In 2016, Alex (42) and Jan (48) Werkmeister made perhaps the ‘boldest’ decision of their lives: they left good jobs in Hamburg’s video game industry for challenging but rewarding self-employment in Sankt Andreasberg. Passionate mountain bikers, they followed their vision of creating a place for like-minded people in the Harz.
With a Booking rating of 9.4, Harz-BnB in Sankt Andreasberg is one of the Harz’s highest-rated accommodations and a prime destination for mountain bikers. Alex and Jan worked hard to realize their idea of a great holiday base for bikers. When they opened in 2017 with five double rooms and two family rooms, theirs was one of the few modern offerings for this audience in the Harz. Since 2022, they have also rented out a mountain cabin on Matthias-Schmidt-Berg that combines a rustic atmosphere with modern design.
Looking back, both are proud and remain enthusiastic. At the same time, they admit they underestimated the work involved in running accommodation, the staffing it needs and the seven-day working week. ‘We were wearing ourselves out in our old jobs,’ Jan says. ‘That’s why we made a very deliberate decision to step away from that kind of life. We didn’t want to repeat what happened to us in Hamburg.’ Their original concept, including breakfast and high standards of cleanliness and service, required a great deal of staff time. Both the financial pressures and dependence on others became a burden. ‘If someone is absent, those tasks fall to us on top of an already long workday and caring for our two children,’ Jan explains. More than enough reason to rethink their business concept.
They replaced breakfast service with a shared kitchen, which is due to be renovated in November. A coffee and muesli bar was already available. Guests can still book breakfast through a partnership with Spritzenhaus. In the medium term, they plan to add a small farm shop to cover guests’ basic needs.
When they started their business, the couple had excellent support from Volksbank Braunlage eG and WiReGo. Their 50-page business plan ultimately convinced everyone involved. Jan also shares his experience of self-employment as a business consultant and member of the regional advice network. ‘To be happy working for yourself, the work has to suit you,’ he says. ‘Usually more work, more responsibility and only rarely more money than in employment have to be balanced by enjoyment of what you do.’ For him, the key to success is clearly flexibility: ‘You have to keep an eye on the market and continually adapt your vision.’
