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Irish Law

Start a Hostel

Rikki Tents started this discussion 12 years 8 months ago

Can anyone with experience in the matter let me know how I go about applying for a hostel licence in Ireland.

What organisation must I go through, and what kind of a business license do I need?
...just the basic operating licence really, I'm not too concerned about staff contracts just yet.

Any and all help would be much appreciated, thanks.

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John Moriarty

12 years

Hey Rikki Tents,

What part of Ireland are you setting up in?

Well you will firstly need to make sure the building has full planning permission for a hostel aswell as fire cert and DAC.
Then you would have to register with CRO for your business name.
You would also have to register for TAX and VAT.

Then you can setup really there is no real license.

You can become approved by Failte Ireland and once approved then you can contact IHH to be in their guide books.

There is also IHO which is independant.

I am currently setting one up aswell.

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Rikki Tents

12 years

Hey John,

Thanks for the info.

I used have managed hostels for a few years here and there, so I am familiar with the IHH, IHI and similar organizations in other countries. That said, I never really had to deal with the initial stages of setting a hostel up: what is a DAC and who are the CRO?

It's still very premature, but I have the west coast (Co. Clare or Kerry) or the south west of co. Cork in mind. I am leaving for an extensive research trip soon, and once I can see with my own eyes what the internet can't tell me I'll have a more realistic idea.

Where are you setting up?

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Rikki Tents

12 years

Ah, I see...a Disability Access Certificate and the Companies Registration Office, got it.

I'd still like to know where you're setting up though.

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John Moriarty

12 years

Hey Rikki,

I am setting up about 5 miles west of Killarney in Kerry.Previously my parents had a b and b here and converting into hostel.Going to be small at 20 beds but should be good.

There is a weird stipulation with Failte that you have to have occupancy for 20 people to be considered a hostel.

to register business name it is only 20 euro if you are sole trader and can be done at www.cro.ie

DAC is currently 800 euro and you have to pay an engineer to look at draings of building and note if you need to make changes.

Fire Cert is 2.60 euro per square meter.

If you are down around Kerry sometime let me know and we can meet up.

I thought I would be open this year but looks like next year due to the time to process stuff.

The planning took 3 months in total and just applying for fire cert which will take 2 months.

If you have any other questions let me know.

As I am starting myself aswell I dont have all the answers.

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Rikki Tents

12 years

I'm really happy there are people like you who have to go through all the tricky stuff before I do, people with answers...this site is great for exactly that. No doubt I'll have a million questions for you.

20 -30 beds is perfect, big enough to function as a hostel and small enough to remain friendly. These massive hostels where guests are just numbers on a booking sheet, just another review on the site, are great for making money, but they lack character and personality. It's the small, independent hostels that tourists remember when their travelling is done.

I should be in Ireland around September sometime, I'll certainly drop by.

Best of luck with everything.

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John Moriarty

12 years

Cool. It sounds you have in your mind a style of hostel similar to what I want to achieve in regards size style and friendliness.

I plan on networking with other like minded hostels throughout Ireland so we can pass business on to each other.

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Rikki Tents

12 years

Hey John,

How are you doing? Well, I hope.

I'll certainly be in the Land of Ire around the start of 2013, let me know where you are and I'll drop in.

Cheers.

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uktrail

12 years

It's always good to hear about new small, friendly hostels. I've stayed at and seen some very good ones in Ireland.

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