Phase 1: Site Selection — The Foundation of Your Glamping Business
The site decides most of your costs and most of what guests pay for. Before ordering a single dome, confirm four things: access for delivery and guests, utilities, the view, and ground conditions. Flat, well-drained ground keeps foundation work simple; a slope or poor drainage means a designed platform, and a local engineer or contractor should price that before you commit.
Compare local attractions, access, seasonality and similar accommodation before choosing a site. Obtain local occupancy evidence rather than relying on a universal percentage. Check the land available for domes, decks, parking, services, privacy and emergency access with the local design team.
Check the proposed land use and accommodation with the local planning authority before purchase. In the UK, a permitted-development category for a temporary campsite does not automatically approve permanent glamping accommodation or its services; conditions and local restrictions matter. In other countries, confirm zoning, building, fire and hospitality requirements with the relevant local authorities. Obtain local advice and fee estimates rather than relying on a universal approval period or floor-area exemption. See the UK planning checklist and project compliance guide.
| Site check | What to confirm | Who prices it |
|---|---|---|
| Ground slope and drainage | Level area for each platform; where surface water goes | Local groundworks contractor or engineer |
| Mains power | Distance to the supply and the load you need for heating, cooling and lighting | Local electrician or utility |
| Road access | A delivery vehicle can reach the site; guests can reach it in your opening months | Local contractor |
| Mobile signal | Guests and staff can call and book; card payments work | Test on site with the main networks |
| Water and waste | Supply and drainage for showers, toilets and cleaning | Local plumber, utility or environmental health |
The base itself is a site design, not a standard part: we supply the base dimensions with the quotation, and a local professional designs and approves the platform, anchors and drainage. See foundation and anchoring.
Phase 2: Dome Selection and Configuration
Domevora’s round domes run from 2.1 m to 6 m across. For overnight stays, most sites shortlist the sizes below. A 3.5 m High dome takes one 2 m round bed or a 1.35 × 2 m bed; the 4 m and 4.5 m domes take a 1.8 × 2 m bed; the 5 m and 6 m domes take the same large bed, or two 1.5 × 2 m beds as a twin room. The smaller 2.1–3.0 m domes are more often used as a separate shower or bath-house unit beside the sleeping dome.
| Dome | Floor area | Height | Bed layout (factory specification) | Price (USD, EX-WORKS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 3.0 m | 7.1 m² | 2.55 m | Shower or bath-house unit beside a sleeping dome | From US$1,445 |
| Round 3.5 m High | 9.6 m² | 3.0 m | One 2 m round bed, or one 1.35 × 2 m bed | From US$1,692 |
| Round 4.0 m Low | 12.6 m² | 2.55 m | One 2 m round bed, or one 1.8 × 2 m bed | US$1,341–1,754 |
| Round 4.0 m High | 12.6 m² | 3.0 m | One 2 m round bed, or one 1.8 × 2 m bed | US$1,651–2,208 |
| Round 4.5 m | 15.9 m² | 3.2 m | One 2 m round bed, or one 1.8 × 2 m bed | US$1,960–2,579 |
| Round 5.0 m | 19.6 m² | 3.5 m | One 1.8 × 2 m bed, or two 1.5 × 2 m beds | US$2,167–2,847 |
| Round 6.0 m | 28.3 m² | 3.5 m | One 1.8 × 2 m bed, or two 1.5 × 2 m beds | US$2,682–3,466 |
Single figures are the fully configured specification; ranges run from shell only to fully configured. Prices are EX-WORKS Suzhou. Freight, duties, foundation, decking, interior fit-out and installation are quoted separately — see the 2026 price guide for what each price includes.
Plan the fit-out as its own budget line: flooring, curtains, heating or cooling, furniture and, where there is no separate bath-house, a bathroom. Ask for each as a separate quotation line, ours or a local supplier’s, so you can compare like for like. See accessories for what we can supply with the dome.
Phase 3: Financial Planning and ROI
Build the budget from quotations, not averages. The dome is the one figure you can fix today from our published prices; every other line depends on your site and country.
| Budget line | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|
| Dome, e.g. Round 5.0 m | US$2,167–2,847 EX-WORKS Suzhou, per our published price list |
| Fit-out (flooring, curtains, heating/cooling, furniture, bathroom) | Line-by-line quotation from us or local suppliers |
| Freight, duty and import taxes | Freight estimate with our quotation; duty and tax from your importer or customs broker |
| Site preparation (levelling, utilities, platform or deck) | Local contractor quotation after a site visit |
| Permits and professional fees | Local planning authority and your design team |
| Marketing set-up (website, photos, listing platforms) | Your own quotations |
Running costs include cleaning, utilities, maintenance, booking-platform commission, insurance and supplies. Revenue depends on the nightly rate and occupancy your location supports, so run those numbers against local comparable listings rather than a national average. Our ROI calculation framework lays out the arithmetic.
Build a seasonal forecast from comparable local accommodation and planned opening months. Domevora supplies rigid solid-polycarbonate shells. Heating, cooling, ventilation, privacy and utilities need project-specific design; no twin-wall dome option or fixed indoor-comfort range is established by the supplied model sheets.
Phase 4: Marketing and Guest Acquisition
Most new sites list on at least two booking platforms at launch and build a direct website alongside them. Check each platform’s commission and cancellation rules before setting prices. Domes photograph best at golden hour and after dark, so plan professional photos for those times.
Set prices from comparable local listings, not from another region. Features that guests in many markets pay more for include a private hot tub, a clear roof for stargazing, an en-suite bathroom and breakfast; test what your market supports before you buy the equipment.
The guest experience a clear dome sells is the open view of the sky and the landscape. The operating challenges to plan for are heat in sun and condensation on cold nights; see climate and comfort and how to stop condensation in a clear dome.
Quick-Start Checklist
- Confirm the site: level ground or a platform design, utilities, road access and mobile signal.
- Check land use and permits with the local authority before you buy or build.
- Select dome models and fit-out; request a Domevora quotation with your site plan.
- Get local quotations for the platform, utilities and installation.
- Confirm the production lead time and shipping schedule on the order.
- Prepare the site while the domes are in transit.
- Install, photograph and list on your chosen booking platforms.