We track how people interact with our online web content and resources, and some of that tracking involves storing cookies on your device. By continuing to use our site you accept that you agree to this. For more details see our Privacy Statement.
How to Choose the Right TMC for SMEs: A Smart Guide for Business Travel Buyers
13 August 2025 | Travel Blogs
The Short Answer
A great TMC for SMEs offers flexible service, fast support, simple tools and no bloated contracts saving your team time, hassle and money while scaling as you grow.
What Makes a Great TMC for SMEs?
If you run a small business or startup, business travel can drain valuable time.
One minute you’re trying to expand and work the company, the next you’re comparing flights to Frankfurt at 1am. That’s where a good TMC (travel management company) will take the stress out your hands. According to the GBTA, companies that work with a TMC benefit from improved traveller safety, cost control and better productivity.
Unfortunately, most TMCs were built for enterprise-level corporates, with clunky platforms. So how do you find the right TMC for your SME?
Let’s break down what actually matters when choosing a business travel partner and how echo.bravo flips the traditional model to suit fast-moving, ambitious teams.
1. Flexibility and Speed Over Bureaucracy
Big TMCs love process, SMEs love progress.
Traditional travel firms often come with long onboarding timelines, fixed contracts and ticketing delays that don’t work for smaller teams. You want someone who can book a same-day flight to Paris or fix a late-night re-route when a client meeting overruns.
At echo.bravo, we don’t believe in contracts or minimum spends. You only stay with us because the service works. We keep things simple, fast and responsive, meaning you can focus on the growth of your company.
2. Personal Service, No Robots
When your flight gets cancelled or delayed, the last thing you need is to be bounced around a call centre. You want a real human who knows your business, your travellers, and has experience with helping clients in a sticky situation.
Great TMCs for small businesses act like an extension of your team. You don’t want someone who just books flights, but someone who thinks ahead, flags issues before they become problems, and gets to know your company’s preferences (like always needing an aisle seat or avoiding Heathrow).
At echo.bravo, you get a named account manager backed by a full travel operations team, plus after-hours support when plans change.
3. No-Waste Travel Spend
Start-ups and SMEs can’t afford to waste cash on bad travel habits like last-minute flights, unused credits or booking direct when negotiated rates are available.
A great TMC helps you cut waste, not add cost. That means flagging better routes, using smart automation to chase unused credits and reporting on spend so you can see what’s actually working.
Through our travel dashboards and reporting tools, echo.bravo gives you full visibility on what you’re spending and where you can save.
4. Scalable Systems That Grow With You
You might start with 2 or 3 frequent travellers but that can quickly become 10, 20 or more. At echo.bravo we don’t just serve your needs today, we set you up for the future.
We’ve helped start-ups launch in New York, pitch in Dubai and close deals in Singapore, often in the same week. Whether it’s last-minute trips, multi-country travel or full group logistics, we grow when you grow.
5. Tech That Doesn’t Get in the Way
SMEs need tools that make booking easier, not more complex. Having simple platforms with human backup is essential and perfect for SMEs. You need one login, smart itineraries, and a quick way to book when time’s tight.
With echo.bravo’s hybrid model, you can message us, email us, or use our Online Booking Tool when it suits you. It’s tech with humans, not tech instead of humans.
Why echo.bravo is Built for Start-ups and SMEs
We launched echo.bravo to fix the things we hated about traditional TMCs. We’ve since supported over 200+ small businesses, from creative agencies to fintech firms, with the kind of service that feels like having your own in-house travel team.
If you’re spending more than 20k a year on travel, or your executives are losing time booking their own flights, you’re probably overdue a better system.
Explore how we work on our homepage, or get in touch for a no-pressure intro call. We’ll show you what we can do, and if it’s not a fit, no hard feelings.
FAQs
What is a TMC?
A TMC manages all aspects of travel like booking flights, hotels, transfers and providing support when things go wrong. Unlike booking directly, a TMC brings experience, negotiated rates and reporting tools to help companies save time and money.
Do start-ups need a travel management company?
If you travel more than a few times a month, want to reduce admin or avoid expensive last-minute bookings, a TMC is worth considering. They free up your team and ensure travel runs smoothly.
Is echo.bravo suitable for companies with small travel budgets?
Yes — we work with clients spending as little as £1,500 per month. Our model is flexible with no permanent contracts or minimum spends.
What makes echo.bravo different from other TMCs?
We combine human service with tech, don’t use contracts, and specialise in fast-growth companies. Our service is built for responsiveness, personal support and clear value for money.
How quickly can we get set up?
There’s no lengthy onboarding needed at echo.bravo, you can book on the same day if needed. We just need a quick intro call with a few questions about your preferences then we’re ready to go.