[ BED AND BREAKFAST - THE EASIEST HOME BASED BUSINESS ]
Feb 1st, 2006 4:18:18 am
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 £15 to £50 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
Wwell, that;s it for today - so long, and thank you for all the fish.
Mood: hungry
1 comments.
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kaa - February 02nd, 2006
great advice!
I will do it in Jerusalem , Israel
stores.ebay.com/aow
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