Owning a yard...costs involved

[Moon]

As stated, what costs are involved in owning and running a livery yard? insurance wise what do you need? Any hidden costs you didnt forsee?

 

[Enfys]

How long is a piece of string?

I can't help with insurance costs, our business is covered under the Farm Policy. Don't forget Property Rates too.

Otherwise, maintenance, materials, machinery (buying tractor/quad/trailers) wear and repair on them, fuel, harrow, roller, mower, hay rake, stocking up your workshop with all the DIY bits and pieces you will need etc

- just when you think you have everything ticketty boo, all the fences up etc, some pratt of a horse will stick its' stupid feet on a gate and trash it, or the wind will blow and a tree will fall on your fence, or barn, or some twerp (talking from bitter experience here) will crash their car through a brand new fence.

It is never ending, whatever you budget for, add another 50% on that. Better than going out to work though

 

[Wagtail]

It's a lot more than you'd expect. You need public liability insurance, and depending on what you do in terms of livery, may need care custody and control insurance. Then you have business rates, electricity, water, maintenance costs. Fencing, stabling, arena, lighting. Equipment such as forks, shovels, wheelbarrows, horse transport (as if you have full liveries you would need to provide transport should there be an emergency). Feed, hay/haylage, bedding. Costs of your own equipment such as work clothes, boots and gloves (you get through a surprising amount). Laundry, tack and training equipment. Tractor/quad, areana leveller, paddock clearing equipment. Fuel. I'm sure there's more. Tax, NI and staff costs (if a large yard).

 

[carthorse]

I have no idea how yards make a living. Around us DIY is about £25. Business rate,water rates and electric would take a big chunk out of that.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Some of them may already have buildings (eg a farm) and there are some dispensations for farms diversifying which also help.

New/small yards also get some of the business rates lowered by rate relief

But the reason a lot of DIY places dont do DIY any more is that the overheads are still large and it is very hard to make any money with DIY.