Tips For Opening A Harpeth River Canoe Rental Business

By Angela West


Spending time exploring the waterway can be quite exciting. However, most people who love such outdoor activities do not have their own vessels. This means that you can make some money renting out kayaks to them. In the read that follows, tips on starting a successful Harpeth River canoe rental business are discussed.

Understand the business. Before venturing into any business, you should get to know what it entails. Basically, your company will be making money from leasing out vessels to both locals and visitors seeking to enjoy the waters. Your daily activities will involve accepting bookings, training beginners, servicing your hardware, etc. To enjoy doing all these, you should be passionate about canoeing and dealing with people.

Before investing lots of cash in a kayak rental venture, you need to know who your potential customers are. Most people who love going down the Harpeth River are locals who cherish spending time outdoors. You may also encounter lots of visitors looking to sample the local attractions. It is essential that you research the services they are looking for and purpose to meet their expectations.

Your success will also depend on how clear the plan you come up with is. When creating your business plan, there are certain topics that you have to address. It is vital to look into your start-up costs and work on the sales projections. Such calculations will go a long way in helping you work out the amount of time you will require to break even.

Get legit. Registering your kayak rental venture will begin by choosing a catchy name for it. You also have to apply for a couple of licenses as per the regulations that guide the local canoeing industry. Additionally, you will require first aid certifications, liability insurance and a couple of permits. Ensure that you meet such compliance requirements as you do not want to deal with hefty fines.

Starting a business that leases out canoes requires money. You will need to buy a couple of vessels, paddles and life jackets among other things. This may mean seeking funding from your bank or other institution that finances start-ups in your area. Other ways of getting capital include entering into partnership agreements and borrowing from friends.

A huge chunk of your capital will go into the purchase of the vessels you need. The number of canoes you should buy will depend on the size of the business you are looking to set up. You can source for quality kayaks from local stores or the internet. However, you have to do your research if you must buy durable and comfortable equipment that your customers will like.

Market your venture. With proper marketing, you can easily reach out to a huge client base. The internet provides lots of marketing tools that suits start-ups like yours. You can also come up with a basic website to help your clients reach you and make bookings online. However, providing excellent services is arguably the most effective way to advertise any new business.




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