A romantic room filled with restored antiques, fine china and silver, and the scent of fresh coffee and cinnamon buns wafting up from the kitchen—this is the picture most people imagine when considering a stay at a bed and breakfast.
Owning a beautiful bed and breakfast is a great way to supplement your income. It’s also a great way of turning your passion for meeting and entertaining new people into a way of making money. The question that remains, though, is if this kind of business is right for you.
Answer these questions to figure out if owning a B&B will bring the fulfilment you’re looking for:
Do you have what it takes to be a B&B owner?
A bed and breakfast may be right for you if you are prepared to run your own business and are ready to handle guest demands. It’s important to understand, however, how much work is involved in running a B&B. Think of it this way: picture how much effort it takes to plan and throw a party. You prepare all things prior to the event and clean up afterwards; with a B&B, this is something you will be doing each day during peak season.
The trade-off, though, is that you’re only tied for a few months a year to earn a good amount of income, and then you have the remaining months to do whatever you want, depending of course on occupancy demands.
Have you found a good location?
Unlike other real estate investments, your bed and breakfast will be both your home and your business. It’s important to find a location that you will enjoy and will be comfortable in.
First, determine the space you need for your own living quarters. Will you need additional space to accommodate visiting family members? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Second, consider whether your location will attract people and generate enough income. If things aren’t looking too good, then look for a bed and breakfast for sale in a high-traffic location so it will draw people in year-round.
Are you willing to spend time working on your business?
Are you willing to invest a good amount of money and time working on the planning, budgeting, and marketing of your B&B business?
Having a business plan is important. This will help you determine the amount of money you’ll need to set the B&B up, how you will get people to stay, and how much money you can expect to earn. If you can sacrifice a bit of time for some planning, then this business is for you.
Whether you want to start a bed and breakfast to take a lead in the rat race, supplement your income, or indulge in your love for entertaining guests, starting a B&B may be right for you if you answered yes to these questions.