Good evening all.

I have been doing research on the viablity and legislation behing opening a Hunting agency in RSA.

It is LEGAL (and viable) for me to:

1) advertise an Outfit both here in RSA and abroad;
2) introduce prospective clients to the Outfitter;
3) provide shuttle services for the Clients. In order to provide shuttle services I need a PDP driving license, First Aid level one, and a Tour Guide/Operator license etc;
4) I can make bookings for Clients at lodges/hotels BEFORE and/or AFTER the hunt at places in the city or in areas that are NOT at the Outfitters concession or during the contracted time of the hunt with the Outfit on behalf of the Client at the Outfit; the Outfitter does everything related to the actual hunt, I am only the medium for attracting attention to the Outfit and introducing the Client to the Outfitter, nothing else. I do not make bookings or handle permits, or present myslf as a guide. I find the Outfitter prospective Clientele, and then he/she (the Outfitter) will secure the booking and organise the hunt...So, as soon as a prospective Client takes an interest or wishes to make a booking I must IMMEDIATELY contact the Outfitter, set up a meeting between the two, and step back.

The confusion came in where I assumed incorrectly that I may actually make the bookings and handle permits etc for the hunt. The Outfitter does that (as all PHs and Outfitters already know), he or she is legally obliged to organise the hunt and deal with all permits and bookings with the Outfit.

What I would do as an "agent" based in RSA is only market the outfit as an individual or representative who has first-hand experience with the outfit, and then introduce the Client to the Outfitter, that IS legal.

As an SA national I may talk to whoever I please about anything I wish (please don't interpret that out of context), but I may not act on things for which I am not legally qualified. I am NOT the 'booking agent' as it is allowed in other countries, I am merely a consultant and 'marketer' but I do not and am not allowed to do any work myself that the Outfitter is qualified and legally obliged to do. As a travel agent I may also book airline tickets etc and provide a full and comprehensive itinery of the Client's stay in RSA.

It is ILLEGAL for me to advertise myself as the professional guide, make any bookings on behalf of the Client at the Outfit, handle permits, and be a party to the hunt unless the Client invites me as an observer or hunter. So, the business model is as such:

- I go into contract with the Outfitter(s)
- I market the Outfit
- I introduce the Client to the Outfitter, or set up a meeting for the Client and the Outfitter (the Outfitter takes it from there, if a booking is made I claim the agreed percent as stated in the contract, if a booking is not made, my work until then cannot be remunerated for by the Outfitter).
- provide shuttle services and make extra bookings where necessary

I will still first hunt with the Outfit before-hand and then go into contract if the Outfitter wishes to employ me. As of next year I will simultaneously:

- finish up a BA degree in psychology/philosophy
- apply for a PDP driving license
- renew my First Aid certificate
- apply for training as a Field Guide level one through FGASA
- apply for training and accreditation as a Tour Operator
- apply for for a PH Course (or when my rifle clears)
- hunt with interested Outfitters
- set up website upon completion of a contract(s) with Outfitters
- register the company with the rellevant Tourism authorities
- set myself up as a Travel Agent

Where certain things are not conducive to the industry I will tweek my little programme to accomodate the correct and necessary qualifications etc The above programme for next year is only a theoretical model.

I wish to include photography safaris and eco-tourism in the future when I can, but one bite at a time.

Here is a link to the HDP Safaris PTY(Ltd) PAGE on Facebook HDP Safaris PTY(Ltd) - Travel/Leisure - Pretoria West, South Africa | Facebook

 

[enysse]

Sounds like a good plan!

 

[James.Grage]

well thought out...

time lines are good and first hand knowledge is better when trying to have clients book a safari

 

[Rohan]

Hey guys,

Still going on, doing research, looking for market and clientele, doing registrations and credentials etc.

Website will be up end of the year looks like it, because I must get material to put up first, it could also be later or sooner, but definitely (i'm not going anywhere). Initially I have to outsource certain services. Have to include game-drive packages and cultural/city tours because although a hunting agency can be a viable business enterprise on its own, one needs to represent '100' outfitters to make good on profit. We all know that anyone can represent '100' outfitters, but not everyone can vouch for the Outfitters they represent if they don't spend the time and money and hunt with them first to make sure they are legitimate and trustworthy, and also that your own agency is the type of representitive they are looking for. So it works both ways. So, I will hunt with as many Outfitters as I can, and I will not do what some agencies do: they represent many many Outfitters (in excess of 100), but when I called and emailed to find out what they know about the outfitters they represent, some of them haven't even met the outfitters in person or hunted with them at all, they represent them from abroad using an internet payment and registration system...in my limited and inexperienced opinion, that is where a lot of problems are born. How can I represent someone I met on the internet only? There are other agencies who only hunt with their Outfitters beforehand and they are the big names and are making a good business return, I assume because there is more trust, returning clientele, and less problems in general with shady or internet scamming people. Trusting word on internet only is not how I will do business in terms of representing hunting Outfitters. Though I will hunt with the Outfitters and check that they are transparent and trustworthy, they still might not want to employ me, so it's importatnt for me to get together with all the Outfitters beforehand. I'm not in this to make a quick milllion dollars or to own the world...I would like to make enough money to live comfortably, and I only want a small piece of the world, but most importantly I want to go and hunt every year!!!

So, I am still going on and working hard to break into the industry, just to let you know.

Business Reg# 2012/01127/07
Regards,

 

[Rohan]

Information about Kruger Park Tours will be posted after the 25th of February.

Details of the itinery will follow. Will post pics. I will not be guiding until I am fully registered.

Hunting packages and City/Cultural Tours still in the pipeline.

Enjoy the weekend hunters!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Rohan,
Are you planning on marketing to foreign clients?

 

[Rohan]

Hi Marius,

Yes, I will definitely be marketing to foreign clients.

Rohan,
Are you planning on marketing to foreign clients?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Rohan,
Last time I checked, you need to be in possession of an Outfitter's licence to market hunts internationally. Not even a PH has the legal right to market hunts to a foreign market.
I don't want to be the party pooper here, unless legislation has changed, please inform me what info you have.
Hope this works out for you!

 

[willemf]

I don't think you need a outfitters licence for what you want to do . A lot of people have agents and I don't think they all outfitters

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I don't think you need a outfitters licence for what you want to do . A lot of people have agents and I don't think they all outfitters

Willem,
Agents are not South African citizens.

 

[willemf]

I am sure a outfitter may have marketing staff or marketing agreements , if outfitters gives him brochures I am sure he can give them to people .

If he wants to open a hunting website with a list of outfitters I am sure he doesn't need a outfitters licence , even if he is from SA

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I am sure a outfitter may have marketing staff or marketing agreements , if outfitters gives him brochures I am sure he can give them to people .

If he wants to open a hunting website with a list of outfitters I am sure he doesn't need a outfitters licence , even if he is from SA

Willem what you have mentioned here hardly qualifies as marketing. If Rohan receives remuneration for his work in bringing clients to an outfitter, it qualifies as marketing and he will need an outfitter's licence. Unless he is thinking of doing it for free .

 

[Rohan]

Marius,

Thanks for your ernest and sincere wishes.

I will call PHASA on Monday and get to the bottom of this once and for all then make a post on this thread about what PHASA has said and strictly adhere to that. Depending on what PHASA says on Monday I will either be marketing hunting packages internationally, or only locally. I admit, I should have called PHASA on day one.
.
Either way I will have other tours to fall back on of which I need to be the director of the safari agency that is registered with SA Tourism in order to outsource certain services related to safari and tourism, have a PDP, First AID, Tour Guide status with THETA as well as be registered with the DEAT in order to conduct any tours (non-hunting, unrelated to hunting) myself.

In the mean time I will get a PH license and try to accumulate the equivalent of three years guiding to get an Outfitters licence. The time it may take to legally market hunts internationally is not a problem: I will do the time and I will listen to PHASA and do what's necessary in order to adhere to legislation.

My business operations will commence with or without the advertising of hunting packages to international or local clients for now (pending PHASAs information).

Regards Marius and thanks for the heads-up,

Rohan,
Last time I checked, you need to be in possession of an Outfitter's licence to market hunts internationally. Not even a PH has the legal right to market hunts to a foreign market.
I don't want to be the party pooper here, unless legislation has changed, please inform me what info you have.
Hope this works out for you!

 

[willemf]

Rohan

I agree that you should contact PHASA.

Maybe word your question correct to get the right answer .
If I pay you to advertise as contracted staff how can they prevent you from making a living . Who is also to say you may only work for one outfitter . There are shades of grey . If I advertise in a magazine , do they have to be a outfitter ?

 

[Rohan]

Koedoeberg,

Thanks.

I will word my questioning very carefully. Believe you me I have questioned before and I have posed the questions with enough rellevance and detail to reflect my exact intended operations etc. But I never called PHASA for some reason which was actually the first place to look. Perhaps I drew my conclusions only from the sources I wanted to hear from... Let's see what the latest legislation is on Monday when I call PHASA.

If I am not allowed to advertise internationally I will accept my fault at not researching this aspect adequetly, and then get the necessary credentials to do so however long it takes. I will try to get opportunities to guide clients on hunts under registered Outfitters and try to accumulate the necessary three years. Though running a business simultaneously will be quite challenging...but which one of us as hunters is not up for a challenge!?!?!?

The thing is not everybody is born into a hunting heritage, nor 'destined' for it, so some of us, like me, have to really really go against the grain of immediate societal norms and forge a bloody path, its not easy but its possible, most things are possible. Though I have been a keen hunter for twenty years it was not without great misunderstandings amongst my own peers.

So, what I'm saying is: I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes, but I am here to stay, and people will either like it or leave it. Hopefully they 'leave it' with an ounce of professional courtesy and move on. Certain knowledge of certain things related to this industry does not come naturally to me, even so I should definitely brush up on my objective researching skills. And I'm grateful for all the help, whether direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional. Where I fail to meet certain legal requirements I will get them, but I'm not leaving the hunting industry. I love hunting too much.

Regards,

Rohan

I agree that you should contact PHASA.

Maybe word your question correct to get the right answer .
If I pay you to advertise as contracted staff how can they prevent you from making a living . Who is also to say you may only work for one outfitter . There are shades of grey . If I advertise in a magazine , do they have to be a outfitter ?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Rohan,
Your approach to do the time in the field should be your strategy in the first order. In order to do what you would like to do, you need experience of this industry. No books can teach you what has been gained from experience. By attaining the necessary experience of guiding professionally for a minimum 3 years, will give you the knowledge base of what this industry is about, and also give you a good foundation to offering your clients advice.

Advice 1: Do the time to gain the knowledge.
Advice 2: Be honest
Advice 3: Dont make enemies in this industry.

I'm looking forward to you posting an update once you get some more info from PHASA and will be keeping a close eye on this thread. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Cheers,
Marius