Knowledge and documents: what you need to open a hostel. How to open your own hostel from scratch Layout of a 100-meter hostel with dimensions

Over the past few years, hostels have become very popular and in demand. Their popularity is a nuisance to large hotels, which have already begun to pale in comparison to the inconspicuous dwellings. By the way, they are inconspicuous only at first glance.

What's the advantage? There are several factors:

1. Cheapness of services;
2. use of a variety of premises;
3. minimum number of service personnel;
4. no need for huge investments.

In Russia, such places are most often associated with dormitories. On the one hand, they really resemble student rooms, on the other hand, this is a completely different direction, which is developing very quickly in European countries, where the profitability of such mini-hotels is high.

While this niche has not yet been occupied by us, and the entire sphere is considered relatively free, you can start arranging it from scratch, implementing ideas at reasonable prices. What do you need to open a hostel?

Permits and documents for opening

Those who are interested not only in the opportunity to open such an establishment in their city, but also in further development prospects (network business throughout the country), must officially register their business. To do this, you need to prepare the following documents.

• Ownership/Rental Rights. Provide all documentation confirming your ownership of the property or the lease agreement.
• Registration certificate. Register as a sole trader if you plan to take on one project first. In the future, when your business grows, you will be able to register as a legal entity.
• Tax Inspectorate. Register and receive a certificate of payment of income taxes. To reduce reporting hassles and reduce deductions, start with a single tax.
• Conclusion of the SES. The premises used must comply with all standards and requirements of the sanitary and epidemiological service.
• Fire inspection. You need to obtain a conclusion that the premises used meet the standards and regulations, and are absolutely safe for both residents and staff.
• Services. One of the first things you need to provide is a copy of the contract with a company that specializes in household waste removal.

Search for premises

An ordinary multi-room apartment is quite suitable. To begin with, three rooms are enough, in which you can accommodate up to three or four bunk beds. At the same time, in the process of placing beds and other necessary items, you are guided by the following rules:

• Comfortable furniture;
• the distance between the beds is at least 75 cm;
• toilet, shower, from 3 to 5 washbasins;
• hot water (required!);
• about 5 m? for each visitor;
• free Internet.

Staff

Administrator

A highly responsible and professional person whose responsibilities include accommodating residents, organizing meals, monitoring the sanitary condition of the hostel, and working at the reception desk. You must collaborate with two administrators who will work in shifts. An additional requirement is proficiency in English.

Accountant

Part-time employee or just a few days a month.

Housemaid

Part-time employee. Main responsibilities include cleaning rooms, stairs, kitchen equipment, and disinfecting bathrooms. All necessary cleaning equipment is provided by the hostel management.

Services

As a rule, people from 20 to 35 years old stay in such mini-hotels. Therefore, in addition to standard equipment (individual lockers, hangers, sockets, bed linen, towels and dishes), it is also important that wireless Wi-Fi is available.

Proper advertising will attract new customers to the hostel. Even if many of them do not currently need such services, they will be informed about their availability, which means, if necessary, they will be able to use them.

Alternatively, you can attract the media, but today it is better to order posting advertisements around the city, promoting services on the Internet, placing bright posters with contact information in places where there is a large concentration/traffic of potential clients.

If you live in one of the resort towns, it would be useful to establish contacts with travel agencies that will attract tourists to your establishment, as this is affordable.

If you do not own free real estate, the main expenses will be on its purchase or rental. The most ideal accommodation is in the historical part of the city or near the center.

So, the complete arrangement of one room (4 beds, safe, locker and bedside tables, inexpensive wall decoration) will cost you about 50,000 rubles.

The average salary of one administrator is 20,000 rubles (you will have two), and a maid’s salary is up to 10,000 rubles. Furnishing the kitchen will cost 60,000 – 80,000 rubles. Bathroom and shower - within 70,000 - 80,000 rubles. Add to this Wi-Fi and breakfast delivery (at the request of clients).

Taking into account the fact that in the rented premises you will have approximately 4-5 rooms, two administrators and two maids, one kitchen and two or three bathrooms and a shower, Wi-Fi connection, then it will cost you about 500,000 rubles.

Also today, many properties enter into contracts with a security service, because there are very different people in the rooms. If you live in a tourist city, you can also prepare additional excursion options, a map of local attractions, cycling routes, etc.

Risks

For the first 6 months you don’t have to expect high occupancy. The maximum option is up to 30%. Reason 1: almost no one knows about you and there are few reviews. Reason 2: those who have been to the city more than once try not to change their habits.

If you started a business in a resort town by the sea, lake, or picturesque river, big profits await you in the summer, and the off-season period is characterized by losses. You need to prepare for this in advance.

Tourist flows may fall due to the economic or political situation. No one is immune from this.

How much will you earn?

Now that you know how to open a hostel, you are interested in the possible profit, right? According to the latest statistics, high-quality advertising will allow you to achieve 80% workload at the end of your first year of work. On average, the daily cost of accommodation varies from $20 to $25. In Moscow, St. Petersburg and other big cities it may be higher. So, per month you will receive around $4,000 - $5,000.

Considering that full payback begins at 30% occupancy of the hostel, the remaining 50% will be your net profit. Yes, you will spend on rent, utilities and possible unforeseen expenses, additional services, but you will still remain in the black.

As you can see, to open a hostel, you need to work hard and invest a considerable amount, but all expenses will pay off quickly enough if you run your business correctly, rationally and gradually. In the future, it will be possible to seriously think about opening not just one object, but several at once or even an entire network. How do you like this idea?

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Despite the fact that hostels have existed for more than a century, they appeared in Russia relatively recently. At its core, a hostel is a hostel, but not a service one, where workers or students are accommodated (although they also happen to use the services of modern hostels), but a private one, for everyone. This is housing where not a room is rented, but a bed: in the living quarters there are several beds for the inhabitants, and the toilet and bathroom (or shower) are common to everyone.

Hostels are not suitable for a long, comfortable stay, but they have one undoubted advantage: they are cheap. A bed in such a hotel costs several times less than in a regular hotel. Accordingly, the advantages of hostels can be appreciated by a variety of people:

• travelers and tourists (especially those who do not use the services of travel agencies, but prefer to choose the route themselves);
• part-time students who come to take exams during the session;
• employees of organizations on short-term business trips.

In short, a hostel is a good option for those who need a roof over their heads for a short time, a place where they can sleep, wash themselves, and relax in between tasks.

How to open a hostel in Moscow without breaking the law?

Now hostels are becoming more and more popular. They can be found in almost every city. At the same time, Moscow is the center of Russia, the center of places of study, work, business activity (and tourists in the capital will always find somewhere to go and something to see). That is why the question of how to open a hostel, is especially relevant in Moscow. Accordingly, we will be guided mainly by Moscow standards - fortunately, as regards hostels, they practically do not differ from those in force in other cities.

To avoid this, you can register:

• one of the forms of partnership (full or limited);
• public or non-public JSC.

In relation to a hostel, it is most convenient to register as an individual entrepreneur or open your own LLC. The latter is even preferable: in the event of ruin, all losses will fall on the organization, and not on personal property.

Where to open a hostel?

But let’s say that registration has already taken place, there is a certificate in hand, a certified copy of the charter is in the folder, a seal has been ordered and received. What's needed next?

First of all, you will need a living space in which the hostel will be located. The following options are possible here:

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1. Build a building from scratch. This is the most expensive option, but the most promising in terms of business: you can initially design the premises for a hostel, place living rooms, showers, toilets, etc., as is most convenient. However, the completely prohibitive cost of land in Moscow makes this option extremely unlikely for an individual entrepreneur or a small company.
2. Purchase non-residential premises and, after major renovations, convert them into suitable premises for temporary residence. This option will also require considerable costs and approvals.
3. Use existing apartments. This method is now becoming more widespread.

In the event that a hostel is opened on the basis of an apartment, it will be necessary to somehow legalize its status for use in business activities. The simplest thing here is for an individual entrepreneur: if the housing already belongs to an entrepreneur, he is legally entitled to use it for business activities, so no transfer to non-residential stock or anything else is required.

In the same case, if the hostel is opened on the basis of an LLC or other commercial organization, you must:

• transfer the apartment into the ownership of the company (registering this, for example, as a contribution to the authorized capital);
• or enter into a lease agreement (even if the owner of the apartment and the sole participant of the LLC are the same person, since from the point of view of the law these are completely different persons).

Coordination and agreements with organizations

If the apartment is used as commercial housing, then before how to open a hostel, you will need to coordinate this with the supervisory authorities and conclude a number of agreements.

The required minimum as agreed is:

1. Fire inspection report on the safety of the apartment as a hostel. This is a necessary thing, because the hotel owner is responsible for the life and health of his guests. This conclusion is especially important if repairs have been carried out in the room and the load on the electrical network has increased: the slightest short circuit or heating of the wiring may well lead to a fire.
2. Permission from the sanitary service of Rospotrebnadzor (formerly called SES). The sanitary condition of the hostel premises must meet current standards.

Moreover, deciding how to open a hostel, you will have to negotiate with other organizations. For example, you will have to enter into a separate agreement for waste removal (MSW). Typically, such agreements are concluded with residents, but since the apartment will be used as a commercial dormitory without permanent residents, the volume of solid waste will increase significantly.

It can also be useful to provide residents with Internet access (via Wi-Fi or other means). The popularity of such a hostel will be high, but the service requires concluding an agreement with the provider.

Regulatory requirements for the hostel

Dealing with the fact how to open a hostel, we must take into account that since 2014, Russia has adopted GOST R 56184-2014, which relates specifically to this type of housing.

To comply with this GOST, the hostel will need:

• at least 4 sq. m of living space for each bed (including bunk beds);
• a distance of at least 75 cm from the upper tier bed to the ceiling (accordingly, three-tier beds are prohibited in most apartments);
• at least 2.5 m in height in residential premises, 2.1 in hallways;
• at least 1 toilet, washbasin and shower for 15 residents;
• It is mandatory to allocate, in addition to the sleeping area, a common area for relaxation, meals, and receiving guests. Its absence is permissible only if the hostel has its own cafeteria or there are catering establishments within walking distance.

GOST introduces standards for towels and bed linen: they must be changed for residents at least once every 5 days. However, this rule applies only if the owner of the hostel provides residents with bed linen and towels without fail. The fact is that in this respect, GOST is similar to railway standards regarding reserved seat carriages, where you can not pay for a bed and sleep on a bare shelf.

The rules for hostel beds are as follows:

• dimensions - at least 80 by 190 cm (the use of double beds measuring 140 by 190 cm is also allowed);
• the distance between the beds is at least 75 cm.

The bed comes with a mattress with a cover, a pillow and a blanket. Bed linen, as already mentioned, may be included in the price, but can also be provided for an additional fee.

Finally, each resident should have either a bedside table for things and clothes, or a separate section in the closet equipped with a lock.

Hostel staff

Deciding how to open a hostel, the owner must also take care of recruiting staff who will serve the residents. In principle, an individual entrepreneur may well do this personally - however, it is unlikely that an entrepreneur will be able to sit in a hostel all the time, receiving residents. For a commercial organization, hiring staff will be mandatory.

In practice, the minimum staff for a hostel is an administrator and 1 or 2 maids who clean the premises. If the hostel provides additional services (food, laundry, etc.), other employees may be required.

Each member of the staff will need to enter into an employment contract (See. Sample of a standard employment contract with an employee 2014-2015 (download form)). In addition, the owner of the hostel is obliged not only to pay wages, but also to contribute money to pension and medical funds, as well as to comply with the requirements of labor legislation.

In 1912, in his Altena Castle, the German Richard Shearman opened the world's first Hostel "Jugendherberge" - a hostel for youth tourism. Now hostels have become widespread as the cheapest place to stay for the night away from home. Many poor entrepreneurs have the opportunity to start their own business by investing very little money. And time shows that this way of earning money is reliable - especially for small businesses. The idea interests every second young businessman.

Hostels: what they are and who uses them

Without any doubt, the hotel format in the form of a small budget hostel has not only caught on, but has also become popular in vast Russia. At the same time, hostels differ from each other in a number of ways.

Type of establishment	Visitors	Rooms and their characteristics
"no stars"	Guest workers, internal migrants and even homeless people	The total number of places is 100 or more. The rooms can accommodate up to 15 beds.
"no stars"	Students, groups of organized tourists	The total number of places is 50 or more. The rooms can accommodate up to 8 beds.
Apartment, "no stars"	Business travelers, part-time students, poor tourists, fans of sports teams	The total number of beds is up to 15. The rooms can have 2-4 beds.
1 star*	Business travelers, poor family tourists, travelers	The total number of places is any. The rooms can have 1-4 beds. Shower and toilet on the floor. The room does not have air conditioning, refrigerator or TV.
2 star*	Business travelers, poor family tourists, travelers	The total number of places is any. The rooms can have 1-3 beds. At least one room in the hostel must have a shower and toilet inside the room.

It is known that in connection with the preparations for the FIFA World Cup, on July 1, 2015, the Law on the mandatory classification and awarding of stars was adopted. Special classifications have been adopted for hostels: “no stars”, 1 and 2 stars. According to hosteliers, about 30-35% of all hostels meet the “one star” and “two star” standards.

What are the requirements for hostels?

The activities of the hostel are regulated by GOST 56184-2014. This document obliges hosteliers not to use rooms on the ground floors and basements, as well as rooms without windows, as rooms. In the semi-basements it is allowed to create showers, toilets, laundries for self-washing, a buffet, a store and luggage storage rooms. There are no mandatory requirements for the mandatory equipment of kitchens, but a place for communication can be made in the open air.

As for the area, hostels are allowed to allocate 4 square meters. meters per bed, no matter which one: single-tier or two-tier, and the space occupied by the bed is also taken into account. That is, to provide accommodation for 10 people, you need a living space with an area of ​​20 square meters. meters with bunk beds. At the same time, there should be at least 75 cm to the ceiling from the top of the bed.

GOST does not prohibit the organization of mixed dormitories for women and men. However, guests must be notified about this in advance. By the way, there are no special requirements for mandatory kitchen equipment, although there must be a place for preparing food. In any case, even before checking in, clients should be notified about the features of their establishment.

Fire safety requirements require posting an evacuation plan in case of an emergency.

Is it possible to organize a hostel in an apartment?

Paragraph 5.7.18 of GOST 56184-2014 states that the law does not prohibit making a hostel out of your apartment. To do this you need to undergo legal registration. Well, then the hostelier is obliged to comply with “hygienic standards for noise, sound, vibration, electromagnetic radiation and rules for living in residential buildings.” That is, complaints from neighbors can become grounds for stopping a business.

How much does it cost to open your own hostel: drawing up a spending plan

When drawing up a business plan, it is necessary to calculate potential expenses at the start and during the formation period. The amount of starting investment depends on what area the businessman will use:

• use of your own home;
• renting premises to house a budget hotel;
• purchase of non-residential premises and its refurbishment..

The best option is to rent out the beds of your home, for example, a second apartment, in order to pay off a mortgage loan. Hotel business experts advise setting aside a room on the ground floor with a separate entrance for this business. In this case, when creating a business plan, you need to take into account the following expenses:

• registration and “paperwork” - from 15 thousand rubles (depending on the city);
• expenses under the rental agreement, if someone else’s premises are rented (prices vary significantly, should be taken into account separately);
• repairs costing 10 thousand rubles per sq. m. meter of area;
• organization of one sleeping place at the rate of 15 thousand rubles, including household appliances;
• 3-month payroll for 4 people: approximately 423 thousand rubles, including taxes;
• organizing an advertising campaign worth at least 50 thousand rubles;
• unforeseen expenses, which usually amount to 20% of the estimate.

To organize a hostel in a 2-room apartment with a living area of ​​32 sq. meters and 48 sq. meters of total area for 14 guests will need:

Plus unforeseen expenses in the amount of 20% of the amount of 1,178,000 rubles, i.e. 235,000 rubles. The total investment according to the business plan will be 1 million 413 thousand rubles.

If you rent someone else’s premises, for example, an apartment, then the cost of starting increases by the amount of six-month rent, which depends on the city and region. A more careful calculation of the plan will be needed when purchasing a premises.

Necessary equipment

For the normal functioning of the hostel you will need a minimum set of furniture and household appliances:

• single, double and bunk beds;
• bedside tables with locks;
• dining tables and chairs;
• sofa for guests;
• TV;
• coffee table;
• individual lockers (preferably metal) for clothes with locks;
• reception desk;
• individual night lighting;
• individual electrical outlet;
• shared refrigerator;
• electric kettles;
• microwave;
• router for wireless internet.

The cost of the necessary furniture and equipment to open a hostel from scratch depends on the entrepreneur’s ability to choose the best option in terms of price and quality.

Staff

Experience in using hostels with 15-20 beds shows that there should be an administrator in the hotel around the clock (or a security guard in the evening and at night).

You will also need a cleaning lady. Hosteliers usually recruit “young” pensioners who are happy to earn any additional income for the positions of security guards and cleaners. Let's calculate personnel costs for a hostel business plan (calculations are relevant for Moscow):

Premises expenses

If the hosteler uses his own premises, then the costs of its maintenance are associated with maintaining the functionality and safety of water supply, sewerage, electrical wiring, exhaust ventilation, doors and windows. Taking into account the high traffic of visitors and sometimes careless handling of hotel property, expenses for maintaining a small (15-20 beds) hostel reach from 3 to 7 thousand rubles per month, said the owner of the mini-hotel Sergei Koromyslov. Other businessmen gave approximately the same figures.

Promotion: effective methods and cost

Hostel promotion, of course, requires consistency from the entrepreneur and, most importantly, an understanding of the importance of this event for the success of the business. As reviews from most clients show, they chose this or that hotel using Yandex or Google. Therefore, in this matter you should not neglect the SEO promotion of the hotel website. Many hosteliers called this the most important and effective PR mechanism. Businessmen also advised to devote time to contextual advertising and active promotion through social networks.

Such promotion events cost 30-50 thousand rubles, but they are completely worth it.

Does the hostel as a business bring in a lot of money?

By drawing up a business plan with calculations, entrepreneurs calculate income from future business activities. To do this, simple steps are applied, including monitoring of similar hotels. Simply put, hosteliers, under the guise of clients, call competitors and then try to develop their own price list.

“Give or take a day in a hostel today is estimated at 600 - 700 rubles in regional centers,” says hotel market expert Arthur Mukhin. “In medium-sized cities the price is slightly lower.”

Thus, a hostel with 20 beds and 75 percent occupancy will bring the hostelier a monthly income in the amount of:

20 places × 75% × 700 rubles × 30 days = 315,000 rubles.

If you subtract the costs of salaries, housing maintenance, utilities and unforeseen expenses, you get a profit of 100 - 150 thousand rubles. Thus, profitability does not exceed 30%, and the break-even point can be passed in about a year.

Step-by-step plan for opening a hostel from scratch

Hostels are becoming a very fashionable business. In the first 2 months of this year, search engines recorded an increase in requests for a hostel business plan with estimates of 30-45%. People are also interested in what steps they need to go through to open their own mini-hotel. To become a hostel you need to do the following:

• register as an individual entrepreneur or as the owner of a limited liability company;
• rent suitable premises if you do not have your own apartment;
• draw up contracts for garbage removal and deratization and disinfestation;
• obtain permission from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station, the local Fire Service and Rospotrebnadzor;
• develop a business plan for the hostel with a list of repairs;
• draw up a detailed investment estimate, setting aside 20% for unforeseen expenses;
• carry out repairs with an emphasis on vandal-proof performance;
• purchase furniture and equipment;
• hire staff;
• develop a website and carry out its SEO promotion.

After this you can already accept clients.

OPF and documents

You need to choose a business form. If you read articles on the Internet, the conclusion suggests itself that it is best for a hostelier to be an individual entrepreneur. Then taxes are paid according to a simplified system (6% of revenue) and it’s easier to do your own accounting. However, experienced businessmen register the hotel as an LLC with a minimum authorized capital. Moreover, the premises are leased to the hotel. It is clear that ownership is removed from the risk of raiding or bankruptcy.

After a businessman chooses a legal entity, he is faced with the question of what documents are needed to open a business. Note that today it is easy to create a package of required papers - fortunately, specialized online services have appeared. The same applies to accounting, which can be outsourced inexpensively.

Is it worth using a franchise?

It is not so important for a poor traveler who owns the inn - the main thing is that for a little money they are allowed to spend the night, travelers wrote back in the Middle Ages. Today the situation has not changed.

“Franchises are good when the brand and technology are important,” says Arthur Mukhin. - But in hostels the profitability is low and the service is minimalist. It is unlikely that under these conditions it would be reasonable to give royalties to someone.”

In any case, the choice remains with the businessman.

Is hostel a risky business?

Realists advise underestimating the possible risks of entrepreneurship, especially for those who are “bewitched” by the hostel business idea. It’s one thing when a group of tourists who have known each other for a long time move in, or if the clients are quiet retired travelers. It’s a different matter when we are talking about the most diverse public, in which there are malicious violators of internal regulations.

“My wife dreamed of opening a quiet family business and thought of clients as guest relatives who also paid extra for their overnight stay,” writes a forum member with the nickname wehrtan#. “In reality, she got a headache in the form of restless guest workers.”

Common problems include vandalism, conflicts between clients, and problems in relationships with residents of the building where the hostel is located.

As a business project, a hostel is rightly considered a reliable and profitable business. Moreover, this is the 21st dynamic century with growing tourist flows from year to year, rapid labor migration and increasing business contacts. There are more people in need of inexpensive daily accommodation every day.

However, in order not to make mistakes, you need to carefully work out the hostel business plan. This is what experienced entrepreneurs advise.

Today you can find many ideas for starting your own business. One of these ideas is opening a hostel. So what awaits a businessman if he decides to start this particular business, and how to open a hostel?

Hostel business. Relevance of the institution.

Today hostels are not a rare phenomenon. In almost every city in Russia, and even more so in Europe and the West, you can find 2-3 decent hostels. Unlike a hotel, hostels provide the client with fewer services, but they also need to pay less for accommodation. In this regard, hostels are very popular establishments, especially among young people.

Recently, the relevance of hostels has increased several times. After all, hostels are convenient. Moreover, their convenience applies not only to clients, but also to hostel owners. After all, if he knows how to organize a hostel, then soon the establishment will begin to bring in good profits.

At the legislative level, such concepts as a hostel and a mini-hotel are not defined. Hostels are small facilities where several people live in one room, the furniture is bunk beds, chairs, with one bathroom and a bathtub for the entire room. Despite such conditions, hostels, with good placement and not inflated prices, are in constant demand. Some hostels offer free WI-FI, safe rentals, breakfast, etc. Before you start organizing this business, read bill No. 876688-6 “On Amendments to Article 17 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.” It was adopted in the first reading on May 13, 2016, the second reading is planned for November 2016. Also read GOST R 55322-2012 “Accommodation services. General requirements for hostels."

Today hostels are divided into three types:

• Youth;
• With directions to conferences;
• Mixed.

The last type is optimal, since it includes the previous two. Compared to the first type, the second requires more space. There are also fewer costs associated with a youth hostel. The second one is often empty, but just one visit from the delegation can cover all the monthly maintenance costs.

Before actually opening a hostel, you need to think through every little detail in accordance with your own capabilities. Write down the positive and negative aspects. Know that there is no gold business that immediately begins to make a profit. It all depends on the individual qualities of the entrepreneur.

Documents required to open a hostel

A hostel, as a business, requires the owner to obtain a lot of documentation. So what do you need to open a hostel?

• Step one is business registration.

Registration of an individual entrepreneur is the simplest solution for this business. The cost of registering an individual entrepreneur, including opening a bank account and obtaining a seal, will cost 3,000 rubles.

• Step two is business licensing.

There is no need to license this business; you just need to notify Rospotrebnadzor about the start of your activities. Your premises must comply with all fire and sanitary standards. Follow GOST R 55322-2012 “Accommodation services. General requirements for hostels."

• Step three is selecting the required premises.

Basically, hostels are organized in residential buildings. Now hostels are located in apartments, taking advantage of gaps in legislation. And if amendments to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation are adopted, this will introduce significant difficulties when opening this business. Therefore, having studied Russian legislation, you should carefully approach the choice of premises for this business. The premises in which your hostel will be located must be converted from residential to non-residential. This translation is a rather complex and lengthy process. Also, with this transfer, you will need to make a separate entrance to your premises and this is not a cheap investment. Therefore, it will not be cost-effective to convert small hostel premises from residential to non-residential.

Now the following documents may be required to open a hostel:

• Conclusion of the sanitary-epidemiological service;
• Paid bills relating to electricity, water, light, internet if necessary;
• Agreement with a solid waste removal company;
• Transfer from residential to non-residential (if necessary).

We warn you that the registration process, and, consequently, the list of documentation is typical for each region of Russia. Therefore, before opening your own hostel, it is recommended to consult a lawyer; he will help you figure out what documents are needed to open a hostel in your region.

Profit, profitability and payback of the hostel, let's talk about numbers.

The main point in the business plan is the economic side of the business. After all, it is impossible to create a hostel as a business without calculating profits, payback period, etc.

Only proper organization of the hostel can make a profit. On average, a night in a hostel costs 500 – 700 rubles. We plan to accommodate 12 people in our premises at maximum occupancy.

As for initial investments in business, everything is more complicated here. To open a hostel, the business plan must take into account the availability of not only equipment, but also personnel. Let's take a closer look at what initial expenses and ongoing business expenses await the hostel owner.

Initial investment.

Selection of a suitable apartment on the ground floor, we conclude a lease agreement. Apartment area 94 sq. meters;

Converting the premises to non-residential space takes from six months, the cost is 400,000 rubles;

Renovation of the premises, construction of the entrance group - 800,000 rubles;

The cost of rent for the period of translation and repair is 18*30000=540000 rubles;

Signboard – 50,000 rubles.

The initial investment will be approximately 1,790,000 rubles. You can save only if the apartment you need is yours. You can negotiate with some apartment owner, transfer his premises to non-residential, and then rent it.

Capital equipment costs:

• Beds (bunk) – 90,000 rubles;
• Full kitchen set – 25,000 rubles;
• Washing machine – 15,000 rubles;
• Kettle – 800 rubles;
• Hairdryer – 1000 rubles;
• Refrigerator – 15,000 rubles;
• Stove – 15,000 rubles;
• TV – 10,000 rubles;
• Sofa in the recreation area – 10,000 rubles;
• Video surveillance – 20,000 rubles;
• Other – 30,000 rubles.

On average, equipment will require an amount of 231,800 rubles. Additionally, you will need funds for bed linen (2 sets per bed), towels, kitchen utensils, cleaning equipment, dishes, detergents, toilet paper, etc. We will accept an additional amount of 70,000 rubles.

In total, starting a business will require 2,100,000 rubles.

Apartment rental and renovation
Purchase of equipment
other expenses
Working capital
Organizational expenses
Total expenses

Hostel staff.

We plan to have 3 administrators for the hostel, they will also act as maids. Accounting - outsourcing services.

The costs of doing business can be viewed in the table below.

Fixed expenses
Wage
Payroll taxes
Rent
Depreciation
Accountant services
Variable expenses
Hostel materials
Communal expenses
Transport
Insurance individual entrepreneurs
Other variable expenses
Total costs

All prices are based on the average cost in Russia; we warn you that they may differ depending on the specific region. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you calculate a business plan yourself, or use the services of specialists from the Business Technology portal, taking into account accurate cost data.

The hostel’s revenue for the period of 2 years under review will be:

In the business plan we are considering, where the planning horizon is 2 years, it can be noted that this period turned out to be insufficient, because Based on the calculation results for both reporting periods, net profit showed a negative indicator. For a correct calculation, the business planning horizon must be increased to 4-5 years.

We have considered one of the most expensive options for opening a hostel. If you have a ready-made premises in mind that meets business standards, then the payback and profitability will be different. The payback period for our business was 23 months.

Where can I get start-up capital?

Start-up capital is the foundation of the hotel business, even if it concerns the opening of a hostel. Not every person can immediately have sufficient starting capital, so you need to look for other ways out. The optimal solution would be to attract investors. Presumably, owners of bars, restaurants, cafes who have the opportunity to expand their own activities can become business partners.

How to attract target customers? Advertising and future promotion of the hostel.

For those who are thinking about how to make a hostel popular so that it does not close in the first months of operation, you need to know about proper marketing.

First, we determine what audience the hostel is designed for. Most often these are young people from 20 to 30 years old with average incomes, as well as foreigners. In connection with this information, you can calculate an advertising strategy, the tools of which can be:

1. Advertising on international websites. It’s convenient that you can find sites where advertising is practically free. The advantage of this advertisement is that visitors can book their stay at the hostel in advance.
2. Social media. Create your own groups on popular social networks. Get as many subscribers as possible, subscribe yourself. You can agree on cooperation with popular people on the network; they will competently advertise your hostel in their own account.
3. Advertising on the street.
4. Movement of promoters at train stations and airports. A person who has just arrived in the city and does not yet know where to spend the night will definitely take a leaflet and choose a hostel.
5. Promotions and discounts for permanent residents. Develop a system of bonuses and discounts; people like to receive nice gifts, such as free breakfast or a discount.

If your hostel is designed for businessmen coming with a delegation, then advertising emphasis should be placed directly in these places.

What kind of modern hostel is it? Requirements.

Hostel design is one of the most important points. Agree that if the hostel is unusual, then you will want to return to it. Now every self-respecting hostel must meet the requirements put forward by government agencies. Namely:

• You cannot open an establishment in basements or ground floors;
• Providing a high-quality soundproofing system;
• Plumbing amenities are calculated according to the principle:
  1 toilet for twelve guests;
  1 shower for fifteen guests;
  1 sink for six guests;

• The sleeping area must be at least 0.8 x 2 meters. Beds with two tiers are often used in hostels. This leaves significantly more free space in the room;
• Arrangement of storage chambers for personal belongings of guests;
• It is advisable to provide the premises with air conditioning and the Internet;
• The hostel must have such premises as a place to relax, namely a small hall with magazines, a TV and the like, and there must also be a kitchen. This allows people to feel more comfortable, especially since they can prepare their own food in the kitchen.

Choosing a hostel location

The location where the hostel will be located directly affects profits. The best option is to be located near public places, such as:

• Stations;
• Airports;
• Cafe;
• Educational establishments;
• Bars;
• Offices.

Do not choose a location near large hotels that could seriously compete with your business. It is advisable that the place plays in your favor. Hostels located in residential areas of the city are rarely popular. It is also not recommended to open this establishment in remote areas or in places with high crime rates.

It is noteworthy that hostels in the city center are especially popular, as they are within walking distance of the city's main tourist attractions. The ideal location is close to public transport stops and junctions such as metro, buses, trams.

Today it is not difficult to open a hostel. Advice on its organization can significantly increase business profits.

• So that you do not have to constantly renovate the hostel, introduce a system of residence rules that is mandatory for guests. They will have to familiarize themselves with it before they move into the room;
• If you are in doubt about what documents are needed to open a hostel and which are not needed in your case, it is better to contact a legal consultant;
• Calculations of profit, profitability and payback should be done individually for your own region;
• It is better to order furniture for a hostel in bulk from a factory, so you can get a decent discount;
• Don’t forget to request a warranty card for furniture and equipment;
• Quality of service is the main criterion due to which a business will either be successful or lead to failure. Always focus on whether you yourself would like to live in such conditions or not;
• Periodically monitor the cleanliness of the hostel yourself; cleanliness should be at the highest level;
• Monitor the market before opening a hostel. Create something new, something that hasn’t existed before. Only a bright and unusual interior can attract a huge number of people who want to move into your hostel;
• If you want big profits, don't save! Beds should be comfortable, bed linen should be changed immediately after the guest checks out. Don't allow chaos in your establishment.

Now you know how to open a hostel from scratch. We hope that we have helped you understand the main points of this business. We wish you success in your endeavors!

Inexpensive short-term accommodation without the star aplomb is gaining momentum around the world, bringing home owners a good income. Let's consider the approval procedure and all the documentation that will be required to open a hostel in an ordinary apartment, in a non-residential premises, as well as the risks and nuances of each option.

Hostel as a business: are there any prospects?

Hostels are not mentioned in official Russian documents. However, in fact, in our country, as well as throughout the world, they operate quite legally, and their number is growing every year. In the tourism industry, this is a well-defined concept: inexpensive premises for short-term accommodation of guests with the provision of the minimum necessary service (bed).

The hostel is not just a low-budget hotel. This is a certain philosophy and lifestyle. Many travelers cannot afford to stay in luxury hotels. Affordable alternative accommodation options are popular among young people and those who prefer to spend money on excursions and entertainment rather than luxury apartments. Besides, it’s fashionable, fun, and expands your circle of acquaintances and new experiences.