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Escape 2
Lake District
Escape 2
Lake District
So you want to run a B&B?
A light hearted look at setting up and running a B&B or guest house
Setting up and Running a Bed and Breakfast or Guest House
Please note the views expressed in this article represent the views of the author and in no way reflect the official view of Escape2LakeDistrict.com or Helvellyn Consulting. If you are looking to set up a holiday accommodation business and are in need of guidance, please seek professional assistance.
Why do you want to run a B&B? -
The objective of this article is to provide a light hearted but hopefully informative set of top tips if you’re thinking about opening a B&B. None of it should be taken as gospel and ultimately it is down to what you want and what feels right for you. Anyway we hope it is of some use and interest!
“I want the freedom – to work from home and have the lifestyle I’ve always dreamt of”. OK so it’s a nice idea, but the reality rarely matches the expectation. When you’ve changed umpteen beds, cleaned countless toilets and fried enough bacon to give a caveman a coronary and are then waiting in for your last guests to arrive, you may feel somewhat differently! Whatever your reasons, unless you have a B&B big enough to afford you the luxury of paying for staff and guarantees of being full most of the year, then don’t think you’re in it for the lifestyle or the money!
Unless you are purely looking for some extra cash and don’t mind sharing your spare
room with strangers every day, then you are probably looking to let out at least
3 rooms. All I would say is the more the merrier. Ignoring the boring but important
element of business rates, the ideal scenario is to have lots of rooms which you
can fill for 2-
To paraphrase someone at some point “you can’t live on views alone”. Well from the B&B point of view this is also very true. You need to make sure you’re in the right place to maximise your visitor numbers, whilst still making sure you give them what they want in terms of peace, tranquillity and views. It’s also important that you make sure the location you choose if popular mid week if you are relying on that to make up the numbers, and people visit “out of season”. A great source of mid week trade can come from being on a popular walking route, such as the Coast 2 Coast. Proximity to a good pub (walking distance ideally) is also a must unless you’re going to add to the agony by offering evening meals!
Unless you have the luxury of separate accommodation for you and your guests you need to remember that you’ll be sharing your house with strangers, and unless you lock all the doors and cupboards then expect to find people putting things in your fridge and making themselves at home where they see fit, rather than where you would choose! This can be a bit unnerving at first but you get used to it and as always 99% of guests are great – just be ready for that 1%
Again your pricing policy will be dependent on a number of factors, primarily what people are prepared to pay in the area you are for the service you offer. Don’t forget to charge close to the full room rate for single occupancy, and offer discounts for more than 2 night stays (believe me it’s worth it!). Also don’t be afraid to aim high – you will always get people asking for discounts and special deals so better to start off with some negotiating room.
Why do you want to run a B&B? -