BED AND BREAKFAST THE EASIEST HOME-BASED

BED AND BREAKFAST THE EASIEST HOME-BASED

BUSINESS

There's an exciting new "down-home" kind of business springing up

among homeowners all across the country. It's called Bed and

Breakfast.

Basically, this is a transplant of European Hospitality, adapted

and refined to the American way of doing things. To foreign

visitors, it's the comfort and hospitality of home---staying

overnight "with people of the land" and enjoying a hearty

breakfast---without the traditional gaudiness and plastic

feelings visitors get from most big cities in the United States.

To U.S. citizens, it is a welcome alternative to the same old

hotel/motel circuit.

Now, all it takes is a spare bedroom, a good cook ad an outgoing

personality. Prices per night range from a low $25 to $100 or

more.

If you have an extra bedroom, a large home, or extra space in

your farm house, you have the necessary beginnings to start

making extra income as a Bed and Breakfast Inn. One of the

beautiful aspects of this idea is that so long as you're hosting

"overnight visitors" on a small scale no licenses will be

required. It's always best, however to check with your local

authorities just to be sure.

Naturally, your "visitors" will expect a clean, neat and

comfortable home. So assuming that your home meets these

prerequisites, and you have a spare bedroom, simply 'doll it up"

a bit. Make sure it's painted brightly, there's an outside

window, lots of room, closet space and bureau, and perhaps a

small writing desk, and a large comfortable bed, or twin beds.

Most foreign visitors will expect and appreciate a "quick tour"

of the interesting sights in your area. However, as your

particular popularity as a B&B Host grows, you'll find that a

lot of American tourists and business people on the road will

begin availing themselves of your hospitality. Certainly with

these people, it won't always be necessary to give the "Red

Carpet" visitors treatment.

Which brings us to the basic appeal of a Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Travelers seem to be looking for, and appreciate a quiet

"home-style" place to stay. Generally, they enjoy visiting with

the people off the superhighway and want to get away from the

sterilized atmosphere and sameness of hotels and motels.

Most people will either write to you ahead of time, inquiring

about the possibilities of staying at your home while in your

town or city. This means a bit of advertising on your part, or

listing your availability with a B&B broker. Some people will

check the local telephone listings, and the newspaper

advertisements when they arrive in a strange town. And some

people will just be driving across the country, come to a town or

city they think is interesting, and start driving through the

residential areas looking for Bed and Breakfast Inns.

Thus, you should have a small sign posed either in your front

yard or on the front of your house. This sign needn't be much

more than about two feet wide and about ten inches deep. It need

only state: BED AND BREAKFAST--Inquire Within or Call 123-4567.

For newspaper advertising, a similar listing in the personal

column of your local paper, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays

and Saturdays, will be all you'll need. But when it comes to the

yellow pages of your telephone and business directories, go with

a small display ad that describes in greater detail the comforts

and pleasures of your service.

Be sure to list your services with all the travel agencies in

your area. A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will

most assuredly give the travel agents an idea for steering

visitors your way. At the same time, listing your services in a

number of national travel magazines --particularly those that

cater to women--- will bring customers in for you.

Listing your services with a broker usually won't cost you

anything up front, but they will expect a certain

percentage--usually about 25% of the total bill. This same

arrangement applies with travel agents.

Now, suppose you're organized and ready to receive your first

customers. You greet them as host or hostess and offer to assist

them in getting situated in the room or rooms you have for them.

If they'd like to take a drive around your area and see the

points of interest, you do that. And then in the morning, serve

them a big, delicious breakfast.

You'll probably find that foreign visitors will want to stay

several days. With most people of this country who are just

travelling through your area, it'll be a one-night stopover.

Whatever, if they want to sleep comfortably through the night,

eat breakfast and be on their way, so be it. If they want to stay

around after breakfast and plan an itinerary for a compete visit

in your area, your assistance and help will be greatly

appreciated. (Remember those recommendations)!

That's it! The complete how and why of this tremendously

profitable business that's becoming more and more popular. It's

called Bed & Breakfast, and it's very definitely a low investment

idea. And you can parlay it into a very interesting and

comfortable income producing business--all from the comfort of

your own home!