How Revillage can become a sustainable business

With Revillage, we are creating an online community of families who move to the same village. At the core of the idea is the belief that Revillage should benefit the local community, serving as a new model for rural revitalization. To achieve lasting impact, we aim to establish not just one Revillage project but a replicable and scalable framework.

In this article, we explore why Revillage needs to be a sustainable business and the potential models that could support its long-term success.

Why Revillage Needs to Be a Business

Building a sustainable business model around Revillage—one that creates value for both families and local communities—significantly increases our ability to invest in the project and scale beyond a single village. The more we can reinvest, the greater the positive impact we can generate.

Many grants, government initiatives, and EU funding programs focus on rural revitalization, but we believe a financially sustainable company working in this space can make an even greater impact. A business approach allows us to allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that we can develop housing, community spaces, and family support services at scale. By lowering the barriers for families to relocate, we increase the chances of long-term success for both Revillage and the communities we partner with.

An Experiment Before a Business

It’s important to emphasize that Revillage is, first and foremost, an experiment. We are starting with one village, aiming to create a dream community for our own family while testing the viability of our approach.

We have experience in building communities and bringing people together, but there are many unknowns in this project. Success does not necessarily mean scaling to multiple villages—if we build a thriving single community, that alone would be an achievement. However, by considering the business model from the outset, we increase the likelihood of developing Revillage 2, 3, and beyond.

A Potential Business Model Inspired by Cohousing

There are several directions we could take to create a financially sustainable model. The three key areas where we can provide value to families are:

• Housing

• Community

• Childcare and Education

We are deeply inspired by the cohousing movement. Denmark has a strong tradition of developing cohousing projects, and more professionally led initiatives are emerging.

A potential Revillage model could involve families renting or purchasing homes through Revillage, which would also grant them access to shared community spaces. This is similar to the model used by professional cohousing developers, but we aim to integrate homes throughout the village rather than clustering them in a single location. This approach fosters stronger connections with the local community.

Community space in the Danish cohousing project Grønne Eng. Image credit: gronneeng.dk

The Housing Model Explained

To provide housing for Revillage families, we want to collaborate with local real estate owners or investors to restore and manage properties. This model could take several forms:

1. Management Agreements – Revillage manages homes on behalf of owners, earning a percentage of rental income. (Low risk, scalable.)

2. Revenue Share Agreements – Revillage shares rental income with property owners instead of charging a fixed fee. (Higher potential profits, shared risk.)

3. Fixed Lease Agreements – Revillage leases homes and sublets them, giving full control over community-building. (Greater financial commitment, but more flexibility.)

This model offers two key advantages:

1. It allows us to start without requiring large amounts of capital to purchase homes.

2. It encourages local investment and integration rather than Revillage simply buying up real estate, which can be met with resistance from local communities.

Should Education Be Part of the Business Model?

Childcare and education are critical factors for families. In fact, they are often the deciding factor in whether families can relocate.

Developing an education model could not only be a key part of the business strategy but also serve as a major attraction for families considering a move. However, this is a complex topic that deserves dedicated exploration in future articles.

Other Areas Where Revillage Can Create Value

Beyond housing and community-building, there are several ways Revillage can generate value, some of which could contribute to the business model:

• Short-Term Tourism and Digital Nomad Stays – Providing trial experiences for families before committing to relocation.

• Membership Models – Offering families the flexibility to move between Revillage communities (though this may not align with building permanent communities).

• Public and Government Partnerships – Collaborating with local governments to promote the region or village.

• Relocation Services – Assisting families with the logistical and administrative aspects of moving.

• Consulting Services – Advising other regions looking to attract families.

• Long-Term Investments in Property – Developing real estate strategies tailored to community-driven revitalization.

Deciding on the Right Model

One of the key benefits of starting with a single village and treating it as an experiment is that we gain firsthand experience to refine the business model. Different opportunities, partnerships, and challenges will emerge, making it difficult to define an exact approach from the outset.

Get Involved

Are you a family interested in joining Revillage? A local community member or investor looking to collaborate? Or do you see professional opportunities within this project?

We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us and be part of shaping a new model for rural revitalization.