How to Start a Silent Retreat Center

Silent retreats give people a chance to disconnect from their hectic worlds by providing them with a peaceful place to commune with themselves. Guests are discouraged not only from talking but from making eye contact with one another. Silent retreats typically provide classes, meals, and reading materials to structure the guests’ time. Retreats serve to get people back in touch with themselves so they can be more effective when they return to their real life.

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Start a silent retreat center by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Silent Retreat Center
  2. Form your Silent Retreat Center into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Silent Retreat Center for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Silent Retreat Center
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Silent Retreat Center
  7. Get Silent Retreat Center Insurance
  8. Define your Silent Retreat Center Brand
  9. Create your Silent Retreat Center Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your silent retreat center. 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:

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 Silent Retreat Center 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 silent retreat center?

Costs to get started may be surprisingly low. You can potentially turn your own home into a silent retreat to get started! If you choose to hold the retreat in a more standard peaceful location, such as the woods or the mountains, you’ll need to budget for both the space and the furnishings for your guests. Larger retreats will also require trained staff who can work with customers to enhance their spiritual journey.

What are the ongoing expenses for a silent retreat center?

Silent retreats will need to account for staff salaries, commercial insurance, and the cost to maintain their space.

Who is the target market?

Entrepreneurs might be surprised at the kinds of people who want to try a silent retreat. It’s not just for those who embrace alternative lifestyles, but for everyone who feels as though they’re pulled in a million directions on any given day. Considering the level of distractions in the world, it likely won’t be difficult to appeal to people.

How does a silent retreat center make money?

Silent retreat businesses generally make money by charging people a flat fee based on the time they spend in the retreat.

How much can you charge customers?

Major retreats in peaceful settings can charge up to $4,000 for an 8-night stay. Decide your own prices based on the start-up costs, amenities offered, and the costs of your direct competition.

How much profit can a silent retreat center make?

Those who can create the right experiences can expect to make plenty of profit. If you charge $1,500 for a three-night stay at even a 10% profit margin, you’d make $1,500 in a weekend with only 10 guests.

How can you make your business more profitable?

You can offer ‘optional’ activities that people can pay for during their trip. For example, let’s say you have a first-class chef making healthy meals for your patrons. You can offer patrons the chance to have the chef make their personal favorite meal one night. Or you can offer more exclusive classes taught by world-renowned teachers.

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 silent retreat center 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 silent retreat center 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.

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FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation 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:

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 silent retreat center business. 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 silent retreat center business is generally run out of a large center. 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 silent retreat center 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 silent retreat center 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 Silent Retreat Center needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Silent Retreat Center.

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 silent retreat center

People are always going to be looking for a way to shake up their daily routines so they can get a new perspective on life. Your job is to show them how you can open their eyes to a calmer way of living by getting away from it all. This message is so universal that any kind of marketing can be effective, whether it’s TV, radio, internet ads, or physical flyers.

How to keep customers coming back

You need to show your customers the joys of disconnecting from the devices that constantly interfere with their most inner thoughts. They should leave feeling refreshed, fulfilled, and ready to make a change to become more mindful in their daily lives.

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: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, 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 understands and cares about the effects that the modern culture has on the brain. They should have an innate respect and talent for meditation and other types of holistic therapies.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

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What happens during a typical day at a silent retreat center?

Owners will likely spend much of their time planning itineraries and managing staff. They may teach classes, cook meals, or prepare sleeping quarters. Owners also typically need to handle more standard administrative duties, such as marketing, budgeting, and meeting commercial business needs (e.g., following zoning laws, maintaining insurance policies, etc.)

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful silent retreat center?

You should ideally have some experience with retreats and hospitality before starting this business. You do not need to have direct education in psychology to begin the business, but a background of formal education in mindfulness may help you design the activities and hire the right staff for your retreat center. It can also give you the credibility you need to entice people to try your product.

What is the growth potential for a silent retreat center?

Silent retreats are exploding in popularity, so the growth potential is huge right now. Owners have a major opportunity to capitalize on the public’s desire by giving them memorable and relaxing experiences. As the market becomes more saturated and the idea becomes less novel, this demand will likely drop-off.

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 silent retreat center?

Silent retreat businesses aren’t a new concept, but the fad of luxury silent retreats to lure people away from their iPads is. This means that you’re going to be a bit of a pioneer when it comes to figuring out your particular business model. The best thing to do is get a sense of what people what in your area. Silent retreats may sound like a great idea — until a person realizes that they won’t be able to check their phone when they feel that familiar sense of boredom or anxiety. It’s your job to find out how to keep people occupied without giving them their proverbial security blanket.

You may want to first test your ideas with friends and family. Ask them for honest feedback about how they feel as they try different activities. This should help you design packages that fit with different people’s personalities. For example, an overly anxious person may only be able to do your retreat for an hour rather than a whole week. Promoting a theme, such as Buddhist principles or Kabala, may also make it easier to brand your business. Just be careful not to use these principles solely as a means of selling your product, but as a means of guiding you into a cohesive business strategy.

In the beginning, pay more attention to the quality of your customer’s experiences rather than the revenue you’re making. It doesn’t necessarily have to be easy for them to put down their phones, but it should feel worth the effort at the end of the day. People are open to trying new things as long as everything is well-coordinated and thoughtfully executed. Your guests will likely be able to tell if the whole thing feels thrown together as a cheap excuse to make money. (This is especially helpful advice if you choose to conduct a silent retreat in your home.)

How and when to build a team

If you feel comfortable working with just a few people out of your home, then you likely don’t need a team at the beginning. However, larger retreats will need teachers and coordinators to keep everything organized. Look for people who understand how retreats work and how they can contribute to making the environment more peaceful.

Useful Links

Real World Examples