Contents
The Contents of "How to Start and Run a B&B" are listed below:



Part One: Planning and Preparation

Chapter One

1a) Introduction

1b) “Individual is Beautiful”
The new trend – B&Bs as a “better” alternative to hotels

Chapter Two – before you start

2a) Who should start a B&B?
Are you the right person to run a B&B?
Are you doing this for the right reasons?
What are your objectives,and will a B&B enable you to achieve them?


2b) What is your market?
Your location (country, town, seaside), the quality of décor and rooms, the character of your building and the facilities you can offer will determine what section of the market you should be pitching for. The seasonality of your market is a crucial factor, as is the competition you will be up against.


Chapter Three – planning your business

3a) Budgeting
This sounds a boring subject, but it is vital to do this carefully right from the start: it concentrates your mind on the hard economics, and tells you what the potential rewards are and the occupancy you need to achieve them. Your budget will become your main financial management tool.

3b) Success measurements
How will you measure success? We explain and compare Budget Variance, “RevPAR”, Occupancy Rate, Return on Property Value and other measures.

3c) Pricing: Devising your pricing structure is one of the most important things you will do, and will have a huge influence on your success. We explain how to translate your objectives and market “positioning” into a pricing structure designed to maximize your profitability. We consider midweek/weekend differentials, single night supplements, discounts for longer stays, and other pricing elements.

3d) Regulation and compliance
There is a whole world of bureaucracy out there! We take you through the relevant essentials of licensing, fire regulations and health and safety, and touch on the huge area of employment regulations, as well as covering the essentials of data protection and insurance requirements.

3e) Accounting and tax
You must consider this right from the very outset, to avoid costly headaches later. Taking into account your personal financial circumstances and your business aims, we explain the pros and cons of running your business as a sole trader vs a limited company, the financial disciplines you will need to follow, and the most important things you need to know about accounting and tax as far as running a B&B is concerned.



Part Two: Running your B&B

Chapter Four – your B&B and what it will offer

4a) Guest bedrooms
The importance of “en-suite” bathrooms. Room design, layout and décor. Furniture. Room equipment such as: tea & coffee trays; TV, video and DVD, hairdryers, etc. Bathroom contents. Guest information in rooms: tourist literature, local restaurants, markets etc. Keys – outside door key so your guests can come and go whilst you are out.

4b) Breakfasts
Hours; menu and ingredients; ways to serve breakfast; seating and table layouts.

4c) Meals and drinks
Running a restaurant is outside the scope of this book, and merits a book in itself! We touch on the pros and cons of offering limited meals and drinks to your B&B guests, and suggest ways you can generate additional revenue this way without taking the huge step of becoming restaurateurs as well as hoteliers.

4d) Other practicalities
Booking methods and record keeping. Telephone and email enquiry handling. Cancellation terms. Safety and security. Payments: booking deposits, payment methods (including how to accept credit cards for overseas deposits without any set-up costs or hassle from your bank). Arrival and checkout times. House “rules”. The separation of family and paying guests.

Chapter Five – Marketing your B&B

5a) What is marketing and why do you need it?
We make no apologies for devoting a whole chapter to marketing: if you cannot attract enough guests, paying enough money, without spending too much yourself, you will not succeed. Marketing Dos & Don’ts.


5b) Back to your “positioning” and “target audience”
In Chapter Two we asked “What is your market?”; now we show you how to use your answers to set your ideal marketing strategy.

5c) Local contacts and networking
Get in touch with all your local attractions and wedding venues (if this is a market for you). Talk to other local B&Bs, restaurants and hotels, and to local businesses. There is a lot you can do to sell your services by simply getting in contact with the right people in your area.


5d) National & international marketing
The pros and cons of official tourism accreditation schemes. Newspaper and magazine advertising. Public Relations.

5e) Online marketing
How to create your own effective website for under £100. Promoting your website throughout the internet, and targeting it to your best prospective customers. How to take advantage of other people’s marketing budgets without using up your own.

5f) Your clients are your best salesmen!
How to use a Guest Book, and how to encourage recommendation and repeat bookings.

Part Three: What next?

Chapter Six – add-ons, expansion – and exit

6a) Add-ons and extras
A menu of ways you can generate additional revenue alongside your B&B.

6b) Expanding your business
Growing your business “organically”, stepping up a gear, and duplicating – all ways you can expand if you are already successful.

6c) Selling your business
We guide you through the pitfalls of selling your business if and when you decide to “cash in your chips”.



© How To Books and Louise and David Weston 2006



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