A hotel can be any commercial building that charges money to travelers who need a room to stay. This can be anything from a standard multi-unit building to luxury stand-alone villas. As airline prices drop and the economy improves, corporate and personal travel continues to increase. The hotel industry generated just under $200 billion in revenue in 2016.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
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Start a hotel business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Hotel Business
- Form your Hotel Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Hotel Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Hotel Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Hotel Business
- Get Hotel Business Insurance
- Define your Hotel Business Brand
- Create your Hotel Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your hotel business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Hotel Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a hotel business?
Regardless of whether you’re opening a boutique hotel with five rooms or a mega hotel with hundreds of rooms, the costs to get started can be substantial. Between the land, the equipment, the furniture, and the licensing requirements, owners typically need a lot of capital to get started. Even a Super 8 hotel can cost up to $4.5 million to open. However, there is no industry average because the costs range widely based on the value of the property and the building materials used.
What are the ongoing expenses for a hotel business?
Ongoing expenses include facility upkeep, employee wages/salaries, advertising, insurance, replacing beds and furniture, office supplies, utilities and high-speed internet. Plan to spend at least a couple hundred dollars per month on replacing room mattresses, shower curtains, carpet, dressers, etc. The exact figure will hinge on the number of rooms your facility has and the age of the beds, furniture etc. Low-level employees who check in guests and clean the hotel will earn between $8 and $15 per hour. A hotel manager, marketing professional, and accountant will make between $30,000 and $60,000 per year. Budget at least a couple hundred dollars per month for facility upkeep. A maintenance person will earn between $12 and $25 an hour. Budget $50 to $100 per month for office supplies. Utilities including high-speed internet for the entire hotel will likely cost $150 to $300 or more per month. Dedicate at least $200 to $500 or more for monthly advertising. The exact cost of marketing hinges on the economics of your local market.
Who is the target market?
The target market can be anyone looking for a room for the night — whether a traveler is coming from across the world or across the street. However, all hotel owners will develop their own target demographic based on their amenities and location. Luxury travelers will not want to stay at the same hotel as a mid-level executive who is in town for a conference.
How does a hotel business make money?
Hotel owners make money based on the profits of the hotel, meaning they’ll need to work out how much they want to make a year before setting their room rates to account for their salary. They usually pay themselves a standard amount per year and then invest the rest of their profits into the property.
How much can you charge customers?
The average cost for a hotel room is $137 a night, but there are some luxury hotel suites that cost $80,000 a night to stay. Hotel owners need to be careful about how they’re pricing their rooms based on demand. A holiday weekend can potentially kick up prices by triple their normal cost or more, so it’s important to set prices based on what people will pay.
How much profit can a hotel business make?
A hotel has enormous profit-making potential. Some hotels make six figures per year. Others rake in millions per year. Unfortunately, some hotels fail to make a profit. The level of profitability depends on a number of different factors. Grow the business, expand to a second location and you will likely exceed the six figure mark. Continue to add locations and your hotel business will approach the million dollar profit range.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Successful hotel owners can consider franchising their business or opening up more locations in an area. They can even give educational courses to other hopeful hotel owners about how to succeed in a competitive industry.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your hotel business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your hotel business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a hotel. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A hotel is generally run out of a large building. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a hotel business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your hotel business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Hotel Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Hotel Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a hotel business
Advertise strongly to get your name into the public eye, especially online. Travelers aren’t necessarily going to find their hotel by the radio or television, so either use paid ads or organic content to boost your rankings in a search engine. However, it’s also important to let word of mouth serve as a powerful tool (even at the beginning.) The more specials and discounts you offer, the more likely it is that customers will see the hotel as desperate or not worth their time.
How to keep customers coming back
Hotel owners will thrive based on their customer service. Even the most jaded of business travelers isn’t immune to having a little bit of personality and charm delivered to their experience. Customer issues should be solved as quickly as possible, and emergencies should be addressed and rectified immediately.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is good for someone who enjoys the hospitality business. Those who run hotels have to be adept at catering to a number of different needs, so an owner will need to be flexible when it comes to how they respond to different travelers and consistent when it comes to delivering unparalleled customer service. From business travelers to young families, each guest will have their own priorities when it comes to where they stay.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a hotel business?
Hotel owners may have to deal with a range of responsibilities in their day-to-day job, including the following tasks:
- Hiring/scheduling/managing staff
- Negotiating room rates for different days
- Completing paperwork and administration duties
- Handling financial obligations/investors
- Completing ongoing education regarding the hotel market
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful hotel business?
People who have experience in the hospitality industry will have a head-start because they will have already seen many of the hiccups that come with running a hotel or a restaurant. Those with an MBA or formal hospitality training can also use their education to help them make smarter, more cost-effective decisions.
What is the growth potential for a hotel business?
There has been a lot of talk about how the hotel business is being hurt by websites like Airbnb. The amenities and service tend to be more intimate at private homes or property, which can be appealing for people who who are sick of the corporate structure or lack of empathy on the part of hotel employees. However, the growth potential for hotels can still be substantial for a number of reason.
There are still plenty of travelers out there who would prefer to stay at a hotel, especially considering that there is a certain level of hesitation for many people when it comes to staying with strangers. In addition, websites like Airbnb are likely to become more heavily regulated in the next few years which may make it more difficult for travelers to take advantage of the lower rates.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a hotel business?
The best thing an owner can do is narrow down their demographic so they can start catering to them right away. Ideally, you’ll identify a need that isn’t being served in the area you wish to open. Maybe business travelers are being catered to by chain hotels, but tourists are looking for something a little more personalized. Perhaps you open up a themed hotel that focuses on a particular niche in your area (e.g., a hotel designed specifically for scuba diving tourists.)
You should also invest in your staff from the very beginning. The leaders and even the everyday staff members will be your eyes and ears when you can’t be there. Giving them the respect and the compensation they deserve can go a long way to boosting morale and keeping customers happy. Hotel owners should also look at what their competition is doing in an effort to attract more people. Just because a hotel is different from the most popular Airbnb destinations, doesn’t mean a hotel owner can’t offer some of the amenities that make the Airbnb destinations so heavily desired.
How and when to build a team
You will need to build a team immediately to do everything from managing the staff to cleaning the rooms. Find people who can use discretion on the job so guests feel like they’re in good hands. The more layers of bureaucracy you build into your hotel, the harder it will be for customers to get an answer to even the simplest of problems.
Useful Links
Industry Opportunities
- Best Western Franchise opportunity
- Comfort Suites Franchise opportunity
- American Hotel and Lodging Association