Start A Bed And Breakfast As Enthusiastic Travelers Flock to Fun Destinations

Start a bed and breakfast business as enthusiastic travelers become more and more interested in the personal touch offered by B&Bs and less interested in corporate hotel options for their leisure travels. 

According to BedandBreakfast.com Summer Travel Trends Survey, travelers are enjoying more of their leisure time at bed and breakfasts this Summer.  Business has seen an increase of 14% over 2013!   And, the beauty is these are the "strip down" B&Bs of the past.

Many of these different B&Bs are becoming luxurious get-aways appealing to folks who plan to spend between $200-$300/night!

Does your home have several different bedrooms? Is it comfortable or charming? Is it located in an interesting place where visitors visit and come to see the sights? Then this can be one of those terrific ideas for a home business. Start a Bed and Breakfast – putting your equity and your host/hostess skills to work for you in your business.

A Bed & Breakfast business gives you the ability to meet people and discover different places without ever leaving the comfort of your home. You can visit with folks who come from far off lands and enjoy the unique experience of a bed and breakfast as opposed to a traditional “cold” hotel room.

This is one of those good home based business ideas that can be extremely rewarding as you provide folks with a good bed, a terrific breakfast, and even entertainment if you have other talents you wish to share!

One bed and breakfast I’ve visited has a whole dinner/playhouse set-up. It was an outstanding evening – starting in the lovely garden for cocktails, enjoying a terrific dinner, being part of an elaborate mystery plot (along with the entire audience), and finally figuring out "who dun it!". 

Then it was off to enjoy our beautiful room complete with hot tub and it's own private bath. The experience continued the next morning when we visited the old mansion dining room for a lovely breakfast complete with fresh squeeze orange juice and homemade crepes.

Lovely!!!  :)

This is the type of experience you can’t get at a national hotel chain and an experience I won’t forget.

To start a bed and breakfast, you will need to have a decent size home to accommodate your guests and good bathroom accommodations.

Partner with local attractions for free or reduced rate parking or entertainment tickets – they’ll be glad they visited and pass your name on to others who may be traveling in your area. And your happy guests will return to spend additional time with you.

Niche Notes!!

1) If you’re an entertainer, consider adding entertainment to your bed & breakfast services.

2) Provide extra services for a fee such as room service (for breakfast in bed) or offering guests evening cocktails to get acquainted.

3) Become a hostel welcoming young people traveling to your home.

4) Specialize in providing accommodations to folks traveling from a specific geographic areas and write a blog about your area. 

5) Host individuals or groups with specific hobbies or interests to make their stay educational, artistic, or a sporting trip – teach yoga, provide surfers with gear, encourage artists to perfect their skills while staying at your bed and breakfast.  Promote the different artists and their crafts online. 

6) If you live on the water, provide your guests with additional water sports, boating, or fishing.  Combine with your watercraft repair business.

7) Add a small gift shop complete with unique items and gift baskets from your geographic area of the country.

8) Provide local tours or events for your guests to help them see your town or city through your eyes.

9) Specialize in welcoming specific types of individuals (e.g. catering to entrepreneurs like one young couple is doing in Colorado, teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses).   You get the drift!  :)

Start A Bed and Breakfast - What's It Take?

Boarding House

Mobile Bartender

Gift Basket Business

Interests/Skills:

• Interest in Meeting People
• Hostess Skills
• Cooking Skills
• Handy person Skills
• Organization Skills
• Time Management Skills

Resources: Your home with a good central location to tourist sites and interesting places to visit. The home will need separate bedrooms, appropriate bathroom accommodations, and a kitchen large enough for food preparation for a large group of guests. Extra amenities are nice, but not required (e.g. hot tub, sauna, patio/deck, views, water features, and walking trails).

Time Required: 5-15 hrs/week; can work full-time 30-40+ hrs/week

Training: Skill in meeting people, housekeeping, cooking, and scheduling software.

Market: Travelers

Home Based: Yes

Internet: No.

Location: Local

Start-Up Costs: $500 - $50,000

Minimizing Start-Up Costs: Start a bed and breakfast by using your current home, bedrooms, and exterior patios and gardens to provide your guests with comfortable surroundings. Relaxed décor and a variety of artistic pieces (check the thrift stores) keep your guests entertained as they move throughout your home.

For breakfast, make a beautiful and simple meal including fresh-baked breads, eggs, fresh fruit (in season), and coffee/tea. Look for “freeware” or “shareware” to meet your needs for guest scheduling.

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