The Importance of Documenting Campground Processes and Systems

Many campground owners operate with their business processes and campground systems in their heads. They know what they need to do each day and the way they want to get things done  Unfortunately when a campground’s business grows and staff need to be hired – or the owner needs to take time away from the business – it’s a real liability not having processes and systems documented in one place.  Here are the top five reasons to record your campground’s processes and systems, so your RV park can run more efficiently and effectively even when you’re not there.

1. Improve the Efficiency of your Campground

When you sit down to record your processes and systems, you may discover gaps where improvements could be made. You might find better ways to perform routine tasks, reducing bottlenecks, and eliminating extra steps. You may decide that some tasks are too time-consuming, and you’d save time and money switching to an automated solution. Reviewing how you do things as you record systems can help create better systems, improving productivity.

2. Support Campground Staff Training

When it’s time to hire new talent, a campground systems manual can dramatically reduce the time you spend training. Documenting your processes can also ensure jobs are consistently performed to a high standard. Sharing your procedure guidelines can help new employees and casual staff quickly get up to speed on expectations and give them a reference to check before asking questions.

3. Sell your Campground Systems

Develop a unique turnkey campground system that other RV parks can implement to save time and cut costs, and you can increase profits by selling your campground operating manual. Those documented processes are part of your company’s intellectual property and can be licensed just like your brand name.    Dave Drum started KOA in 1962 with a single campground in Billings, Montana and 10 years later, he had 600 franchised campgrounds following – and paying for – his campground system.    Things have obviously changed a lot since campers pitched tents for $1.75 a night on Drum’s property along the Yellowstone River, but the value of well-documented systems remain.    Whether you want to sell your campground system to one person or five hundred people, it isn’t of much value, if it isn’t well documented.

4. Get away from Your Campground

One of the perks of running your own business is setting your own schedule. But without systems in place, it can be difficult to get away for a vacation, let alone retire. In order to build an RV park that can run without you, you need to be able to delegate the tasks and processes to someone else, with confidence they’ll be performed correctly and consistently. Another excellent reason to make sure your systems are recorded and your manual is updated regularly.

5. Sell your campground

When it comes time to sell your campground, you’ll get top dollar if you can provide a buyer with an operating manual. A potential campground buyer wants to know the RV park will continue to run smoothly without you throughout the transition period, and that institutional memory will be retained when there’s staff turnover. The greater ease with which someone can step in and operate the campground, the greater the value and the higher your compensation when you’re ready to sell.

As we’ve seen, there are a number of excellent reasons to review your campground systems and record them, even if you’re just starting out. You might plan to update it yearly, just like your campground business plan, to discover best practices and ensure it maintains its usefulness to you and your staff.

At Campground Accounting, we specialize in working with Campground and RV Park owners throughout the USA.  Our industry knowledge is focused on taking the headaches out of accounting and helping you grow your campground’s value.  Don’t you owe it to yourself to see how we can help you?  Schedule a complimentary chat with us today at www.campgroundaccounting.com/meet.

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