Editor’s note: This article was first published in April 2010, during the Spanish economic crisis. Paintball “becoming fashionable in Spain”, detox retreats “spreading around the world” and the remark about the crisis favoring weekend stays describe that moment.
Here are some highly profitable business ideas, especially for people with some financial means or who own a country property, a plot of land, an old house and so on.
Rural tourism
All you need is an old house in a village away from the city; if it’s a mountain village, so much the better. These services are in high demand among Spaniards themselves, who want to get away from the city, and they’re also the restful paradise some foreign executives look for when they come for a quiet holiday where they can switch off completely.
If you already have the house, the investment is usually small: you just need to renovate and fit out the place a little. Depending on the type of tourist, guests usually pay quite reasonable rates.
Retreats for breaking bad habits
This kind of business is spreading around the world thanks to the great reception it’s getting. With a secluded house, ideally with plenty of land, and good advertising, it would be a very profitable business in Spain, although I know there are already some in parts of the interior. Abroad, this type of business is aimed at people who want to give up habits such as smoking or drinking, or simply get rid of stress.
Of course, if you want this kind of business to succeed and earn a good reputation, you’ll need to set rules and guidelines before taking guests in, so they don’t fall back into their bad habits.
Paintball
This business needs minimal investment if you have open land. Paintball is the sport that’s becoming fashionable in Spain, especially in Andalusia. It’s usually played in the open, so to get started all you’ll need is protective gear and paintball guns for the players, plus some organizational skill to set out battle tactics for the players, the length of the games and so on. The good thing about this business is the small investment it requires, and customers usually come in groups.
Renting by the day
This is an option many people choose when they own a flat or a house but are afraid to rent it out because of unpaid rent or damage to the property. What’s more, in times of crisis you’re more likely to have plenty of customers who want to spend just a quiet weekend away rather than a 30-day holiday. You can also target people who come to your province on business, have no choice but to stay a few days, and prefer the independence and privacy of a flat to a hotel room.
And for big investors looking for a more than profitable business here in Spain, there’s the option of buying old buildings, renovating them and turning them into hotels or other services such as a gym, a yoga or martial arts center, and so on.
Further reading
- Why new businesses fail
- Start a business or buy one?
- 10 business ideas with no investment
- How to start a business with no money
Featured image: Fogar Mozárabe, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
