How To Start A Bed And Breakfast Business

Bed and breakfast business is a kind of fusion between a luxury hotel and a private home, embodying the best of both worlds.

A bread and breakfast business is normally a small establishment that consists of about 4 to 10 guest rooms as an alternative of the 50 to 100 or more seen at most hotels.

Managing a bed and breakfast business isn’t a job; it’s a way of life.

As a bed and breakfast business owner, you afford your guests the finest of both worlds which is the charm of being in a comfy home with all the benefits of an opulent hotel.

Bed and breakfasts have the prospective to be a rewarding business that’s a joy to manage.

Start a bed and breakfast business either to get away to complement your income, from the rat race , to treat your love of being a hostess or host or to generate a business out of a historic home that you adore.

The revenues to expect from a bed and breakfast business however varies a great deal, as it depends on the amount of guest rooms in your bed & breakfast, the duration of time you’re opened, the nomadic (or not) scenery of your neighbourhood, how innovatively you promote your business, and how diligent you can be.

You can start a bed and breakfast business with a lot of diligence but take note of certain tips before you start:

EVALUATE YOURSELF

Evaluate yourself to determine if you have the personality and interest to have guests as hosts in your house night and day, season after season.

The job requires you to be friendly and outgoing.

You can also find out from other bed and breakfast business owners, study their lives and then decide if that the kind of life you really want.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Ensure you study about running a bed and breakfast business, hospitality management and managing a hotel as this will bestow you with lots of gadgets to help make your bed and breakfast a successful business.

Studying will inform you more about:

accounting,
hotel administration,
marketing and
economics

which are all vital to the success of running a bed and breakfast business.

If possible obtain a degree in hospitality management or hotel management.

You could also attend trainings or work with a local bed and breakfast business so as to learn practically.

EVALUATE THE LOCAL MARKETS AND LOCATE A PROPERTY FOR YOUR BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS

Now there is need to check out alternatives obtainable for your bed and breakfast business.

Although you may have the appropriate place already but ensure it is a place that will be accessible to travellers and it is somewhere that is easily reachable from the main roads.

If you do not have a property already for your bed and breakfast, then you should hunt for a building in vicinity where there are close attractions and also a need for tourism so as to get as many customers as possible.

FIND OUT ABOUT THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR AREA

There is a need for you to find out about all the legal requirements to start a bed and breakfast business, ensure you find out about all the needed licences, processes and registration that is particular to the proposed location of your business.

Also find out about insuring your bed and breakfast business

CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN FOR YOUR BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS

You will need a business plan to define the focus and mission of your business.

It will also help you define how you want to run your bed and breakfast business and how viable your business is.

Determine the start-up costs you will need for your business and you want to come up with it.

A business plan will be needed if you want to get a loan or an investment towards your bed and breakfast business.

Your business plan must also include how many guests you can accommodate and what kind of services you will like to offer.

Consider what staffing you’ll need.

Even the least hotels require individuals to wash dishes, housekeep and landscape among other things.

TYPES OF BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS

The Bed and Breakfast Inn Business

This type of bed and breakfast business is in form of a small hotel, it doesn’t have a restaurant but it will serve breakfast for its hosts and could include an evening cheese spread and wine.

It usually include a large formal dining room where guests can hang around, each room must however have its own bathroom just like a hotel.

The Bed and breakfast Cottage Business

This type is usually a cottage or other outbuilding of your property, but is usually not connected to your living space.

However in this type of bed and breakfast business, breakfast is usually not provided as the cottage consists of a kitchenette in which clients can prepare their meals.

The cottage bed and breakfast business is a great way to grant clients their privacy.

The Bed and Breakfast Apartment Business

This is usually a space in your apartment but will have a separate entrance for customers.

The Unique Bed and Breakfast

This involves running a bed and breakfast business where themed events are held, such as weddings, haunted weekends, mystery weekends or other themed events.

In this case you would include breakfast in the cost of the themed event and other arrangements will have to be made for dinner.

STARTING YOUR BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS

Decorate and set up a theme for your bed and breakfast business

The success of a bed and breakfast business is dependent on your ability to make it a special place that will make guests happy.

Decide the theme for your bed and breakfast business and put in the correct furniture and decorations to give it the faultless look your guests will love.

Ensure your furnishings are comfy and dirt-free. However do not invest in lots of breakable items.

Look through:

antique shops,

specialty boutiques,

websites,

flea markets and

garage sales

for decorative accents and furnishings to accentuate your theme.

Remember that the beautification of your bed and breakfast business is one of its major selling points.

Develop a menu for your bed and breakfast business

Create a menu that harmonizes the manner of your new business.

Bed and breakfasts are recognized for serving home-cooked, gourmet-style meals.

Except you’re a great chef with understanding of numerous cooking styles, hire a chef who is skilled in organizing such meals for large groups.

Note that the food must not be the garden-variety fare that can be found at chain restaurants.

Your menu may include Reuben sandwiches on fresh marble rye for lunch; smothered pork chops with raspberry chutney and red potatoes for dinner; and coffee and beignets with shrimp-and-crabmeat omelets for breakfast.

The initiative is to proffer quality choices, not quantity.

Though the ideal menu is limited, its offerings should be pleasant and detailed.

ADVERTISE

Market your bed-and-breakfast through:

fliers,
reservation agencies,
newspapers,
travel magazines and
websites.

Create a professional website showcasing your beautiful bed-and-breakfast business.

Also tell your friends, relations and everyone you come across on a daily basis about your business.

Never forget that customer satisfaction is paramount and do not ever stop learning about your business

Bed and Breakfast Business Resources

Best Selling Bed And Breakfast Business Books