Outside Agents is a long-time host agency with a tiered pricing model and a commission split that scales with your volume. Fora is a tech-forward host built for advisors who want included training, a modern platform, and extensive preferred partnerships from the start. The best choice depends on what type of business you’re building and whether you want flexibility to book across supplier types.
Fora vs. Outside Agents: Quick comparison
Pricing, commission splits, and contract terms pulled from each host agency’s published documentation as of July 2026.
Pricing and fees
When comparing each host agency’s full-access plan, it costs more to join Outside Agents than Fora.
OA charges $26 per month for the Advanced plan ($312 per year) or $46 per month for the Unlimited plan ($552 per year). Fora is a flat $299 per year or $99 per quarter ($396 per year), but you get full access to Fora’s platform and support with either option.
Fora’s fee includes access to CRM and booking technology, automated invoicing, live and on-demand training, and marketing templates. The flat fee fits advisors who want predictable costs while they build their client list.
OA’s Unlimited plan adds live mentorship and marketing tools on top of basic CRM and booking, but you’ll pay almost double Fora’s annual cost for it. The Advanced plan is closer in price, but has more limited one-on-one training and marketing tools.
Commission splits and rates
Outside Agents’ commission split starts at 80/20 and Fora’s starts at 70/30, but OA restricts access to luxury supplier benefits, which can limit earning potential even at a higher split. OA reserves luxury preferred partnerships for advisors in its luxury division, Opulence, which comes with an annual enrollment fee and sales minimums. Every Fora Advisor has access to preferred partnerships with luxury suppliers from day one, giving them immediate access to high-value bookings and preferred partner rates.
Fora scales splits based on booking value in the last calendar year. Splits scale to 80/20 at $300,000 and 90/10 at $2 million in calendar-year bookings. Established advisors with an existing book of business can join at a split that matches their sales volume.
The commission that Fora keeps also gets invested back into advisor support: Fora handles supplier invoicing and payment collection for advisors. When comparing Onyx payment data across over 150,000 hotels, we found that Fora collects payments about 25% faster than industry benchmarks, and with one-third fewer commissions left unpaid.
OA’s tiers move based on take-home commission earned in the prior 12 months, rather than booking volume: 90/10 at $10,000 and 95/5 at $40,000. Commission-based scaling favors advisors who primarily sell higher-commission products like luxury hotels, custom tours, and cruises. Access to those luxury bookings also comes with additional annual fees.
For example, if a new Fora Advisor with a 70/30 starting split books three nights for a couple at a top-tier hotel in the Fora Reserve program, with a commissionable value of $2,000, they could earn as much as 15% commission. That’s (2,000 x 15% commission) x 70% split = $210 take home.
An advisor with an 80/20 starting split but without the same preferred commission or client perks, would book it at 10% commission with limited client perks. That’s (2,000 x 10% commission) x 80% split = $160 take home.
OA’s contract also notes a few additional commission scenarios:
OA keeps a minimum $25 commission on any booking, regardless of commission size.
Advisors keep only 50% commission if OA needs to complete a booking because the advisor is unavailable.
Advisors get no commission if OA needs to complete a booking because the advisor is unavailable and extra work is required on OA’s part.
Advisors keep 100% commission on personal travel, minus a $25 processing fee, if they maintain a 3:1 client-to-personal booking ratio.
Portal having multiple avenues to book all in one location, where you can compare everything [...] My overall commission has increased, just because I’m able to be more strategic.
Seasen Acevedo-Zullo
joined August 2024Platform and technology
If you want to manage your business from one place, Fora’s technology will be more appealing. Outside Agents’ Agent Portal covers training, community, and promotions, with a separate client management platform for CRM, trip management, and client bookings. Fora’s Portal is built around a single integrated account dashboard.
Fora’s Portal includes:
Hotel search with real-time availability
Client profiles with connected inquiry forms
Commission tracking with invoicing handled by Fora
Price Drop alerts that flag savings opportunities for your clients
Bookable Quote for clients to review and confirm directly
Deal and rate tracking across booking options
Itinerary builder to share proposals with clients
Marketing templates and assets
Live support and ongoing training
I think [Fora] truly eliminates the need for any other software programs.
Megan Smith
joined June 2023Training and support
OA gives you a dedicated onboarding coach, which works if you want one person to lean on while you get set up. If you want clear certification milestones and are motivated by growth tiers, Fora is a better choice. Fora also has live support sessions and learning cohorts for advisors.
I just kept seeing this table full of resources that I could come sit at and feast on.
Stu Dressler
joined December 2023Preferred partnerships and suppliers
Both Outside Agents and Fora have preferred partnerships that can offer higher base commission, but Fora offers equal access to suppliers, while OA reserves luxury partnerships for a limited set of advisors.
Outside Agents has supplier relationships across cruise lines, tours, and hotels and is a member of Travel Leaders Network. Luxury preferred partner access is concentrated in its Opulence division, which is exclusive to experienced luxury advisors. Opulence division advisors also pay an annual enrollment fee and must meet an annual sales requirement.
Fora’s preferred partner relationships sit under Fora Reserve, and are available to all advisors from the start. Fora Reserve includes over 5,000 hotels, cruises, and tours, including partnerships with Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Marriott Stars & Luminous, Mandarin Oriental, and IHG. Fora is a CLIA Premier Agency Member and Virtuoso member. There are no additional fees or sales quotas to access preferred partnerships at Fora.
Business support
Both Fora and Outside Agents handle parts of the business infrastructure so you can focus on building your brand and client list.
Independent branding: Both allow advisors to operate and market under their own brand identity.
Insurance: Both host agencies cover advisors with their errors & emissions (E&O) insurance. Fora recommends a separate policy for advisors operating under an LLC or booking more than $500,000 annually.
Seller of Travel requirements: Advisors at both can operate under their host's Seller of Travel registration, though some states still require affiliated advisors to register.
Marketing: Both offer marketing materials, but OA limits some access to Unlimited subscribers. Fora’s marketing support includes templates, assets, a customizable landing page, and blog content to support advisor brand-building.
The fact that we are in all of these programs shows that the partners trust us with their brand and their property.
Anson Tan
joined April 2023Contract terms and flexibility
Both Fora and Outside Agents offer industry standard contract terms, with two key differences. OA can terminate your contract if you don’t sell something every six months, and will charge a reconnection fee if you want to reactivate in the future.
If you need the option to work with more than one host agency to access suppliers or tooling OA doesn’t offer, Outside Agents offers a non-exclusive contract you can cancel anytime. Fora’s contract is exclusive—you can’t affiliate with another host agency while working with Fora—and you can cancel anytime.
When reviewing terms with any host agency, confirm what happens to commissions and clients if you leave, notice periods, and any other exit-related restrictions.
Fora vs. Outside Agents: Who is each best for?
Choose Outside Agents if you’re self-directed enough to set your own training and growth path. Expect a higher annual cost and delayed access to luxury supplier relationships.
Choose Fora if you want immediate access to luxury suppliers and partnerships and integrated business technology at a lower flat annual fee, plus included training with a clear certification roadmap. You’ll get predictable costs, no sales minimums, and a modern platform with luxury availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for both Fora and Outside Agents at the same time?
No, you can’t be affiliated with Fora and Outside Agents at the same time. Fora is an exclusive host agency, so you’d need to leave OA before joining. Fora’s exclusivity means switching advisors set a clean cutover date.
How do I switch from Outside Agents to Fora?
Give OA a 10-day notice, set a final date, and begin Fora’s onboarding so you get Portal access, training, and supplier credentials on day one. You can work with Fora on timing before giving notice.
Is Fora or Outside Agents better for new travel advisors?
Fora is a better fit for new travel advisors: 97% of Fora advisors had never been travel advisors before joining. OA offers a personal onboarding coach, but advisors who want a clear roadmap and milestones will get that more directly at Fora.
Is Fora or Outside Agents better for luxury travel advisors?
Fora is the stronger fit if luxury is your primary focus. Fora’s partnerships include Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Marriott Stars & Luminous, Mandarin Oriental, IHG, plus boutique hotels and Virtuoso membership, with all available to every advisor from the start. OA restricts luxury partnership access to its Opulence luxury division, which new advisors work up to via OA’s Pathway to Opulence, sales minimums, and annual enrollment fees.
Is Fora or Outside Agents cheaper?
Fora is cheaper on a yearly basis when comparing access levels. Fora’s flat $299 per year is roughly half OA’s Unlimited plan ($552 per year). OA’s commission split is higher to start, and both scale commission as your business grows. The more you book, the less the difference in split matters.
Are Fora and Outside Agents legitimate host agencies?
Yes. Fora is a CLIA Premier Agency Member, a Virtuoso member, and partners with over 5,000 supplier partnerships through Fora Reserve. Fora advisors have booked over $3 billion in travel since 2021 and work from 140 different countries. Outside Agents has operated for over 30 years and reports a network of over 12,000 agents. Both are established host agencies with active advisor networks.
