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RV Park Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Growthink.com RV Park Business Plan Template

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 2,500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their RV parks. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through an RV park business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your RV park as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start an RV park or grow your existing RV park you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your RV park in order to improve your chances of success. Your RV park business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for RV Parks

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for an RV park are bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for an RV park is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan. Venture capitalists will not fund an RV park.

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Your business plan should include 10 sections as follows:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of RV park business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have an RV park that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of RV parks.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the RV park industry. Discuss the type of RV park you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of RV park you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

  • Traditional RV Park : this type of RV park can be a small campground with a few dozen sites, a resort with hundreds of sites, and everything in between. It can also provide just the basics (electricity and fresh water), or full-service options such as sewer hookups.
  • Glamping Resorts : this type of RV park offers a range of amenities, such as spas and restaurants and golf, as well as luxury RVs for rent.

In addition to explaining the type of RV park you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new store openings, etc.
  • Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the RV park business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the RV park industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards glamping, it would be helpful to ensure your plan calls for plenty of amenities and/or high-end activities.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your RV park business plan:

  • How big is the RV park business (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your RV park. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your RV park business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: young families, couples, retirees, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of RV park you operate. Clearly young families would want a different atmosphere, pricing and amenities, and would respond to different marketing promotions than retirees.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other RV parks.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes hotels, motels, tent campgrounds and hostels. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who owns an RV uses an RV park each time they travel.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other RV parks with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be RV parks located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

  • What types of customers do they serve?
  • What products do they offer?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them (or research reviews online).

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you provide superior amenities?
  • Will you provide amenities that your competitors don’t offer?
  • Will you make it easier or faster for customers to reserve a site?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For an RV park business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of RV park that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific amenities you will be offering. For example, in addition to water hookups, will you offer sewer hookups, or a convenience store, etc.?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the types of sites you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your RV park. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your RV park located next to a heavily trafficked national park, or tourist attraction, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers. 

Promotions : the final part of your RV park marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertising in local papers and magazines
  • Reaching out to local bloggers and websites 
  • Social media advertising
  • Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., amusement park ticket holders get a discount on an RV site)
  • Local radio advertising
  • Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your RV park such as serving customers, procuring supplies, keeping the store clean, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 1,000th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.

Management Team

To demonstrate your RV park’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the RV park business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in RV parks and/or successfully running retail and small businesses.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 50 customers per week or 100? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your RV park, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing an RV park:

  • Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
  • Cost of maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Taxes and permits
  • Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your park design blueprint or location lease.

RV Park Business Plan Summary

Putting together a business plan for your RV park is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the RV park business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful RV park.  

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your RV Park business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

RV Park Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my rv park business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template  allows you to quickly and easily complete your RV Park Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

Where can i download an rv park business plan pdf.

You can download our free RV Park business plan template PDF here . This is a sample RV Park business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how a Growthink business plan writer can create your business plan for you.

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RV Park Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

RV Park Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your RV Park business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their RV Parks.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your RV Park business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Custer’s Best RV Park is a new RV park located in Custer, South Dakota. The company is founded by Charles Carter, an RV park and campground manager who has over ten years of experience working in the RV Park industry. Charles began his career working as a campground attendant and worked his way up to a management position in an RV park and campground near a busy national park. Now that Charles has garnered a positive reputation for exceptional customer service, management, and budgeting skills, he is ready to venture out and establish his own RV park business – Custer’s Best RV Park. Charles is confident that his ability to find and retain highly effective RV park staff, optimize the budget, and build positive customer relationships will quickly garner demand from RVers looking for the best RV park in South Dakota. Charles plans on recruiting a team of experienced and motivated professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running an RV park – customer service, marketing, leasing and rent collection, budgeting and financial reporting, and cleaning and maintenance.

Custer’s Best RV Park will provide a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for RVers with an extensive list of amenities and services to go along with each rental. Custer’s Best will accommodate both short-term vacationers looking for a convenient spot near Custer’s Park and people seeking a full-time RV living space. Custer’s Best RV Park will be the ultimate choice in Custer for RVers while being the best-priced RV park in town.

Product Offering

The following are the amenities that Custer’s Best RV Park will provide:

  • Full-hookup service (electricity, water, sewer, WiFi)
  • Clubhouse with full kitchen, fitness room, showers, laundry, library, and game room
  • Camp store (food, beverages, toiletries, emergency kits, cleaning supplies, games, etc.)
  • Swimming pool
  • Children’s playground
  • Campground and picnic area
  • Guided tours of Custer Park and surrounding areas

Customer Focus

Custer’s Best RV Park will target all campers, tourists, vacationers, seasonal RVers, and full-time RVers looking for the most fun and convenient spot near Custer Park, South Dakota. No matter the customer, Custer’s Best RV Park will deliver the best amenities, services, and all-around welcoming environment.

Management Team

Custer’s Best RV Park will be owned and operated by Charles Carter. He has recruited an experienced marketer, Sally Smith, to be his marketing director and handle all aspects of advertising, marketing, and promotions for the RV park.

Charles Carter is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has been working at a local RV park and campground for over a decade, beginning as a campground attendant and working his way up to campground manager. Charles’s organizational, problem solving, and communication skills have garnered him a reputation for being an effective manager.

Sally Smith has a Masters degree in Marketing from the University of South Dakota. Charles relies strongly on Sally’s sales and marketing expertise to promote the business and attract new customers. Sally has worked on multiple marketing campaigns for other recreation, campground, and RV Park businesses and will play an essential role in Custer’s Best RV Park management team.

Success Factors

Custer’s Best RV Park will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of campground attendants available 24/7 to lead activities and tours, answer questions and provide information on the area, and perform cleanup and maintenance services when needed.
  • Comprehensive list of amenities available to ensure campers feel welcome with all the conveniences of home.
  • Custer’s Best RV Park offers the best pricing around. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Custer’s Best RV Park is seeking $220,000 in debt financing to launch its RV park business. The funding will be dedicated towards purchasing the land and building out the facilities. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, utilities, and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Purchase of the land: $90,000
  • Build-out of the RV Park, campground, store, and clubhouse:  $100,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $110,000
  • Marketing costs: $10,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Custer’s Best RV Park.

rv park business plan free

Company Overview

Who is custer’s best rv park.

Custer’s Best RV Park is a newly established full-hookup RV park and campground in Custer, South Dakota. Custer State Park, a 71,000 acre expanse of spectacular terrain packed with recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife tours. Custer’s Best RV Park will provide the most amenities for the price, making it the first choice for campers in the area. Custer’s Best will provide a comprehensive list of amenities and services to suit both short-term vacationers and full-time RVers. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive set of property oversight, maintenance, guided tours, as well as a clubhouse with laundry facilities, fitness center, showers, kitchen, and game room for campers to enjoy.

Custer’s Best RV Park will be able to manage camper onboarding, site maintenance, guided tours, leasing and rent collection for long-term campers, and campground activities. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in RV park and campground management. Custer’s Best RV Park makes RV life convenient and enjoyable for its campers.

Custer’s Best RV Park History

Custer’s Best is owned and operated by Charles Carter, a former campground manager who has a Business Administration degree from the University of South Dakota. Charles has worked for an RV park and campground near a busy national park for over ten years. Charles’s tenure with the RV park and campground has given him the skills and knowledge required to start his own company. Charles has worked hard to grow a large network of industry professionals and RV enthusiasts ready to help promote the business to their friends and families.

Since incorporation, Custer’s Best RV Park has achieved the following milestones:

  • Registered Custer’s Best RV Park, LLC to transact business in the state of South Dakota.
  • Has a land contract in place to purchase the property from the current owner.
  • Reached out to numerous contacts to include RV park attendants, managers, and RV enthusiasts to spread the word about the upcoming RV park in Custer.
  • Began recruiting a staff of campground attendants, maintenance technicians, and security personnel to work at Custer’s Best RV Park.

Custer’s Best RV Park Services

  • Full hookups (electricity, water, sewer, WiFi)

Industry Analysis

The U.S. Campground and RV Parks industry is an estimated $6.2B market. Camping is a popular recreation activity in the United States, with approximately 41M Americans participating in this recreation activity each year. According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association there are approximately 30M RV enthusiasts, including RV renters, across the country, creating a niche market with an enthusiastic target audience. The RV industry continues to post increasing sales numbers year over year. According to Dun & Bradstreet, there are  over 4,000 RV parks across the nation, with combined annual revenue of $2.8B.

The U.S. RV Parks and Campground industry demand drivers include personal income and tourist travel. The industry is highly fragmented with 50 of the largest companies accounting for only around 30% of all industry revenue. Most RV park operators are privately held, single-location enterprises.

Profitability depends heavily on the occupancy rate and the effectiveness of the marketing campaign. RV park operators can gain a competitive advantage by offering diverse site offerings and amenities or by operating in desirable locations.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Custer’s Best RV Park will target all campers, tourists, vacationers, and full-time RVers looking for the most fun and convenient spot near Custer Park, South Dakota. No matter the customer, Custer’s Best RV Park will deliver the best amenities, services, and all-around welcoming environment.

The precise demographics for Custer, South Dakota are:

Customer Segmentation

Custer’s Best will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • In-state campers/vacationers looking for a place to stay near Custer State Park.
  • Out-of-state tourists/vacationers looking for a place to stay near Custer State Park.
  • RV enthusiasts/people looking for a semi-permanent/permanent residence for their RV.
  • Seasonal RVers/people looking for a place to stay in Custer, South Dakota on a seasonal basis.

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Custer’s Best RV Park will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Kuster Kamps RV Park

Kuster Kamps RV Park provides full-hookup RV rentals. Located in Custer, the Kuster Kamps RV Park is able to provide a convenient location for campers headed to Custer State Park. Their list of services include full-hookup accommodations including utilities, water, sewer, and internet, a picnic area and campground, and a swimming pool.

Kuster Kamps’ promise is to deliver excellent customer service, amenities, and maintenance of the RV park and campground. The team of experienced RV park management professionals assures the park is run smoothly, freeing the campers to enjoy their stay.

SD RV Park is an Custer-based RV park that provides outstanding RV rental accommodations for campers. SD RV Park provides comprehensive services and amenities including full-hookup rental space, a communal kitchen and laundry, and campground activities scheduled throughout the week in peak seasons. The owners of SD RV Park are RV park and campground management professionals so they understand how an RV park should be operated, maintained, and marketed. Campers can depend on their 24/7 staff availability for any maintenance issues that come up. By choosing SD RV Park, RVers can rest assured they will have a relaxing vacation.

RecVe’s Park & Campground

RecVe’s Park & Campground is a trusted Custer RV park and campground that provides superior service to RV enthusiasts looking for both short-and-long-term rental space. They are able to provide a one-stop shop for campers in the Custer State Park recreation area. RecVe’s Park & Campground offers full-hookup rental spaces, a camp market, and guided tours. RecVe’s is the premium choice for full-time RVers with exceptional customer service and round the clock maintenance available.

Competitive Advantage

Custer’s Best RV Park will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of camp attendants onsite 24/7 to provide visitor information, emergency maintenance, and security.
  • Comprehensive menu of services and amenities that provides campers with the greatest flexibility and most options as compared to the competition.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Custer’s Best RV Park will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Highly-qualified team of skilled campground attendants that provide a comprehensive set of services (guided tours, campground activities, maintenance, cleanup, and round the clock security).
  • Unbeatable pricing to its customers – Custer’s Best RV Park offers tiered pricing packages as well as a la carte options to give campers the flexibility to pay for what they need, and skip what they don’t.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Custer’s Best RV Park is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Charles Carter has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional RV park management and customer service. Many of these contacts have communicated to Charles that they kept renewing their contracts because they were happy with the service he was providing. Once Charles advised them he was leaving to open his own RV park, they signed commitments to follow him to the new park and help spread the word of Custer’s Best RV Park.

Professional Associations and Networking

Custer’s Best RV Park will become a member of professional associations such as the South Dakota Campground Owners Association and the National Association of RV Parks & Campground (ARVC). They will focus their networking efforts on expanding their customer network.

Print Advertising

Custer’s Best RV Park will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events and in local newspapers and magazines.

Website/SEO Marketing

Custer’s Best RV Park will utilize their in-house marketing director that designed their print ads to also design their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all their services and amenities that Custer’s Best is able to provide. The marketing director will also manage Custer’s Best’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Custer RV park” or “RV park near me”, Custer’s Best RV Park will be listed at the top of the search results.

Social Media Marketing

The marketing director will manage all of Custer’s Best RV Park’s social media marketing efforts including maintaining an active presence on various social media platforms and working with brand ambassadors and influencers to promote the RV park on their social media channels.

The pricing of Custer’s Best RV Park will be moderate with more flexibility in pricing packages than their competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Custer’s Best RV Park.

Operation Functions:

  • Charles Carter will be the Owner and Campground Manager. He will oversee all staff and manage customer relations. Charles has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
  • Sally Smith – Marketing Director who will execute on all marketing efforts for Custer’s Best.
  • Jill Miller – Staff Accountant will provide all client accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
  • Marty Johnson – Maintenance Director who will provide all maintenance for the RV park.
  • Joe Williams – Head Camp Attendant who will supervise all seasonal and hourly camp attendants for the RV park.

Milestones:

Custer’s Best RV Park will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

7/1/2022 – Finalize contract to purchase the land.

7/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts.

8/1/2022 – Begin build-out of Custer’s Best RV Park.

8/15/2022 – Begin marketing campaign and networking at industry events.

8/22/2022 – Finalize rental contracts with first customers.

9/1/2022 – Custer’s Best RV Park opens for business.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Custer’s Best RV Park are the RV park rental fees they will charge to the campers for renting a space. Custer’s Best will offer multiple pricing options to accommodate short-term and long-term rentals. Additional fees for RV park services and amenities will be charged on a per-use basis. Alternatively, customers may pay for a per-stay or a per-season pass to secure access to all amenities.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff the RV park. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

  • Build-out of the RV Park, campground, store, and clubhouse: $100,000

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

  • Number of occupied rentals per day: 10
  • Average fees per month: $40,000
  • Average expenses per year: $330,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, rv park business plan faqs, what is an rv park business plan.

An RV Park business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your RV park. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your RV park business plan using our RV Park Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of RV Parks?

There are a number of different kinds of trucking companies, some examples include: Traditional RV Parks and Glamping Resorts.

How Do You Get Funding for Your RV Park Business Plan?

RV parks are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for an RV Park business plan or business plan for campground.

What are the Steps To Start a RV Park Business?

Starting a RV park business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A RV Park Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed RV park business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your RV park business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your RV park business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your RV Park Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your RV park business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your RV park business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary RV Park Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your RV park business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your RV park business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful RV park  business:

  • How to Start an RV Park Business

Where can I get an RV Park Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free RV Park business plan template PDF here . This is an RV Park business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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How To Write an RV Park Business Plan + Template

Business Plan

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for RV park businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every RV park business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template

What is an RV Park Business Plan?

An RV park business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write an RV Park Business Plan?

An RV park business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective RV Park Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful RV park business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of an RV park business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

  • Start with a one-line description of your RV park company
  • Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your RV park business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your RV park, mention this.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of an RV park business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

  • What part of the RV park industry are you targeting?
  • How big is the market?
  • What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, RV park customers may include families with children, retirees, and business travelers.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or RV park services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your RV park business may have:

  • Lower prices than traditional hotels
  • Amenities such as pools, playgrounds, and BBQ areas
  • Onsite laundry facilities
  • Pet-friendly policies
  • Easy access to major highways

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

  • Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
  • Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
  • Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
  • Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your RV park business via word-of-mouth marketing.

Operations Plan

This part of your RV park business plan should include the following information:

  • How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
  • What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for an RV park business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include expanding to a second location, developing a new service, or hiring additional staff.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific RV park industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

  • Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
  • Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
  • Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup RV Park

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

  • Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
  • Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
  • Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup RV Park

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

  • Cash Flow From Operations
  • Cash Flow From Investments
  • Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup RV park business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup RV Park

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

  • Your complete financial projections
  • A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
  • Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your RV park company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written business plan is an essential tool for any RV park owner. In this article, we’ve outlined the key components of a successful business plan and shared a template that you can use to create your own.  

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RV Park Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

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RV Park Business Plan

If you want to start a RV park or expand your existing RV park business, you need a business plan.

The following sample business plan gives you the key elements to include in a successful RV park business plan.

You can download our RV Park Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Sample Business Plan for an RV Camping Business

Below are links to each of the key sections of a sample business plan for an RV camping business.

  • Executive Summary – The executive summary provides an overview of your business opportunity and summarizes the business plan.
  • Company Overview – The company analysis includes information about your business concept, campground services, and legal structure.
  • Industry Analysis – The industry analysis includes market research that supports your business and provides insights into market trends and the RV park industry.
  • Customer Analysis – The customer analysis provides an overview of your target customers including RV campers.
  • Competitive Analysis – The competitive analysis should identify your direct and indirect competitors including other RV parks and campsites, and highlight your RV park’s competitive advantage.
  • Marketing Plan – The marketing plan includes your marketing strategy, pricing strategy and search engine optimization plan to attract customers.
  • Operations Plan – The operations plan describes your company’s day-to-day operations and processes in maintaining the campground facilities.
  • Management Team – The management team section includes a profile of the RV park owners and business management, their experience and company responsibilities.
  • Financial Plan – The financial plan includes financial projections, a cash flow statement, profit and loss statement and balance sheet.

Click below to see each section of our free RV Park business plan template. You can also click here to get our RV Park business plan pdf.

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RV Park Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Rv Park Business Plan Template & Guidebook

If you're looking to start an RV Park, you need more than just an idea - you need a well thought-out business plan. With the #1 RV Park Business Plan Template & Guidebook, you'll have everything you need to craft a comprehensive and organized business plan so you can get the funding, customer base, and success your RV Park deserves.

Nick

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  • How to Start a Profitable Rv Park Business [11 Steps]

How to Write a Rv Park Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your rv park business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your rv park business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a rv park business:

Our purpose at XYZ RV Park is to provide a safe, comfortable, and family-friendly outdoor recreation experience for guests of all ages. We strive to be the premier RV resort in the region by providing exceptional service, amenities, and activities at an unbeatable value. We will prioritize customer satisfaction and promote responsible use of natural resources in order to create a positive environmental impact.

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2. Products & Services Offered by Your Rv Park Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your rv park business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is my business?
  • What are the products and/or services that I offer?
  • Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
  • How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
  • How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

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3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your rv park business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your rv park business includes the following elements:

Target market

  • Who is your target market?
  • What do these customers have in common?
  • How many of them are there?
  • How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

  • Who are your current customers? 
  • Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
  • How can their experience with your rv park business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

  • How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
  • Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
  • Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
  • How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

  • Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
  • Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
  • What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

  • Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
  • What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
  • What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
  • How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

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4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

  • The equipment and facilities needed
  • Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
  • Financial requirements for each step
  • Milestones & KPIs
  • Location of your business
  • Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a rv park business?

In order to run a successful RV Park business, you will need a variety of equipment, supplies, and permits. Some of the most important items include:

  • RV hookups and electrical supplies
  • Sanitary sewer and septic tanks
  • Water supply and filtration system
  • Campground amenities such as restrooms, showers, playgrounds, etc.
  • A generator for power in case of outages
  • Fencing to secure the area
  • Permits from local authorities and zoning boards

5. Management & Organization of Your Rv Park Business.

The second part of your rv park business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

  • How many employees you need in order to run your rv park business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
  • The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
  • How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Rv Park Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a rv park business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a rv park business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your rv park business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your rv park business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your rv park business plan:

  • Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
  • Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
  • Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
  • Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
  • Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
  • Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rv Park Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a rv park business.

A business plan is an important tool for the successful launch and growth of a new RV park business. It helps you to define your objectives, understand your market, identify the resources needed, and establish budget and financial projections. A well-crafted business plan can be used to attract investment for capital or funding for operations, to secure a loan, or to outline the roadmap of success for a new or existing operation.

Who should you ask for help with your rv park business plan?

It is recommended to consult with an attorney, accountant, and other professionals with expertise in setting up and running an RV park business. Additionally, it is important to research local laws and regulations pertaining to RV parks, in order to ensure that your plan is compliant with any applicable rules. Furthermore, working with a business consultant or mentor who has experience in the RV park industry can be invaluable when it comes to developing a successful business plan.

Can you write a rv park business plan yourself?

Writing a business plan yourself is certainly possible, but it's important to remember that it takes time and research to get the plan right. A business plan should include a comprehensive market analysis, a financial forecast, an operational plan and a marketing plan. It's best to use an experienced professional to help ensure that the business plan is comprehensive and well-researched. Additionally, make sure you consult with local resources such as your local Small Business Administration office to help ensure that your business plan meets the requirements of local zoning laws and regulations.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

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How to Start an RV Park Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   February 21, 2024

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The RV lifestyle is more popular than ever, with over 1 million households now owning an RV in the United States. According to a report by the RV Industry Association , RV shipments are expected to hit 589,100 units in 2022, an all-time high and indicative of the growing demand for RV travel and vacations. With more RVs on the road, quality places for them to park are also in increasing demand.

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Starting an RV park can be an extremely lucrative business opportunity for those looking to capitalize on this growing trend. Not only can park owners bring in steady nightly and monthly rental income, but additional revenue streams like utility hook-ups, convenience stores, and recreation rentals can also boost the bottom line. An RV park with 50 spaces could generate over $500,000 in annual revenue.

This guide will show you how to start a RV park. Topics include market research, competitive analysis, business accounting, obtaining business insurance, sourcing equipment, and more. Here’s everything you need to know to start a RV park.

1. Conduct RV Park Market Research

Market research is an important factor in designing a thorough business plan. It offers insight into your financial projections, target market, local market saturation, trends in services and products, and more. There are two types of market research, primary and secondary, both are required to start your own RV park.

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Some details you’ll learn through market research include:

  • Specific data on privately-owned RV camping park economics shows the immense earnings potential.
  • The actual profit margins for RV park owners are also favorable.
  • Profit margins typically range from 30% to 60% of gross revenue depending on amenities offered and operational efficiency.
  • The return on investment timeline for new RV parks is also appealing. RV parks are versatile and can also function as AirBnB’s , but that does require consistent property management that you may or may not do yourself.
  • Building a new park from the ground up can require 2-3 years from initial planning to opening.
  • Most new parks are profitable within 3 years of opening and earn 100% ROI on the initial investment within 5-7 years.

Analysis of current market data indicates that the RV park industry is experiencing rapid expansion in tandem with the rising popularity of RV travel. With strong revenue potential, high-profit margins, and attractive ROI timelines, RV parks represent an extremely lucrative sector with immense opportunities for continued growth.

2. Analyze the Competition

Understanding the competitive landscape is critical for any new RV park owner. Competitive analysis gives you an idea of how other mobile home parks operate, what kind of RV park development is happening in your area, pricing guides, and more.

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A few key ways to get started analyzing competitors include:

  • Research existing RV parks in the immediate area and within a 60-90 minute drive.
  • Identify the number of competitors, their sizes, amenity offerings, pricing, and occupancy rates if possible.
  • Drive through parks and scrutinize site layouts, landscaping, and facility conditions.
  • Review sites like RV Park Reviews and AllStays Camp & RV to see visitor commentary.
  • Monitor feedback over time to spot improving/declining satisfaction trends.
  • Google Maps and satellite view can provide additional perspective on surrounding property usage and zoning, flood zones, terrain challenges, and opportunities for differentiation.
  • Search online review platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp to compile competitive ratings.
  • Analyze competitors’ websites and digital marketing tactics using SimilarWeb and SEMRush.
  • Examine search traffic, referring domains, keyword targeting, and online conversion efforts.

In total, the comprehensive competitive analysis will arm any prospective RV park owner with key intelligence to either carve out a niche or develop a superior park. It illuminates precisely where competitors are falling short and what they are executing well to properly position a new entrant park. With so much revenue at stake, the investment of time is well warranted.

3. Costs to Start an RV Park Business

Campground ownership requires a significant upfront investment. Key costs include land acquisition, utility access and hookup installation, land clearing and preparation, road and site development, permitting, and park amenities.

Start-up Costs:

  • Land Purchase – The land acreage depends on the planned park size, with typical parks ranging from 5 to 30 acres of real estate . Land suitable for an RV park costs $15,000 – $40,000 per acre, putting the total from $75,000 up to over $1 million.
  • Site Work & Utility Installation – Transforming raw land into powered RV sites requires extensive site excavation, grading, drainage, electric, water, and sewer installation which can tally $15,000-$30,000 per site. A park with 50 sites may spend $750,000 to $1.5 million.
  • Amenities & Common Areas – Most parks require shower/restroom buildings, laundry facilities, dump stations, an office, a pool, and recreation areas. These can cost $300,000 to $500,000 depending on sophistication.

In total, building a new 50-site RV park often entails $2 – $3 million in start-up costs. Purchasing an existing park with infrastructure in place substantially reduces upfront capital requirements.

Ongoing Costs

In terms of ongoing operating expenses, RV park owners face:

  • Staffing Expenses – Most parks require a live-in manager plus cleaning and maintenance staff tallying $50,000 – $100,000 per year or more for payroll.
  • Site Costs – Water, electricity, internet access, trash pickup, and sewer service can cost $100 – $200 monthly per site.
  • Maintenance & Repairs – Expect $150+ yearly per site for upkeep and periodic infrastructure repairs like asphalt overlay, utility repairs, or replacement amenities.
  • Insurance – General liability and property hazard insurance typically costs $100-$150 annually per site.
  • Marketing – Attracting customers through online ads, brochures, trade shows, etc. may require a $10,000+ yearly budget per 50 sites.
  • Accounting/Legal – External professional services may tally $5000+ per year.

Considering these elements, owners should budget approximately 50% of gross revenue toward operating expenses. The remaining 50% covers debt payments, taxes, and profit.

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

Structuring your RV park legally is a key first step that impacts taxes, liability exposure, and options for growth. The main entity types each have pros and cons for park owners. Many RV parks choose to go with an LLC. Here’s a breakdown of your options.

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship constitutes the simplest framework – you and the business are one entity. Income and losses flow through to the owner’s tax return. This simplifies paperwork and tax filing. Sole proprietors have unlimited personal liability for business debts, lawsuits, or claims. For an RV park with extensive facilities serving the public, Exposure to legal claims makes this entity hazardous.

Partnership

Forming a general or limited partnership can allow multiple owners to share investment and liability risk. Profits pass through to personal returns similar to a sole proprietorship. However, similar unlimited liability also exists for general partners. Limited partners enjoy liability protection but have limited control.

Corporation

Converting to a C or S corporation better shields owners from legal and debt exposure but requires obs more complex tax filings. S-corps can offer some benefits of partnerships with corporate protections. Double taxation of income with a C-corp is also disadvantageous.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Most RV park experts recommend forming an LLC over other structures. As an LLC:

  • Personal assets enjoy strong liability protection if properly structured. This safeguards owners.
  • Adding additional partners is straightforward through issuing ownership shares called units. Family succession is also simplified.
  • Taxation occurs at the personal level only, avoiding double taxation issues of corporations. This benefits profits.

While requiring formal registration and operation agreements, LLCs pair excellent liability shields with the pass-through taxation of partnerships and the simplicity of sole proprietors. Consult a business attorney to ensure proper setup. But for RV parks, LLCs make for a compelling business structure.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

With an LLC formed, securing an Employer Identification Number (EIN) should become an immediate priority. The EIN serves as your business’s social security number for tax purposes. It is required for opening business bank accounts, paying employees, filing returns, and more.

Thankfully obtaining an EIN is free and fast directly through the Internal Revenue Service website. Simply:

  • Navigate to the Online EIN Application .
  • Select “View Additional Types, Including Tax-Exempt and Governmental Organizations” and choose “Limited Liability Company” as the responsible party.
  • Answer the questions regarding LLC ownership structure, country location, reason for the EIN, and start date.
  • Submit the completed form and your EIN will be provided immediately.

The entire process should take under 10 minutes. With EIN in hand, ensure to share with business partners, supply on state/local license applications, and use on all tax documents.

State-level tax compliance is also imperative. Most states levy sales tax on goods and services. The thresholds, licensing costs, filing procedures, etc. vary.

Research requirements for securing a seller’s permit, sales tax ID, and business license through state government departments. Factor any fees into launch costs and display tax licenses publicly onsite. Consider sales tax implications when pricing rentals and amenities.

Managing federal and state tax obligations keeps RV park ownership profitable while avoiding penalties. Compliance provides the necessary credentials to legally operate while allowing owners to deduct eligible expenses. Invest time upfront to register properly.

6. Setup Your Accounting

With multiple revenue streams from site rentals, utility fees, and amenities, accounting complexity can overwhelm new RV park owners. Establishing organized financial processes and controls is essential early on.

Open a Business Bank Account

Secure separate business banking and credit accounts. Never co-mingle company funds or expenses with personal finances. Mixing the two invites IRS scrutiny if audited. Have clients and vendors remit payments to dedicated business accounts only.

Accounting Software

Online accounting software like QuickBooks can automate and simplify bookkeeping. QuickBooks sync directly with bank/CC statements to import and categorize transactions and track payables/receivables, inventory, budgets, and KPI dashboards. This eliminates manual entry and provides real-time visibility at tax time. Expect costs of $15-50 monthly.

Hire an Accountant

Supplementing with an external accountant adds professional oversight for finances and filings. Typical monthly retainer fees range from $200-500 covering activities like:

  • Recurring reconciliations – Validating bank/CC statements to match company books. It helps identify discrepancies early.
  • Processing payroll including payroll tax filings and annual W-2s
  • Preparing financial statements – Key for monitoring current year performance vs. budgets
  • Sales tax calculation and filings if charging occupancy tax

Additional year-end support filing business returns and sales tax recaps costs around $1000-2000. Worthwhile to ensure IRS compliance and maximize write-offs. Deduct fees as ordinary business expenses.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

While tedious, securing proper business licenses and permits is imperative for legal RV park operations. Find federal license information through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA also offers a local search tool for state and city requirements.

Common RV park permits include:

  • State Campground License – Nearly all states require a state-issued permit to open and operate an RV park legally. For example, California mandates securing a permit through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • Building Permits – Constructing park infrastructure for bathhouses, pools, laundries, roads, utilities, and sites necessitates municipal and/or county building permits. Ensure to file proper permits with agency planning departments before breaking ground to avoid potential delays or remediation orders.
  • Septic And Well Permits – Safely installing waste drainage fields, septic tanks, and potable water wells for the park requires adhering to state environmental department permit protocols during development.
  • Liquor Licenses – If offering bar or lounge areas selling alcoholic beverages on-premises, active liquor licenses must be displayed as required by county or state alcohol control boards.
  • Business License – Most cities and counties require annual business licenses for companies operating within their boundaries, including RV parks. Review local business tax requirements.

In addition, some locations may mandate additional permits covering signs, pools, fueling stations, food handling, events, and more. Verify specifics based on park amenities offered.

8. Get Business Insurance

With dozens of guests on-site daily, RV parks endure substantial liability risks from accidents, injuries, fires, crime, and natural disasters. Lacking adequate insurance coverage invites financial catastrophe for owners’ investments and assets.

Without coverage, imagine the following scenarios: an overnight fire sparked by an electrical issue guts the park’s laundromat facility and inventory, destroying the building and costing huge amounts of money in damage and lost revenue. Or, a child drowns in an unfenced section of park creek.

The parents rightfully sue for negligence without insurance to pay lawyers or a settlement, potentially costing untold millions. Or, one night, sewage from a damaged underground pipe floods multiple RV sites, destroying vehicles. Remediation and guest compensation absent insurance could tally hundreds of thousands in costs

Safeguarding against scenarios like these requires properly insuring the business. Standard policies to obtain quotes for include general liability – which covers 3rd party injury/property claims like guest falls, crime, or fire disasters. Often a minimum of $1 million.

Property insurance would reimburse repairs or rebuild from disasters damaging structures, fences, roads, and utilities and should insure for the rebuild value. Business interruption insurance provides reimbursement for income lost following disasters while closed for repairs.

Quoting specifics first requires tallying all park assets and risk factors. The Small Business Administration provides a thorough risk checklist and insurer guidance. Local agents can also assist in reviewing needs. Expect costs ranging from $5000 to $20,000+ annually based on scale.

While costly, comprehensive insurance reduces owners’ financial risk and makes recovering from the worst-case scenario possible. The adage rings painfully true – better safe than sorry.

9. Create an Office Space

Operating a thriving RV park mandates a dedicated office space for customer service, administrative work, and business storage needs. While site-based, small home offices often suffice initially, scaling space with the business proves vital over time.

Home Offices

During launch, owners can conserve costs by setting up a basic home office. Designating a room, basement, or garage area for an office and storage can meet immediate needs if space allows. Expect to budget $2,000+ for a desk, file cabinets, chairs, phone, business computer, and printer to start.

On-Site Office

For many RV site owners, the most common office is on-site. This lets you remain close to clients for ongoing needs while maintaining a work area for administrative duties. Building an on-site office at an RV park could run $5,000 to $10,000 plus office supplies and electronics for a small modular space.

Most full-time or multi-location parks require standalone offices, especially if operating vacation rentals or other remote aspects requiring an off-site base. Budget accordingly in projections as scaling necessitates eventually transitioning from the dining room table. Consider coworking spaces like WeWork to avoid long-term leases.

10. Source Your Equipment

Launching an RV park requires considerable equipment and materials for clearing land, installing utilities, constructing amenities, and maintaining operations. Thankfully, businesses have options when sourcing necessary items.

For those financing development through investors or traditional loans, buying new machinery from commercial dealers ensures full warranties and longevity. Items like tractors, trenchers, road pavers, and site utilities cost significantly more but endure years of usage.

New amenities like pool heaters, playground sets, and building HVACs similarly last if properly installed and maintained. Shop options at Caterpillar and John Deere plus RV park specialists such as TengoInternet .

Buying Used

Acquiring used tools and equipment becomes attractive for bootstrapped startups. Commercial sites like IronPlanet and MachineFinder list deals on reliable machinery tested before the auction.

Purchasing refurbished amenities also saves thousands over new while adding lifespan vs items on secondary markets.

Another capital-conserving option includes renting bigger machinery needed short-term like excavators, trenchers, or road paving equipment. Home Depot’s tool rental department offers reasonable daily rates on common construction gear. Ask any hired contractors about their rental sources too and compare pricing.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Crafting a distinctive brand presence fuels recognition, trust, and customer loyalty for RV parks in competitive markets. Investing in professional brand assets grants credibility while allowing consistent marketing.

Design a Logo

An iconic logo sets the foundation. Consider bright, friendly designs that encapsulate the location and amenities. Looka provides affordable DIY logo maker tools to explore creative approaches.

Display the logo prominently on the park entrance sign, website, merchandise, and print literature. It quickly becomes a visual shorthand for the property.

Print Business Cards

Pair branding with custom business cards, flyers, and brochures from Vistaprint . Include photos of amenities, site maps, and contact info like the vital business phone number.

Get a Business Phone Number

Establishing a dedicated business line allows for listing key details in directories. Mobile messaging also proves more professional than personal phones. RingCentral offers flexible cloud PBX solutions to smoothly handle caller overflow from any device.

Obtain a Domain Name

Likewise secure matching domain names for the brand website. Good domain names mirror the brand name and slogan. Namecheap facilitates quick, affordable registrations.

Design a Website

Well-designed websites quickly convey the brand personality while enabling direct bookings. Those adept at WordPress, Wix , or Squarespace can craft great DIY sites. Otherwise, hire web developers on marketplaces like Fiverr to actualize concepts. Optimized mobile responsiveness provides the convenience travelers expect.

12. Join Associations and Groups

While competitive, the RV community thrives on mutual support and sharing knowledge. Tapping into local and national groups grants access to invaluable insider expertise when starting an RV park.

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Local Associations

Local RV Associations like the California Association of RV Parks offer members-only education covering park best practices, news updates, and an insider network for advice. Annual events provide face time with owners and vendors. Neighboring state chapters merit joining as well to expand connections.

Local Meetups

Attend area RV trade shows and rallies advertised on sites like Meetup . Subscribing to regional event groups keeps new entrepreneurs abreast of the latest gatherings. Talk to vendors about distribution partnerships, secure contractor referrals, and brainstorm with attendees.

Facebook Groups

RV owners and travelers congregate in prolific numbers on Facebook. Join relevant Groups like Must Visit RV Campgrounds and Free and Affordable RV Camping in the USA to engage with thousands nationwide. Pay attention to frequently asked questions and popular topics to identify current needs. Groups for specific states and brands offer targeted audiences too.

13. How to Market an RV Park Business

Effective marketing proves vital for RV parks to drive bookings and remain visible amid intense competition. With countless parks bidding for road-tripping guests across channels, those making the biggest impressions stand to gain the most travelers.

Personal Networking

Tap into existing social circles first when launching parks. Word-of-mouth referrals from delighted visitors offer a powerful organic endorsement. Satisfied customers also voluntarily review sites like Yelp, Google, and Facebook, lending credence to newcomers. Seed early happy campers by inviting friends and family to experience the amenities firsthand.

Digital Marketing

Digital tactics then help parks scale impressions and bookings exponentially. Consider:

  • Search Engine Marketing – Target those actively seeking local RV sites through Google/Bing ads plus search-friendly web content optimized for opportunities identified using tools like SEMrush. Prioritize traffic quality over quotas.
  • Social Media Marketing – Create social media accounts highlighting sandy beaches, mountain views, and community events that make the park special. Share visually engaging lifestyle shots of families gathered around campfires or grilling under the stars. Geo-target summer road-tripping demographics.
  • Email Marketing – Send occasional park newsletters with special discounts for repeat customers to incentivize direct return visits. Segment sending by geography, past stay frequency, and more for relevance.
  • Influencer Marketing – Reach out to RV travel bloggers, photographers, and social media personalities to experience the park first-hand in exchange for exposure across their channels. Millions follow their journeys.

Traditional Marketing

Traditional approaches are also successful in RV park marketing. Some common traditional marketing steps include:

  • Print advertising in RV lifestyle magazines
  • Flyers at travel centers
  • Billboards along highways near entrances

These traditional marketing tactics have roles in driving awareness. Measure responses to gauge impact as you go. Keep messaging consistent emphasizing the signature amenities and experiences that set your park apart.

14. Focus on the Customer

Delivering exceptional customer service proves invaluable for RV parks in earning guest loyalty and securing referrals. In an industry relying primarily on word-of-mouth endorsement, ensuring vacationers feel welcomed and cared for keeps sites booked.

The RV travel community remains tightly knit with owners frequently consulting one another on quality parks worth visiting. A single disastrous stay with rude staff or faulty hookups gets broadcast quickly across regional forums and rating sites. First impressions matter.

Likewise, when guests thoroughly enjoy their stays, they excitedly share destinations with friends planning trips or even strangers met on the road. RV travelers covet insider tips on hidden gem locations.

Capitalize by training staff to proactively address complaints, handle maintenance emergencies promptly, and acquaint guests with the area’s highlights. Simple perks like welcome goodie bags, discounts in sundry shops, and social gatherings make visitors feel valued.

Stellar customer service earns fans who then eagerly endorse the park both online and off. Over time, recognition within the RV community grows to where travelers specifically route trips to experience the location for themselves.

For RV parks, delivering on hospitality serves both purposes of fueling word-of-mouth marketing and repeat visits. The initial investment in staff and training returns exponentially over time through retention and referrals. A little extra care goes a long way.

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January 24, 2024

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Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template

The world's #1 business plan template.

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RV Park Business Plan Template

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I’m honored and flattered to have been recognized as the world’s foremost business planning expert by BusinessWeek, Forbes and others.

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Simply Fill in the Blanks

We’ve created simple, fill-in-the-blank exercises that guide you through all the key questions your RV Park business plan must answer.

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Automatic Financials

Simply type in some numbers, like your salary and expected growth, and our template automatically calculates your complete 5-year financial projections.

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Turn Your Ideas to Reality

If you don’t have an action plan for executing on your ideas, they’ll never materialize.

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Improve Your Strategy

Growthink’s Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template helps you build a strategically sound business.

It guides you through key questions about your company, marketing and operations strategies, and gives you tons of ideas for improvement.

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Our Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template “Members Area” gives answers to all your questions, plus access to our amazing customer support team.

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Below are answers to your most frequently asked questions:.

Immediately upon purchasing Growthink’s Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template, you will be taken to our Member’s Area where you can instantly download our template and begin working on your business plan.

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How to write a business plan for an RV park?

RV park business plan

Creating a business plan for an RV park is an essential process for any entrepreneur. It serves as a roadmap that outlines the necessary steps to be taken to start or grow the business, the resources required, and the anticipated financial outcomes. It should be crafted with method and confidence.

This guide is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary for creating an RV park business plan, covering why it is so important both when starting up and running an established business, what should be included in your plan, how it should be structured, what tools should be used to save time and avoid errors, and other helpful tips.

We have a lot to cover, so let's get to it!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for an RV park?

What information is needed to create a business plan for an rv park.

  • What goes in the financial forecast for an RV park?
  • What goes in the written part of an RV park business plan?
  • What tool can I use to write my RV park business plan?

Understanding the document's scope and goals will help you easily grasp its structure and content. Before diving into the specifics of the plan, let's take a moment to explore the key reasons why having an RV park business plan is so crucial.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

It's rarely business as usual for small businesses. The economy follows cycles where years of growth are followed by recessions, and the business environment is always changing with new technologies, new regulations, new competitors, and new consumer behaviours appearing all the time...

In this context, running a business without a clear roadmap is like driving blindfolded: it's dangerous at best. That's why writing a business plan for an RV park is essential to create successful and sustainable businesses.

To write an effective business plan, you will need to take stock of where you are (if you are already in business) and where you want the business to go in the next three to five years.

Once you know where you want your RV park to be, you'll have to identify:

  • what resources (human, equipment, and capital) are needed to get there,
  • at what pace the business needs to progress to get there in time,
  • and what risks you'll face along the way.

Going through this process regularly is beneficial, both for startups and existing companies, as it helps make informed decisions about how best to allocate resources to ensure the long-term success of the business.

To get visibility on future cash flows

If your small RV park runs out of cash: it's game over. That's why we often say "cash is king", and it's crucial to have a clear view of your RV park's future cash flows.

So, how can you achieve this? It's simple - you need to have an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your RV park business plan already includes a financial forecast (which we'll discuss further in this guide). Your task is to ensure it stays current.

To accomplish this, it's essential to regularly compare your actual financial performance with what was planned in your financial forecast. Based on your business's current trajectory, you can make adjustments to the forecast.

By diligently monitoring your RV park's financial health, you'll be able to spot potential financial issues, like unexpected cash shortfalls, early on and take corrective actions. Moreover, this practice will enable you to recognize and capitalize on growth opportunities, such as excess cash flow enabling you to expand to new locations.

To secure financing

Crafting a comprehensive business plan for your RV park, whether you're starting up or already established, is paramount when you're seeking financing from banks or investors.

Given how fragile small businesses are, financiers will want to ensure that you have a clear roadmap in place as well as command and control of your future cash flows before entertaining the idea of funding you.

For banks, the information in your business plan will be used to assess your borrowing capacity - which is defined as the maximum amount of debt your business can afford alongside your ability to repay the loan. This evaluation helps them decide whether to extend credit to your business and under what terms (interest rate, duration, repayment options, collateral, etc.).

Similarly, investors will thoroughly review your plan to determine if their investment can yield an attractive return. They'll be looking for evidence that your RV park has the potential for healthy growth, profitability, and consistent cash flow generation over time.

Now that you understand the importance of creating a business plan for your RV park, let's delve into the necessary information needed to craft an effective plan.

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The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

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Writing an RV park business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast.

In this section, we cover three key pieces of information you should gather before drafting your business plan!

Carrying out market research for an RV park

Before you begin writing your business plan for an RV park, conducting market research is a critical step in ensuring precise and realistic financial projections.

Market research grants you valuable insights into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies, and other crucial factors that can impact the success of your business.

In the course of this research, you may stumble upon trends that could impact your RV park.

You may find that people look for RV parks with more modern amenities such as Wi-Fi, or they may prefer parks close to attractions in the area. Additionally, market research could reveal that people might prefer parks with more affordable rates or those that offer discounts for extended stays.

Such market trends play a pivotal role in revenue forecasting, as they provide essential data regarding potential customers' spending habits and preferences.

By integrating these findings into your financial projections, you can provide investors with more accurate information, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about investing in your RV park.

RV park business plan: successful entrepreneur

Developing the sales and marketing plan for an RV park

As you embark on creating your RV park business plan, it is crucial to budget sales and marketing expenses beforehand.

A well-defined sales and marketing plan should include precise projections of the actions required to acquire and retain customers. It will also outline the necessary workforce to execute these initiatives and the budget required for promotions, advertising, and other marketing efforts.

This approach ensures that the appropriate amount of resources is allocated to these activities, aligning with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and equipment needs of an RV park

As you embark on starting or expanding your RV park, having a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) is essential for ensuring your business's success.

Both the recruitment and investment plans must align with the timing and level of growth projected in your forecast, and they require appropriate funding.

A RV park might incur staffing costs for a manager, maintenance crew, and housekeeping staff. It might also need to purchase equipment such as a dump truck, mowers, and other maintenance tools. Additionally, it might need to buy cleaning supplies, furniture, and other amenities for guests to use.

To create a realistic financial forecast, you also need to consider other operating expenses associated with the day-to-day running of your business, such as insurance and bookkeeping.

With all the necessary information at hand, you are ready to begin crafting your business plan and developing your financial forecast.

What goes into your RV park's financial forecast?

The objective of the financial forecast of your RV park's business plan is to show the growth, profitability, funding requirements, and cash generation potential of your business over the next 3 to 5 years.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for an RV park are:

  • The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
  • The projected balance sheet ,
  • The cash flow forecast ,
  • And the sources and uses table .

Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for an RV park shows how much revenue and profits your business is expected to generate in the future.

projected profit and loss statement example in a RV park business plan

Ideally, your RV park's P&L statement should show:

  • Healthy growth - above inflation level
  • Improving or stable profit margins
  • Positive net profit

Expectations will vary based on the stage of your business. A startup will be expected to grow faster than an established RV park. And similarly, an established company should showcase a higher level of profitability than a new venture.

The projected balance sheet of your RV park

The balance sheet for an RV park is a financial document that provides a snapshot of your business’s financial health at a given point in time.

It shows three main components: assets, liabilities and equity:

  • Assets: are resources owned by the business, such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
  • Liabilities: are debts owed to creditors and other entities, such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers) and loans.
  • Equity: includes the sums invested by the shareholders or business owners and the cumulative profits and losses of the business to date (called retained earnings). It is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

example of projected balance sheet in a RV park business plan

Examining the balance sheet is important for lenders, investors, or other stakeholders who are interested in assessing your RV park's liquidity and solvency:

  • Liquidity: assesses whether or not your business has sufficient cash and short-term assets to honour its liabilities due over the next 12 months. It is a short-term focus.
  • Solvency: assesses whether or not your business has the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term.

Looking at the balance sheet can also provide insights into your RV park's investment and financing policies.

In particular, stakeholders can compare the value of equity to the value of the outstanding financial debt to assess how the business is funded and what level of financial risk has been taken by the owners (financial debt is riskier because it has to be repaid, while equity doesn't need to be repaid).

The projected cash flow statement

A cash flow forecast for an RV park shows how much cash the business is projected to generate or consume.

example of cash flow forecast in a RV park business plan

The cash flow statement is divided into 3 main areas:

  • The operating cash flow shows how much cash is generated or consumed by the operations (running the business)
  • The investing cash flow shows how much cash is being invested in capital expenditure (equipment, real estate, etc.)
  • The financing cash flow shows how much cash is raised or distributed to investors and lenders

Looking at the cash flow forecast helps you to ensure that your business has enough cash to keep running, and can help you anticipate potential cash shortfalls.

It is also a best practice to include a monthly cash flow statement in the appendices of your RV park business plan so that the readers can view the impact of seasonality on your business cash position and generation.

The initial financing plan

The sources and uses table or initial financing plan is a key component of your business plan when starting an RV park.

It shows where the capital needed to set up the business will come from (sources) and how it will be spent (uses).

sources and uses table in a RV park business plan

This table helps size the investment required to set up the RV park, and understand how risks will be distributed between the business owners, and the financiers.

The sources and uses table also highlights what the starting cash position will be. This is key for startups as the business needs to have sufficient funding to sustain operations until the break-even point is reached.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what will go into the financial forecast of your RV park business plan, let's have a look at the written part of the plan.

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The written part of an RV park business plan

The written part of the business plan is where you will explain what your business does and how it operates, what your target market is, whom you compete against, and what strategy you will put in place to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified.

Having this context is key for the reader to form a view on whether or not they believe that your plan is achievable and the numbers in your forecast realistic.

The written part of an RV park business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

  • The executive summary
  • The presentation of the company
  • The products and services
  • The market analysis
  • The strategy
  • The operations
  • The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

In your RV park's business plan, the first section is the executive summary — a captivating overview of your plan that aims to pique the reader's interest and leave them eager to learn more about your business.

When crafting the executive summary, start with an introduction to your business, including its name, concept, location, how long it has been running, and what sets it apart. Briefly mention the products and services you plan to offer and your target customer profile.

Following that, provide an overview of the addressable market for your RV park, current trends, and potential growth opportunities.

Next, include a summary of key financial figures like projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Finally, in the "ask" section, detail any funding requirements you may have.

2. The presentation of the company

As you build your RV park business plan, the second section deserves attention as it delves into the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide valuable insights into the legal structure of the business, the identities of the owners, and their respective investments and ownership stakes. This level of transparency is vital, particularly if you're seeking financing, as it clarifies which legal entity will receive the funds and who holds the reins of the business.

Moving to the location part, you'll offer a comprehensive view of the company's premises and articulate why this specific location is strategic for the business, emphasizing factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your RV park, it may be attractive to potential third party financiers. It might be located in an area with ample attractions and activities that appeal to travelers, such as camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Additionally, it could be situated in a prime location close to major highways and interstates that could draw in more potential guests. The park could also be located near local amenities in the community, such as shopping centers, restaurants, and other services that could make for a more enjoyable stay. All of these factors could make it an attractive investment opportunity.

Lastly, you should introduce your esteemed management team. Provide a thorough explanation of each member's role, background, and extensive experience.

It's equally important to highlight any past successes the management team has achieved and underscore the duration they've been working together. This information will instil trust in potential lenders or investors, showcasing the strength and expertise of your leadership team and their ability to deliver the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your business plan should include a detailed description of the offerings that your company provides to its customers. 

For example, your RV park might offer Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and a pool for its customers. Wi-Fi would allow customers to stay connected during their stay, while laundry facilities would give customers the opportunity to keep their linens and clothing fresh during their stay. A pool could be a great way to give customers of all ages a place to cool off and have fun during their stay. Additionally, your park may offer other amenities such as a playground or a game room.

When drafting this section, you should be precise about the categories of products or services you sell, the types of customers you are targeting and how customers can buy them.

RV park business plan: products and services section

4. The market analysis

When outlining your market analysis in the RV park business plan, it's essential to include comprehensive details about customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and relevant regulations.

The primary aim of this section is to give the reader an understanding of the market size and appeal while demonstrating your expertise in the industry.

To begin, delve into the demographics and segmentation subsection, providing an overview of the addressable market for your RV park, key marketplace trends, and introducing various customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

Next, shift your focus to the target market subsection, where you can zoom in on the specific customer segments your RV park targets. Explain how your products and services are tailored to meet the unique needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include retirees who are looking for a place to settle down and enjoy a slower pace of life. These people may be looking to take advantage of a lower cost of living and access to nature. They may also be looking for a place to stay while they travel and explore the area.

In the competition subsection, introduce your main competitors and explain what sets your RV park apart from them.

Finally, round off your market analysis by providing an overview of the main regulations that apply to your RV park.

5. The strategy section

When writing the strategy section of a business plan for your RV park, it is essential to include information about your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

The competitive edge subsection should explain what sets your company apart from its competitors. This part is especially key if you are writing the business plan of a startup, as you have to make a name for yourself in the marketplace against established players.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you intend to remain profitable while still offering competitive prices to your customers.

The sales & marketing plan should outline how you intend to reach out and acquire new customers, as well as retain existing ones with loyalty programs or special offers. 

The milestones subsection should outline what your company has achieved to date, and its main objectives for the years to come - along with dates so that everyone involved has clear expectations of when progress can be expected.

The risks and mitigants subsection should list the main risks that jeopardize the execution of your plan and explain what measures you have taken to minimize these. This is essential in order for investors or lenders to feel secure in investing in your venture.

Your RV park could face a variety of risks. For example, your park may be exposed to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or fires. These events could cause extensive damage to your park, resulting in costly repairs and lost revenue. Additionally, your park may be vulnerable to theft and vandalism. Criminals could target your park and its occupants, or damage property, leading to costly repairs and potentially lost customers.

6. The operations section

The operations of your RV park must be presented in detail in your business plan.

The first thing you should cover in this section is your staffing team, the main roles, and the overall recruitment plan to support the growth expected in your business plan. You should also outline the qualifications and experience necessary to fulfil each role, and how you intend to recruit (using job boards, referrals, or headhunters).

You should then state the operating hours of your RV park - so that the reader can check the adequacy of your staffing levels - and any plans for varying opening times during peak season. Additionally, the plan should include details on how you will handle customer queries outside of normal operating hours.

The next part of this section should focus on the key assets and IP required to operate your business. If you depend on any licenses or trademarks, physical structures (equipment or property) or lease agreements, these should all go in there.

You may have key assets such as the property itself, which could include the land, buildings, and infrastructure. Additionally, RV parks may have intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets that could be used to differentiate their services. These assets and IP could potentially help the RV park to remain competitive and successful in their industry.

Finally, you should include a list of suppliers that you plan to work with and a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms (price, payment terms, contract duration, etc.). Investors are always keen to know if there is a particular reason why you have chosen to work with a specific supplier (higher-quality products or past relationships for example).

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will include the financial forecast we discussed earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of what goes into an RV park business plan, let's look at some of the tools you can use to create yours efficiently.

What tool should I use to write my RV park's business plan?

There are two main ways of creating your RV park business plan:

  • Using specialized business planning software,
  • Hiring a business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your RV park's business plan

Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to write an RV park business plan.

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

  • You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
  • You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
  • You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
  • You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
  • You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
  • You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
  • You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
  • You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Need a solid financial forecast?

The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

Screenshot from The Business Plan Shop's Financial Forecasting Software

Hiring a business plan writer to write your RV park's business plan

Outsourcing your RV park business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are experienced in writing business plans and adept at creating financial forecasts without errors. Furthermore, hiring a consultant can save you time and allow you to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business.

However, hiring business plan writers is expensive as you are paying for the software used by the consultant, plus their time, and their profit margin of course.

From experience, you need to budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a complete business plan, more if you need to make changes after the initial version (which happens frequently after the initial meetings with lenders or investors).

You also need to be careful when seeking investment. Investors want their money to be used to grow the business, not spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services (and other consulting services such as legal services) needs to be negligible relative to the amount raised.

The other drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself: you just get the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business plan software - which makes it difficult to maintain the document up to date without hiring the consultant on a retainer.

For these reasons, outsourcing the RV park business plan to a business plan writer should be considered carefully, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of hiring outside help.

Ultimately, it may be the right decision for some businesses, while others may find it beneficial to write their business plan using online software.

Why not create your RV park's business plan using Word or Excel?

I must advise against using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write your RV park business plan. Let me explain why.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is highly technical and requires a strong grasp of accounting principles and financial modelling skills. It is, therefore, unlikely that anyone will fully trust your numbers unless you have both a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, like us at The Business Plan Shop.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the only option in the past, technology has advanced significantly, and software can now perform these tasks much faster and with greater accuracy. With the rise of AI, software can even help us detect mistakes in forecasts and analyze the numbers for better decision-making.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software makes it easier to compare actuals versus forecasts and maintain up-to-date forecasts to keep visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. This task is cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's talk about the written part of your RV park business plan. While it may be less error-prone, using software can bring tremendous gains in productivity. Word processors, for example, lack instructions and examples for each part of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they don't handle formatting for you.

Overall, while Word or Excel may seem viable for some entrepreneurs to create a business plan, it's by far becoming an antiquated way of doing things.

  • A business plan has 2 complementary parts: a financial forecast showcasing the expected growth, profits and cash flows of the business; and a written part which provides the context needed to judge if the forecast is realistic and relevant.
  • Having an up-to-date business plan is the only way to keep visibility on your RV park's future cash flows.
  • Using business plan software is the modern way of writing and maintaining business plans.

We hope that this practical guide gave you insights on how to write the business plan for your RV park. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our team if you still have questions.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

  • In-depth business plan structure
  • Key steps to write a business plan?
  • Free business plan template

Know someone who owns or wants to start an RV park? Share this article with them!

Guillaume Le Brouster

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start an RV Park

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on June 23, 2023 Updated on March 13, 2024

How to Start an RV Park

Investment range

$705,800 - $1,212,300

Revenue potential

$400,000 - $500,000 p.a.

Time to build

6 – 12 months

Profit potential

$160,000 - $200,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Recreational vehicles are a popular means of travel in the U.S. and are a less expensive option than vacationing in hotels. In fact, more the 11 million households in the U.S. own an RV, and people rent RVs as well, making the campground and RV park worth nearly $9 billion. 

If you have a love of RVing, you could start your own RV park and get in on that industry.

But first, you’ll need some business know-how. Luckily, this step-by-step guide details all the business insights you need to start a successful RV park.

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

  • Work in the great outdoors
  • Give people a comfortable place to rest and have fun
  • Market is rebounding after the pandemic
  • Requires a large investment
  • Have to find suitable land

RV park industry trends

Industry size and growth.

  • Industry size and past growth – The U.S. campgrounds and RV park industry is worth $8.7 billion in 2023 after growing .1% annually for the last five years.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/campgrounds-rv-parks-industry/ ))
  • Growth forecast – The U.S. campgrounds and RV parks industry is projected to grow 8.2% in 2023.
  • Number of businesses – In 2023, 16,313 campground and RV park businesses are operating in the U.S. 
  • Number of people employed – In 2023, the U.S. campgrounds and RV parks industry employs 66,036 people.

RV Park industry size and growth

Trends and challenges

  • Many RV parks have become communities with many amenities and activities.
  • RV parks are getting so busy that people have to book them far in advance.
  • Current fuel prices are keeping some RVers from going on the road.
  • Many current RV parks are expanding and adding amenities, making it difficult for smaller RV parks to compete.

RV Park Trends and Challenges

Demand hotspots

  • Most popular states – The most popular states for campground managers are California, Texas, and Florida. (( https://www.zippia.com/campground-manager-jobs/ ))
  • Least popular states – The least popular states for campground managers are Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota.

RV Park demand hotspots

What kind of people work in RV parks?

  • Gender –  39% of campground managers are female, while 61% are male. (( https://www.zippia.com/campground-manager-jobs/demographics/ ))
  • Average level of education – The average campground manager has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Average age – The average campground manager in the US is 44.5 years old.

RV Park industry demographics

How much does it cost to start an RV park business?

Startup costs for an RV park range from $700,000 to well over $1 million. The largest cost is the preparation of the campsites with hookups, gravel roads, and RV pads. These costs also assume that you’ll add amenities such as a pool.

How much can you earn from an RV park business?

You can likely charge around $50 per night for each site. These calculations will assume that you’ll have 50 sites. Your profit margin should be around 40%. 

In your first year or two, you might have an average of 40 sites rented for 200 nights per year, bringing in $400,000 in revenue. This would mean $160,000 in profit, assuming that 50% margin. 

As you gain traction, you might have 40 sites rented 250 nights a year. With annual revenue of $500,000, you’d make a tidy profit of $200,000.

RV Park earning forecast

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for an RV park. Your biggest challenges will be:

  • Funding the startup costs
  • Finding suitable land

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How to Start an RV Park

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting an RV park, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research could give you the upper hand even if you’ve got the perfect product. Conducting robust market research is crucial, as it will help you better understand your customers, your competitors, and the broader business landscape.

Analyze your competitors 

Research RV parks in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews.

  • Make a list of RV parks that offer similar services. 
  • Review your competitors’ services– their features, pricing, and quality – and marketing strategies
  • Check out their online reviews and ratings on Google, Yelp, and Facebook to get an idea of what their customers like and dislike.
  • Identify your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. 

This should identify areas where you can strengthen your business and gain a competitive edge to make better business decisions.

Why? Identify an opportunity

You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing an RV park with an indoor pool or one that has an arcade.

rv park business plan free

You might consider targeting a niche, such as a family style RV park.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your products or services

In addition to renting the campsites, you could generate revenue from an arcade, or by selling snacks, beverages, and camping merchandise. 

How much should you charge for RV park sites?

Your prices should be based on market prices in your area and the number of amenities you offer, but also on your operating costs.

Once you know your costs, use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

People of all ages like to RV so you should market on both Instagram and Facebook.

Where? Choose an RV Park location

To find suitable land, you should engage with a real estate agent to help you with your search. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right location for an RV park business:

  • Demand Analysis: Research local tourism and RV traffic patterns.
  • Accessibility: Near major roads with clear entry/exit points.
  • Size & Topography: Ample space, level ground, and scenic views.
  • Utilities: Access to water, sewage, electricity, and WiFi.
  • Local Regulations: Confirm zoning and permits for RV park use.
  • Environmental Factors: Check flood plains, soil quality, and protected habitats.
  • Safety: Proximity to emergency services and low crime.
  • Nearby Attractions: Close to landmarks, parks, or entertainment.
  • Development Potential: Ensure no nearby projects will negatively impact the park.
  • Cost: Balance land price with budget and ongoing costs.
  • Community Engagement: Gauge local receptiveness and potential partnerships.

RV Park idea rating

Step 3: Brainstorm an RV Park Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

  • Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
  • Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
  • Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
  • Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
  • Including keywords, such as “RV park” or “RV campground”, boosts SEO
  • Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “JourneyExpand Estates” and “NomadNest Parklands” over “WanderWheel Haven” and “VistaView RV Retreat”
  • Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
  • Use online tools like the Step by Step Business Name Generator . Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead and reserve your business name with your state, start the trademark registration process, and complete your domain registration and social media account creation. 

Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick a name, reserve it and start with the branding, it’s hard to switch to a new name. So be sure to carefully consider your choice before moving forward. 

Step 4: Create an RV Park Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

  • Executive Summary: Provide a brief summary of your RV park business plan, highlighting key aspects like location, target customers, and financial objectives.
  • Business Overview: Describe the nature of your RV park business, including its size, amenities, and any unique features like scenic views or recreational activities.
  • Product and Services: Detail the services you offer, such as RV site rentals, amenities like hookups and showers, and any additional services like campfire rentals or guided tours.
  • Market Analysis: Analyze the demand for RV parks in your chosen location, considering factors like tourism trends, the size of the RV community, and the preferences of potential customers.
  • Competitive Analysis: Identify and assess other RV parks in the area, emphasizing what sets your park apart, such as competitive pricing, exceptional facilities, or convenient location.
  • Sales and Marketing: Outline your marketing strategies to attract RV enthusiasts, including online advertising, partnerships with travel websites, and promotions for long-term stays.
  • Management Team: Introduce the team members responsible for managing and operating the RV park, highlighting their experience in hospitality and campground management.
  • Operations Plan: Describe the day-to-day operations of the RV park, covering aspects like check-in procedures, maintenance schedules, security measures, and customer service protocols.
  • Financial Plan: Present financial projections, including startup costs, revenue forecasts, operating expenses, and expected profitability for your RV park business.
  • Appendix: Include any supplementary materials that support your business plan, such as site maps, photos of the RV park, marketing materials, and financial statements.

what to include in a business plan

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to RV parks. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your RV park will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

  • Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
  • General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
  • Limited Liability Company ( LLC ) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.  Here’s how to form an LLC .
  • C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.  Read how to start a corporation here .
  • S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

types of business structures

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have. 

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2023

rv park business plan free

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

rv park business plan free

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

  • Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
  • SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
  • Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
  • Venture capital: Venture capital investors take an ownership stake in exchange for funds, so keep in mind that you’d be sacrificing some control over your business. This is generally only available for businesses with high growth potential.
  • Angel investors: Reach out to your entire network in search of people interested in investing in early-stage startups in exchange for a stake. Established angel investors are always looking for good opportunities. 
  • Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
  • Crowdfunding: Websites like  Kickstarter  and  Indiegogo  offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like  Fundable  and  WeFunder  enable multiple investors to fund your business.
  • Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding an RV park business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.  

types of business funding

Step 8: Apply for RV Park Licenses and Permits

Starting an RV park business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

You’ll need the proper zoning permit from your state. Check with your state and local governments before you purchase the land so that you know they will allow an RV park.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your RV park business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

  • General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
  • Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
  • Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
  • Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
  • Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
  • Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
  • Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
  • Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

types of business insurance

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.  

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as  CampLife , RoverPass , or Campspot , to manage your bookings, maintenance, check ins, and payments.

  • Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
  • If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Create a website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism. You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

Your customers are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. SEO will help your website appear closer to the top in relevant search results, a crucial element for increasing sales. 

Make sure that you optimize calls to action on your website. Experiment with text, color, size, and position of calls to action such as “Book Now”. This can sharply increase purchases. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

  • Social Media Engagement: Leverage popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to showcase your RV park’s amenities, stunning views, and guest experiences. Engage with your audience through posts, comments, and promotions to build a loyal online community.
  • Local Partnerships: Forge partnerships with local businesses, tourism offices, and travel agencies to cross-promote each other. Offer package deals or discounts to customers who visit your RV park through referrals from these partners.
  • Seasonal Promotions: Create attractive seasonal promotions and discounts to encourage off-peak visits. Consider special offers for holidays, extended stays, or mid-week bookings to attract a diverse range of customers throughout the year.
  • Online Review Management: Encourage satisfied guests to leave positive reviews on popular review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google. Respond promptly to negative reviews, addressing concerns and demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction.
  • Event Hosting: Organize events or themed weekends at your RV park, such as outdoor movie nights, barbecue cook-offs, or nature walks. Promote these events through local media and online platforms to attract both local and visiting RV enthusiasts.
  • Referral Programs: Implement a referral program where existing customers receive discounts or perks for referring friends and family. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool in the RV community, and incentivizing referrals can amplify your customer base.
  • Email Marketing Campaigns: Build an email list of past guests and potential customers. Send out regular newsletters with updates on promotions, events, and exclusive offers, keeping your audience engaged and informed about what your RV park has to offer.
  • Geo-targeted Advertising: Utilize online advertising platforms to target potential RV travelers in specific geographic locations. Tailor your ads to highlight your park’s unique features and amenities that would appeal to the preferences of travelers in different regions.
  • Customer Loyalty Programs: Implement a loyalty program that rewards repeat customers with discounts, free nights, or exclusive access to premium amenities. Recognizing and appreciating customer loyalty can foster a strong and lasting relationship with your RV park.
  • Community Involvement: Get involved in the local community by sponsoring events, participating in local fairs, or supporting charitable causes. Building a positive reputation within the community can lead to increased support and referrals for your RV park.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your RV park meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your RV park business could be: 

  • Experience nature’s beauty with our RV park nestled in a serene wilderness, offering a getaway like no other.
  • Discover unparalleled tranquility at our RV park, where peace and relaxation meet.
  • Create lifelong memories in our family-friendly RV park, where adventure and bonding go hand in hand.

unique selling proposition

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running an RV park business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in RV parks for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in RV parks. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for an RV park business include:

  • Park Attendants – check ins, customer service
  • Maintenance Workers – maintain sites and common areas
  • Marketing Lead – create and implement marketing strategies
  • General Manager – scheduling, accounting

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run an RV Park – Start Making Money!

RV parks are wonderful places for travelers to stay and enjoy the great outdoors, and owning one can make for a fun lifestyle. It takes quite an investment to get started, but you should be able to see a nice return on that investment over time.

Now that you know what’s involved, it’s time to shop for land and get your successful RV park started!

  • RV Park Business FAQs

RV parks can be profitable businesses, depending on factors such as location, amenities, pricing, occupancy rates, and operational efficiency.

A typical day at an RV park involves activities such as check-ins and check-outs of RV guests, maintenance and upkeep of park facilities, provision of amenities, assisting guests with inquiries and needs, and social interactions among guests.

The growth potential of an RV park varies depending on factors such as market demand, location, competition, and expansion opportunities. Parks in popular destinations, with limited competition, or with potential for amenities expansion may have higher growth potential.

An RV park is primarily a hospitality and leisure business. It falls under the category of accommodation services, catering to recreational vehicle owners and travelers seeking a temporary or long-term place to park their RVs or campers.

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  • Decide if the Business Is Right for You
  • Hone Your Idea
  • Brainstorm an RV Park Name
  • Create an RV Park Business Plan
  • Register Your Business
  • Register for Taxes
  • Fund your Business
  • Apply for RV Park Licenses and Permits
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get Business Insurance
  • Prepare to Launch
  • Build Your Team
  • Run an RV Park - Start Making Money!

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RVParkBusinessPlan.com

RVParkBusinessPlan.com

Completely editable RV Park Business Plan

rv park business plan free

Easy to Use Dashboard Integrates with All Documents!

Everything is Integrated and Automated ! Please view the video on this site. You can read the plan here .

All content updated for 2023 ! The purchase price is $29.95.

At RVParkBusinessPlan.com, we have created a number of tools that you can use for developing a business plan specific for a RV park or campsite facilities. Our site provides you with an easy-to-use Excel based spreadsheet that provides a three-year financial forecast including a profit and loss statement, cash flow analysis, balance sheet, breakeven analysis, and business ratios overview. The Excel spreadsheet can be completely customized to how you intend to develop your operations, and it has been developed in a simple to develop format.

Through a simple question-and-answer system, the financial statements are automatically created.

Please see the video below:

The Word document is a complete business plan specific for a RV park. The chapter list is as follows:

  • 1.0 Executive Summary
  • 2.0 Financing Overview
  • 3.0 RV Park Operations
  • 4.0 Economic, Industry, and Market Research
  • 5.0 Marketing Plan
  • 6.0 Personnel Summary
  • 7.0 Financial Plan
  • Appendix A – SWOT Analysis
  • Appendix B – Reference Sources
  • Appendix C – Monthly and Quarterly P&L Statements
  • Appendix D – Monthly and Quarterly Cash Flow Analysis

In addition to receiving the RV park business and excel model, you will also receive:

  • A stand alone 24 page marketing plan
  • A “How to Guide” related to starting or acquiring a RV park (or campsite facility)
  • Three SWOT Analysis Templates
  • Two RV Park Pitch Decks

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RV Park Business Plan Template

Whether you want to start your own rv park business or expand an existing one, you need a business plan. the following rv park business plan template lets you know which elements you need to include in a successful rv park business plan., fill the form to download business plan templates.

To ensure your RV Park business success in this highly competitive market, you need a properly structured RV park business plan. With over 12 years of experience, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs create business plans to start and grow their RV park businesses. Using the following RV park business plan template, you can put together an effective business plan.

Things to Know Before Writing a RV Park Business Plan

This industry operates RV parks and campgrounds as well as recreational and vacation camps. It also includes trailer parks and caravan parks as well as wilderness camps. There are many recreational facilities provided by the industry, including restrooms, laundry rooms, recreation halls, and playgrounds.

In recent years, campgrounds and RV parks have enjoyed steady growth. Campgrounds & RV Parks are forecast to grow by 5.5% in 2023.

The industry is largely driven by travel-related trends, as RV parks and campgrounds are seen as cost-effective alternatives to traditional vacations.

Among the major products and services offered by this industry are

  • Membership, tuition, and long-term fees at the campground
  • Campgrounds and RV sites for travelers and others
  • Accommodations and service fees for other units

Key Success Factors for the RV Park Business

Key Success Factors for the RV Park Business Plan

Despite the challenges of the RV Park industry, we have identified 4 factors that can help you boost profitability, efficiency, and ultimately success.

  • Suitable climate: Successful industry participants take advantage of where they are geographically, whether it is close to national parks or areas with favorable weather.
  • Multi-skilled and flexible workforce: Labor costs are relatively high in this industry. Using a skilled but temporary workforce can help companies gain a competitive advantage and lower costs.
  • Membership in an industry organization: The benefit of belonging to an industry organization is that industry organizations help to promote member companies.
  • By word-of-mouth recommendations: Good word-of-mouth recommendations generate new and repeat customers for businesses.

Need a Professional Business Plan Writer for Your RV Park Business?

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What is an RV Park Business Plan?

An RV park(recreational vehicle park) business plan is a road-map for starting and growing your RV park business. Your business plan outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing strategy, and details your financial projections.

Any bank or investor you approach will require an RV park business plan, so putting one together will be critical to securing funding.

In short, writing a business plan can help you succeed if you’re thinking of starting an RV Park business or pitching to investors or venture capitalists.

RV park business plan template

Why You Need an RV Park Business Plan

RV park business plans can be used to gain interest from potential investors or to secure loans from banks. They are also helpful to you as the owner. An RV park business plan allows you to thoroughly analyze every aspect of your potential business.

A solid, detailed plan gives you a clear path to follow, forces you to examine the viability of an RV park business idea, and may help you better understand your company’s finances and competition.

RV park business owners who have a business plan grow 34% faster than those who don’t, and 76% of fast-growing businesses have one.

An RV park business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Funding Sources for RV Park Business

Funding sources for rv park business

No matter how large or how small your RV park business is, you should think about your financing options. Below are three types of funding you should investigate:

Government Incentives

When choosing a business location , you can consider different community incentives before making your final choice. Government incentives can help reduce operating costs and long-term overheads.

You can begin your business with the help of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You can find government resources about financing your business by using the website’s Loans and Grants Search Tool.

Many banks offer small business loans. See if a business loan is right for you by contacting your bank. Banks also offer business lines of credit and other resources to help you find the right option.

Consider finding an investor or group of investors to finance your company. Be sure to do your research and have the numbers and information to back up your business before you contact an investor. You will need to show progress to investors, and they will do research and investigation concerning your RV park business plan. In return, investors often desire ownership of a part of your company.

Free: Business Plan Examples

Do you need help creating a business plan? Check out these six free, proven business plan examples from different industries to help you write your own.

RV Park Business Plan PDF and Word

Download our RV park business plan in PDF and Word here.

How to Write an RV Park Business Plan

To write an RV park business plan, you don’t need to be an expert. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to write an RV park business plan, or you can just download our proven business plan sample pdf  to get a better idea.

Executive Summary

The executive summary is the most important part of the document since it outlines the whole business plan. Despite the fact that it appears first in the plan, write the executive summary last so you may condense key concepts from the other nine parts.

It’s a part that catches the investor’s eye and provides key information about your company’s overview and upcoming short- and long-term goals.

Tell them what kind of RV park business you have and what stage you’re in; for example, are you a startup, do you have an RV park company that you want to expand, or do you have a lot of RV park businesses?

Finally, an executive summary should provide investors with a preview of what they may expect from the rest of your document.

  • Provide a high-level overview of the RV park industry
  • The name, location, and mission of your RV park company
  • A description of your RV park business, including management, advisors, and a brief history
  • Discuss the type of RV park business you are operating, Give an overview of your target customers., and how your company differs from competitors in the industry
  • Create a marketing plan that describes your company’s marketing strategies, sales, and partnership plans.
  • And give an overview of your financial plan

Check out these executive summary examples to help you write a perfect one for your RV park business plan.

Free: Executive Summary Examples

An executive summary is the most important part of your business plan, and it need not be challenging to write. This is why we have put together some awesome free Executive Summary examples for you.

Company Analysis

The company analysis follows the executive summary as the second section of an RV business plan. Your company overview will be short and clear, similar to the executive summary.

Even if they just have a few minutes, your reader has to understand what your company does and who your customers are.

The following sections will be included in your business plan’s Company Analysis:

  • Company summary: Your company analysis will describe the type of RV park business you are running and its future goals. The type of RV park business you might be focused on (Traditional RV Park, Glamping Resorts, Single Campsite, Double Campsite,  Cabins,  Basic RV Hookup,  Full RV hookup,  etc)
  • Company history: When and why did you start your RV park business?
  • What milestones have you achieved so far? Your milestones could include served 100th customer, new fleet purchase, etc.
  • Legal structure and ownership: Do you have S-Corp status? Is it an LLC ? A sole proprietorship ? Describe your legal structure.
  • Mission statement: An overview of your RV park company’s guiding principles. Learn how to write a perfect mission statement .

Industry Analysis

The RV park business plan’s research section will most likely be the most time-consuming. Here, you will elaborate on how you will fit into the existing RV park’s market. Since your research findings should serve as a sound confirmation of the conclusions you have outlined thus far, they will demonstrate your understanding of the industry and market.

Industry analysis can be presented as a 8-step process when written as part of a company’s business plan.

  • Give a quick overview of the RV park industry. Define the RV park business in terms of size (in dollars), historical background, service region, and products.
  • Examine previous trends and growth patterns in the RV park industry.
  • Identify the market’s major competitors.
  • Age, gender, and general lifestyle of the targeted market
  • Determine the factors that have an impact on the RV park industry. These might include government regulatory rules and other businesses’ competitive activities.
  • Using research data, the industry forecast expected growth over the next five to ten years. Predictions should be made for both the long and short term.
  • Describe how your RV park business intends to position itself in the industry. Concentrate on how your RV park business can benefit from opportunities highlighted in the industry.

Looking for Professional Business Plan Writing Services for Your RV Park Business?

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Customer Analysis

The first condition for an RV park business is to identify its target customers clearly. Customers can be categorized into the following segments: Young families, Couples, retirees, campers and outdoor enthusiasts, etc.

The customer analysis section is an important part of any RV park business plan since it evaluates the consumer segments that your company serves. It identifies target customers, determines what those customers want, and then explains how the your RV park services will meet those requirements.

Customer analysis may be divided into two parts: Psycho-social profiles (why your RV park services suits a customer’s lifestyle) and Demographic profiles (descriptions of a customer’s demographic qualities).

With regards to demographics, include information about: Ages, genders, locations, and income levels of your customers. When targeting businesses, describe what kind of business, size, and location your target customers are.

The psychological profiles of your target clients reveal their wants and needs. The better you understand and identify these demands, the better your chances of attracting and retaining customers will be.

Competitor Analysis

It is necessary to do a competitor analysis. Because you may use their data to define your goals, marketing plans, tactics, new services, pricing, and more. Use competitor analysis to:

  • Identify the strength and weakness of your RV park business competitors.
  • Search for opportunities to distinguish your RV park from competitors.

The first step is to determine who your direct and indirect competitors are.

The direct competitors consists of other RV park businesses that offer essentially the same services to the same people as you do.

Your indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. Hotels, motels, tent campgrounds, hostels, etc all fall into this category.

Once you’ve identified the competition, concentrate on the direct, head-to-head competitors, since they are the most threatening to your RV park business— but keep an eye on the indirect competition as well, just in case.

Provide an overview of each direct competitor’s business and detail their strengths and weaknesses.

You will be able to position yourself competitively in the market if you perform proper competition research. Perform a SWOT Analysis to learn your competitors’ strengths, weaknesses, and competitive advantages in the following areas:

  • Prices – Are they offering cheaper RV park services or more costly than you and other competitors, what value do buyers get for that price?
  • Quality – Are they offering premium services, the perceived worth in the eyes of the customers
  • Customer service – How they respond to their consumers, whether they treat them poorly or well, and the degrees of satisfaction customers show
  • Reputation — The sum of everything mentioned above: their credibility, how loved the brand is, and the loyalty of their customers

The final section of your competitive analysis should include a list of your areas of competitive advantage. for example: Are you going to offer premium RV park services? Will you make reserving a site easier or faster for customers? Will you offer better pricing or will you offer greater customer support?

Consider how you will outperform your competitors and include them in this portion of your RV park business plan.

Free: SWOT Analysis Examples

Take advantage of our free SWOT analysis examples. Make your business future-proof by identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats using this free SWOT Analysis Template.

Marketing Plan

Creating a marketing plan for an RV park business involves identifying the target demographic and finding RV park services that suit their preferences.

As part of your marketing plan for an RV park business, you should include:

Pricing and Product Strategy

Your RV park business must offer the attractive location and services that are different from those of your competitors. Research what your competitors offer and how they price their services. Unique services identifies your RV park business as the place to go for unique RV park services and differentiates it from others.

Placing and Promotions

The place refers to the location of your RV park. Describe how the location will affect your business success. for example, Is your RV park located near a heavily trafficked national park or tourist attraction. Describe how your location might help you attract tourists.

Promoting your RV park business is the final part of your marketing plan. In this step, you document how you will drive customers to purchase your services. A few marketing methods you could consider are:

  • Collaborations with community organizations (e.g., amusement park ticket holders get a discount on an RV site)
  • Reaching out to local bloggers and websites 
  • Publicity in local newspapers and magazines
  • Marketing on social media
  • Web Marketing
  • Pre-opening Events
  • Join the Camp and School Enrichment Directories.

You should also think about your RV park company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP), which should explain why clients should choose you over other RV park businesses. Ensure that your USP is reflected in your marketing.

Pro Tips: Learn how to create a marketing business in business plan to help you create a winning RV Park business.

Operations Plan

While the previous sections described your goals, your operational plan in a business plan discusses how you will achieve them.

An operations plan is helpful for investors, but it’s also helpful for you and employees because it pushes you to think about tactics and deadlines.

Your operational plan should be able to answer the following questions:

  • Who – Personnel in charge of completing specific tasks.
  • What – A breakdown of the responsibilities of each personnel.
  • Where – The location of everyday operations.
  • When –The deadlines for completing tasks and goals.
  • How much – The amount of money required for each department to perform their job.

Your operations plan should be divided into two individual parts, as seen below.

Everyday s hort-term processes include all aspects of running your RV park, such as serving customers, hiring and training staff, acquiring materials, keeping the RV park clean, and so on.

Long-term goals are milestones you hope to reach. they might be growing your business, such as introducing new services, meeting particular sales milestones, and meeting other essential business-oriented goals like recruiting more staff, opening additional locations, and so on.

Management Team

When writing an RV park business plan, the management section’ outlines your management team, staff, resources, and how your business ownership is structured.

This part may be easily organized by dividing it into the following points:

Ownership Structure

Internal Management Team

External Management Resources

Human Resources

This section outlines your RV park business’s legal structure. If your company is a sole proprietorship , it may simply be one phrase. It might be longer if your company is a partnership or a corporation . You should make it a point to clarify who owns what part of the business.

This section should not only outline who is on your management team but also how each person’s skill set and experiences will contribute to the growth of your RV park business. Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct expertise in the RV park business. If this is the case, highlight your experience and skills.

Think of these external management resources as your internal management team’s backup. Consider forming an advisory board if your team is lacking expertise and experience with RV park business.

An advisory board would consist of 3 to 7 people who would serve as mentors to your RV park company. They would assist in answering queries and providing strategic direction.

If necessary, search for advisory board members with expertise running RV park business.

Describe all of your company’s external professional advisers, such as accountants, bankers, attorneys, IT experts, business consultants, and/or business coaches. 

The final topic to consider in the management area of your RV park business plan is your human resource needs.

Read Later: How to Write a Management Team Section in a Business plan.

Financial Plan

As part of your financial plan, you should present a 5-year financial statement broken down monthly or quarterly for the first year, and then annually. Financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Income Statement

A profit and loss statement is more commonly called an income statement . It shows your revenue and subtracts your expenses to determine whether you were profitable or not.

As you develop your income statement, you need to develop assumptions. Will you serve 50 customers per day or 200? Will sales grow by 2% or 8% per year? Your choice of assumptions will greatly impact your business’s financial forecasts. Conduct as much research as possible in order to ground your assumptions in reality.

Read Later: If you are a DIY business plan writer, this guide on how to write a financial plan in business plan can help you to create a winning RV park business plan.

Free: Income Statement Template

Create a financial statement for your business by downloading our free income statement templates.

Balance Sheet

While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities.

The balance sheet shows your RV park business’s net value at a specific point in time. It categorizes all of your company’s financial data into three categories:

  • Assets: Tangible goods with the monetary worth that the company owns.
  • Liabilities: Debt owing to a company’s creditor.
  • Equity: The net difference when the total liabilities are subtracted from the total assets.

The equation that expresses the relationship between these financial data elements is Assets = Liabilities + Equity.

Create a pro forma balance sheet for your RV park business plan that highlights the information in the income statement and cash flow projections. A balance sheet is normally prepared once a year by a company.

Balance sheets indicate your assets and liabilities, and while they contain a lot of information, they are simplified to highlight the most important things you need to know.

For example, spending $500,000 to build out your RV park will not result in instant revenues. Rather, it is an asset that should help you earn money for many years to come.

Similarly, if a bank sends you a check for $200,000, you do not have to pay it back right now. Rather, that is a liability that you will repay over time.

Cash Flow Statement:

Your cash flow statement will help you determine how much money you need to start or grow your RV park business. In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing an RV park business:

  • Fees for registering an RV park business
  • Taxes and licenses costs
  • Business insurance
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Facility rent and security deposits
  • Build-out of a location, including design fees, construction, and so on.

Free: Balance Sheet Template

Create a financial statement for your business by downloading our free balance sheet templates.

List any additional material you cannot include elsewhere, such as resumes from key employees, licenses, equipment leases, permits, patents, receipts, bank statements, contracts, and personal and business credit histories.

Attach your full financial projections along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling in the appendix.

Bonus Tip: Learn how to write a business plan appendix for your RV park business.

Summary of the RV Park Business Plan

An RV park business plan is a worthwhile investment. As long as you follow the template above, you will become an expert in no time. By following the template, you will understand the RV park business, your competition, and your customers. The plan will help you understand the steps necessary to launch and grow your RV park business.

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With wise business plans Business Plan Template , you can finish your RV park business plan in just 6 hours or less with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

You can also download our 300+ free business plan templates covering a wide range of industries.

OR, we can create your RV park business plan for you

Since 2010, Wise business plans’ MBA professional business plan writers has developed business plans for thousands of companies that have experienced tremendous success.

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We will show you some real-world business plan examples so you may know how to write your own, especially if you are seeking a bank loan or an outside investment and need to use SBA-approved formatting.

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Launching Your RV Park: A Comprehensive Startup Guide

  • Tips & Guides

Launching Your RV Park: A Comprehensive Startup Guide

The RV industry has been on a notable upward trajectory, with the resurgence of camping and RVing as preferred forms of leisure travel among North Americans. This enthusiasm for the great outdoors has not only introduced a new generation to camping but also revitalized interest among seasoned adventurers, leading to an unprecedented demand for campsites and RV parks​​.

While macroeconomic challenges have affected the RV industry as a whole in 2023, this year is expected to bring a significant recovery, with RV shipments increasing robustly, ranging between 343,900 to 356,300 units . 

This expected growth is a testament to the enduring appeal of RVing as an affordable, flexible, and enjoyable way to explore nature and spend quality time with loved ones. For entrepreneurs eyeing the RV park sector, these trends not only underscore a ripe opportunity but also highlight the importance of strategic preparation to tap into the industry’s promising future.

Table of Contents

Embracing the Challenges and Rewards of RV Park Ownership

Before we delve into the detailed steps of launching your RV park, it’s crucial to understand the significant impact this venture will have on your lifestyle. Embarking on the path of RV park ownership is not just a business decision; it’s a lifestyle choice that intertwines with your personal and professional realms. Becoming an RV park owner demands a high degree of commitment, with owners often finding themselves wearing multiple hats, from customer service and maintenance to marketing and accounting. The seasonal nature of the business can lead to periods of intense activity, requiring long hours and hands-on involvement to ensure guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

However, the rewards of RV park ownership are certainly compelling. Owners have the unique opportunity to foster a community of like-minded individuals passionate about the outdoors and RVing. There’s a profound sense of fulfillment in creating a space where families can make lasting memories. 

Additionally, living in close proximity to nature and having the flexibility to shape the direction of your business are invaluable benefits that can lead to a deeply satisfying work-life balance.

For those drawn to the outdoor lifestyle and possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, owning an RV park offers a rewarding avenue to combine passion with profession, despite the inherent challenges. This path not only promises personal growth but also the chance to contribute positively to the RVing community.

Step 1: Understanding the Market

Understanding the market is the foundational step for any entrepreneur aiming to start an RV park business. However, gaining a thorough understanding requires a strategic approach, leveraging a variety of resources and methodologies to grasp the industry’s complexities and opportunities. Investors should start by delving into industry reports, such as the RV Industry Association and Roverpass , which provide insights into market trends, consumer behaviors, and growth projections​​​​. These sources will provide you with reports, articles, and documents that will become invaluable for understanding the broader landscape, including shifts in trends, camper demographics, and preferences .

Conducting primary market research is equally crucial. This can involve surveys and interviews with current RV park owners, potential customers, and local tourism boards to identify specific needs and gaps in the market. Engaging with online forums and social media groups dedicated to RVing and camping can also yield firsthand insights into what campers value and their unmet needs.

Additionally, investors should analyze competitor offerings and strategies to identify best practices and potential areas for differentiation. Visiting RV parks, attending industry conferences, and participating in webinars can provide a deeper understanding of operational challenges and innovations within the sector.

These resources and strategies combined will help you build a comprehensive understanding of the RV park market, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning for launching and growing a successful RV park business.

Step 2: Crafting Your RV Park Business Plan

Developing an effective business plan for an RV park is a strategic tool that guides entrepreneurs from concept to reality. To craft a plan that lays a solid foundation for success, RV park entrepreneurs should focus on assembling a wealth of resources and information that informs each section of the business plan with depth and precision. As we explored in the previous section, a comprehensive understanding of the industry can be gained by tapping into specialized resources from reputable sources, as well as market analysis tools. Critical insights into consumer trends, industry growth, and competitive landscapes will assist you in building the most effective possible business plan.   

For the market analysis section, leveraging surveys, interviews, and exploring firsthand information in social media is invaluable for tailoring your RV park’s offerings to match your target audience’s desires.

Legal and zoning research is imperative. Reach out to local government offices or hire legal counsel experienced in real estate or hospitality to navigate the regulatory requirements specific to RV parks in your area. This step ensures your plan addresses any legal hurdles upfront, preventing future obstacles. Finally, incorporate environmental considerations and sustainability practices into your business plan. In today’s eco-conscious market, RV park entrepreneurs should research sustainable practices, such as implementing energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, water conservation measures, and recycling programs. 

Step 3: Financial Planning for Your RV Park Startup

Financial planning is a cornerstone of launching a successful RV park startup, requiring meticulous attention to both initial investment and ongoing operational costs. Start by estimating the startup expenses , which typically include land acquisition or lease costs, infrastructure development (like roads, utility hookups, and facilities), and any legal or consulting fees. Don’t overlook the cost of amenities that can set your park apart, such as Wi-Fi, recreational areas, and eco-friendly features.

Next, project your operational costs, considering expenses like maintenance, staff salaries, utility bills, and marketing. It’s also wise to plan for unexpected costs by setting aside a contingency fund. This foresight can help you navigate unforeseen challenges without jeopardizing the financial health of your business.

Revenue forecasting is equally crucial. Analyze market rates for RV park stays and services, adjusting your pricing strategy to balance competitiveness with profitability. Consider diversifying income streams through add-on services like equipment rentals, guided tours, or on-site convenience stores.

Securing financing may involve a mix of personal savings, loans, and investor funds. Presenting a robust business plan, complete with detailed financial projections, can significantly enhance your credibility with potential lenders and investors, paving the way for a successful RV park launch.

Want to Grow Your Campground Business?

Book a free, personalized demo to learn about how roverpass will save you time and help you earn more revenue.

Implementing campground accounting software from the start can streamline financial management, offering real-time insights into your financial performance and helping you make informed decisions.

Step 4: Setting Up Your RV Park Operations

Setting up the operations of your RV park is a critical step that encompasses various aspects, from day-to-day management to ensuring an exceptional guest experience. Begin with the establishment of a clear operational structure. Define roles and responsibilities for all staff members, ensuring that each team member understands their part in running the park efficiently. Invest in training for your staff, focusing on customer service, safety protocols, and operational efficiency to maintain high standards across all areas of your RV park.

Implementing a reliable campground reservation system is crucial for managing bookings, payments, and customer communications seamlessly. This technology not only improves the guest experience by simplifying the reservation process but also enhances operational efficiency by automating tasks and centralizing data.

Maintenance and cleanliness of the park are paramount for guest satisfaction and repeat business. Establish routine cleaning schedules and regular maintenance checks for facilities, amenities, and RV sites to ensure your park remains in top condition.

Additionally, develop a comprehensive emergency plan covering potential incidents, from natural disasters to medical emergencies. Ensure all staff are trained in these procedures and that emergency contacts and resources are readily available.

Focusing on these operational foundations will help you create a welcoming and well-run RV park that guests are eager to return to, setting the stage for long-term success in the competitive RV park industry.

Step 5: Marketing Your RV Park Business

In the competitive landscape of the RV park industry, planning and implementing effective marketing strategies is paramount to success. A well-crafted marketing plan not only distinguishes your park from competitors but also connects you directly with your target audience, driving bookings and revenue. 

Your marketing strategy should be multifaceted, leveraging both online and traditional channels to reach your target audience.

Utilize Social Media

Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are perfect for visually showcasing your park’s attractions and engaging with potential visitors. Regular posts, live videos, and special promotions can help build a community around your park and attract new visitors.

Leverage Email Marketing

Collect emails from your website and on-site guests to create a mailing list. Send out regular newsletters with park updates, special offers, and local attractions to keep your RV park top of mind.

Engage in Local SEO

Claim your Google My Business listing and encourage satisfied guests to leave positive reviews. Local SEO strategies help your RV park appear in local search queries and improve your overall online visibility.

Traditional Advertising

While digital marketing is key, don’t overlook traditional methods like local newspaper ads, flyers, and partnerships with local businesses and tourist centers. These can effectively reach local and visiting customers who may not discover you online.

Foster Community Relationships

Building strong business relationships with other community members and local businesses, such as restaurants, shops, and local artists, is invaluable. These partnerships can lead to cross-promotional opportunities, enhancing the attractiveness of your RV park as a destination. 

For example, collaborate with local eateries for exclusive discounts for your guests or feature local artists’ work in your park. Such connections not only enrich the guest experience but also embed your business within the local community fabric, driving both referrals and repeat visits. This community-centric approach can significantly contribute to your RV park’s reputation and success.

Build a Strong Online Presence

Building a strong online presence is critical for attracting modern travelers to your RV park. Begin by creating a professional, user-friendly website that not only highlights your park’s amenities, location, and unique selling points but also reflects the essence of the experience you offer. 

Additionally, optimizing your website for search engines (SEO) is non-negotiable. This approach will not only improve your site’s visibility on search engines but also help capture the attention of potential guests as they plan their travels, significantly increasing the likelihood of converting browsers into bookers. Premium Website Builder was designed to assist RV parks in building captivating, professional websites that entice new guests. Our skilled designers, SEO experts, and writers play a pivotal role in creating top-tier RV park websites that drive reservations and revenue. Furthermore, seamlessly integrate your website with our campground reservation software , streamlining reservation management, payment processing, and availability tracking. Guests can enjoy a seamless booking experience from any device, and the software can be synchronized with Quickbooks for robust financial management.

Embarking on a Rewarding Journey: Your RV Park’s Path to Success

With the RV industry showing robust growth and a promising future, an RV park built on solid foundations—thorough market understanding, strategic planning, diligent financial management, effective operations, and dynamic marketing—stands a great chance of thriving. 

This journey offers not just financial rewards but the profound satisfaction of being a pivotal part of your guests’ travel stories. 

Keep exploring our blog for more insights and guidance to navigate the rewarding path of RV park ownership.

Related Posts:

  • RV Park Investing: A Complete Guide September 7, 2023 In recent years, the allure of the open road and the comforts of home have found a harmonious union in…
  • Breaking Down the Costs of Starting Your Own RV Park… March 16, 2024 Are you considering starting your own RV park business but unsure of the costs involved? In this comprehensive article, we…

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  1. RV Park Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    RV Park Business Plan Template [Updated 2024] RV Park Business Plan Template. Written by Dave Lavinsky. Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 2,500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their RV parks. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of ...

  2. RV Park Business Plan Template (2024)

    Custer's Best RV Park is seeking $220,000 in debt financing to launch its RV park business. The funding will be dedicated towards purchasing the land and building out the facilities. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, utilities, and marketing costs.

  3. RV Park Business Plan: Guide & Template (2024)

    The RV park industry stood at a value of 8.7 billion dollars in 2020 and would continue to grow at a rapid pace. Moreover, successful RV park owners make up to $50,000 to $90,000 a year. And these numbers would grow as the number of people who have switched to this style of living and traveling continues to grow each year.

  4. How To Write A RV Park Business Plan + Template

    The executive summary of an RV park business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan. Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company's ...

  5. RV Park Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    Use this free RV park business plan template to quickly & easily create a great business plan to start, grow and/or raise funding for your RV park. Food & Retail Business Plan Templates Service Business Plan Templates

  6. How to Start an RV Park Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

    In short - dedicating ample time to understand your prospective RV park market empowers smart planning. 2. Write a business plan. So you've done your homework and researched the RV park industry inside and out. Now, you have a solid grasp of the market, your competition, and your target audience.

  7. The #1 Rv Park Business Plan Template & Guidebook

    1. Describe the Purpose of Your Rv Park Business. The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your rv park business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers' problems.

  8. How to Start an RV Park Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

    Here's everything you need to know to start a RV park. 1. Conduct RV Park Market Research. Market research is an important factor in designing a thorough business plan. It offers insight into your financial projections, target market, local market saturation, trends in services and products, and more.

  9. How to Create the Best RV Park Business Plan

    How to Create the Best RV Park Business Plan. Proper planning is crucial for achieving viability and success. According to research, entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability compared to their non-planning counterparts.. As the demand for campgrounds continues to grow and peak season capacities are reached, it is essential to develop a well-crafted ...

  10. RV Park Business Plan [Sample Template]

    The cost of Launching a Website - $600. The cost for our grand opening party - $15,000. Miscellaneous - $15,000. We would need an estimate of $750,000 to successfully launch a small but standard and well - equipped campground and recreational vehicle (RV) park in Los Angeles - California.

  11. RV Park Business Plan Template

    Growthink's RV Park Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan for your RV Park business. ... Purchase today 100% risk-free because Growthink's Ultimate RV Park Business Plan Template comes with a full 365 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee.

  12. How to write a business plan for an RV park?

    There are two main ways of creating your RV park business plan: Using specialized business planning software, Hiring a business plan writer. Using an online business plan software for your RV park's business plan. Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to write an RV park business plan.

  13. How to Start an RV Park in 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 4: Create an RV Park Business Plan. Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

  14. PDF RV Park Business Plan Example

    Financial Summary. Amazia RV Park is seeking total funding of $260,000 to launch its location. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures, salaries, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows: To unlock help try Upmetrics! .

  15. RVParkBusinessPlan.com

    The Word document is a complete business plan specific for a RV park. The chapter list is as follows: 1.0 Executive Summary; 2.0 Financing Overview; 3.0 RV Park Operations; 4.0 Economic, Industry, and Market Research; 5.0 Marketing Plan; 6.0 Personnel Summary; 7.0 Financial Plan; Appendix A - SWOT Analysis; Appendix B - Reference Sources

  16. RV Park Business Plan Template

    Management Team. When writing an RV park business plan, the management section' outlines your management team, staff, resources, and how your business ownership is structured. This part may be easily organized by dividing it into the following points: Ownership Structure. Internal Management Team.

  17. Launching Your RV Park: A Comprehensive Startup Guide

    These resources and strategies combined will help you build a comprehensive understanding of the RV park market, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning for launching and growing a successful RV park business. Step 2: Crafting Your RV Park Business Plan . Developing an effective business plan for an RV park is a strategic tool ...

  18. About Moscow Maples RV Park

    About Moscow Maples RV Park. Free Estimates | Heated Pool Available | Over 30 Years' Experience. (517) 688-9853.

  19. PDF ra 16 E: 03 co —x -a saldevv 901 a

    ra 16 E: 03 co —x -a saldevv 901 a . Created Date: 6/1/2010 10:07:31 AM

  20. Contact Moscow Maples RV Park

    Contact Moscow Maples RV Park. 8291 East Chicago Rd. Moscow , MI 49257. Get Directions.

  21. Moscow Maples RV Park

    See 10 photos and 1 tip from 19 visitors to Moscow Maples RV Park. "RV Campgrounds, Cascades, Golf courses, Restaurants, Antique stores, Bundy Hill..." Campground in Moscow, MI