Campground Business Plan
You’ve come to the right place to create your Campground 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 Campground companies.
Below is a template to help you create each section of your Campground business plan.
Executive Summary
Business Overview
Shasta Lake Campground, located in Redding, California is a new campground business that focuses on providing convenient, modern amenities for the casual recreational camper and their family. Our goal is to make camping fun for everyone, including people who typically hate being outdoors. We do this by providing first-class amenities, such as WiFi, hot showers, a camp store, and modern restrooms. By providing these amenities and other fun activities and services, Shasta Lake Campground aims to be the top choice for camping in the Redding, California area all year round.
Shasta Lake Campground is led by David Cleveland who has been working in the campground industry for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a seasonal employee and worked his way up into a management position. While David has never developed his own campground, he has worked as a campground manager for many years and has gained an in-depth knowledge of the campground business including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., finances, marketing, etc.). His skills and experience are invaluable to our new campground business.
Product Offering
Shasta Lake Campground will provide both essential and luxury amenities that campers typically expect in a new campground. Some of these amenities will include:
- Camp Store
- Electrical Hook-ups
- Wi-Fi
- Tent Pads
- RV Pads
- Water Station
- Modern Restrooms with Contactless Technology
- Hot Showers
- Fire Rings
- Covered Fire Pits
- Indoor & Outdoor Swimming Pools
- Playground
- Dog Park
- Amphitheater
Customer Focus
Shasta Lake Campground will primarily serve vacationers and residents within a 50-mile radius of Redding, California. We will also serve tourists that visit the area from all corners of the country.
Management Team
Shasta Lake Campground is led by David Cleveland who has been working in the campground industry for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a seasonal employee and worked his way up into a management position. While David has never developed his own campground, he has worked as a campground manager for many years and has gained an in-depth knowledge of the campground business including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., finances, marketing, etc.).
Success Factors
Shasta Lake Campground will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:
- Location: The campground is located by numerous state and national parks, and is also a convenient distance away from the city.
- Year-Round Camping for Everyone: The Company is offering the only year-round camping option in the area for individuals of all ages and camping preferences.
- Management: Shasta Lake Campground’s management team has years of business and marketing experience in addition to campground management experience. This allows the Company to market to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for over 20 years, David Cleveland knows all of the local leaders, newspapers, and other influences. As such, it will be relatively easy for Shasta Lake Campground to build brand awareness and an initial customer base.
Download the Campground business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Financial Highlights
Shasta Lake Campground is seeking a total funding of $450,000 of debt capital to open its campground company. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Campground land purchase, design, and build-out: $250,000
- Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
- Marketing costs: $25,000
- Working capital: $25,000
The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Shasta Lake Campground.
Company Overview
Who is Shasta Lake Campground?
Shasta Lake Campground, located in Redding, California is a new campground business that focuses on providing convenient, modern amenities for the casual recreational camper and their family. Our goal is to make camping fun for everyone, including people who typically hate being outdoors. We do this by providing first-class amenities, such as WiFi, hot showers, a camp store, and modern restrooms. By providing these amenities and other fun activities and services, Shasta Lake Campground aims to be the top choice for camping in the Redding, California area all year round.
Shasta Lake Campground is led by David Cleveland who has been working in the campground industry for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a seasonal employee and worked his way up into a management position. While David has never developed his own campground, he has worked as a campground manager for many years and has gained an in-depth knowledge of the campground business including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., finances, marketing, etc.). His skills and experience are invaluable to our new campground business.
Shasta Lake Campground’s History
David Cleveland began researching what it would take to create his own campground company and did a thorough analysis of the costs, market, demographics, and competition. David has compiled enough information to develop his business plan in order to approach investors.
David incorporated Shasta Lake Campground as a Limited Liability Corporation in December 2022. Once the purchase of the land is finalized, light construction can begin to build out the campground.
Since incorporation, the Company has achieved the following milestones:
- Located available property for sale that is ideal for a new campground
- Developed the Company’s name, logo, and website
- Hired a general contractor for the build-out of the campground and its facilities
- Determined equipment and necessary supplies
- Began recruiting key employees
Shasta Lake Campground’s Services
Shasta Lake Campground will provide both essential and luxury amenities that campers typically expect in a new campground. Some of these amenities will include:
- Camp Store
- Electrical Hook-ups
- Wi-Fi
- Tent Pads
- RV Pads
- Water Station
- Modern Restrooms with Contactless Technology
- Hot Showers
- Fire Rings
- Covered Fire Pits
- Indoor & Outdoor Swimming Pools
- Playground
- Dog Park
- Amphitheater
Industry Analysis
Now that the pandemic is over, families all across the country are eager to get outside and explore the natural world around them. One of the most popular ways that Americans do this is by camping and visiting campgrounds. Campgrounds provide convenient access to nature without compromising comfort. They often have numerous amenities to make the experience enjoyable, including WiFi, modern bathrooms, and fun family-friendly activities.
According to Future Market Insights, the global camping industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from now until 2030. This shows that camping is still an extremely popular activity and is only going to continue to grow and expand. Now that campgrounds offer luxuries and amenities to make the experience more enjoyable, people who usually hate the camping experience find themselves enjoying it.
Other factors that support the industry’s growth include the increase in disposable income and the increasing popularity of similar outdoor activities and industries.
Download the Campground business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
Shasta Lake Campground will primarily serve vacationers and residents within a 50-mile radius of the campground location. The community of Redding, California has thousands of active families, children, teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors who regularly participate in camping and other recreational activities. Additionally, thousands of tourists visit the area each year who are looking for new recreational opportunities.
The demographics of Redding, California are as follows:
| Total | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,680,988 | 100% |
| Male | 838,675 | 49.9% |
| Female | 842,313 | 50.1% |
| 20 to 24 years | 114,872 | 6.8% |
| 25 to 34 years | 273,588 | 16.3% |
| 35 to 44 years | 235,946 | 14.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 210,256 | 12.5% |
| 55 to 59 years | 105,057 | 6.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 87,484 | 5.2% |
| 65 to 74 years | 116,878 | 7.0% |
| 75 to 84 years | 52,524 | 3.1% |
Customer Segmentation
Shasta Lake Campground will primarily target the following customer profiles:
- Families with children
- Tourists
- Outdoor enthusiasts
Competitive Analysis
Direct and Indirect Competitors
Shasta Lake Campground will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.
Great Outdoors Rec Center
Built in 1922, the Great Outdoors Rec Center is located close to many outdoor recreational hot spots for hiking, bicycling, and kayaking. The center has a large outdoor property and rents out tent pads and RV space for weekend campers to utilize. Great Outdoors Rec Center also has many of the amenities campers look for such as accessible, clean bathrooms and a full kitchen that can be used for an additional fee.
Although Great Outdoors Rec Center offers campers a place to set up camp, its main business is as a recreational center, not a campground. Therefore, there are many times throughout the year when the camp area is not accessible for campers because it’s being utilized by the community for special events such as weddings and birthday parties.
Mountain Basin Campground
Mountain Basin Campground is a small campground near the closest forest in the area. This business operates primarily as a campground for school and church groups of children in the summer season. The location includes multiple fire rings, minimal bathroom facilities, and enough space to accommodate six-eight small tents.
The campground is only open for the summer season due to weather conditions in the area and is mostly used for daytime activities and one-night-only overnight camping for groups.
Rivers Camping
Established in 1990, Rivers Camping is a local campground company that operates multiple campgrounds around the state. Rivers Camping is a top choice for nature enthusiasts who are looking to take advantage of the many local outdoor activities nearby. Each campground is situated close to at least one outdoor recreation option, with most of them being located adjacent to a river. This company offers tent pads, but no RV pads.
Download the Campground business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Competitive Advantage
Shasta Lake Campground will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:
- Location: The campground is located by numerous state and national parks, and is also a convenient distance away from the city.
- Year-Round Camping for Everyone: The Company is offering the only year-round camping option in the area for individuals of all ages and camping preferences.
- Management: Shasta Lake Campground’s management team has years of business and marketing experience in addition to campground management experience. This allows the Company to market to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for over 20 years, David Cleveland knows all of the local leaders, newspapers, and other influences. As such, it will be relatively easy for Shasta Lake Campground to build brand awareness and an initial customer base.
Marketing Plan
Brand & Value Proposition
Shasta Lake Campground will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:
- A prime location in the heart of nature and away from the bustling city
- Located near popular hiking trails and scenic areas
- Family-focused environment
- Fun amenities, such as a swimming pool and playground
Promotions Strategy
The promotions strategy for Shasta Lake Campground is as follows:
Social Media
Shasta Lake Campground will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. The company will create social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. It will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.
Website/SEO
Shasta Lake Campground will invest heavily in developing a professional website that displays all of the features and benefits of the campground. It will also invest heavily in SEO so that the campground’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.
Direct Mail
Shasta Lake Campground will blanket neighborhoods surrounding its location with direct mail pieces. These pieces will offer discounts and promotional incentives for people to choose the campground for their next camping adventure.
Pre-Opening Events
Before opening the campground, Shasta Lake Campground will organize pre-opening events designed for prospective customers. These events will create buzz and awareness for Shasta Lake Campground in the area.
Pricing
Shasta Lake Campground’s pricing will be moderate and on par with competitors so consumers feel they receive great value when visiting our campgrounds. We will charge a fee per person, and the fee will fluctuate depending on the season and popularity of the campground. Children under the age of twelve can enter the campground for free.
Operations Plan
The following will be the operations plan for Shasta Lake Campground.
Operation Functions:
The following will be the operations plan for Shasta Lake Campground.
- David Cleveland will be the Owner and Manager of Shasta Lake Campground. He will take charge of all the operations and executive functions of the company.
- David is joined by Jen Beal, who will be the Assistant Manager of the grounds. She will help out with the general operations of the campground, but also help out with the marketing and promotion efforts.
- David is also joined by John Parker, who will be the campground’s Administrative Assistant.
- David will hire several campground attendants to help manage the store, run the other amenities, and keep the campground clean for our visitors.
Download the Campground business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Milestones:
Shasta Lake Campground will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.
- 2/2023 Finalize lease agreement
- 3/2023 Design and build out Shasta Lake Campground
- 4/2023 Hire and train initial staff
- 5/2023 Kickoff of promotional campaign
- 6/2023 Launch Shasta Lake Campground
- 7/2023 Reach break-even
Management Team
Shasta Lake Campground is led by David Cleveland who has been working in the campground industry for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a seasonal employee and worked his way up into a management position. While David has never developed his own campground, he has worked as a campground manager for many years and has gained an in-depth knowledge of the campground business including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., finances, marketing, etc.).
Financial Plan
Key Revenue & Costs
Shasta Lake Campground’s revenues will come primarily from the fees it charges for visitors to use the campgrounds. The company will also sell toiletries, snacks, and other items at its camp store.
The property purchase, equipment, supplies, and labor expenses will be the key cost drivers of Shasta Lake Campground. Other cost drivers include taxes, overhead, and marketing expenses.
Funding Requirements and Use of Funds
Shasta Lake Campground is seeking a total funding of $450,000 of debt capital to open its campground company. The breakout of the funding is below:
- Campground land purchase, design, and build-out: $250,000
- Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
- Marketing costs: $25,000
- Working capital: $25,000
Download the Campground business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Key Assumptions
The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.
- Number of customers per day:
- Year 1: 20
- Year 2: 30
- Year 3: 50
- Year 4: 60
- Year 5: 75
- Average fee charged per person visiting the campground: $20
Financial Projections
Income Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Total Revenues | $360,000 | $793,728 | $875,006 | $964,606 | $1,063,382 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $64,800 | $142,871 | $157,501 | $173,629 | $191,409 | |
| Lease | $50,000 | $51,250 | $52,531 | $53,845 | $55,191 | |
| Marketing | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | |
| Salaries | $157,015 | $214,030 | $235,968 | $247,766 | $260,155 | |
| Initial expenditure | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $291,815 | $416,151 | $454,000 | $483,240 | $514,754 | |
| EBITDA | $68,185 | $377,577 | $421,005 | $481,366 | $548,628 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| EBIT | $41,025 | $350,417 | $393,845 | $454,206 | $521,468 | |
| Interest | $23,462 | $20,529 | $17,596 | $14,664 | $11,731 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Use of Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Taxable Income | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $6,147 | $115,461 | $131,687 | $153,840 | $178,408 | |
| NET INCOME | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 |
Balance Sheet
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $30,000 | $33,072 | $36,459 | $40,192 | $44,308 | |
| Total Current Assets | $184,257 | $381,832 | $609,654 | $878,742 | $1,193,594 | |
| Fixed assets | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $54,320 | $81,480 | $108,640 | $135,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $153,790 | $126,630 | $99,470 | $72,310 | $45,150 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $315,831 | $270,713 | $225,594 | $180,475 | $135,356 | |
| Accounts payable | $10,800 | $11,906 | $13,125 | $14,469 | $15,951 | |
| Total Liability | $326,631 | $282,618 | $238,719 | $194,944 | $151,307 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| Total Equity | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 |
Cash Flow Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 | |
| Change in working capital | ($19,200) | ($1,966) | ($2,167) | ($2,389) | ($2,634) | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | $19,376 | $239,621 | $269,554 | $310,473 | $355,855 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | ||||||
| Investment | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | ||||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Cash from debt | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow | $154,257 | $194,502 | $224,436 | $265,355 | $310,736 | |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | |
| Cash at End of Period | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 |
Campground Business Plan FAQs
What Is a Campground Business Plan?
A campground business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your campground business. 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 Campground business plan using our Campground Business Plan Template here.
What are the Main Types of Campground Businesses?
There are a number of different kinds of campground businesses, some examples include: Seasonal campgrounds, Equestrian campgrounds, Year-round cabin campgrounds, and RV Campgrounds.
How Do You Get Funding for Your Campground Business Plan?
Campground businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.
What are the Steps To Start a Campground Business?
Starting a campground 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 Campground Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed campground 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 campground 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 campground business is in compliance with local laws.
3. Register Your Campground Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your campground 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 campground 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 Campground Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your campground 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 campground 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 campground business: