Campsite business plan template

Download this campsite business plan template in PDF or Word format, or tailor it to your project directly in our business plan software.

Discover our campsite business plan template

Our campsite business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our campsite business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a campsite in France, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

campsite businesss plan template
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How to use this campsite business plan template

Edit the campsite business plan template online, or download it

There are 3 ways to use this template:

  • Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
  • Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the campsite business plan template in PDF to read over it
  • Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the campsite business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format
online editor for campsite business plan sample

Campsite business plan template content

This template includes a complete campsite business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

  1. Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
  2. Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
  3. Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the accommodation, services and activities offered by your campsite
  4. Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
  5. Strategy: this section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
  6. Operations: this step lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
  7. Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statements).
  8. Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).
cover page and table of contents for the campsite business plan template by The Business Plan Shop
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Executive summary of the campsite's business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our campsite business plan example's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the campsite founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
  2. Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the campsite's owners and explain who they might target (our campsite business plan template targets families and foreign tourists)
  3. Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the campsite over the first 3 years of operation
  4. Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the campsite and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their campsite)
executive summary for campsite business plan sample

Company overview included in our campsite business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our campsite business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the campsite shareholders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business
  2. Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
  3. Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the campsite's founders and explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together
company overview included in campsite business plan template
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Products and services offered by the campsite

The products and services section is where you will present the different types of accommodation, services and activities offered by your campsite.

In our campsite business plan template products and services section, we cover:

  • Wood cabins: campers can choose from 5 fully equipped cottages.
  • Mobile homes: campers can choose from 15 fully equipped mobile homes.
  • Services: an on-site bar serving alcoholic drinks, laundry service and a nursery.
  • Activities: a range of activities available for guests to engage in such as ping pong, volleyball, books, boardgames and a boules court with equipment to play with
  • Reservation: a choice to make your reservations by phone or various online platforms
product and services description of the campsite business plan example

Market analysis for the opening of the campsite

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our campsite business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
  2. Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain who they view as their ideal customers (our campsite business plan template targets families and foreign tourists) and why they chose to target them
  3. Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (other campsites neaby) and indirect (holiday homes and hotels) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of a new campsite
  4. Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our campsite
market analysis section of the campsite business plan template
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Setting the strategy for our campsite

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our campsite business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of products (wood cabins and mobile homes) and services (activities, on-site services) and the rationale behind our choice
  2. Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among campers
  3. Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
  4. Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our campsite and outline how we intend to mitigate them
campsite business plan example: strategy section

Operations section of the campsite business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our campsite business plan example's operations section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsabilities of each of our campsite staff members
  2. Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
  3. Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them
campsite business plan template: operations section
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Financial plan included in our campsite business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the campsite over the next 3 years.

Our campsite business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the campsite
  2. Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the campsite's financial forecast
  3. Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our campsite in the coming years
  4. Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our campsite to operate smoothly
  5. Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our campsite over the next 3 years
  6. Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the campsite
  7. Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet
campsite business plan forecasted P&L

Appendices of the campsite business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our campsite business plan template's appendices include:

  1. A Maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
  2. A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations
campsite business plan template: monthly cash flow forecast

Campsite business plan template sample

Executive Summary

Business Overview

La Mouette Bleue will be a campsite located in the seaside town of Ver-sur-Mer in Calvados.

Ver-sur-Mer is located on the Côte de Nacre, between the towns of Asnelles and Courseulles-sur-Mer, and about 20 minutes by car from Caen.

The town combines both the tranquility of a town of just over 1,000 inhabitants and the proximity of Juno Beach, a symbol of the Allied landings in 1944.

It is possible to reach Ver-sur-Mer by car, by bus thanks to the Bus Verts company, with a departure from Caen every hour for a trip of about 40 minutes, or via bicycle paths that are built along the coast.

Our campsite will offer two types of accommodation, mobile homes, and large wooden cabins, with a total capacity of 131 beds.

La Mouette Bleue will mainly aim to welcome families with children as well as tourists interested in the heritage and history of Normandy, all in a peaceful setting.

The company is a limited company with a share capital of €10,000, whose partners are Stéphanie C. and Daniel D. They are notably accompanied by Olivier A, who has invested in the project but will not have an active role in the management of the company.

The two partners have complementary profiles and have already worked together in a campsite in Normandy. They have known each other for 10 years. Stéphanie worked as a hostess at a local campsite for 10 years, while Daniel has experience as an accommodation manager at a campsite in Normandy and a campsite in Britany.

Market Overview

Domestic Market

Outdoor tourism in France

According to the Fédération des Camppeurs, Caravaniers et Campings-Caristes (FCC), there are 7,937 equipped campgrounds on French territory. They represent 49.7% of all travel accommodation in France and generate 37,000 jobs.

According to the FCCC, turnover for 2019 is estimated at 2.5 billion euros.

The magazine Challenges informs us that France has the first camping park in Europe and the second biggest in the world, with the largest being located in the United States. 

2 and 3-star campsites are in the majority in France. Top-of-the-range and 1-star campsites are in the minority, whilst one in five campsites are unclassified. 

According to the website of the Ministry of Economy, such classifications must be requested by the campsite owner. It's possible, therefore, that some campsites meet the criteria for obtaining a star, but that the request for classification has never been made by the owner. 

There are 204 different conditions of attribution, all of which are listed on the Atout France website. They include equipment, customer services, accessibility, and sustainable development. 

According to the FCCC, the average price of a night in a French campsite for two people in high season is around €24.15 excluding tax.

As indicated by the Ministry of Economy, a tourist tax is added to the price of accommodation and VAT. This tourist tax is determined at regional level, with another tax being added at the departmental level depending on the type of accommodation, classification, and location. 

Local Market

According to INSEE figures, Normandy reached record figures for tourism in 2019 with 4.5 million overnight stays recorded in campsites.

Attendance is on the rise in every department, especially in Calvados where there is an increase of 3% to 12%.

Campsites in Calvados are mostly star-rated campsites, with a minority of one-star campsites. The most popular parts of the region are the Côte Fleurie and the Côte de Nacre.

According to the Calvados Tourism Observatory, the number of overnight stays in 2018 was 1,760,000 in the region, which was already an increase of 9.8% over the previous year.

The occupancy rate rose from 33.60% to 35.60% for all Calvados nights from 2017 to 2018.

French overnight stays in 2018 amounted to 1.06 million compared to 696,064 for foreign overnight stays. The foreign clientele is divided between the Dutch who represent 49.5% of the total, followed by the British at 22.4%, and the Germans at 11.1%.

Financial Highlights

We expect to achieve a turnover of €130,662 in the first year of activity.

The improvement in the occupancy rate of our accommodations should enable us to reach a turnover of €135,958 in year 2 (i.e. 4.05% growth), and a turnover of €138,352 in year 3 (i.e .1.76% growth).

We believe that our campsite will be profitable from its first year of operation with an EBITDA of €30,909 (i.e. 23.66% margin) and a net profit of €1,883 (i.e. 1.44% of sales).

We expect EBITDA of €35,486 in year 2, equivalent to a 26.10% margin, and €37,276 in year 3, equivalent to a 26.94% margin.

We expect positive cash generation over the entire plan, allowing us to generate sufficient cash to meet our loan repayments and deal with any contingencies.

Our Ask

Our financing needs amount to a total of €350,000. The partners have planned to contribute €100,000, i.e. 28% of the total amount.

To complete the sum, we would like to obtain financing of €250,000, including a loan of €40,000 for the purchase of the land, a loan of €155,000 to finance part of the fixed assets, and a VAT bridging loan of €55,000.

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Campsite Business Plan Template FAQ

What is a campsite business plan and do I need one?

A campsite business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

  • A written part that presents, in detail, your campsite business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
  • A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the campsite and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a campsite, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your campsite.

How do I write a business plan for a campsite and is it difficult?

Writing a campsite business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

  • You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
  • You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your campsite)
  • You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
  • You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
  • Any updates to your campsite business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and campsite business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

What is the budget for a campsite and how much does it cost to get started?

The budget to start and run a campsite will depend on the exact concept and location.

A small campsite with no permanent structures for guests to sleep in requires a limited investment. A bigger campsite with permanent guest accomodation and other shared buildings will require a larger upfront investment and more staff to operate.

If you intend to hire staff to manage the campsite, handle reservations, and provide assistance to campers, you'll need to factor in their salaries.

As an example, in our campsite business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €350,000, with the founders contributing €100,000.

In order to assess the exact budget for your campsite idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer.

Is The Business Plan Shop the best campsite business plan template for me?

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

  • Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
  • Access to our campsite business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start a campsite
  • Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
  • Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

How does the free trial of The Business Plan Shop work?

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

  • You can only create one business plan
  • The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
  • You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
  • No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here.

How much does The Business Plan Shop’s campsite business plan template cost?

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

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