How to open a hostel from scratch -

For the budget traveler, there is nothing more attractive than a cozy and inexpensive hostel. This model of hotel business came to the Russian market from Europe and in a short time hostels have become a rather promising activity. Therefore, the question of how to open a hostel from scratch worries many entrepreneurs.

A small budget hotel that does not require special investments at the start and guarantees a stable profit is the goal of many businessmen. To open a hostel, you need a business plan. But first, you need to outline how to open a hostel from scratch. This concept is relatively new and appeared in the everyday life of Russian citizens not so long ago.

Young people from Europe love to travel to different countries, but since their budget, as a rule, is limited, they choose small hotels with rooms designed for several people at once for lodging and living. The cost here is much lower than in standard hotels, and the service is quite comfortable for those who need to stay in an unfamiliar city for a couple of days.

If you translate "hostel" from English, then literally it means - "hostel". In this system of residence there are no special amenities for guests, only a sleeping place. Moreover, several beds are located in one room at once. From the terms of service there is also a shared bathroom, bathroom and kitchen. Some hotels, such as hostels, have rooms where vacationers can spend time together.

Considering the topic of how to open a hostel in Russia, many entrepreneurs open places where two, three-tiered beds are placed in a small area. From the conditions - one toilet per floor, and there may be no room for cooking at all. Such hostel analogues have a negative impact on the industry as a whole.

Before learning how to open a hostel from scratch, it is worth pointing out that there are two types of such hotels: for a youth audience and for groups participating in the conference. The models are very different from each other, primarily in their pricing policy. There are also differences in area - youth hostels are much smaller than conference hotels. But with a budget option, it is more in demand. Its workload can reach 90% per month. Nevertheless, only one delegation, staying in a mini-hotel for several days, is able to cover all the costs of maintaining the business. This point is extremely important when considering whether it is profitable to open a hostel. .

Business organization requirements

What do you need to open a hostel in Russia? According to the legislation in force in Russia, hostels can be opened in non-residential premises that meet the established requirements. But since a lot of money is needed to rent or buy real estate, many businessmen are considering this option of opening a hostel in an apartment.

Premises

Before , how to open a hostel, you should familiarize yourself with the state standards regarding the premises, adopted in 2015.

The regulations establish that guests must be provided with the following conditions:

A minimum of five square meters of space is provided for one person.

A small hall for vacationers must be equipped without fail.

The size of the beds is at least 80 x 190 cm. The minimum distance between the beds is 75 cm.

The number of bathrooms in the hotel is determined at the rate of one per 12 people.

Shower room for 15 people.

Sink for six.

Therefore, one hostel for ten people should have one bathroom, one shower, two sinks and a bedroom with a total area of ​​fifty square meters. meters.

If you think about whether it is possible to open a hostel in an apartment, then according to the law, such a business option is allowed. However, this is a small level that does not guarantee a stable profit. Large-scale projects are organized on an area of ​​150 sq. m. In such a space, you can equip several bedrooms, a common room and organize a youth hostel. A franchise will help open a hostel for entrepreneurs, but this type of business requires a space of 300 sq. m.

Hostel in apartment

Before opening a mini-hotel in an apartment, it is worth asking if it is possible to open a hostel in a residential building that you have chosen. It is also worth considering the specifics of the activity in advance. It will take a lot of effort to keep the hostel busy at least half of the total capacity. It is necessary to secure the consent of other residents of the house, it is not so easy to do this.

Of the requirements for organizing a hostel in an apartment, the following should be noted:

The apartment should be located on the first, maximum second floor of a residential building. All norms stipulated by GOST must be taken into account.

Before converting a room into a hostel, an apartment must be registered as a non-residential fund. In principle, these conditions can be ignored, the legislation allows such a possibility. But in this case, the owner of the apartment will have to conclude an agreement with each guest, which adds extra hassle.

Business plan details

How to open a hostel? To begin with, you should develop a detailed business plan, which should include the following points:

Purchase (rent) or construction of premises.

Staff.

Equipment of the internal space of the premises (purchase of furniture, kitchen utensils and other things that provide comfort to guests).

You will have to buy a lot of beds, according to the number of beds. Beds should be chosen in accordance with the requirements - sizes not less than 80 x 190 cm (single bed), 140 x 190 (double). The distance between the beds is at least 75 cm. If the beds are separated by a partition, this requirement can be excluded. Also, furniture will require wardrobes, bedside tables, tables, a minimum of dishes, a washing machine. Internet access is also worth taking care of. To equip the common room, you need to purchase a sofa, armchairs, a TV. Household trifles such as an iron, a hairdryer and so on will not be superfluous.

You shouldn't skimp on the quality of furniture and plumbing. As a rule, hostels have a lot of traffic, so equipment and furniture of poor quality will quickly go out of service. When organizing a mini-hotel in a residential building, the owner should take care of the soundproofing of the room. Residents of the house may be unhappy with the noise from the holidaymakers. Their complaints can cause many problems, including consequences such as business closures.

Business promotion

Possible difficulties

The main problem with opening a hostel is finding a suitable room. Finding a place that meets all the requirements can be quite difficult. It should be in a good, convenient location and have enough space to accommodate at least 15 people. If you plan to organize a hostel in an apartment, then it is enough to rent or buy a three-room apartment. Ten people can be accommodated in such an area.

If it is planned to build a hostel, then large expenses are required. For comparison, renting a room will cost 15 thousand rubles per sq. m per year. For the construction, you must have at least five million rubles in stock.

Cons and pros

A hostel is not an ordinary place to sleep, but rather a platform for open communication between like-minded people and creative people. For this reason, the owners of such establishments develop a single concept when opening a business: they open comfortable hotels in a single thematic focus.

The advantages of opening a hostel include the following:

Low cost per night.

Comfortable environment.

The opportunity to be in the circle of people of different professions, nationalities, interests and cultures.

Small investments at the start. The losses and risks are not significant even if the project is not successful. An excellent option for a businessman with a small initial capital.

Potential and growth prospects are another advantage of opening a hostel. On the territory of Russia, such hotels have appeared recently, because there are many free niches and there is little competition.

The stable demand for the service makes hostels a very attractive business. Many travelers prefer to stay in inexpensive hostels than spend money on expensive hotels.

The disadvantages include the lack of personal space among the guests, as well as the likelihood that roommates will turn out to be unscrupulous. You will have to live in the same area with a large number of strangers. But the problem with possible thefts can be easily solved if you equip safes for residents and rent them out for an additional fee.

Potential profit

The main activity of the hostel is to provide accommodation, that is, a sleeping place. Many hostels for tourists provide guests with services such as free Internet access, toiletries. For the use of a refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker and other household appliances, you can charge a fee. Breakfast can also be included in the room rate.

On average, the maintenance of a hostel takes up to 40 thousand rubles (utilities, staff earnings, and so on). The average income is about one hundred thousand rubles per month. The profit depends on the number of places in the hotel. A hostel for ten people will pay off on average in six months. This indicator of profitability is considered to be quite high. The main thing before opening a hostel is how much it costs to organize and launch it.

The growing popularity of such a hotel model as a hostel is rapidly growing due to the fact that travelers can stay here for a reasonable fee. Initially, hostels were intended exclusively for the youth audience, but now there is a demand among the adult population. A standard room in such a hotel resembles a dorm room, often equipped with two-tier beds. Such a business has excellent prospects, many prefer to stay in low-budget hotels. Therefore, it makes sense to think about how to open a hostel from scratch.