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

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

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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.