Rich Rochester has had to relearn the homeworking game from scratch. He first joined GoCruise & Travel in 2006, when the business focused solely on cruise holidays. 

Working for a ski tour operator at the time – and already a keen cruiser – the franchisor gave him the chance to run his own business with the backing of an established network.

"The opportunity to be my own boss and take the business in the direction I wanted was a really positive thing," he tells TTG. "Being part of a franchise meant there was a support network, guidelines and best practice to follow, too."

His plans changed within a few years as family life took priority. "My son was born at the end of 2007 and that put a stop to building my own business," he says. "I kept it in the background, but it wasn't viable to be self-employed at that point."

'I always wanted to get back into travel'

Having left GoCruise & Travel, Rich moved into the public sector and later financial services, where he spent six years as a financial adviser. Even then, the idea of returning to travel never disappeared.

"I always wanted to come back," he says. "I probably resigned myself to being one of those people who would join a franchise or network later in life, maybe part-time retirement. But life's too short to be doing something you're not passionate about."

Rich left the financial services in January 2025 and was back at GoCruise & Travel the following month. Although he recognised plenty of faces, Rich says he approached his return as though he was starting afresh. 

"It really did feel like I was completely brand new to travel again, and certainly to homeworking again, because it had been so long," he adds.

'It's much more competitive now'

The industry itself had also changed dramatically since 2006, he tells TTG. "When I started, we had a big emphasis on using Teletext," he says. "That was a great way for people new to the business because it helped them promote themselves. That's just not around anymore.

"You have to find a way of marketing yourself and promoting yourself that doesn't break the bank, while being consistent and trying to make yourself different from everyone else who is now homeworking and in the travel industry. It's much more competitive."

Rather than relying solely on supplier offers, Rich has developed his own regular newsletter, mixing promotions with destination features and updates from his business. He also focuses on building long-term relationships through "personal touches" before and after clients travel, while drawing on three decades of cruising experience to recommend the right cruise line and ship for each customer.

"I may not have been an agent, but I've stayed a cruise geek all my life," he says. "It meant I already had enough knowledge to provide great customer service – rather than just taking any booking and moving on."

'If someone needs support, I'm there'

He has also embraced the collaborative side of the franchise by joining GoCruise & Travel's peer support group, helping fellow franchisees with areas including brand marketing and technology.

"The programme isn't about assigning one mentor to one franchisee," he says. "It's about helping with specific business strengths. If somebody needs support with something I've got experience in, I have a conversation with them and share what I've learned."

That emphasis on backing franchisees has also been reflected in GoCruise & Travel's wider work to strengthen its franchise structure, including a review of contracts, commission policies and operating procedures.

"We're quite a small franchise compared with others, so we're trying to maintain that feeling that we're one family," he says. "Some people want support and some don't, and that's fine, but it's important that it's there for those who need it."

Asked what makes a successful home-based business, Rich insists internal motivation is what separates the wheat from the chaff.

"The biggest difference is not giving up and believing in yourself," he says. "In any industry, you have to ask, 'what makes you different from the person next to you?' You have to find something that makes you different.

"It doesn't have to be expensive or completely out there, but you have to be consistent, adapt and go with the times and trends."

• Find out more about GoCruise & Travel in the TTG Homeworking Hub, packed with advice for existing and would-be homeworkers, and a Matchmaker tool to help you find the right homeworking company for you.