Starting a bed and breakfast business sounds like such a dream to me. Can you imagine the quirky décor, themed rooms with adorable little touches, and chatting to travellers from all corners of the world over warm croissants in the morning? However, I'm well aware that this is a fantasy version that people like me fall in love with. We want a small business and think this is going to be our ticket for small business success, but is it? There’s of course the side nobody gushes about: the paperwork, the regulations, the practical stuff that actually keeps the whole place running. Without that, you’ll have a cute guestbook full of complaints instead of glowing reviews. Not exactly ideal, right? Here are the non-negotiables if you're planning on giving this a go.
Safety isn’t Optional
People are literally sleeping under your roof, they want to feel safe and you want to know your place is protected, too. Starting with the basics, a dodgy front door lock isn’t going to cut it. It just can’t be stressed enough that investing in proper hotel security systems is non-negotiable. Well, that, and a liability without it too. Anyways, guests want peace of mind and frankly, so do you. Nothing kills the B&B dream faster than having to explain why someone’s suitcase wasn’t exactly secure while they were out sightseeing.
There’s the “Glamour” of Paperwork
Nobody opens a B&B because they’re obsessed with licences and regulations, but ignoring them is asking for trouble too. There’s things like insurance, fire safety checks, health inspections, and yes, it’s boring but it’s also the foundation everything else stands on. Guests might swoon over your cute curated rooms, but if something goes wrong and you skipped the paperwork, you’ll wish you’d spent less time browsing vintage lamps and more time ticking boxes.
Breakfast Means Business
The “breakfast” bit of bed and breakfast isn’t just toast and jam slapped on a plate. Yes, of course, not all people think this way, but you’d be surprised how common B&Bs really want to put in next to no effort. But you need a kitchen that can actually handle a crowd. Just go ahead and imagine three tables of guests all wanting full English, omelettes, and vegan pancakes at the same time. Your two-slice toaster won’t save you. To be blunt here, breakfast is the main event, so it’s got to be more than just “what’s in the cupboard.” Things like a good bean to cup coffee machine, a juicer for freshly squeezed juices and good relationships with local butchers, bakers and greengrocers for fresh ingredients will all help you gain success.
There’s the Bed
You better believe that people care more about their sleep than your beautiful décor. If you look at reviews for hotels, you’ll see for yourself that a creaky mattress that feels like a medieval torture device will undo all your hard work in seconds. People need comfort, so you need to just invest in proper mattresses, soft bedding, and pillows that don’t feel like bags of cement. Besides, guests will rave about how well they slept far more than they’ll mention your quirky lampshades.
