At Old Yard, we handcraft bespoke, heritage Shepherd Huts from our workshop in Stamford, Lincolnshire for the UK market. However, we receive messages every week from landowners across the United States looking to build premium glamping businesses.
While we do not currently ship our fully-built huts across the Atlantic, the mathematics of a successful hospitality business are universal. We created this US-Dollar calculator to help our American readers run the numbers for their land—whether you are planning a standard tiny home, a luxury cabin, or building your own authentic British shepherd hut.
Why Shepherd Huts Outperform Standard Tiny Homes
If you toggle between the Shepherd Hut and Tiny Home buttons on our calculator, you will notice a specific financial dynamic: The Shepherd Hut costs less to build, but commands a higher nightly rate.
Why? Because the US short-term rental market is saturated with standard trailer-based tiny homes. To stand out today, you need a Unique Stay. Guests willingly pay a 20% to 40% premium to stay in a bespoke, romantic, European-style Shepherd Hut because it offers an unforgettable aesthetic and experience. Lower upfront costs paired with higher nightly revenue equals a drastically faster payback period.
Glamping ROI Calculator
Estimate how quickly a tiny home or cabin could pay for itself when used as a glamping or Airbnb-style rental.
Ready to see your returns?
Adjust the sliders to match your plan — your ROI, payback period, and annual profit will appear here instantly.
Running Cost Estimator
Estimate your annual running costs per unit — automatically updates the ROI calculator above.
$1,200
$1,500
$600
$100
2 nights
Estimated Annual Costs
Utilities
$1,200
Per year
Insurance
$1,500
Per year
Maintenance
$600
Per year
Cleaning
$0
0 cleans/year
Total Annual Running Costs
$0
Applied to ROI calculator above
A Note on US Zoning, Permits, and Taxes
1. Zoning and Permitting: Unlike the UK’s 'Planning Permission', US regulations vary wildly by county and municipality. Before purchasing a structure, check your local county zoning laws regarding "ADUs" (Accessory Dwelling Units), "Temporary Structures," or "RVs." Some counties are incredibly friendly to glamping, while others have strict density limits.
2. Occupancy Taxes: Remember that most counties require you to collect a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) or Lodging Tax. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO often collect and remit this automatically on your behalf, but always verify with your local tax assessor.
3. Depreciation & Tax Benefits: Many US glamping operators utilize IRS tax codes (such as Section 179 or Bonus Depreciation) to write off the cost of their glamping structures and site improvements against their active income. We are craftsmen, not CPAs—always consult a US-based tax professional to understand your specific financial benefits.
Want to build an authentic British Shepherd Hut in the US?
Because shipping fully assembled huts from England to the US is cost-prohibitive, we are translating our bespoke, heritage designs into Premium DIY Digital Build Plans specifically for the American market.
Whether you are a DIYer or plan to hire a local US contractor, these plans will give you the exact blueprints to replicate an Old Yard Shepherd Hut on your land.
Enter your email below. We’ll notify you the moment our US framing kits and digital blueprints are available.