Starting Up and Running a B&B

"If anyone knows about B&B, Karen does. Hopton House - a converted granary with three bedrooms - has a five-star grading (putting it in the top seven per cent of rated properties in the country) and a gold award (given by Visit Britain for added excellence)."
The Guardian, January 2009

Thinking of starting up a B&B to earn some extra cash? Taken in lodgers and now want to start running a proper bed and breakfast? 

Then our Starting Up and Running a B&B guide - written by award-winning bed and breakfast owner Karen Thorne - is for you.

Karen is expert at running a bed and breakfast as she runs both an award-winning B&B in Shropshire and the Bed & Breakfast Academy, a ‘training school’ for those who want to learn the ropes of how to run a successful B&B.

If you want to make money from your home during the economic downturn but don't know how to get started, then her Starting Up and Running a B&B guide is essential.

Packed with B&B tips on everything you need to know to start a bed and breakfast and how to make your B&B successful once it's up and running, Karen gives her expert advice on:

• The skills and experience you need when starting your own B&B
• How to plan and research your bed and breakfast start-up
• How to finance your B&B
• How to secure your property when running a B&B
• The legal implications of running a bed and breakfast
• How to take B&B bookings effectively
• How to give premier service to your bed and breakfast customers

In her Starting Up and Running a B&B guide Karen emphasises the importance of personal and friendly service, reflecting the fact that people return to a bed and breakfast not because of the views or the location, but because of the people who run it.

Get the confidence to start a B&B today. Get the expert advice you need with our essential guide to Starting Up and Running a Bed and Breakfast.

Starting Up and Running a B&B Extras:

Starting Up and Running a Bed and Breakfast also includes FREE downloads to help you start your B&B. They are:

• B&B invoice template
• B&B guest registration form
• B&B booking form
• Bed and breakfast example accessibility statement
• Bed and breakfast financial projections spreadsheet

More About the Author

Karen Thorne worked in IT as a trainer and facilitator before setting up her own B&B in Shropshire, Hopton House. Winner of a Visit Britain 5-Star Gold Award, it has been described in the Daily Mail as one of the best boutique B&Bs in the UK. She also runs the successful Bed & Breakfast Academy, a training school for those who want to learn the ropes on how to run a successful B&B. The experience of running her B&B training courses inspired her to write this book.

Taking in a Lodger Links:

• Lodger Agreement
• Lodger Application Form
• Notice to Terminate a Lodger Agreement

Starting Up and Running a B&B Contents:

Introduction

Part I - Setting up your bed and breakfast

• Skills and experience you need to run a B&B          
• Planning and researching your bed and breakfast
• The legal requirements when starting a B&B           
• Financing your B&B  
• Bed and breakfast quality standards       
• House layout  
• Bed and breakfast extras    
• B&B security          
• Green tourism
• Where to go for help when starting your B&B  

Part II - Running your bed and breakfast

• Taking B&B bookings         
• Bed and breakfast house rules    
• Preparing the rooms of your B&B
• Greetings, goodbyes, and dealing with complaints from B&B customers   
• Serving breakfast and evening meals 
• Staying sane as a bed and breakfast owner           

Downloads:

• Bed and breakfast invoice template
• B&B guest registration form
• Bed and breakfast booking form
• Example B&B accessibility statement
• Bed and breakfast financial projections spreadsheet

Use the Updates & Downloads section to:

• Download forms associated with your Kit
• Keep up to date with the latest law changes