How Can a Local Business Become a Harvest Host? Is It Paid?
Your complete guide to boosting your business’s visibility and profits through the Harvest Hosts program.
If you’re ready to join thousands of businesses who are promoting their business for free to tens of thousands of RVers, click here to apply and get started today. The application is quick, free, and there’s no strings attached.
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Becoming a Harvest Host: The Complete Guide
Thousands of businesses across North America are opening their doors to the RV community, and it’s given their businesses a huge boost in earnings and visibility. Using Harvest Hosts, you can do the same thing — and it’ll only cost you parking space.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn about Harvest Hosts, how it can benefit your business, and how you can join the program. Let’s get started.
What is Harvest Hosts?
Harvest Hosts is a membership program where RVers can stay overnight at wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and other cool businesses.
For RVers, Harvest Hosts offers security — assurance that they’ll be able to stay somewhere fun but safe. For you, the business owner, Harvest Hosts offers a unique opportunity to market your business to an audience that’s always on the move.
By partnering your business with Harvest Hosts, you put yourself on the radar of a vibrant community of RVers, both young and old — and with extra cash that could flow your way.
If you’d like to learn more about Harvest Hosts, we wrote an entire review about it. We cover everything you need to know, including locations, how it works, cost, and more.
Why would RVers want to park at my business?
When RVers aren’t boondocking in the countryside or chilling on a campground, they’re usually out for hours on the road heading to their next destination. Often, it’s freeing and blissful, but it can also be tedious, lonely, and exhausting.
Most RVers will agree about these pain points. But for you, the business owner, these are brilliant opportunities to delight and astound potential customers by providing positively outrageous service:
If they’re bored, put on some entertainment or show them a pretty view
If they’re lonely, create a welcoming atmosphere and let them stay for a few hours
If they’re exhausted, let them park overnight so you can serve them in the morning
These people are always on the move — constantly worried about bad weather or something breaking down. What they need is a safe haven — a place to catch their breath and enjoy the moment. So if your business can give these people what they need, you’ve won already.
Types of Businesses That Perform Well with Harvest Hosts
There are several types of businesses on the program with different things to offer their guests. If your business is any of the following, consider applying for free to become a Host. Similar businesses have performed very well in the past.
Golf Courses
Hundreds of golf courses have joined the Harvest Hosts program with resounding success. Many RVers are retirees, so the relaxing but skillful nature of golf makes it very popular with members of Harvest Hosts.
Wineries
Many RVers enjoy touring wineries to learn how wine is made and see the process in action. Pair that experience with a refreshing glass of wine, and you’ve got one of the best ways to end a tiring day on the road.
Breweries & Distilleries
Like wineries, a tour at a brewery or distillery can be incredibly refreshing after a tiring day. These establishments usually offer a more fun and lively energy, which nets them a ton of repeat customers.
Farms
Popular with families, farms are great destinations for RVers to get to know the local produce and enjoy fresh air and wide open spaces. Children can see the farm animals and grown-ups can dig into the food.
Museums & Attractions
RVers spend much of their time looking at pavement, grass, rocks, and sky. It’s a great way to enjoy the present. But museums and attractions are fantastic places to get in touch with the past and future. Whether it’s paintings, sculptures, or ancient tools and weapons, these establishments are wonderful for stirring up the dreamer inside each of us.
How can my business benefit?
Becoming a Harvest Host comes with various benefits:
More sales.
Harvest Hosts asks their members to support the businesses they’re visiting with a purchase. This ensures a reciprocal transaction — the member gets a nice place to stay, and you get a guaranteed sale.
Costs you nothing.
All you need to spend money on to become a Host is a level parking space. That’s it. If you already have that, then becoming a Host costs you literally nothing.
Free advertising.
Hundreds of thousands of members use Harvest Hosts every month, each one searching carefully for their next place to stay. If you become a Host, you would be putting yourself on each member’s radar — you’ll have a virtual billboard of your business on the Harvest Hosts website — all for free.
Barely any competition.
There are tens of millions of businesses in America, but only a few thousand have bothered to welcome RVers through Harvest Hosts. By joining now, you get a huge first-mover advantage, giving you a boost in visibility and earning you the loyalty of RVers in your area.
Word of mouth.
Harvest Hosts is a tight-knit community, and since people adore telling others about their experiences, impressing just one customer means impressing everyone they know as well. Harvest Hosts makes that even easier with their member review system. A single good review could send crowds of RVers your way.
Meet interesting people.
Business can be dull at times, especially if your customers all hail from one place. Welcoming RVers to your business can be a great way to liven things up. You can meet all sorts of people — young and old, rich and poor— and talk about their travels on the road. This also lets you expand your target audience to various demographics, interests, and locations.
Code of Conduct.
Members of Harvest Hosts are legally bound to abide by a Code of Conduct, so you don’t have to worry about undisciplined guests trashing your business parking lot.
Limited stays.
It’s normal to be worried that members might overstay their welcome — consuming valuable parking space without returning the favor to your business. Fortunately, members are limited to staying only 24 hours per visit. You can extend an invitation for them to stay longer, but that is your choice.
In addition to these benefits, you will also receive a free Harvest Hosts membership , which you can use to visit other Hosts if you have an RV of your own.
Here’s Lori & Win Mitchell on how business has improved at their brewery since becoming a Harvest Host:
Do you make money being a Harvest Host?
Yes, but not directly. You don’t earn commission fees by becoming a Harvest Host, but what you do get is a unique and free opportunity to market your business to a whole new audience. As a result, you boost your business’s visibility, earn more sales, and you even get to meet interesting people in the process. Learn more and apply here. The application is quick, free, and there’s no strings attached.
What other Hosts are saying
How to apply
To apply to become a Harvest Host, you’ll have to meet a few requirements first (which we outline in the next section). Once you’ve passed the requirements, simply follow the steps below:
Fill in the Host application form. Click this link to open the Host application form. The application is quick, free, and there’s no strings attached. Just fill in the required information and wait for Harvest Hosts to respond to your application.
Wait for Harvest Hosts to process your application. After submitting your application, you should receive an email from Harvest Hosts acknowledging receipt. Within the following week, they will review your application, do a background check, and determine whether your business is a good fit for the program.
Customize your Host Information Page. Once you pass the review, Harvest Hosts will create your Host Information Page (AKA your business listing) containing all the information you’ve provided. Customize it according to your liking.
Once you’ve completed your listing, it will be public, and you will become an official Harvest Host. Keep a close eye on your inbox for inquiring members, and enjoy the ride.
Responsibilities
The main responsibility of a Host is to reserve members the right to one overnight stay without camping fees or minimum purchase requirements.
Requirements
In order to become an official Harvest Host, the applicant must have:
Business license & insurance.
Products to sell. Since the member’s stay itself will be free of charge, the business must have products to sell or services to offer to make sure both parties benefit from the transaction.
Online presence. Members need to know that the location they’re visiting is safe. Having an online presence (website, social media profiles, etc.) helps relieve any doubts.
Parking & accessibility. The parking space should accommodate about 1 - 4 RVs. The ground should be level and have enough room to turn around and avoid hitting low hanging tree branches. The parking lot may be gravel, grass, or paved.
Employee awareness. Employees should be informed of the partnership with Harvest Hosts and the privileges members are entitled to, so as to avoid misunderstandings.
Hosts are not required to provide electricity, water, sewage dump, or wi-fi to guests. Providing these services will definitely leave a better impression on the guest, but the Host is free to decide whether to provide them or not.
Become a Harvest Host
It’s not every day that you come across a marketing opportunity that’s free, legit, and effective. Take a chance and become a Harvest Host today.
Signing up is quick, free, and there’s no strings attached.