In this book you'll discover the secrets of the best inns. You'll learn how to decide whether owning or renting an inn is right for you. You'll find out what business strategies characterise a successful inn and learn how to incorporate them in your own business. Chapters include information on all aspects of innkeeping.

Learn to: Choose a location and make it your own Create a profitable business plan Decorate and renovate your property Market your property for maximum occupancy All the tools you need to start and run a profitable B&B Do you dream of owning a B&B? This friendly, practical guide shows you how to make your dream a reality, with expert advice on everything from writing a business plan and finding the right location to handling situations you will encounter as an innkeeper. You'll make your guests feel at home, keep your inn in tip-top shape, and ensure your long-term success! Understand B&B basics get an overview of the business and see if you have the skills (and the desire!) to succeed Find a place to call home choose the location, style, and size of your ideal B&B Transition from visitor to owner create your business plan, secure financing, make an offer, and protect your investment Get ready for your guests organize your recordkeeping, set room rates and policies, furnish your inn, and market your services Set the breakfast scene decide the style of breakfast to offer, accommodate guests' needs and restrictions, create signature dishes, and serve refreshments and snacks Handle day-to-day operations take reservations, make your guests feel welcome, hire employees, and maintain your inn Take your business to the next level assess your success, expand your market, increase profit, and prevent burnout Open the book and find: How to transition an existing B&B or start from scratch The biggest problems new B&Bs encounter and how to avoid them The best ways to furnish your inn Tips for saving time cleaning and preparing breakfast What you must know to design and update your Web site Tried-and-tested sample menus and recipes Ways to guarantee a return guest How to get extra help when you need it

Experience the joy-and profits-that come from managing your own bed and breakfast! Whether you already know the magic that comes with owning a B&B or you are at the planning stage, the fourth edition of Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast-now updated with everything you need to know about online marketing-guides you through this special world. Barbara Notarius, one of America's most widely recognized and respected B&B experts, shows you how to make your dream a reality. Some of the essential information provided in this book includes: * Your responsibilities-and those of your guests * Financial considerations * Advertising, the Internet, and working with a reservation service * Evaluating your home's assets and liabilities * Conforming to the ADA * Legal, tax, and insurance issues, including recent changes in the tax code * Interviews with successful hosts * Lists of B&B associations, guidebooks, and B&B reservation services This new edition is an informative update of every aspect you need to know in order to run your B&B smoothly and successfully. Combining a meticulous business approach with a sincere appreciation for the pleasure that comes with running a B&B, Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast is an invaluable resource.

Have you ever stayed in a bed and breakfast and thought how exciting it would be to open your own B&B? This book shows you the business side of opening your home to visitors. The clearly written text, along with dozens of easy-to-follow worksheets and explanatory samples, shows you how to plan everything.

You’re no idiot, of course. You’ve had the pleasure of staying at a few bed and breakfasts, and you’d love to open a charming inn of your own. But when you think about what it takes to get a business up and running, you want to hang the Do Not Disturb sign. This is your wake-up call! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Running a Bed and Breakfast will show you it can be easy and fun—and a great way to meet new people and make money. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Useful insights into the booming B&B industry. • A simple test to help you decide if you have what it takes to succeed in the B & B business. • Idiot-proof guidelines for converting a house into a B&B. • Expert advice on accounting and business issues. • An insider's look at the new trends in guest services.

Jim Meade transformed his home into Bear Mountain Lodge, a north woods style bed and breakfast (B&B) in rural Pennsylvania. Now, he runs three successful bed and breakfasts and brings together his stories and wisdom from the B&B world so that you can see exactly what keeps guests happy and returning, again and again.