A Bicycle Small business Prospect On The South Rim

If you have dreamed of operating a bicycle small business in a single of America’s most scenic destinations, your ship may possibly have arrived. The National Park Provider lately produced a prospectus in search of proposals for the procedure of a bicycle rental and tour enterprise on Grand Canyon Countrywide Park’s South Rim. 

The business incorporates a shuttle provider for bicycle riders and their bikes. In addition to cycling, the prospectus incorporates foods and beverage sales of prepackaged sandwiches, snacks, warm and chilly drinks, furthermore confined retail.  Considerably shockingly, the latter has historically generated two times as significantly revenue as the bicycle organization.  This is partly spelled out by the seasonal mother nature of biking on the South Rim (April by way of Oct is demanded, with year-spherical procedure optional), even though foodstuff and beverage assistance is expected year-spherical. The concession is at a greatly-frequented spot close to the park’s customer centre and park store.

NPS estimates the cycling and meals provider enterprise will require an first $727,000 expenditure, mostly for personal assets.  A minimum of 100 bicycles is needed by the prospectus, although supplemental bikes are probably to be essential, thinking of the existing concessionaire has 400 bicycles in stock.  The concessionaire is dependable for giving worker housing. NPS has assigned four trailer internet sites to aid with this. A minimum franchise cost of 15 % of revenues are to be paid out to the NPS.

Revenues of somewhere around $3.5 million are projected for 2025, the first calendar year of the 10-calendar year agreement. NPS estimates a minor about 50 percent of revenues will originate from the food stuff and beverage provider, with guided bicycle excursions producing more profits than either bicycle rentals or the shuttle services. 

Rates for most concession merchandise and services marketed by private concessionaires in nationwide parks are subject to last approval by the park superintendent. At present, bicycles at Grand Canyon hire for $23/hour or $50/day with savings for youths less than 17 and multi-working day rentals. Specialty bikes, which includes tandems and tricycles, hire for marginally far more.  Bicycle excursions run $70 to $80 with discounts for youths.

Functions intrigued in distributing a proposal need to notify NPS personnel Jennifer Parker ([email protected]) by 4 p.m. on January 9, 2024.

 

David and Kay Scott are authors of “Exploring the Oregon Path: America’s Historic Road Trip” (Globe Pequot).