Is innkeeping for me?
Many inngoers fantasize about running their own B&B; for some the fantasy will
become a reality. Positives include:
- Living in a beautiful home in a vibrant neighborhood or peaceful country setting
- Meeting fascinating people from all over the world
- Renovating and decorating the house of your dreams
- Serving meals that look as good as they taste
- And last but not least, having the freedom to choose which 20 hours a day you'd like to work.
Seriously, before taking the plunge, it's vital to find out as much as
you can about this demanding business. Plan to visit lots of B&Bs, so
you can note the pros and cons of different locations, building and
decorating styles, and type of interaction between host and guests.
(It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
Next, check out the many information sources available to aspiring innkeepers.
More information: Visit your library or Amazon and take a look at the books
listed below, among others. Bear in mind that anything written
more than two years ago will not accurately reflect the importance
of computers and the Internet, now estimated at as much as 90 percent
of some inns' new reservations.
- So You Want to Be an Innkeeper, by Pat Hardy, Jo Ann Bell, and Mary Davies
- How to Open and Operate a Bed & Breakfast, by Jan Stankus
- Complete Idiot's Guide to Running a Bed and Breakfast, by Susannah Craig, Park Davis
- How to Start and Run Your Own Bed & Breakfast Inn, by long-time innkeepers Ripley Hotch and Carl Glassman
- The Upstart Guide to Owning and Managing a Bed & Breakfast, by Lisa Angowski Rogak
Also worthwhile is a subscription to Yellow Brick Road (YBR),
an excellent newsletter for aspiring innkeepers. Visit the YBR site
for an excellent list of seminars for aspiring innkeepers.
Last but far from least, is the Professional Association of Innkeepers, International, the U.S. trade association for
innkeepers, with lots of helpful information for aspiring innkeepers.
Ready to see what's available? Browse the listings posted on BedandBreakfast.com's Inns for Sale pages.
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