Starting a new Livery business -is it worth it?

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blueeyed20girl

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sorry to post something that has probably been done to the death, however a little advice would be much welcomed :)
I have maybe got the opportunity to have a yard to run for someone.
To cut a long story short yard is currently in the process of the lease being up and a good friend of mine has approached me about if they lease the yard will i fill it?....
I am not sure in the currently climate it would be worth doing would it? its in a remote location in the countryside, around 20 boxes, lunging area, menage, house, use of upto 100 acres of land.
What are peoples opinions? :)
 
Current climate or not if there are certain factors you can still make a go of livery yards.
1) how much is the rent. How full would you have to have the yard for it to break even/profit
2) how good are the facilities. Nowadays people want excellent surfaces, good grazing, off riad hacking, nice stables, smart yard - & they want to pay 2p for it
3) what is the demand? A bit of market research should help you fill the hole in the market eg) if locally there is a lack of year round turn out then you could make that your selling point or you could approach local famous riders about holding regular clinics or yard shows/dressage comps.
4) Are you able to do a the maintenance etc yourself or will you have to pay? Don't ever be under the illusion that its easy there will constantly need to be things done, if you are having to pay contractors for this it gets VERYexpensive.

Personally I would steer of true DIY. Too much hassle for too little money IMO

Good luck
 
Is it in Lincolnshire? Sounds like a nice opportunity. Would you be able to build a cross country course and do off road riding on the 100 acres?

I run a yard and currently have a waiting list of eight people for full livery, though some would probably have found somewhere else by now. So the customers are out there. But I do not make enough to make a living doing it. It pays for my horses and running my car and a bit of the mortgage, but that's it. It takes a long while to fill boxes if you are going to do full livery. I get loads of enquiries for DIY but I don't do DIY. There is absolutely no money in it and it is more trouble than it's worth IMO.
 
wagtail could you pm me please where you are? :) as still in very early stages of discussion, has access to off road hacking and local xc not far away, as you have said DIY doesnt really pay, i would be looking at full ideally maybe part considered, training i have some good contacts regarding clinics etc, thanks for advice guys :)
 
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