Do you enjoy entertaining guests? If you would like to work from home and you have a passion for entertaining, you may want to think about getting into a type of home-based business that has been around for a long time. Owning and operating a bed and breakfast or a small inn can be a very enjoyable experience, if it is the right fit for you.
Many people have grown tired of staying in hotels and motels. Bed and breakfasts and small inns offer these people the promise of something more home-like, something unique. Think of the person who travels a lot for their work. He or she probably spends a lot of time in hotels, and a stay at somewhere smaller that feels more like home would probably be a very welcome change. Small-scale lodging appeals to couples and families too. There is something romantic about vacationing in a quaint home where a charming innkeeper (you) pampers guests with fresh, home-cooked meals and suggests fun things to do in the local area. Families enjoy cozy accommodations where they can just relax and, well, make themselves at home.
Owning and operating a bed and breakfast or small inn can be wonderful work. You will meet some interesting people and you will be able to find your own special ways to make sure that your guests have a memorable visit. Visitors to your bed and breakfast might remember things like your signature stuffed French toast or your charming Golden Retriever. If you have a knack for cooking and keep a tidy home (and don’t mind cleaning up with others), as well as having some basic business and hospitality skills, you could become a great innkeeper.
Bed and breakfasts and small inns are a lot of fun, but they are also a lot of work. If you choose to buy a new home in order to facilitate starting an inn or bed and breakfast, be aware that the types of properties that make the most beautiful inns and bed and breakfasts – old farmhouses and quaint, old Victorian homes – take a lot of work to renovate and maintain. Before you jump right in to becoming an innkeeper, take the time to write up a business plan. The exercise of business planning will make you think about important things like how this type of work will affect others in your family, how you plan to attract guests, the costs that will be involved with running the business, and so on. If you take writing your business plan seriously, when it is complete, you will have a clear picture of whether or not to turn your home-based lodging business idea into the real thing.