How to Start a Bed & Breakfast Business
Bed & Breakfast businesses are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. A Bed & Breakfast is much like a hotel because it offers guests a place to stay and good food to eat. However, unlike a hotel, a Bed & Breakfast is usually a bit smaller and feels a lot more like home.
- Choose a location for your business. You want to open your B&B in an area where tourists travel to quite often.
- Start saving up money to open up your business. If you do not have all of the funds to purchase a property, you may want to apply for a business loan to get started.
- Apply for a license or permit to legally run your business. You can apply for the license or permit at sba.gov.
- Apply for a Tax Identification number. Business owners need a Tax ID number to file taxes. You can apply for one at irs.gov.
- Purchase or rent out a building. Be sure that the space that you rent or buy will be enough to house the amount of guests that you need to generate a profit.
- Begin decorating the inside of your B&B. The decorating process is essential. You want guests to feel welcomed and comfortable. Traditionally, B&B's are cozy, country-style homes that remind its guests of a simpler time.
- Design each room differently. Make sure that you have plenty of beds, bed sheets, blankets, and all other items that will be needed. Provide ample closet and drawer space for the guests to unpack and feel at home.
- Create a detailed breakfast menu. Be sure to include a large variety to suit all palates.
- Put your business information into the database for Bed & Breakfast Inns in the United States at bbonline.com.
- Join the American Bed & Breakfast Association at abba.com.
- Advertise for your business. You can put ads in the local paper. You can also create brochures for your B&B and pass them out. Consider staying up-to-speed with the advancing world by creating a Facebook page, where your guests can become fans and share your B&B's page with their friends.