AussieTycoon
17-06-09, 11:22 AM
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 Aussie way of doing things. To foreign visitors, it's the comfort and hospitality of home---staying overnight "with the locals" and enjoying a hearty breakfast---without the traditional gaudiness and plastic
feelings visitors get from most big cities in Australia. To local travellers, 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 house, you have the necessary beginnings to start making extra income as a Bed and Breakfast. 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 local 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. Travellers 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 sterilised 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 online with the major accommodation websites, or even your own. 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, so a sign out the front is a must!
This sign needn't be much more than about two feet wide and about ten inches deep. It should state the name of your B&B, the fact that it is a B&B, and a number they can call you on.
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 tourist information stalls, travel agencies and other small businesses in your area. A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will be a fantatsic thing to put in these places, and make sure you return the favour by putting their brochure in your Bed & Breakfast so. At the same time, listing your services in a number of national travel magazines and websites --particularly those that cater to women and couples --- will bring customers in for you.
Now, suppose you're organised 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 par lay it into a very interesting and comfortable income producing business--all from the comfort of your own home!
Basically, this is a transplant of European Hospitality, adapted and refined to the Aussie way of doing things. To foreign visitors, it's the comfort and hospitality of home---staying overnight "with the locals" and enjoying a hearty breakfast---without the traditional gaudiness and plastic
feelings visitors get from most big cities in Australia. To local travellers, 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 house, you have the necessary beginnings to start making extra income as a Bed and Breakfast. 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 local 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. Travellers 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 sterilised 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 online with the major accommodation websites, or even your own. 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, so a sign out the front is a must!
This sign needn't be much more than about two feet wide and about ten inches deep. It should state the name of your B&B, the fact that it is a B&B, and a number they can call you on.
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 tourist information stalls, travel agencies and other small businesses in your area. A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will be a fantatsic thing to put in these places, and make sure you return the favour by putting their brochure in your Bed & Breakfast so. At the same time, listing your services in a number of national travel magazines and websites --particularly those that cater to women and couples --- will bring customers in for you.
Now, suppose you're organised 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 par lay it into a very interesting and comfortable income producing business--all from the comfort of your own home!