Hello, fellow entrepreneurs, legacy-builders, and stewards of family businesses! If you’ve ever thought that running a business is like navigating a wild jungle, then let me tell you, it’s a walk in the park compared to what happened on our recent camping trip. Yes, we got kicked out of a campground!
Picture this: A sunny afternoon, an almost empty KOA campground, and our eager family arriving just 40 minutes ahead of check-in time. And then—BAM!—we’re hit with a $35 early check-in fee. As someone who thrives on exploring options and seeking understanding, I paid the fee, albeit with a raised eyebrow.
But the adventure was just beginning. My watch buzzed with a notification—a $45 charge from KOA. A billing error! Now, as someone who never misses an opportunity for experience or exploration, I took this as a chance to engage in some friendly dialogue about their policies.
I casually voiced my dissatisfaction with the steep early check-in fee to the owner. But instead of a productive conversation, I found myself threatened with eviction. Yes, you read that right. We were asked to leave for expressing an opinion. Talk about decision fatigue!
But, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. Forced to find a new campground, we stumbled upon Hearside Grove in beautiful Lake Erie, Ohio. Their warm welcome and fantastic service breathed new life into our camping experience and made us forget the nightmare at KOA.
Reflecting on this ordeal, I’m reminded of my passion for a progressive perspective of accounting—or in this case, campground management. Just as there’s more to taxes than being on time, there’s more to running a campground than strict check-in times and inflexible policies.
So, fellow campground owners and enthusiasts, let’s press play on our bigger ideas. Let’s reconsider early check-in policies and explore late checkout options. Let’s strive for better customer service and flexibility. Because there’s more to life than business, and there’s certainly more to camping than just pitching a tent.
Curious about the whole story? Want to know how we turned our KOA nightmare into a Hearside Grove dream? Click the link below to watch the full video of our wild adventure. Until then, happy camping (and entrepreneuring)!
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Donna Bordeaux, CPA with Campground Accounting
Creativity and CPAs don’t generally go together. Most people think of CPAs as nerdy accountants who can’t talk with people. Well, it’s time to break that stereotype. Lively, friendly, and knowledgeable can be a part of your relationship with your CPA, as demonstrated by Donna and Chad Bordeaux. They have over 50 years of combined experience as entrepreneurial CPAs. They’ve owned businesses and helped business owners exceed their wildest dreams. They have been able to help businesses earn many times more profit than the average business in the same industry and are passionate about helping industries that help families build great memories.