Everything you need to know about joining the herd.
A 15-minute read covering what GOwithHIPPO is, what it costs, how you get paid, and how we’ll support you. Honest answers, real numbers.
What is GOwithHIPPO?
GOwithHIPPO is a Canadian host agency. We give you the tools, training, supplier connections, and support to run your own home-based travel business — without the overhead of building it from scratch.
You won’t be our employee. You’ll be the founder of your own travel business, and we’ll be the platform underneath you. We call our agents HIPPOs, our community the herd, and our small ops team the HIPPOhq.
You’re an independent contractor — what that means
When you join the herd, you’re starting your own business. GOwithHIPPO provides the platform; you run the show.
Your hours
No shifts, no manager checking when you log on. Mornings, evenings, school hours, weekends — whatever fits.
Your pace
Five hours a week as a side hustle, or 30 hours a week building a full income. Plenty of agents do each.
Your goals
No quotas. No annual targets. No commitment to stay. Cancel any time with written notice.
Your taxes
More deductions available to you (home office, internet, travel expenses) — but you’re responsible for setting aside taxes yourself.
Independent contractor vs. employee
A note on provincial licensing
Travel licensing in Canada varies by province. In Ontario, TICO certification is required before you can sell travel. We’ll walk you through anything that applies to where you live as part of your onboarding — no need to figure it out alone.
What it costs
Two fees. No hidden charges. No surprise bills later.
- • Canadian criminal record check
- • Soft credit inquiry (no credit score impact)
- • Initial setup of your tools
- • Your first month of access fees, free
- • All your business tools — CRM, email, phone, profile
- • HIPPOcampus training platform
- • Direct support from HIPPOhq
- • Membership in the Watering Hole community
Why we run background and credit checks
GOwithHIPPO is one of the few host agencies in Canada that requires both. We think it matters:
- Criminal record check. You’ll handle credit cards, passports, addresses, and birthdays for clients. We want every HIPPO in the herd to be someone our clients can trust. We consider unique circumstances (like youthful offences) on a case-by-case basis.
- Soft credit inquiry. Won’t affect your credit score. Running a small business takes financial discipline — keeping fees current, managing client payments responsibly. The check confirms you’ve demonstrated that.
How you get paid
Commission is already built into the trip price
Every vacation price you see online — booking sites, TV ads, supplier websites — has commission baked in. The question is who keeps it.
Supplier keeps it as extra profit.
Expedia/Travelocity/Costco keeps it.
Goes to the agency — and that’s how you get paid.
The 70/30 split
On every booking you make for a client.
Covers licensing, supplier consortiums, your tools, training, support staff.
Exception — personal travel. When you book travel for yourself or your immediate household through one of our preferred suppliers, you keep 100% of the commission. No split.
Payout timing
Suppliers typically pay commission after your client travels. Once we receive a commission, your share pays out on the 15th of the following month. October commission = November 15th payout.
Two prerequisites: all trips logged in our CRM within 48 hours, and your monthly access fees up to date.
Heads up about timing
Because commissions land after travel, your first sale in month one might pay out in month three or four. If a client books in January for a July trip, that commission lands in late July or August. The agents who succeed treat the first few months as building inventory — stacking up future paydays.
How much commission is in a trip?
Real trip examples
2 adults, 9 nights, Grand Palladium Resort
2 adults, 11 days, Bangkok & Phuket
2 adults + 2 kids, 8 nights, dining + 6-day tickets
2 adults, 4 nights, ocean-view balcony
Insurance pays even more
Travel insurance carries the highest commission rates in the business — and the rates climb when you become a licensed insurance agent yourself.
1 adult, age 61, $2,083 premium
2 adults, ages 65 & 73, $387 premium
Becoming insurance-licensed is optional, and we’ll walk you through it if you go that route.
The perks
The HIPPObonus — get paid when friends join
Refer someone to GOwithHIPPO. Once they finish onboarding, it counts as a referral. No limit. No ongoing requirement.
Twice a year — every January and July — you receive 2% of your referrals’ paid-out commissions from the previous six months. The bonus comes out of GOwithHIPPO’s 30% share, never your referrals’ commissions. Their cheque doesn’t shrink.
100% commission on personal travel
Book travel for yourself or your immediate household through one of our preferred suppliers — the ones our consortium TravelSavers has negotiated the best rates with — and you keep 100% of the commission. No 70/30 split. Booking with a non-preferred supplier still earns you the regular split.
FAM trips — the industry’s best-kept perk
FAM stands for familiarization trip — exclusive trips offered to travel professionals at deeply discounted rates. You experience properties firsthand so you can confidently sell them.
Suppliers typically have mandatory expectations (site visits, training sessions) but there’s plenty of free time. Meet both their requirements and our HIPPO Code of Conduct, and anyHIPPO is welcome to apply.
Other supplier perks
- Hotel brands like Marriott and Best Western often offer 50%+ off nightly rates for personal use.
- Disney rewards agents who keep their Disney University training current with free park tickets, ticket discounts, and special agent benefits.
- Other suppliers offer points programs, training perks, and exclusive rate cards.
For many of our agents, these perks pay for the access fees several times over.
How you’ll learn the business
You’re starting a business, but you’re not starting alone. Training and support are built into your membership.
HIPPOcampus — our training platform
QuickLaunch Course
Designed to get you up and running fast. Basics, confidence-builders, your first booking.
The Big Course
A deeper dive into running your business, growing your client base, and mastering supplier tools.
Both courses include video lessons, written guides, quizzes, and downloadable resources. Accessible online or via the GOwithHIPPO app on iOS and Google Play.
Supplier-run training (often with bonuses)
- • Disney University — keep current and earn free park tickets and discounts
- • Marriott Training Course
- • ManuLife’s Manu-versity — for travel insurance
Four ways to get help when you’re stuck
The Watering Hole
Our private agent-only community. Ask questions, share wins, swap advice with experienced advisors.
The Operations Team
A real human at HIPPOhq via the support form. We aim to reply within 24 hours.
Travel Suppliers
Agent-direct phone numbers and emails for trip questions, plus Business Development Managers for each region.
The Herd
Watering Hole conversations, FAM trips, the relationships you’ll build. The herd looks out for the herd.
Ready to join the herd?
Three options — pick what suits you.
Want to talk first?
Express your interest — we’ll send our deeper resources and you can reply with anything.
Expression of Interest →Still thinking?
That’s fine. Reread this guide, talk to your partner, come back when you’re ready.
We’re not going anywhere.