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       BED AND BREAKFAST -  HOME BASED BUSINESS

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There's an exciting "down-home" kind of business springing up

among homeowners all across the country.

 

It's called Bed and Breakfast.

 

To foreign visitors, it's the comfort and hospitality of staying

overnight "with people of the land" and enjoying a hearty

breakfast - without the traditional gaudiness and plastic

feelings visitors get from most hotels.

 

To locals, it is a welcome alternative to the same old

hotel/motel circuit.

 

Now, all it takes is a spare bedroom, a good cook and an

outgoing personality.

 

Prices per night range from a low of $50.00 to $400.00 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

licences will be required.

 

It's always best, however, to check with your local authorities

just to be sure.

 

Naturally, your "visitors" will expect a clean, neat and

comfortable home.

 

So assuming that your home meets these prerequisites, and you

have a spare bedroom, simply "doll it up" a bit.

 

Make sure it's painted brightly, there's an outside window, lots

of room, closet space and perhaps a small writing desk, and a

large comfortable bed, or twin beds.

 

Most foreign visitors will expect and appreciate a "quick tour"

of the interesting sights in your area.

 

Which brings us to the basic appeal of a Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Travellers seem to be looking for, and appreciate, a quiet "home

style" place to stay.

 

Generally, they enjoy visiting people with the people off the

motorway and want to get away from the sterilised atmosphere and

sameness of hotels and motels.

 

Most people will either 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 Broker.

 

Some people will check the local telephone listings, and the

newspaper advertisements when they arrive in a strange town.

 

And some people 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 123456.

 

For newspaper advertising, a similar listing in the personal

column of your local paper, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays

and Saturdays will be all you'll need.

 

But when it comes to the Yellow Pages of your telephone and

business directories, go with a small display ad that describes

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 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.

 

Listing your service with a broker usually won't cost you

anything up front, but they will expect a certain percentage,

usually about 25% of the total bill.

 

This same arrangement applies with travel agents.

 

Now, suppose you're organised 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 for them.

 

If they'd like to take a drive around your area and see the

points of interest, you do that.

 

And then in the morning, serve them a big, delicious breakfast.

 

You'll probably find that most foreign visitors will want to

stay several days.

 

With most people of this country who are just travelling through

your area, it'll be a one-night stopover.

 

Whatever, if they want to sleep comfortably through the night,

eat breakfast and be on their way, so be it.

 

If they want to sit around after breakfast and plan an itinerary

for a complete visit of your area, your assistance and help will

be greatly appreciated - remember those recommendations!

 

That's it!

 

The complete how and why of this tremendously profitable

business that's becoming more and more popular.