South Africa has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. The country has a diverse and rich outdoors in which many would love to spend all their time.
If you are one of these people, you might be interested in buying a campsite. Take time researching and finding the right campsite to buy and you might be able to live your passion and make money doing it.
Find the right business to buy
Running a campsite is hard work and you will probably be spending most of your time onsite interacting with your customers- especially in season. Being a people person will help you run a successful campsite, however, finding a business that is perfect for you is also important.
Before you will be able to narrow down your search to the campsites that are right for you, you need to know exactly what your guidelines are for the business that you need. Set out your goals and your non-negotiables.
Will you want to live and work in the same location or how far are you willing to travel? What kind of environment are you wanting the business to be in?
Buying an existing business will give you the advantage of being able to hit the ground running. However, before you buy a business, you should check that all the legal requirements are in place. If they are, it will save you the time and energy of having to sort this out.
Be thorough with your due diligence
Although you may have found a business that fits all your needs and is exactly what you were looking for, you will need to look deeper. Make sure that there isn’t anything that will cause trouble for you once you have taken over the business.
Any problems that you discover will not necessarily mean you shouldn’t purchase the business. It could simply mean that you will be able to negotiate the price down.
Check that you know where the land boundaries are and whether or not all the properties on the land will belong to you after the purchase. The access to your campsite will be particularly important and so assess whether you will need to spend money improving it.
Another important factor is whether or not there is adequate drainage, ablutions and power supply.
Research the business’ reputation
Bad online reviews can stay with a business for a long time. Once you buy the business, you will also be buying its reputation. Potential campers will be looking online to decide where to camp and the reviews will play a role in where they choose.
Make sure there is potential to grow
Buying an already existing campsite without any major problems is what you should aim for, however, you will also want to be able to grow the business in the future.
When you’re looking at campsites to buy, check whether there is room to expand. Could you add more pitches? Is there an opportunity to build a games room, a bar or a pool?
You should also think about whether or not you will be able to attract customers in the offseason. Buying a campsite that is located near a popular attraction will draw in people. You can also collaborate with local businesses during the quieter months to offer potential campers package deals.
