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BED AND BREAKFAST: THE EASIEST HOME-BASED BUSINESSThere's an exciting new "down-home" business springing up among homeowners all across the continent. It's called Bed and Breakfast. This is a transplant of European Hospitality, adapted and refined to the North American way of doing things. To foreign visitors, it's the comfort and hospitality of home - staying overnight with local citizens and enjoying a hearty breakfast, without the traditional gaudiness and plastic feelings visitors get from most big cities in the United States and Canada. To North Americans traveling in their own country, it is a welcome alternative to the routine of staying overnight in a sterile motel room. This is a business you can literally start with little or no investment. All it takes is a spare bedroom, a good cook, and an outgoing personality. Prices per night range from a low of $25 to $200 or more. If you have an extra bedroom, a large home, or extra space in your farm house, you have the necessary beginnings to start making extra income as a Bed and Breakfast Inn. One of the beautiful aspects of this idea is that so long as you're hosting overnight visitors on a small scale, no licenses will be required. It's always best, however, to check with your local authorities to be sure. Naturally, your guests will expect a clean, neat, and comfortable home. Assuming that your home meets these prerequisites and you have a spare bedroom or two, simply decorate it a bit. Make sure it's painted brightly, that there's an outside window, lots of space, a free closet and bureau, a large comfortable bed or twin beds, and perhaps a small writing desk. Most foreign visitors will appreciate a quick tour of the interesting sights in your area. This is not, however, obligatory. As your popularity grows as a B and B Host, you'll find that a lot of American tourists and business people on the road will begin availing themselves of your hospitality as well. Strive to make each guest feel as though they were a welcome relative who has not been for a visit in a long while. Allow the guest to make himself at home, while at the same time catering to his needs. The basic appeal of a Bed and Breakfast Inn is that travelers appreciate a quiet, home-style place to stay. Generally, they enjoy visiting with the people off the interstate highway, and want to get away from the institutional atmosphere of hotels and motels. Most people will write to you ahead of time, inquiring about the possibilities of staying at your home while in your town or city. This means a bit of advertising on your part, or listing your availability with a B & B reservation service. Some people will check the local telephone listings and the newspaper advertisements when they arrive in a strange town. Still others will just be driving across the country, come to a town or city they think is interesting, and start driving through the residential areas looking for Bed and Breakfast Inns. Thus, you should have a small sign posted either in your front yard or on the front of your house. This sign needn't be much more than about two feet wide by about ten inches deep. It need only state: BED AND BREAKFAST - Inquire Within or Call 123-4567. Word of mouth advertising will be your greatest asset. However, it won't hurt to place a small advertisement in the personal column of your local newspaper, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. When you can afford it, place a small display ad in the yellow pages of your telephone and business directories, describing in greater detail the comforts and pleasures of your services. Be sure to list your services with all the travel agencies in your area. A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will most assuredly give the travel agents an idea for steering visitors your way. At the same time, listing your services in a number of national travel magazines - particularly those that cater to women - will bring customers in for you. Several national and international guides to B & B inns will list your address and telephone number in their directories free of charge. Check with your local library for information on finding such directories. Listing your services with a reservation service may not cost you anything up front, but they will expect a certain percentage, usually 15% to 25% of the total bill. This same arrangement applies with travel agents. Now, suppose you're organized and ready to receive your first customers. You greet them as host or hostess and offer to assist them in getting situated in the room or rooms you have available. If they'd like to take a drive around your area and see the points of interest, you do that. Let them know that they are free to use your living room or den, or to sit around the table and talk as they please. In the morning, serve them a delicious breakfast. Any special dishes unique to your area will be a welcome treat. You may find that foreign visitors will want to stay several days. With most North Americans who are just travelling through your area, it will most likely be a one-night stopover. Whatever the case, if they simply want to sleep comfortably through the night, eat breakfast, and be on their way - so be it. If they would like to sit around after breakfast and plan an itinerary for a complete visit of the attractions in your area, your assistance and help will be greatly appreciated. You will want to keep handy a number of local maps, guidebooks, brochures from local attractions and parks, and even special discount coupons for the major local attractions such as amusement parks or exotic wildlife preserves. There is no place too remote for a B and B. In resort areas, it is common to have a two night minimum, particularly on the weekends. Remember: the more enjoyable their visit, the more likely they will be to recommend your Inn to their friends. Once you've decided to begin a B and B, the fastest method available for getting the news out will be through a B and B newsletter that's published monthly. The finest of these is The Bed and Breakfast Locator. You can get a sample copy of this fine newsletter by sending $3 to: The Bed and Breakfast Locator, Box 471006-P, Fort Worth, Texas 76147-1006. That's it! The basic how and why of this tremendously profitable business that's
becoming more and more the "in" way to travel. Bed and Breakfast Inns are
increasing in popularity and are definitely a low investment concept. And you can parlay
your B and B into a very interesting and comfortable income producing business - all from
the comforts of your own home! There are many fine publications available that cover B
& B businesses, locations, and associations. We've chosen a few of the more
outstanding publications and associations and listed them below with a brief description.
Take some time to read through the list and call or write them directly for more
information. |
