My travel agency tour packages hit a 50% cancellation rate — is the price too high or is marketing weak?

Don't overthink it. Is being a shop owner really this hard? I mean what were you expecting?

Standard method: Set a 'standard duration' for each job, write it to the customer. Follow up.

If you're struggling, ask other shop owners. They're your best guides. There's no magic cure.

Legally, you should have a written contract with the customer in this situation. Terms must be clear. Advice: lawyer.

Urgent: stop the work replan, start over. Do a 3-week pilot, then decide.

Stat: If you hire staff, costs go up 40%, but output can increase by 60%. Net: +20%.

I felt relieved reading this answer, so it's not just me. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

If you post the result here, it will help others too.

I'll try it.

I completely agree. Don't enter any agreement without an exit plan.

When making a decision, also write down the cost of reversal. This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

Let me write how it's done in practice. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval. I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

This is exactly what we experienced. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

i agree.

Let me summarize the topic, since several different answers were given. A two-week notebook guides you more than a six-month forecast.

Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate. If I were you Id go this route.

Saved.

Noted, thanks.

Good call starting this thread.

I went through the same thing.

You're right.