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Published:
March 13, 2009

Running a Bed and Breakfast For Dummies

Overview

Discover all the tools you need to start and run a profitable B&B! Do you dream of owning a B&B? This friendly, practical guide shows you how to make your dream a reality, with expert advice on everything from writing a business plan and finding the right location to handling situations you will encounter as an innkeeper. You'll make your guests feel at home, keep your inn in tip-top shape, and ensure your long-term success!

  • Understand B&B basics ― get an overview of the business and see if you have the skills (and the desire!) to succeed
  • Find a place to call home ― choose the location, style, and size of your ideal B&B
  • Transition from visitor to owner ― create your business plan, secure financing, make an offer, and protect your investment
  • Get ready for your guests ― organize your recordkeeping, set room rates and policies, furnish your inn, and market your services
  • Set the breakfast scene ― decide

the style of breakfast to offer, accommodate guests' needs and restrictions, create signature dishes, and serve refreshments and snacks

  • Handle day-to-day operations ― take reservations, make your guests feel welcome, hire employees, and maintain your inn
  • Take your business to the next level ― assess your success, expand your market, increase profit, and prevent burnout
  • Open the book and find:

    • How to transition an existing B&B or start from scratch
    • The biggest problems new B&Bs encounter ― and how to avoid them
    • The best ways to furnish your inn
    • Tips for saving time cleaning and preparing breakfast
    • What you must know to design and update your Web site
    • Tried-and-tested sample menus and recipes
    • Ways to guarantee a return guest
    • How to get extra help when you need it
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    About The Author

    Mary White is the go-to source in the bed and breakfast industry for opinions and advice. A noted expert on B&B travel, she has been involved in promoting and marketing B&Bs on the web for more than a decade and has appeared in dozens of media outlets. Her site, BnBFinder.com, is hailed by professionals and consumers alike as the most informative B&B site.

    Sample Chapters

    running a bed and breakfast for dummies

    CHEAT SHEET

    To run a bed and breakfast (B&B) inn, you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests.To make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the "breakfast" part of the service.

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    Articles from
    the book

    Mornings at a bed & breakfast are a scramble, and not just of eggs. Breakfast at a B&B is part of the attraction, so although you’ll get used to serving it, you may want to use the following checklist to have breakfast practically ready before you go to bed. Review menu choices Check guest register for di
    Your bed & breakfast is a business, so you need to get your ducks in a row and necessary forms filled out and filed before you open your doors to guests. Use the following list (and the help of your accountant, lawyer, consultant, and/or broker) to ensure you have the accounts and paperwork you need before opening day (then mark renewal dates on your calendar).
    You need to gather essential information when taking guest reservations for your bed & breakfast by phone, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget the basics. To cover all the bases, begin by taking down the following information: Date reservation taken and who took the reservation Guest name(s), a
    Even the best-run bed & breakfast suffers an occasional crisis, and the time to search for a drain-cleaning service is not when you have guests waiting for breakfast. Record telephone numbers for the following services and keep the list on hand for quick fixes to ensure your guests’ comfort, enjoyment, and sa
    If you’re running a bed & breakfast, you want to give your guests the best possible experience in your inn. Use the following checklist to make sure your guest rooms make a good first impression: Clean guest bedroom: dust; vacuum; change sheets; make bed; empty trash cans; check under beds, in drawers, and be
    To run a bed and breakfast (B&B) inn, you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests.To make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the "breakfast" part of the service.
    https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6630d85d73068bc09c7c436c/69195ee32d5c606051d9f433_4.%20All%20For%20You.mp3

    Frequently Asked Questions

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