Over the past few years, flexible and high-quality accommodation has gained a lot of popularity. Business and leisure travelers look for other options rather than traditional hotels and serviced accommodations are just too good. But how do you start a serviced accommodation business? In this guide, we will help you step by step, starting from the legal requirements to the marketing strategies so that you have a fully functional serviced accommodation business.
1. Understanding the Serviced Accommodation Business Model
First thing first, let us make a business plan for getting a serviced accommodation business. Going forward, there are various steps to setting up a serviced accommodation business, including one’s comprehension of the business model. Serviced accommodations offer short-stay fully furnished rental units packed with hotel luxuries such as housekeeping, concierge, and more.s. This arrangement works well for visitors who require more space, privacy, and flexibility than the norm of traveling to a hotel allows.
Key advantages of serviced accommodations include:
- Earnings are boosted because of the extra chargeable services.
- A steady market comes from corporate and holiday travelers.
- Turnover of properties and guests is done with ease.
When it comes to investing in serviced accommodation setup, these are the most important factors to consider because they are the ones that will dictate how you will set up your serviced accommodation business
2. Researching the Market and Selecting a Location
The next stage after understanding the fundamentals of serviced accommodations is to set up a serviced accommodation business which requires finding the best location. Location plays a significant role in enhancing the occupancy rates and the profitability of the venture.
Consider the following when selecting a location:
- The need for serviced accommodations in the area: Find urban areas or regions that have a reasonable number of tourists, business visitors, or long-term guests on the housing market.
- Competition: Most likely, some similar type of property is being rented. What amenities and price levels do customers look for and are offered by the competitors? Where are there gaps in the market?
- Location and ease of reach: Properties near business centers, sightseeing places, and communication means usually cope well.
Now and then good planning and effective execution of networking strategies will make it easier for set-up serviced accommodation business to find clients before it is officially operational.
3. Acquiring the Property
The property of choice in this case will be the cornerstone of the business. For the establishment of the serviced accommodation business, inducing the budget, you can either buy or rent or simply collaborate with some property owners. Each of these options has certain advantages and disadvantages:
- Buying a property: This option gives you the total power of your domain but comes with a hefty price tag that you need to pay for at the start.
- Leasing a property: Leasing makes it possible to do business without the huge capital outlay, but you will still have to negotiate the terms in good faith.
- Partnering with property owners: Likewise, you can reach an agreement with elderly people who wish to earn passive income and allow you to set it up, manage it, and profit from it.
Always think about factors like design, installation costs, and ease of renovation into serviced accommodation when purchasing any property.
4. Navigating Legal and Regulatory Requirements
For a legitimate serviced accommodation business, you need to comply with laws specific to each locality and municipality. For instance, this ensures that legal issues such as fines or the shutting down of your business do not arise.
- Regulations involving short-term rentals: This is mainly an issue of compliance since some towns/cities have specific laws that provide for short-term rentals. For instance, consider the maximum amount of days you are allowed to rent the house in a year if there are such limitations.
- Business licenses and permits: Determine whether there is a need for a special business license for running serviced accommodation and if yes obtain it.
- Insurance requirements: Take up adequate insurance coverers for potential risks of damages, liability, or loss of income.
Legal compliance is one of the most important things you have to follow in a business start-up to avoid many unplanned interferences and complexities of operations.
5. Designing and Furnishing Your Property
Preparation of the services and accommodation areas over and above basic requirements must be performed in serviced accommodation. Given the importance of good reviews and assessments for punitive business, designing and furnishing a property is key in customer relations endeavors.
To create a standout serviced accommodation:
- Ensure that they have a comfortable stay due to the purchase of good appliances and furniture.
- Minimize color blending in the interior and the house design where the target group is vast.
- Use wireless internet with appropriate equipment, television, and kitchen among other goodies as unique selling points.
Regions where you are to set up your accommodations also need consideration as these increase the value of your serviced apartments once they are ready, marketing your accommodation to clients will also be easier.
6. Setting Up Management and Maintenance Processes
Every serviced accommodation provider knows how to manage accommodation provision. Every process from making inquiries for bookings to making sure the premises have been cleaned regularly should be done effectively and in a way that focuses on guests.
- Develop a booking strategy: Choose a good PMS that can connect with other booking sites like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia for a centralized system.
- Create a renovation/ repair program: Making sure you have routine checks and repairs will help your property be ready and in good shape for guests at all times.
- Organize the cleaning services: Depending on the volume of your business, you may either engage a cleaning team or a cleaning company to perform periodic turnarounds.
In conclusion, effective property management is very important in so far as establishing and running the serviced accommodation business is concerned.
7. Marketing Your Serviced Accommodation
The only time your business is going to be profitable will be if customers know of its existence. It is important to note that marketing is the glue that holds a business and keeps bringing in guests to ensure the accommodation facility is fully booked.
To effectively promote and expand your business, consider the following tips:
- List your property on as many booking sites as possible to increase visibility.
- Utilize social media in building your brand to drive bookings straight to your property.
Build up great ratings: Great guest experiences leading to good reviews on platforms such as Google and TripAdvisor will help in building your reputation and getting new clients.
If you have a good marketing strategy in place, so as you start your serviced accommodation business, you will grow your brand with time.
8. Setting Pricing and Managing Finances
Setting prices for your serviced accommodation may be quite difficult yet it’s one of the most important aspects if you are to be profitable. A price positioning strategy that is competitive yet flexible enough to consider the market whilst ensuring resonates occupancy levels is optimal.
- Canvass on how much your competitors are charging for their properties within your locality and scale down depending on demand.
- Charge through price-changing tools that adjust prices automatically based on season, occupancy levels, and local happenings.
- Set aside money for operational expenses including cleaning, maintenance, and energy bills so that cash flow isn’t strangled.
How you handle maintenance issues is key to how the business will tip top when your serviced accommodation is up and running and even after.
9. Providing Excellent Customer Service
Customer satisfaction is the most important aspect for anyone who would want long-term success in the serviced accommodation sector. Good service also enhances repeat customers, more positive reviews, and a good competitive edge to the property.
Below are the steps on how to provide customers with excellent service:
- Make the once daunting check-in and check-out process into something that guests will be comfortable with.
- Guests’ questions and concerns should be addressed quickly so that they can see you are interested in giving them quality service during their stay.
- Make an effort to include welcome packs, local guides, or other amenities in order to enhance their experience during their visit.
Such a reputation of providing exceptional service will help in ensuring that your property is favored as you establish your serviced accommodation business.
10. Scaling Your Business
After making a profit with the first property management venture, the next step could be scaling by opening more properties.
- Use the profits earned from the business and purchase or acquire further property leases.
- Employ technology to ease and streamline the processes of booking, managing, and communicating with guests.
- As the business expands, bring in other people to facilitate operations, marketing, and customer service.
A carefully and strategically planned expansion will help in enhancing profitability and the competitiveness of your serviced accommodation business.
Conclusion
Starting a Serviced accommodation business comes with both benefits and challenging tasks. By carefully implementing these steps to start up a serviced accommodation business such as gathering information, finding a building, and properly managing the business you will be well on your way to establishing a successful company in this rapidly growing market.
The most important thing is forethought, effort, and attention to clients. These will also give you a good reputation as well as potentially encourage more people to stay at your business.