How much is this expense?
04-30-2008, 08:09 AM
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Wisconsin and Canada
Posts: 2,415
RE: How much is this expense?
Being a lodge owner/outfitter/guide myslef, I may be able to give you a little advice.
First, with the number of outfitters there are I wouldn't recommend starting your own. If you are totally serious about this, I would look for outfitters that are for sale. Personally, I would start small and build the business. The problem with starting a new outfitting business is getting clients, having references, having experience, start up capital, equiptment, etc etc etc.
The biggest challenge would be finding clients, for a number of reasons. First, being a new outfitter, you have no references and you/the business is not established. The biggest challenge to finding new clients is today's economy. People aren't spending money like they were 2 years ago, and if they do, they want to spend it with someone who they know will give them a good hunt.
Like others have said, the $2,000,000 loan figure you threw out there would sink you faster than the Titanic. The less you can borrow, the better. You don't need a ranch with a few thousand acres, in all actuality you don't need to own any land at all.....lease it. As far as accommodations, a 5 br/5 ba won't hold too many people.....and definately not enough to pay back a $2,000,000 loan, plus overhead. By buying an established business you can get by with a lot less money and have a foundation to grow on.
Check out this realtor....I know he's in Canada, but it will give you an idea of what outfitters are going for up there and what equiptment is included.
http://www.harrymccowan.com/index.htm
Hopefully I didn't burst your bubble....but this was just a small insight....I could go on for pages. Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck in your research!
First, with the number of outfitters there are I wouldn't recommend starting your own. If you are totally serious about this, I would look for outfitters that are for sale. Personally, I would start small and build the business. The problem with starting a new outfitting business is getting clients, having references, having experience, start up capital, equiptment, etc etc etc.
The biggest challenge would be finding clients, for a number of reasons. First, being a new outfitter, you have no references and you/the business is not established. The biggest challenge to finding new clients is today's economy. People aren't spending money like they were 2 years ago, and if they do, they want to spend it with someone who they know will give them a good hunt.
Like others have said, the $2,000,000 loan figure you threw out there would sink you faster than the Titanic. The less you can borrow, the better. You don't need a ranch with a few thousand acres, in all actuality you don't need to own any land at all.....lease it. As far as accommodations, a 5 br/5 ba won't hold too many people.....and definately not enough to pay back a $2,000,000 loan, plus overhead. By buying an established business you can get by with a lot less money and have a foundation to grow on.
Check out this realtor....I know he's in Canada, but it will give you an idea of what outfitters are going for up there and what equiptment is included.
http://www.harrymccowan.com/index.htm
Hopefully I didn't burst your bubble....but this was just a small insight....I could go on for pages. Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck in your research!
