10 Brilliant Barn Conversion Business Ideas

Barns have long been a common feature on farms and rural properties. Once commonly used for storing hay for horses, many barns have since lost their purpose and become disused. However, a growing number of barn owners have begun repurposing them. In fact, barns can make very versatile structures that can be used in all kinds of productive ways – including making money.

If you own a property with a barn and are looking for a way to make some extra income, why not use your bar to start a new business venture. Below are just some of the vest barn conversion business ideas to try.

A buy-to-let home

A barn could be turned into another home – either for you to live in or for someone else to rent out. Small barns can be turned into stylish bungalows and cabin homes, while large barns can be turned into big rustic houses.

Your barn conversion will need to meet certain requirements in order to be legally classified as a residential building. This includes various health and safety features, as well as access to clean water and electricity. You should aim to preserve as much history as possible, while counterbalancing this with various modern features like solar panels and new appliances.

Finding tenants could be tricky if you live somewhere very rural. Barns on the edge of large towns and cities could be more profitable rental properties. Selling off your barn for someone to own could be another option.

Office space

A growing number of businesses are ditching offices in city/town centers and are instead looking for cheaper offices on the outskirts. Barns are just one of the buildings being regularly converted into offices.

When converting a barn into an office, you could divide it into many office rooms or keep it fairly open plan. Make sure there are plenty of electrical sockets and decent bathroom facilities. Large windows could be added to work areas to take advantage of views and let in lots of natural light – something that is very sought after in modern office buildings.

To make money from your office, you could rent it out or sell it to a company. Renting is typically a better option as you have more control over who uses it as an office. There are guides to commercial buy-to-let properties online. Of course, you may be able to use it as an office for your own business purposes instead.

A guesthouse

A small barn in a scenic rural location could make a great vacation rental. This could be particularly worth taking advantage of in areas with lots of tourists such as national parks or barns near ski resorts.

Try to convert your barn with your target guest in mind. A small barn could make a great honeymoon suite, while a larger barn could be great for families to stay. Luxury features like hot tubs and balconies could be worth adding to the property to make it more attractive.

You will need to constantly market the property on platforms like Airbnb. You may also be able to find customers through social media. Research vacation rental marketing strategies to help you attract guests.

Wedding venue

Barn weddings have become very popular in recent decades. Large barns make great spaces for containing lots of guests and are often located in stunning rural locations that appeal to couples.

To turn your barn into a wedding venue, you will need to consider adding features like a bar and a kitchen, as well as a sound system and decent lighting. Having plenty of parking space outside could also be important. You can look up other barn venues in your area for inspiration.

You will need to invest money into marketing to attract couples to your venue. It is up to you whether you provide catering, or whether you require couples to outsource this. Either way, you will need to be prepared to take on the role of wedding organizer and keep track of various different couples and their plans.

Music venue

A converted barn could also make a fantastic music venue. There is a growing shortage of music venues in many areas and barns are often remote enough to not have to worry about noise complaints.

You will need to kit out the venue with a stage, lighting and a sound system. A bar area could also be necessary to have. Various modifications could also be necessary for improving acoustics and insulating sound. 

To attract musical acts, create a website for your venue and start advertising on social media. It may even be possible to directly mail musicians in your area. You can then start promoting events through social media and physical posters to attract crowds. It’s up to you as to what types of musical acts you invite to play and how many tickets you allow to be sold. 

Café/restaurant

If you’ve ever thought about opening a cafe or a restaurant, a barn conversion could also be an opportunity for this. Such a cafe/restaurant could do particularly well if it’s near a highway or a busy road.

To convert your barn into a cafe or restaurant, start by considering the design of the kitchen. Most of a restaurant conversion budget will go into installing kitchen machinery and ensuring there is good ventilation. More casual cafes that serve hot drinks and cake may not need a kitchen, although machinery like a coffee machine and commercial dishwasher could still be handy. As for the dining area, take your time to consider decor styles and table layouts. 

Cafes and restaurants require many licenses to run. You’ll need to hire capable staff and carefully plan out your menu. If you’re not a chef, you can hire a chef to come up with a menu for you. If your cafe/restaurant is on a farm, consider how you may be able to use your own produce – as well as possibly the produce of other farms in the area.

Brewery

Ever wanted to brew your own beer? Barns can also be converted into breweries. Such a brewery could be run as a hobby or as a profitable business.

What do you need to convert your barn into a brewery? If you want to do it properly, you’ll need to invest in all kinds of brewing equipment including grain millers, water treatment machines, brewhouse tanks and fermentation tanks. You may struggle to fit this all into a small barn, however there are smaller versions of this brewing equipment designed for microbreweries.

You’ll need to come up with memorable branding for your brewery and attractive bottle labeling. Having a website and social media pages will give you platforms to advertise from. It could be particularly worth reaching out to beer shops and local bars to help promote your beer. You could even open a tasting room in your brewery for people to taste your beer on site.

Farm shop

Farm shops are ideal barn conversion business ideas for working farms. They are a place to sell produce from your farm directly to customers at a profitable price. With enough promotion, locals will visit this shop and you’ll make an extra steady income.

If you’re converting a large barn, you should consider whether it’s worth turning only part of it into a farm shop. Unless you have a lot of different products to sell, there may be no use in running a large store. Take time to plan out your layout and explore shop sign designs. 

In order to open a shop, you will need to apply for appropriate licenses and invest in payment technology like card readers and cash registers. You’ll also want to invest in security. You can market your shop using signage and online advertising. 

Self storage facility

A barn could also be converted into a self storage facility. This allows you to charge people to store items in your barn.

Self storage units must meet certain security standards. On top of installing secure doors, this could mean installing security cameras and alarms. Older barns may need to be knocked down and rebuilt using a steel storage building construction company. This could allow you to design much more secure units.

To advertise your self storage facility, you’ll want to build a website and promote your services on social media. Invest in regular maintenance to keep your storage units secure. 

Workshop

You could convert a barn into a workshop – for your own use, or to be used by someone else. Such workshops are popular for those looking to get into craft businesses like carpentry, pottery and glassblowing. Alternatively, a workshop could be used for certain types of repairs or restoration work.

Transforming a barn into a workshop may require very little conversion work if there is no need for specialist machinery. In many cases, good ventilation could be important, so consider extractor fans. You should also install suitable non-slip flooring.

If you’re looking to rent out your barn as a workshop, consider working with commercial realtors. They will be able to help you find someone willing to rent out the space.

10 Brilliant Barn Conversion Business Ideas