How to Start a Glamping Business

How to Start a Glamping Business…

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Start a Glamping Business ‒ ‘no prior business experience needed.’

“Turn your passion for the outdoors into a successful Glamping Business.” 

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Did you know that your love of the outdoors can serve to inspire other Nature-loving spirits, like yourself? If you’ve been exploring ways to turn your passion for the outdoors ‒ and, at the same time, build connection with others who share your interests and zeal ‒ then, welcome to the thriving world of ecotourism Glamping (glamorous camping).

Ecotourism glamping offers unique vacation experiences away from conventional hotel lodging. A glamping stay takes the ‘rough-edges’ out of camping by offering creature comforts, often with resort-style hospitality. It’s all about the experience!

The timing is perfect, so why not seize the moment!

Market demand for glamping experiences is currently experiencing an all-time high. According to the latest industry statistics (includes Covid-impact data), this glamping trend isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. If this news gets you super excited about creating an income-stream in the outdoor glamping niche ‒ then, let’s get started!

After being cooped up for months-on-end, people are ready to go outdoors and have some fun (while still respecting recent social-distancing norms). The pandemic-proof outdoor industry and its close cousin, the Glamping Industry, are exploding! We’re making a not too wild guess that it’s primarily, due to restraints around Covid self-isolation – this has left many of us needing to take-in some fresh outdoor air.

Expand your horizons

The best news is that the back-to-Nature glamping trend is no longer a trend, it’s being taken seriously as a creative way to pay your mortgage – and, it’s drawing the attention of investors worldwide. Simultaneously, and synchronistically the explosive growth of the glamping industry is in sync with the growth of booking platforms that have been sprouting up to serve client needs for accommodations, such as, Airbnb, Travelocity and Hipcamp.

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You’re selling the experience

Glamping attracts individuals pursuing a respite from their busy high-tech lives, those searching for an out-of-the-ordinary holiday, or vacation travelers seeking a peaceful Nature connection immersed in stunning views of the surrounding landscape. A glamping biz can be a lucrative opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to turn a hobby or outdoor skill into a side-income or scale into a full-time operation with minimal investment.

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You have what it takes ‒ No prior business experience needed!

So, how do you start a glamping biz with no prior experience? First let’s address any concerns you might have regarding entrepreneurial skills. Although, thinking about starting a glamping enterprise without prior business know-how can be scary, everyday people all around the globe are proving that they can get started with a minimal investment ‒ and, before you know it, you’re up and running and reaping lucrative rewards. Let’s do a deeper dive.

If you can confidently ‘Say Yes’ to a few simple questions, you have what it takes…

• Do you enjoy creating community around your interests, hobbies and skills in an outdoor setting? Then, you have what it takes to create a successful glamping business.  
• Do you have a location in mind that’s ideal for glamping? If you own land that you want to open up for others to enjoy; or, have access to land that can be optimized to create a glamping site, you’re already ahead of the game.
• Do you have the hospitality temperament to make guests feel welcome?
• Last, but not least ‒ do you have the stick-to-it mindset that starting a glamping business takes? The reality is that, like any worthwhile entrepreneurial endeavor, it takes planning and a little bit of work along each step of the journey.

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Starting a Glamping Business: Step-by-Step Guide 

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Step 1 ‒ Overview of the Nature-Smart Glamping Business Model

How are ordinary people taking advantage of the Nature-Smart business model to create the perfect glamping getaway? Firstly, by optimizing their unused space, purchasing land, upgrading an existing campsite or converting someone else’s vacant land into a private or semi-private glamping destination that attracts Nature-loving and adventure-seeking vacation travelers.

Step 2 ‒ Initial Considerations

To begin, a glamping business uses various platforms and media to build an online presence. That said, don’t think you have to go it alone.

This is where networking and finding mentors in your niche is key to ensuring your success. Take advantage of online resources and education to learn some practical skills to help grow your business. Listed below are some primary considerations and exploratory questions.

You’ll want to…

• Complete initial research and take good notes to refer to, as needed.  
• Jot down your questions and create a checklist along each step of your journey.
• Spend time developing a clear road map. Sketch-out a business road map that you can later convert into a realistic business plan with or without the help of experts.
• Explore the legalities of operating a glamping business.  
• Research spreading the word (aka Marketing).  
• Know your strengths and weaknesses so you can hire experts and employees to fill vital gaps.

Startup Costs

When compared to the construction costs of building conventional lodging, the price tag would be prohibitive for the average person. The good news is that a glamping business doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. You can get started on a shoe-string budget and scale-up as you grow your business.

There are many variables, here, depending on your intended use, location, target market and budget. Your main costs will be acquiring land, developing that land, purchasing tent shelters and furnishings. Additionally, you may need to allocate funds for legal, blueprints, permits, construction materials, labor, tools and equipment rental. Be sure to set funds aside to cover any unexpected expenses.

Ongoing Expenses

You’ll be pleased to learn that expenses are minimal. This is where a glamping business begins to make ROI (return on investment) sense. Remember, you are selling an experience. Sky’s not the Limit ‒ you can opt to scale your rates, accordingly!

Ongoing budgetary expenses may include supplies, food-menu services, laundry-cleaning, employee wages, utilities, property taxes, accounting services, insurance, maintenance and repair and more. Additional expenses may include added attractions ‒ such as, a luxury stay, spa packages, on-site activities, events, sight-seeing tours, excursions and expeditions etc. Again, be sure to set funds aside to cover unexpected expenses.

Legalities of operating a glamping biz

Here’s a few legalities to consider:

• Brainstorming and researching a business name can be both fun and challenging. You’ll want to do your due diligence and investigate name availability (along with any related trademarks) prior to registering your business name with both Federal and State offices.  
• If you plan to use social media platforms and create a website to promote your business, you’ll want to secure your domain name. It’s important to do this before someone else gets wind of it.
• Creating a legal entity, such as an LLC or Sub-charter S corporation is foundational to building a glamping business ‒ it protects you from being held personally liable, in the event of any unforseens.
• Acquiring business insurance is a must ‒ however, you don’t have to bear the cost alone. Online booking sites often, include excellent guest insurance as part of their services (see below).
• When it comes to permits, licenses and Certificates of Occupancy (CO’s), each area has their own requirements ‒ you will want to investigate building codes and zoning requirement to avoid penalties down the road. Recently, Pacific Domes discovered a great YouTube video interview with, Nick, a Zoning specialist who has over 15-years of experience. You may find answers to many of the questions that you might encounter along your journey… “ZONING EXPERT teaches us ALL of his SECRETS: Domes, Yurts, Glamping, and more.”

Spreading the word

These days, creating a website is simple enough for the average non-techy layperson, but, don’t let the lack of one side-track you ‒ you can choose to add a website anytime, or not. That said, you may be pleasantly surprised that by doing a bit of online research, you’ll uncover a growing number of online booking sites offering to promote your glamping spot for a nominal fee. They do a great job of spreading the word, so you don’t have to. To name a few popular booking sites ‒  Airbnb, Glamping Hub and Hipcamp.

YouTube is a popular search engine (reaches a vast audience) where you can upload videos, promote your unique destination and add guest testimonials.  You can also, showcase your glamping getaway on popular social media platforms ‒  such as, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin ‒ and, manage all your sites in one place with Hootsuite.

HubSpot offers a full platform of marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM (customer relations management) software ‒ plus, the methodology, resources, and support ‒ to help grow your business. If you’re looking for fast results, you can consider launching an AD campaign. You’ve seen those ads that display at the top of search results, like Google Adwords (linking to your website, booking site or social media platform)? Word of caution ‒ there’s a learning curve and consulting with professionals will save you a bundle in the long-run.

Step 3 ‒ Designing the Glamping Infrastructure

When it comes to designing the infrastructure for your idyllic glamping business, you don’t want to start off by letting budgetary constraints limit your ingenuity. This is where you want to just let your create mind run free by giving yourself permission to dream big. You’ll be glad you did ‒ and, you’ll be reaping the rewards in no time.

What’s the infrastructure look like? Take a few deep breaths and begin by visualizing and organizing the rudimentary steps; and, build on that ‒  then, create a working checklist.

The foundational prerequisites are:

• land • shelter • access to utilities • a tent foundation • bathroom/ kitchenette/ bedroom/ living area

• appliances/ furniture/ furnishings • anything else you might wish to add, such as, outdoor living space

Choosing the right location and site prepping…

Take time to visualize and sketch the pros and cons of your chosen location. Plan and sketch out your lodging, one room at a time by referring to the foundational prerequisites.

We’ve made it easy for you to accelerate the process. We hope you’ll find our study guides useful in jump-starting your journey. Here’s some of our favorite guides:

• Guide to Purchasing & Building Your Own DIY Dome
• Getting Started with Building Your Prefab Tiny House Dome… “Even if you’ve never built anything before!”
• Building Your Outdoor Dome Retreat: A Green-Building Construction Guide
• Building a deck foundation: Guide: How to Plan and Build a Deck for Your DIY Dome Home

Step 4 ‒ Choosing the right shelter option

You will want to explore the various types of tent shelters available on the market and consider your long-term investment. A wise investment isn’t always the least expensive ‒ it’s a product that’s durable, easy to set-up and use, relatively, easy to maintain-repair ‒ and, saves you issues down the road.

Take into account the terrain, as well as, climate and weather extremes. In addition to creature comforts and a chic hospitality style, lodging guests look for features that make it easy to maintain optimal temperatures ‒ such as, ventilated windows in spring-summer and a safe tent stove in fall-winter.

What are the services and amenities that you will offer? You’ll love collecting a few design ideas from our Interior Dome Design Guide ‒ includes video tour.

When you’re ready to fine-tune your choice, you’ll want to configure your dome and acquaint yourself with dome features and accessories. Be sure to visit our online store for sizes and prices.

Step 5 ‒ Crystalizing your dream

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