The road to starting a glamping business is not easy, but it can be done with the right knowledge and preparation.
This blog post will help you plan your business from start to finish – including how to find land, obtain permits for your site, set up your glamping site as well as promote and market your new business!
Before we dive into the details of how to start a glamping business, you need to ask yourself a few questions…
What are your goals? Do you want to build glamping sites for private use, or do you plan on operating as an Airbnb business model where multiple people rent out your site? If it’s the latter, then how many guests can your land support?
How much time do you have? You’ll need to be willing and able to work 24/seven if this is going to be a full-time business.
Do you want employees or contractors? If it’s the former, how many people will your site support?
Think of these questions while planning out your glamping site.
You should now have a good idea of what type of glamping business you would like to start.
You can either go for an already established site or plan your mobile glamping unit!
If you decide on the latter, then it’s time to find land and secure permits.
How to Start a Glamping Business in 5 Steps
1. Establish a Plan
You’ll need to understand what you’ll be offering, who you’ll be offering it to and how you’ll be offering it.
Factors to consider when establishing a plan are; target market, competition, available land for use and the cost of entry.
It’s essential to understand all of these factors when mobilizing your glamping site.
This will help with obtaining permits for use and finding land that is appropriate for your target market.
And most importantly, it will help you save time and money when setting up the site.
Have a Target Audience
If you plan to rent out your land to others, you must understand what type of market and customers you’ll be catering to.
- Is the customer base mostly families with young children?
- Couples looking for a secluded getaway?
- Business groups, who want an outdoor team-building event?
- Or is it for anyone looking for some fun adventure?
Determine Your Competition
Is there another Airbnb site in the area, or are you the only one providing this service?
Choose Land to Use
Are you considering using your private land, or do you want to be mobile and set up in different locations?
If you choose to go with a fixed location, this could help if there’s already infrastructure in place, such as electricity.
If you go for a new land, look for one that’s away from traffic and noise, where there’s nature and maybe animals.
Most important thing when choosing a land is the views and how your guests will interact with the land.
Also, if you decide on using your land, do some research and find out what type of zoning laws surrounding outdoor lodging.
You’ll need to get an understanding of all the local laws surrounding this before you begin.
Determine Cost of Entry
You need to know the cost of buying land, building materials, getting license/permit, decorating and marketing.
The amount of cash you spend on your glamping site will affect how many guests your land can support and what type of customer base you’ll be attracting – luxury or budget glampers.
You should have a good idea on the cost of entry before going forward with this plan. However, work within your budget!
2. Secure Necessary Permits From Local Authorities
These are the most important documents you’ll need to run your glamping business.
You can consult with a specialist or contact different companies that offer this type of service if it’s unclear how to obtain these permits.
Every country has its set of permits needed. So make sure you do thorough research on what you need.
You must be sure that your glamping business complies with local laws surrounding land use for this type of project.
Here is a list of permits you will need (depending on your country)
- A legal entity
- Register for taxes
- Business insurance
- Business bank account
- Bet up business accounting
3. Set Up Your Glamping Site
You can either purchase or rent everything – depending on how much money and time you have at hand, as well as what type of set-up you’re looking for.
You should also think about your glamping site layout and what kind of structure will be best for it!
There are multiple options here, from an airstream caravan to a tipi tent with all the essentials inside.
If you decide on renting equipment instead of buying it, this will save you money and time.
Other type of structures to consider;
- safari tents
- bell tents
- glamping pods
- shepherd hut
- tree houses
- yurts
- tepees
- bubble domes
Another thing to consider…
Many people don’t know this, but many countries also have a different climate – like the UK has more extreme weather conditions than other places in Europe.
If your campsite is out somewhere remote, it can be difficult to predict what kind of weather will occur each season, so make sure that whatever equipment you rent or buy can withstand bad weather and that your guests will be safe.
4. Add Amenities, Furnish and Decorate
You can offer free WiFi, board games, hot water bottles, or even fire pits that you could provide during wintertime.
There are plenty of items out there that could make your glamping site unique and exciting.
For example, outdoor furniture, lamps, rugs – the possibilities are endless!
You can also offer various services like horse riding, swimming, hiking or cooking classes to help you stand out from others offering similar services.
If you plan to run a successful glamping business, then invest in the best possible amenities you can find.
Great amenities are what people choose one glamping site over another!
You should also include a welcome pack for your customers to make them feel at home and comfortable.
Related: How to make a glamping site standout
5. Promote Your Glamping Business
You can have a social media presence with Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Also, think about creating ads on Google or Reddit, for example – where you’ll be able to target customers in an area close by.
It would be best to consider advertising through outdoor magazines, newsletters, or even business directories like Yelp.
You should also make sure you have a website to promote your glamping business that is easy for customers to find and will help them navigate through all of the information they need about your site!
You could even include an online booking system where people can book their stay with you directly – this won’t be necessary if your business caters more to people passing by and want a night’s stay, for example.
Read here a straightforward way to marketing and promoting your glamping business.
Final Word
The process of starting a glamping business is not as straightforward as it sounds.
There are many things to consider, and planning for your project will be very beneficial.
Think about what kind of site you want, how much money you have at hand, and the type of customer base you’ll be catering to – this should help give off an idea of how to start a glamping business.