A B&B is only for people with the fortitude to tolerate the public's idiosyncrasies and a willingness to work long hours.
Buying a B&B can be an extremely rewarding undertaking, but it comes with its challenges.
With all manner of people coming and going at all hours of the day and weekends as well as weekdays, it's hard to think of a more time-consuming business.
But it can be an immensely satisfying vocation. Just as we're hardwired to take pride in our home and strive always to improve it, a business serving as your customer's lodging for a number of days is something B&B owners can take great pleasure in maintaining.
Contemporary decor, relaxing furnishings, scrupulous cleanliness, a comfortable bed, abundant cupboard space, a tasty breakfast - these are some of the features guests appreciate.
But providing these elements will be constrained by cost considerations. Changing the decor regularly to keep pace with contemporary taste costs money; the more comfortable the bed, the larger the outlay; quality breakfast means quality, and obviously more expensive, ingredients.
Most people will say that making a profit is the most important part of running a business and some may say it's the only objective. In order to make a profit, you must raise revenues or lower expenses, or both. As a business
This is where market research comes into the equation. If you're based in a business district then standards will be higher than if you're located in a low-income area, for example.
Price bands
Location
Choosing the right location for your B&B is extremely important. The location will depend on the needs of your business and your clientele alongside where your competitors are, taxes, zoning
Perhaps a B&B for sale offers accommodation in a saturated budget price bracket, and as such revenues are low and the business is going cheap. You could renovate and furnish to a higher standard, raise prices and compete in a different, perhaps poorly serviced price segment. Ensure you do plenty of research on the local market to corroborate any supposition along these lines.
It's strategic decision-making like this that makes this sector so thrilling. Let's say a frequent customer complaint is that the building is noisy - do you pay for insulation, which is expensive, or do you allow the complaints to persist and potentially sully your name on the all-important review websites?
Upgrade and refurnish
It's stating the obvious to say that the more capital you go into business with, the better chance you're giving yourself of succeeding. This is arguably particularly true of B&Bs.
If you have a decent fund to draw on to
Service and Staff
If poor service from a retailer is irksome, poor service in a B&B is positively exasperating because it's effectively functioning as the customer's home, albeit for a brief period.
And if you can afford to hire a manager to give you the odd day off and generally alleviate your burden, then it counts for a lot in a trade where you have to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
That
Lifestyle
Working long hours in a business when a wide range of problems pile up with no particular pattern, it's also helpful to have a background in the hospitality trade. If you've hitherto only worked in offices, clocking off at 5.30pm each day and having your weekends free, it could be a rude awakening.
Be aware of what you're letting yourself in for. It's fantastic to avoid the long commute and work and live on the same premises, but the flip side of this is that separating your personal home life and work environment becomes nigh on impossible.
Considered lifestyle businesses, B&Bs are often husband and wife operations. Suffice to say, there are obvious dangers that come with working and living with the same person, day in, day out.
However, you have an endless stream of new people to engage with every day, which nullifies the potential for marital conflict significantly.
Pros at a glance
• Meet different people every single day
• Avoid the commute; work and live on same premises
• Through economies of
• Minimize expenses as your home
• Possible time off in the off-season - so long as on-season takings sustain you
• Satisfying to contribute to people's vacation
Cons at a glance
• 24 hours a day, seven days a week - all-consuming
• Difficult to separate personal and business life
• Dealing with public has certain downsides
• Income can plummet in off-peak months
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