I’m sharing this openly because I know a lot of you are either right behind me — or quietly dreading this step. This is brand new territory for me.I’ve never paid employees before. Until now, Monument Glamping was scrappy, seasonal, and simple. My previous business (curriculum publishing) was the same. As this business has grown — and frankly outgrown publishing — it became obvious that payroll needed to grow up too. So I finally crossed that line. 💠 WHAT I HAD TO WORK THROUGH (THE REAL CHECKLIST) • Deciding when to start (January 1 = clean reset) • W-2 employees vs contractors (especially cleaners — this matters more than people realize) • Pay periods that are predictable and easy to explain • How fast payroll gets processed after a pay period closes • Collecting W-4s from everyone (non-negotiable) • Reasonable compensation for owners working in the business • Making sure payroll syncs cleanly with QuickBooks • Choosing a system that wouldn’t turn payroll into a second job I didn’t want clever.I wanted boring, compliant, and repeatable. 💠 WHY I CHOSE GUSTO I landed on Gusto not because it’s flashy, but because it removes friction where mistakes get expensive. Here’s what mattered to me: • Full-service payroll (they handle filings) • W-2 employees and owners handled cleanly • Automatic tax calculations and payments • Employee self-service portal (pay stubs, W-2s, updates — fewer emails to me) • Easy W-4 collection and storage • Direct integration with QuickBooks • Clean audit trail (important for financing or exit) • Scales without needing to switch systems again soon I can set it up now, test everything, and not run payroll until January.That mattered. 💠 MY ACTUAL PAYROLL SETUP (FOR TRANSPARENCY) • Payroll starts January 1 • Semi-monthly pay periods:– 1st–15th– 16th–end of month • Paychecks issued within 4 days of each pay period closing • All cleaners will be W-2 employees with W-4s on file • Wendy and I will each be paid $40,000/year as salaried employees– Wendy: Operations Manager– Me: CEO

Thanks everyone for Thursdays call and Ty @Chris Jeub for the referral for the draftsperson that is one of the biggest things I've been looking for. I will start in January getting a site plan and start working On my business plan. That is going to be my action goal for 1st qtr 2026. It helps to announce it for some accountability

Tonight's Mastermind was a blast, and the replay is now up: https://www.skool.com/gold/classroom/a51c84c0?md=3ccb11d8c46147eea31043dbb1376d74 The real highlight? Todd Wynne-Parry crashing our party. Todd is one of the strongest voices in the glamping world — thoughtful, experienced, plugged into the industry in ways most of us only hope to be. Having him in our midst was a gift. And it continues: I’ll be duck hunting with him in the morning (pics incoming), then spending the afternoon with him at the Pikes Peak operation Aramark runs here in Colorado Springs. Aramark is a massive publicly traded company, and Todd has been open about his interest in acquiring operations like Monument Glamping. I’m grateful for the time with him and I’ll share what comes of our conversations. Before I signed off, I gave a small reminder about posting here in the community — and it’s worth repeating. Your content doesn’t need to be polished, perfect, or strategic. It can be whatever is happening right now. Anything that crosses your desk… post it. That’s the magic of this group. We’re looking over each other’s shoulders as we figure out how to turn our land into gold. The day-by-day trials, wins, questions, or weird little discoveries — those are the things that help all of us. So keep sharing. We’re better for it.

Micah and I spent yesterday at Rocky Mountain Roosters, a pheasant hunting preserve about thirty-five minutes from what will become MG2. The original idea was simple: get a sense of what “amenity-based operations” look like up close. Turns out, the place was a masterclass. Here are the take-aways Micah and I wrote down: - Identity matters. Their lodge wasn’t fancy, but it was unmistakably “them.” - The big wall map gave structure to the entire visit and invited curiosity. - Dogs and photo spots created connection and shareable moments. - Small touches — candy jars, old photos, rustic signs — added personality. - Functionality was built into every corner: check-in, seating, traffic flow. - Sitting areas (inside and out) encouraged people to slow down and hang out. - A simple liability waiver handled risk without overcomplicating the operation. - Micro-experiences (like watching the dogs work) elevated perceived value. - The lodge served as the anchor for everything else on the property. So how does this translate to a glamping business? Amenities are what transform a glamping site into a place. Not a park. Not a campground. A place. Here’s the way forward for Monument Glamping: - Create small gathering spaces with intention: stargazing benches, scenic lookout chairs, hammock clusters. - Build a “welcome lodge” (small footprint, big personality) that becomes the emotional center of the stay. - Introduce micro-experiences: sunset walks, coffee tastings, fireside evenings, curated trails. - Develop a large map display showing the land, the story, and future plans. - Enhance the property’s identity through décor, signage, and subtle storytelling. - Build warm, social “linger spaces” that naturally extend guest stays. - Offer pet-friendly bonuses and photo-friendly moments that make the experience feel personal. If you’re developing your own site, don’t think “amenities = expensive builds.” Think layers of experience. A couple of smart, intentional additions can change the way people feel about your land — and that feeling is what drives bookings, reviews, and long-term success.

@Chris Jeub I've been following as they have come out week 7 just poped up but i have not seen week 6 PS TY for putting this out