Business Start-Up FAQs

Q. I can't decide which of my ideas has the most potential.  Have you any suggestions on how I can focus the answer?

A. You can carry out a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis on your top three ideas, which should help you to determine which one is best for you.  Alternatively take some professional advice and spend half a day with a strategic consultant who will help to guide you through the decision making process.  We cannot recommend any consultants as this would not be fair on others out there, but there are lots to choose from online.  Perhaps speak to other businesses in your area and see if they can recommend a consultant they may have used.

Q. There are lots of people running the type of business that I am planning to create.  Do you think there will be room in the market for another similar business?

A. You need to research your market thoroughly.  Find out if your competitors are busy throughout the year and if there is sufficient business for all the operators.  Don't assume that because there are lots of businesses that the market is buoyant. Equally, there could be lots of businesses that cannot absorb the demand; in this instance there would be room for another operator.

Q. How can I improve my guests' experience?

A. Guest's are looking for you to deliver what you have promised - at the very least that it will be a clean and tidy environment with friendly staff, good quality, and value for money.  You can affect many of these requirements by ensuring you have the right skills.  Attend classes where you can improve on your skills such as customer care.  Finally, always aim to exceed customer's expectations - remember it's better to over promise and over deliver, than it is to disappoint.

Q. Why should I spend money on having my accommodation graded?

A. The National Quality Assurance Schemes are designed to guide, assist and reassure visitors that the accommodation they have chosen has been independently inspected and was found to be meeting a certain standard of quality and comfort.  Customers generally prefer to book graded accommodation in preference to non-graded. To read more about Quality Assurance, click here.

Q. Where can I find the number of visitors that come to an area? 

A. These can be found by accessing the Value of Tourism reports. Please note that no data is held for individual destinations e.g. Newquay - the lowest geographical level available is for a local authority district area.  The latest regional data can be found in the South West Facts documents.

Q. What is the profile of visitors to the region?

A. Information such as visitor origins, age, group size and socio-economic status can be found in the South West Facts documents.  Also of interest might be the South West Visitor Survey reports.

Q. I'm considering setting up a B&B somewhere in the South West but I can't decide between a rural or coastal location, are there any advantages / disadvantages to either?

A. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. It will depend on the market and type of product you are wishing to start. As a rule, businesses on the coast book up quicker than in the rural areas. If we have a low occupancy year it is often the rural sector that suffers the most. This is hardly surprising as most of the region is known as a coastal destination. Coastal areas are good for the main season and the family market. The rural areas appeal to the older generation out of season.

You can achieve a very good occupancy in the rural sector if the quality is high and you add value to the product with extremely good customer service, good use of local foods and give a good welcome ( We would advocate this approach to all businesses). A welcome can be in the way of homemade cake and tea or cold drinks whatever time of day they arrive.

The main reason visitors come to the region is the natural environment with the visitor looking for peace and relaxation. The rural sector is ideally placed to deliver this. Research has shown that you must market the business as countryside and showing stunning views on your website always helps.

My ideal location would be coastal but in a rural area, best of both worlds then.

Can't find the information you're looking for?
Post your question in the comments box below and we will try and find an answer for you.