Modern mini-hotels are considered one of the most promising types of business. Many entrepreneurs, given the high profitability of such a business, are interested in how to open a mini hotel that will bring good profits. According to experts, a hotel in a tourist center or any major city will pay for itself in about 5 years. If you build a hotel in any other place, you will be able to return the funds invested in the business in 9 years.

Important Legal Issues

Before opening a hotel from scratch, you must register as a private entrepreneur and also present documents that confirm ownership of the property. In addition, all important points need to be agreed upon with authorities such as the SES, fire inspectorate and others.

Accounting can be carried out using a simplified taxation system, and under absolutely identical conditions, both for small hotels and for large hotels with a large number of rooms.

Choosing a room

Some entrepreneurs are interested in how to open a hotel in an apartment. To do this, they buy communal apartments and equip them as hotel rooms. But in this case, serious problems with BTI may arise. Of course, this problem can be solved, but it will require spending a lot of time and money.

It is too expensive to build a building for a hotel. In addition, today it is difficult to find a free building plot in an area with developed infrastructure and excellent scenery. Therefore, many mini-hotels are equipped in basements, former dormitories, or they buy several floors in a residential building for this purpose. In this case, this type of hotel will be called guest or furnished rooms.

When developing a business plan for a mini hotel, do not forget to take into account in which room you plan to open this establishment.

According to the state standard, the following requirements are established for the premises of a mini-hotel:

• Constant power supply;
• Cold and hot water;
• The temperature in the rooms is at least 18.5 degrees;
• A television;
• Ventilation;
• Telephone.
• In addition, the hotel must have a sewerage system. If it is not possible to connect to centralized sewer networks, a local treatment plant should be installed.

The hotel must have a separate room for washing clothes, usually a laundry room, as well as a rest room.

Where to begin?

Rooms: equipment and size

Rooms in mini hotels must meet established requirements. The area of ​​a single room should not be less than 9 square meters. meters. In multi-bed rooms, there must be at least 6 square meters per person. meters. For seasonal business, you can equip rooms with an area of ​​4.5 square meters. meters per person.

In addition, the equipment of the rooms must also meet the requirements of GOST.

Each room must have:

• Closet;
• Bed;
• Chair;
• Table;
• Nightstand.

There are also special requirements for bathrooms. One common bathroom must be designed for ten guests. Similar requirements apply to showers. Therefore, order high-quality furniture from cabinet furniture manufacturers.

List of services

A modern mini-hotel as a business is a fairly profitable and promising direction. Services offered in hotels and mini-hotels are divided into mandatory and additional.

Mandatory services are:

1. Housekeeping;
2. Ironing clothes;
3. Wake up at the personal request of the guest;
4. Timely change of bedding and towels;
5. First aid;
6. Responsible storage of valuables;
7. Access to the Internet;
8. Call a taxi.

All other services, for example, a sauna, a cafe, billiards or a swimming pool, can be provided by the owners of mini-hotels and inns at their own discretion.

Recruitment

Before opening a mini hotel in a private house with 10–15 rooms, you need to hire service personnel:

• CEO. This could be your business partner. Salary 5 thousand dollars per month.
• Administrator. For this position you need to hire two people who will work in shifts. These employees are typically paid around $400.
• Maids. If the hotel is small, three to four people are enough. They also work in shifts. Each maid receives approximately $200–300.
• Accountant. A start-up hotel that does not have a large flow of guests can use the services of a third-party specialist. You will have to pay $150–300 monthly for his work.
• If you want to open a bar or cafe in a hotel, you need to hire a bartender, a cook and a waiter.

At first, in mini-hotels there are usually family members and relatives of the owners. It is easier to negotiate with them on payment, as well as on working outside of normal hours. Many guests who understand the difference between a hotel and a hotel where the owners themselves work prefer to stay in such establishments.

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How to attract clients?

The hotel will be filled with guests at any time of the year if the client base is properly developed. This should be done well before the hotel opens. Also, decide what it takes to open a hotel that will be popular.

Typically, families with children, travelers who prefer active recreation, as well as people who come to another city on a business trip stay in mini hotels.

Clients can be attracted through:

1. Travel agencies.
2. Specialized websites on the Internet.
3. Joint ventures.

If you cooperate with a large travel agency, you can ensure a large flow of clients. To work with them, you should provide a catalog with photographs of rooms and prices for services.

Advertising plays an important role in promoting hotel services. You can advertise a mini hotel on radio, television, the media or on the Internet. You will have to spend 1–2 thousand dollars a month on this.

Profit

All businessmen work for profit. If the hotel is organized correctly, your income will be 40% of the invested funds. In order for your business to develop and bring good profits, you should consider the typical mistakes that other entrepreneurs make:

Don't skimp on hotel design. Poor location of rooms discourages guests. Customers should not see carts filled with dirty laundry or smell odors coming from the kitchen.
Do not use unqualified or untrained personnel. This will allow you to avoid conflict situations with guests and maintain the hotel’s reputation.

Not only serious and large investors think about how to organize a hotel business. Private entrepreneurs are also interested in this issue. It would seem that this niche has been occupied for a long time, and there is no place for newcomers in it.

However, this opinion is wrong. With the right approach and minimal risks, in a couple of years you can not only recoup the costs, but also start receiving income, and a stable one at that. We will tell you how to organize a hotel business.

Hotel or still a hotel?

Today these concepts are considered synonymous. Of course, there is a lot in common. But there are also differences. The word “hotel” itself comes from the Russian “guest”. Simple houses were built for travelers passing through, where they could spend the night. The amenities there were minimal (only everything you needed).

The word “hotel” is interpreted similarly, only the origin here is no longer Russian, but Latin. The original “hospes” (guest) changed, thanks to the French, into the more harmonious “hotel” (hotel).

Actually, there are no significant differences in the dictionaries. However, it is believed that a hotel, unlike a hotel, is more comfortable and has an expanded range of services. However, these differences do not affect Russia. In the classification of hotels in the Russian Federation, the concept “hotel” is not used at all. However, GOST requires the presence of at least ten rooms in premises for temporary residence. The characteristics and completeness of services are reflected by the number of “stars” (minimum one, maximum five).

Mini-hotels

The opportunity to buy an already promoted business is not available to everyone. And the purchase of land along with construction will cost millions. In search of a way out, many will inevitably ask the question: “Is it possible to equip your own apartment as a hotel?”

Here, as in every coin (or, if you prefer, medal), there are two sides. It turns out that approximately half of the hotel business is made up of unofficial (unregistered and not properly registered) private mini-hotels. People are forced to go into the shadows due to bureaucratic problems that arise during legal registration.

The root of the “gray” scheme lies in the official rental of the apartment. The owner of the premises saves a certain sum on legal registration and thereby reduces taxation costs. That's a plus. Now about the minus. Responsibility to the tax authorities has not been canceled. Therefore, if fact(s) of tax evasion are revealed, you will have to answer.

And these are penalties (at a minimum). In addition, if you own a gray hotel, you will not be able to advertise. We are not talking about assigning “class” (“stardom”) at all. The client base, as a rule, consists of regular visitors or guests recommended by them.

The reason for the popularity of small hotels

So why, being in the shadows, is a small hotel so popular? Why do some entrepreneurs, even before organizing a hotel business, try to look for roundabout ways?

It turns out that the whole point is the imperfection of the law, according to which it is not prohibited to equip an apartment as a hotel. That is why law enforcement agencies are quite loyal to such businesses.

And judicial practice confirms this. As an example, consider the claim of a citizen who demanded compensation for damage caused by severe flooding of her apartment.

The culprit was the owner of the “apartment-hotel”. At the same time, a complaint was filed with the prosecutor's office. It would seem that illegal activity has been proven. However, after the hotel owner compensated for the damage, the proceedings were immediately stopped. The complaint sent to the prosecutor’s office was not satisfied, since “a commercial rental agreement was concluded” and “there were no violations of the law.”

What kind of apartment can become a mini-hotel?

Here it is worth turning to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation. According to the letter of the Law, an apartment that is planned to be equipped as a hotel should be located only on the first floor (or on the second, if there are non-residential premises underneath). A separate entrance is required.

It is worth remembering the requirements established for mini-hotels, enshrined in the SNP and GOSTs, in particular GOST 51185-98. As you understand, there are many pitfalls. That is why there are so many mini-hotels that appear in advertisements as “apartments for daily rent”, nothing more. Some people will be quite happy with this option. But legalization will provide more advantages, including the opportunity to openly advertise services and attract the attention of a large number of potential clients.

Organization

Based on the above, we conclude: it is better to have a transparent business, the hotel must be officially registered! Where to begin? Let's say you have a room that meets all GOST requirements. Now you need to think about redevelopment, transfer to non-residential premises, and the need to register an individual entrepreneur. We provide an explanation of these concepts and a detailed description of further actions below.

Redevelopment

Among the first issues that will have to be faced will be redevelopment with official registration. The apartment will have to be transferred to non-residential use. They will require approval for changes to the façade, reconstruction of premises, and installation of separate entrances.

It will be possible to obtain permission to carry out work if you have a package of documents, including a copy of floor plans (issued by the BTI), property documents, permission to make changes (copies). Redevelopment can only be carried out by those companies that can guarantee the approval of absolutely all work. They will subsequently make changes to the plan and sign the act.

What will be required to convert residential premises into non-residential ones? Here you need to rely on the guidance of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation. The list of documents that will be needed in the local administration department is as follows: house plan (floor-by-floor), redevelopment project, title documents and the application itself. The procedure can be divided into stages:

• decision of the interdepartmental commission;
• determining the cost of transferring premises to non-residential stock;
• registration of property rights (issued by Companies House).

Sublease business

On the one hand, this option deserves attention. And at the same time, a sublease transaction is a risk of putting the property into the hands of a person who is not bound by any obligations with the lessor. How to organize a hotel business and not get into trouble? You can get around the pitfalls. First, you need to conclude the contract correctly. Here it is worth worrying about an additional agreement, the purpose of which is to mark (fix) the sublease agreement and stipulate additional important conditions. Of course, it is difficult to foresee all the nuances.

If they really want to, both the subtenant and the landlord can find a loophole that could harm the company. Therefore, indicate in the contract, in addition to the name of the subtenant, the specific terms of the relationship (the building is rented in full or only part of it; sublease or re-rent), the purpose (hotel, inn) and clear deadlines. The presence of the last item allows you to cancel, if necessary, all actions performed outside the allotted time.

Be sure to discuss the financial issue regarding improvements (for example, repairs, landscaping of surrounding areas, etc.) of the rented property. Decide who will pay for the work - the actual subtenant or the lessor.

Hotel taxation

According to Art. 381 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, tax rates in this case cannot exceed 2.3% (for the calendar year). The calculation procedure does not depend on the will of the payers. Delaying state registration of rights will be considered deliberate tax evasion. Accrual is made from the date of commencement of operation of the facility.

Along with fashionable hotel complexes, mini-hotels are also in demand, which are worthy competitors to large hotel chains due to more affordable prices for accommodation.

A mini-hotel may include: a room capacity of up to 50 rooms, a café-bar for guests, a sauna/bathhouse, a swimming pool, and billiards.

Legal aspects of opening

If you are planning to open a mini-hotel yourself, you should choose the legal form of activity - individual entrepreneur (IP). In the case of organizing and running a hotel business by two or more partners/investors, it is necessary to register the company as a limited liability company (LLC).

As a form of taxation for hotel activities, it is optimal to choose a mixed taxation system. STS, income-expenses directly for the activity of renting out rooms, and UTII for the activity of providing food services to guests.

Qualification and registration of activities according to OKVED:

• 55 Activities of hotels and restaurants
• 55.11 Activities of hotels and restaurants
• 55.12 Operations of hotels without restaurants.

A license is not required to open and run a hotel business; voluntary certification is possible at the Rospromtest certification center.

Read an interview with the owner of a mini-hotel with 15 rooms in the resort area.

Choosing real estate for a mini-hotel

The next stage is the selection of real estate for placing a mini-hotel. The current legislation does not provide for special requirements for premises for private hotels and guest houses.

Premises must meet general sanitary and fire safety standards and have an emergency exit.
It is very important to choose the right location for the future hotel, since the success of the business depends on it.

The main criteria for choosing a location for a hotel: developed infrastructure of the microdistrict, historical or business part of the city, proximity to metro stations or public transport stops. When choosing a location, you should take into account safety and transport accessibility. The advantageous factor is a separate entrance, an entrance with 24-hour security/concierge service.

There are the following options for registering ownership of premises:

Purchasing premises

Purchasing premises is the best option for running a hotel business, but requires large financial costs. You can buy both non-residential premises suitable in size, and several residential apartments (for subsequent transfer to non-residential stock).

Rent/Long-term rental

To launch a hotel, significant investments and redevelopment of premises will be required; therefore, it is necessary to consider only long-term lease (from 10 years) in order to recoup all expenses incurred.

Construction from scratch

Construction of a mini-hotel from scratch requires serious investment. Design work, acquisition of land, obtaining permits and construction can take several years. It should be taken into account that the payback period for small hotels is at least 5-7 years.

Staff

To effectively operate and serve the guests of a mini-hotel with 10-15 rooms, it is necessary to have the following staff:

• Hotel director (business owner)
• Administrator - 2 people. shift work
• Maids - 4 people. flexible work schedule

A distinctive feature of the mini-hotel is an individual attitude towards each client. In large hotel complexes, customer service is streamlined. Most visitors want to stay where they can feel at home. If you provide your guests with affordable prices, impeccable service and home comfort, they will certainly want to return to your mini-hotel again and again.

Research the demand for hotel services in your city. If there is a shortage in the economy class sector or the locality does not have a hotel at all, feel free to start organizing a mini hotel. Find out if the city is visited by tourists and business people. Perhaps you are near a busy highway.
Learn the nuances of the hotel business and the main risks. The payback on the starting investment, which amounts to about 15,000,000 rubles, should be expected only after 6 years if things go well.

Main risks

The main problem is competition. For mini-hotels, it’s not big hotels that offer a fundamentally different approach to service. Your competitors will be apartment owners who rent them out to visitors through agencies. You will be able to find your clients if you do not strive for excessive profits and focus on economy class service. It is this sector that is assigned to mini hotels all over the world and has excellent prospects in Russia.
The problem of ensuring a constant flow of guests is also very serious.

If you start work in a metropolis, you will have clients all year round.
For a resort town, the issue of seasonality is relevant.
In a small or medium-sized settlement, you should think in advance about how many guests you can count on.

“Step-by-step instructions on how to open a hostel”

Location

First of all, you should look for a hotel location in areas of historical value or nearby attractions. A business district would also be a good option - business tourism is developing very quickly. A location near a train station or bus station is a promising option if you can ensure reliable soundproofing of the rooms.
You can also consider residential areas or quiet, cozy outskirts. The proximity of parks and reservoirs can be your trump card.

Regardless of the chosen location for creating a mini-hotel, there are several general criteria:
A metro station or other types of public transport in the immediate vicinity.
Area safety.
Developed infrastructure, proximity to shops and cafes.
Availability of a separate entrance for the hotel and 24-hour security.

To create a mini hotel, it is not necessary to purchase or build a new building, which requires huge capital investments. Construction will take several years.
Renting premises is possible, but sign up for a contract for a period of at least 10 years. The costs of redevelopment and other organizational components pay off in at least 6 years.
Buying several apartments on the same landing or a communal apartment or a floor in a dormitory is an excellent option. You may be able to find a large private home that you can convert into a hotel. This option requires significant investments, efforts in finding suitable real estate, negotiations, and efforts to transfer residential premises to non-residential ones. But such premises will cost less than building a new one, and eliminates the risk of problems with the landlord in the future.

Equipment

The main equipment of a mini hotel is comfortable beds and other furniture that a traveler will need for a comfortable stay.

Pay special attention to the arrangement of ventilation and emergency exits. Install modern air conditioning and fire extinguishing systems. These requirements must be met - otherwise the supervisory services will not allow you to open a hotel or will regularly issue fines.

The maximum number of guests in the mini hotel is about 45 people. If possible, try to equip the maximum number of sanitary facilities. High-quality plumbing, sterility and comfort are an extremely important aspect that guests pay close attention to.

If you are organizing a hostel-style hotel, you need a shared kitchen equipped with household appliances and a full set of utensils. Also, you need a relaxation room with comfortable upholstered furniture, a TV, a computer and free access to the Internet. The popularity of the hotel will only increase if you equip a room for playing billiards, a sauna, a small bar, a dining room with free breakfast and other opportunities for quality relaxation.

If your hotel will invite a wealthier crowd and offer several separate rooms, equip each with a separate bathroom, TV, and additional furniture. If you are located in a business district, provide guests with the opportunity to conduct business directly in their room, install a computer, and provide access to the Internet.

It is worth considering that families with small children will come to you - prepare cribs for the youngest guests.

Reception

A reception desk and comfortable furniture for waiting are just some of the necessary attributes for guests to settle in. Consider all options for contacting you and the ability to book a room. The best option would be a multi-line phone. Create a website and introduce an online room booking service - this is the way.

There are no trifles in the hotel business. Your employees must be equipped to provide guests with a wide variety of services: clothing repair or dry cleaning, excursions, calling a taxi and many others. If you are not able to provide these services yourself, enter into contracts with companies that specialize in them.
Personnel

A mini hotel does not require a large staff. You can create a family business. The aspiring entrepreneur takes on the responsibilities of director and manager.
The reception desk should be open 24 hours a day. This means you need two administrators.
The workload of the maids depends on the number of rooms, the season and other factors specific to a particular region. Expect to employ four people and for the maids to have flexible working hours.
If there is a bar in the hotel, two bartenders are needed.
The sauna and other additional services also require separate maintenance personnel.
To work in a cafe, if you offer food to guests, you need a cook and at least one assistant cook.

Even in the smallest and most affordable hotel, do not try to do everything yourself. Without professional and experienced employees, you will not be able to provide customers with decent service.
Do not try to save on employee salaries, but make high demands on them. Hire staff on a competitive basis and with a probationary period. Friendliness, professionalism and the desire to create home comfort for guests are the main components of the hotel’s success.

Documents and licenses

When creating an enterprise, you can register as an individual entrepreneur (one owner) or an LLC (several partners).
If you will not offer meals to guests, you can choose the type of taxation based on the rental of rooms. If you provide food services, you can apply for mixed taxation by adding UTII.
To run a hotel business you do not need a license from Rospromtrest; voluntary certification is sufficient.
To operate a bar, you need a license to sell alcoholic beverages at retail.
The state does not offer any special requirements for the premises in which the mini-hotel is located. But be sure to find out the fire and sanitary inspection requirements before searching for and remodeling or constructing a premises.

Marketing

Sterile cleanliness, comfort and friendliness of the staff are the main components of success. This is exactly what travelers hope for when choosing a mini hotel. If you can't provide these things to your guests, even the most expensive advertising won't help. With the development of the Internet, rumors about shortcomings spread throughout the country instantly.

But the Internet can also become your source of new customers. City forums, travel societies, social networks - your advertisements should be everywhere.
You shouldn’t abandon old methods of advertising either. Banners, stands, or at least posters near train stations, bus stations, cultural centers and city attractions are a necessity for a small hotel.

Create a unique image for your hotel. You can style it for a certain era, choose an ethnic or ultra-modern direction. The first guests will come because of originality, then everything depends on the quality of service.

Summary

Opening a mini hotel is difficult. But if you are a specialist in this field and are willing to invest heavily in your brainchild, patience and hard work will definitely bear fruit in the form of grateful clients and decent profits.

It is gaining more and more popularity both from clients and from those wishing to open their own profitable business. This is facilitated by developing tourism and business trips, which have already become part of the lifestyle of a business person.

It is cheaper for enterprises to pay for a room in a hostel or hotel than to rent separate housing for an employee. Each city tries to attract tourists to its region as much as possible. Therefore, the hotel business becomes a profitable business.

The main thing is to correctly assess your strengths and choose the type of hotel for which there will be the least competition. But the quality and range of services provided must be at their best. This article contains a comprehensive answer to the pressing question of how to open a hotel business from scratch and what is needed for this.

If you buy several communal apartments for a future mini-hotel, you will have to put a lot of effort into registering the BTI. It takes a lot of time to obtain all the necessary certificates - fire system, sanitary and epidemiological conclusions, certificates for the services provided, etc.

If the presence of alcoholic beverages is expected, then a separate license must be obtained for them. To avoid queues and waste of time, you can use the “My Business” services on the Internet, which operate online. There you can find a complete package of documents, forms, applications that are needed to open an individual entrepreneur.

After collecting all the documents and obtaining the necessary permits, it’s time to start organizing the premises themselves. Re-equipment and repair are always present at the initial stage. The purchase of furniture, plumbing and kitchen equipment, and equipment will certainly follow the renovation.

Pay significant attention to the selection of personnel for your hotel enterprise. The most basic functions that every major hotel provides:

• meeting clients in the hall and their further accommodation depending on capabilities and wishes;
• cleaning and room service;
• preparing dishes according to the menu;
• control by the security service;
• quick response of engineering and technical services to malfunctions;
• financial and commercial department;
• other employees who perform additional or support functions.

As you can see, this is the minimum list of services that a hotel should provide. If there is a lot of competition in your city, then consider expanding or adding to this list. For example, hire not just a cook, but a pastry chef.

Freshly baked pastries according to an individual recipe will perfectly complement a cup of tea or coffee during breakfast. Indicate dishes for the younger generation on the menu. It is advisable that the cook or his assistant approach the serving of food creatively.

It is very important to emphasize politeness No client will use the services of a hotel again if his stay in the room was accompanied by constant rudeness and rudeness.

The quality of work of your staff directly affects the reputation and competitiveness of the hotel itself. Therefore, if employees perform their duties efficiently, stimulate them with good salaries, bonuses, etc. Find a competent administrator who will represent the face of the hotel.

To obtain regular profits, you need to develop a permanent customer base. For greater profitability, the average daily occupancy of the hotel should be at least 60%. To attract a flow of customers, spend time and money on advertising.

Publish advertisements on websites on the Internet, in newspapers, magazines, and banners. You can use the services of a distributor of leaflets and business cards. Order the development of your own website. Of course, these costs should not make up the lion's share of the allocated budget.

If competition in the region is high enough, try to introduce innovations into your business. Select a separate room for a cafe or restaurant, arrange a children's room, connect free WiFi, cable or satellite TV, etc.

Remember that customers are the ones who make the profit.

Therefore, sometimes conduct unobtrusive questionnaires or mini-surveys in order to hear their wishes in a friendly tone, and not then read negative reviews. Clean rooms, quality food, polite staff and modern trends will attract not only regular customers, but also new guests.