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Hi folks, it's me again. Still looking into buying a site and it would appear that eveyone says what a terrible idea it is. Makes me even more determined though, someone's got to do it.

Anyway my question for today is, I am trying to find out profit to income ratio's and general cost of running a site of an average size. Short of asking an owner, (not very comfy with that option)  does anyone know how I would go about seeing accounts for caravan/campsites or finding out the info I want?

I am all googled out on that one.

Some good responses to my last question,
Cheers,
Andy.

Hi Caroline,
                I have an appointment with a small business advisor, but I am not sure if he will be able to tell me anything. I may try an accountant next.
cheers.

Andy.

Castlerigg..............fantastic place. 

Andy,

You can get details of accounts filed with Company House here

Just type in the business name to search.

Obviously what's filed and what's actually earned may differ considerably.......if you know what I mean

I would definetely talk to a site owners lots of them......  What about one not in your area who would not be threatened by your custom?!!

Then I would talk to the Camping and Carvanning club.... Caravan club et al.....Then the Council, Leisure and tourism and Rural Development.

That would identify the danger areas.... Then I would talk to an accountant with the figures.. that way you would get more out of accountant.  An accountant is helpful but his expertese is in the pure money side... he cannot know all the pitfalls of trade. If you have done your homework then you will get more out of him.... He can pull holes in y our reasoning....

Might also be worth finding out if there is a Rural development person because they may be able to give you some free advice.  The often have support systems for small business.

When checking out a campsite I would try and build connections with neighbouring business, ie good local butcher.... local free range eggs.  Perhaps any activity areas.  Tourist areas feed off each other so people are willing to talk.

come visit and talk to us - we brought a site (existing business) last year, sold it and brought a site that had site licence but not a lot else - we've learnt a lot in a short space of time.  The biggest learn is you need capital at least £250,000 to put down before a mortgage and plenty of money on top - it's not a quick buck game it's a lifestyle change and at times that's much harder than you think and a huge tie( do you like your holidays, for get em, free time, forget it and it's a 24hrs a day job - are u prepared to get up to book in those french tourists at 3am! or unblock the loos at 10.30pm? when you've done a days works already? and all whilst you are shelling out money to make improvements?) that said I wouldn't change it for the world.

If you want to chat, find the email for me from UKCS and drop us a line or best still come visit us

Liz

Liz

Thats brilliant advice for Andy and very generous of you. We were thinking of developing a caravan site here on land across the road from our guest house. Its probably a no no because of the amount we have already invested in the house. we had a word with the camping and caravan club at the NEC in February and they said look at investing £500,000 in a franchise site with them. A bit scary I would say!

Caroline M

We looked at the C & C franchise scheme once you own a site, but seems an awful lot of money that we simply don't have and a big risk taboot!

Have you thought of a 5 cl site for your land then go from there - if you run a cl site for a while councils are more prepared to look at planning applications/site licences etc!

Maybe I should branch out as an advisor, what do ya think???

Liz

Liz, most generous of you.
I have sent you an e-mail.

I too went down the franchise route with the C&Cc but decided I would rather put my money into my own place.
thanks again for the advice so far.

Andy.

Advisor has got to be easier! not as much fun though I bet.

andyl

you got email!!!

liz