"Katarina was a college grad in hospitality. It was her life long dream to have a comfortable BnB business. She worked hard at a motel to collect money for her capital. Within 2 years, she had enough 'moolah' to open her inn. But somehow, it never took off and soon she had to shut down."
Why do you think Katarina had to deal with such a travesty? She took the first step required to start such a business, but the rest of the 8 miles, she did not trod!
Here are the 8 simple rules to "date" this business, from first base to the home run. Here are ways in which you can score!
Get Set: First and foremost requirements to start a BnB would be to register your business name, obtain a legitimate business license and make sure you pay taxes. Make sure your plans are all approved by the stipulated authorities.
Scoring Pad: The location of the inn would really matter. Let's face it, the inn will be totally "out" if it is located within the city, the outskirts would be a good plan!
Detail Check: For an inn to be titled as a Bed and Breakfast, you need to have 10 or less bedrooms. The rooms may or may not have individual bathrooms. There needs to be a common dining area. This adds the BnB spice to the dining experience.
Eatery: The uniqueness to the BnB is partially added because of the homemade healthy food. Being the owner, you need to keep in mind that technically, you cannot "hire help" at a BnB. So, honey, you need to cook and clean.
Personify: One should maintain a personal touch to the services that one renders. Try befriending your guests, and know that they will come back. What's more? They will fondly tell people about your inn. The result - more guests!
Get Fresh: Cultivate a habit to keep fresh flowers in each room. Fresh fruits in the lobby or the hallways can also enhance the experience and the "feel" for your guests. Don't mind if they "pick your fruit", that's what they are there for, right?
"Read" Riding Hood: Most of your guests will be there in the quest for solitude and relaxation. Develop a small reading library with a few classics and light-reads. It would be nice to have a cozy fireplace in the library. You could also include a horse-back ride tour of the surrounding areas. This will add an outdoors-y feel to the guests' stay with you.
Patience: This may be the last rule. But, it is at the pivot when it comes to importance. BnBs are characterized to have a homely feel. To maintain this feel, you will need to keep the keys in your hand; patience and warmth. A guest needs to feel completely at home and welcome. If not, they might not come back. So be nice, and please learn crisis management, for it could be your lifesaver in times of distress!
So, now that you know these 8 rules to "start a relationship" with this business, remember to play it safe. Start slow; slow and steady wins the race! Remember, too much hurry may turn out to be a cause for worry!
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