We all know that ATVs are a lot of fun, so why not let this fact lead you toward running a successful business? Of course, every decision along the way depends on a series of factors, including the ATV legislation per state that needs to be taken into account no matter where you live within the United States.
There’s also a lot of paperwork involved just to set up your business, let alone finding the right place to establish the HQ, employing the right people, advertising, etc.
However, once it’s established that you can legally run your own ATV business in a certain area, there’s not much left that could stop you from giving it a try. Before venturing into this, though, it’s very important to take a look at the local community and market in order to determine as accurately as possible if enough people are going to be interested in having this type of fun.
Riding ATVs is an activity that many people enjoy, especially since it includes adventure, skill, and a lot of outdoor exploring which means users can also enjoy spectacular views. You can target a wide range of persons with such a business, from families that want to have fun over a sunny Sunday to professionals who are looking for cool team-building experiences.
Of course, there are lots of other categories in between, and you could also think about organizing ATV competitions and maybe even a small ATV-oriented festival every now and then, just to keep the crowds coming.
Location
As you can only imagine, finding the right location to run such a business is very important. You cannot really promise customers exciting outdoor experiences if the landscape in your area is not really helping in this matter. If you live in the countryside where wide-open spaces and a few hills or mountains are available, then you can surely consider it as a very good starting point.
However, you shouldn’t go for a fully-flat area as plains alone might not make for exciting ATV riding and people will most likely not flock to rent your ATVs.
Keep in mind that it’s essential to check with the local or federal organizations in a particular area to make sure that ATVs are allowed there. You will also need to get all the necessary permits and licenses in order for riders to safely ride the vehicles while fully complying with the law. This includes offering them protective equipment and perhaps some basic safety training.
Next, you should also take into account the repairs and maintenance that the ATVs are going to need. This can determine the space you are going to rent in order to run your operations. For instance, if you are planning to repair the units using your own resources, then you’ll need a garage to do this. Plus, an office space will definitely be useful as well.
You will also need a storage space in which ATVs can be safely kept while they are not being used. Such places that are suitable for an ATV rental business are usually available off highways, given that they also keep the riders safe from any crowded urban areas.
Insurance
If you decide to provide insurance to customers, this can be a very good additional way to make extra money, given that any business should have more streams of income. Make sure that everything is legally compliant and that the terms are thoroughly explained before charging a client for insurance.
This type of service can also be included in the rental charge, of course, provided that the client is aware of this aspect and can opt in or out. A waiver might also be useful, given that you surely want to prevent any legal issues or potential lawsuits, so get a professional’s opinion on this matter and make sure that you are fully covered from a legal standpoint.
Gear
Actually buying the ATVs is the most expensive part of such a business. You can start by looking for already used ones that are still in very good condition. Any such unit you purchase needs to be safe for the user, so it’s better to start with the bare minimum, but have ATVs that you can rely on.
Once the business starts expanding, you can add more vehicles to the fleet, so this is not something you need to be concerned about from the beginning. Depending on what clients you have the most (or if you live in a residential area, for example), you may get multiple requests for other accessories, such as children’s seats or double-seaters.
Other users might want to carry extra gear for various purposes (such as hunting), so you need to assess whether investing in additional gear and accessories is something that is going to help your business in the long run, based on the number of special requests.
