If you’re an entrepreneur, finding the perfect space for your business can be one of the hardest challenges. You might need a big space, but can’t find something that ticks all the boxes in regards to size, affordability and functionality. Barns can be a fantastic answer to this, being large in size, not as expensive as whole big office spaces and often in beautiful locations. If you have found a barn that is up for sale and you want to give a business a go, we have put together a guide that should help you do just that. Keep on reading to find out more.

Decide on the type of business you want to run

The fantastic thing about a barn is the myriad of opportunities it opens you up to. You could decide to run an aerials or silks business, where you can run workout classes. You could decide to set up a dance studio, or perhaps you want to run an art club. Exercise classes are a great one as there’s so much space and you don’t need too much to get up and running. Just be sure you have a heavy duty industrial fan or two installed to keep it cool and comfortable for everyone who attends!

Consider your budget

Another thing you need to think about when turning a bar into a profitable business is how much you’re going to spend. Starting up a business is costly and even once you’ve purchased or rented the barn, you need to think about how you’re going to decorate it, any work that needs doing and the items you’ll need to kit it out with. You need to think about everything from electricity and water costs, to food and drink, staff member wages, your website and marketing. 

Think about how you’ll find customers

Once you have your barn and budget sorted, you need to consider how you will actually get customers in. Will you rely on word of mouth? This can be effective but can be slower. If not, will you try more traditional marketing methods, such as PPC or other ads? Will you collaborate with local businesses? Set up social media accounts? Will you offer a start-up incentive or have an opening party with discounts? These are all things that can drum up interest and encourage customers to come down, find out about you and hopefully work with you going forward.

Regardless of the type of marketing strategy you choose, don’t neglect a modern approach, such as setting up a website. The reality of modern life, even in traditional communities is that the internet is the go to source of information for clients. If potential customers can’t find you online, then you’ll only tap into the market that drives past and sees a sign or those who heard about you through word of mouth. While it might seem technically tricky to set up a modern approach, hiring a website developer is easier and more cost-effective than ever.

These are just a few top tips that can help you to turn a barn into a profitable business. Whether you’re someone that loves to sink their teeth into a new project or it’s something you’ve wanted to do forever, these can help you to achieve it in no time. By being conscious of what people will want, your budget and having some good marketing you can create a company that flourishes. What are some top tips you have for turning a barn into a profitable business? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.