Case Studies...
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A B&B - How Do I Convert My House?
There's a lot to consider when changing a house from residential use to a B&B but here at Start A Bed and Breakfast we can take you through it all step by step....
An Attractive Exterior for Your B & B Property
As part of a property conversion to create a B&B the exterior design is more important than for other types of commercial property as it's the kerb appeal that attracts passing trade....
Assessing and Dealing with your Business Competition
Assessing and dealing with competition requires hard-nosed business sense but don’t overdo it because you will sometimes need your immediate competitors on your side....
Bed and Breakfast: Market Research
Commercially available market research data may not be too relevant for a B&B so it might be best to rely on your own....
Bedroom Specifications in a B & B
Converting or building guest rooms for a bed and breakfast means ensuring that they all comply with hotel and fire regulations as well as being stylish and comfortable....
Best Washing Machine Solution For a B and B?
Does a B&B really need commercial washing machines and dryers or are consumer products good enough for their demands?...
Branching Out Into the Spa Market
Making a move upmarket from an ordinary B&B into the spa market is a brave one as the costs are more than just sticking a Jacuzzi in the corner....
Building a Website for Your Business
Building a website shouldn’t be that onerous but it is a critical marketing tool for modern B&B's as customers can be reached over the internet quickly and efficiently....
Business Framework for Operating a B & B
One of the first things to do, once you've decided how the funds to start the B&B are going to be arranged, is to choose the right framework to administer the business....
Buying an Existing Business or Starting from Scratch
There are two main routes to setting up a B & B, buying an existing business or starting from scratch by converting a suitable property, but what are the risks and how can you tell which one is the be...
Can Local Business Networking Help Your B&B?
Going to a business networking event may or may not work for a bed and breakfast owner but it takes time to deliver results so give it a good six months before giving up....
Catering: What Food Should You Offer?
With today's concerns over food and diets, you may find that you will rarely be cooking up a full English breakfast in your B & B, but what other choices should you be catering for?...
Choosing a Colour Scheme
Choosing a colour scheme for the various area of a bed and breakfast can be fun but bear in mind that you will have to appeal to everyone and that might mean toning down the design element a little....
Choosing Furniture For Your Business
Choosing the right furniture is important for a bed and breakfast and regular replacement and repair will keep the reputation up, but how can this be done without breaking the bank?...
Choosing The Optimum Size For a B&B
It's important to decide how big a B&B you want to run before making a start, balancing your investment and the amount of work that you want to put into it against the potential for making money....
Communal Rooms in Your B&B
Dining rooms are important in a B&B as well as guest rooms and tourists, whether single or in groups, like to relax in lounges, so it's useful if you can make extra money on the side by renting those ...
Create a Working or Commercial Kitchen
Planning and designing a kitchen for a bed and breakfast will be important as you will want to get a food hygiene certificate and satisfy environmental health regulations without going to the lengths ...
Create an Office in Your B&B
If you are lucky, you will have a spare room that can be given over to an office environment but if not, with the increasing use of technology in today's consumer market place, it's essential that the...
Creating a Theme For Your B & B
It can be a good idea to them your bed and breakfast in a certain way but you do need to be careful that you won't be alienating the majority of visitors....
Data Protection and Privacy Policies
Data protection and privacy polices have become important for bed and breakfast owners in recent years as guests increasingly use the internet to look for B&B accommodation....
Day to Day B & B Management
Everyday management, deciding on policies, communicating them and then checking that they are being kept to, all sounds like a lot of red tape, but it will make the difference between a good bed and b...
Designing Your B & B Conversion
Converting any property for commercial use requires attention to detail in the building design and conversion, a bed and breakfast needs specialist knowledge too....
Does the Owner Have to Live in Their B&B?
Traditionally the owners of a B&B would live in the building with their own accommodation, but is that still necessary today?...
Employing and Retaining Happy Staff
It's wise to enter into the world of employing staff only after you've done all the jobs yourself for a while, but once you do you'll want to be retaining the good employees....
Energy Efficiency in your B&B
From low cost but high impact energy efficiency initiatives, such as more loft insulation and low energy lightbulbs, to renewable energy systems there's a lot that can be done about B&B energy saving ...
Ensuite Bathroom Specifications for a B&B
Putting up room rates is easier for paying guests to swallow if a bathroom conversion means that they have en suite facilities, but be careful to comply with hotel regulations....
Extending to Add a Lounge or Dining Room to B & B
If you are extending your B&B don't make it all bedroom space, consider the lounge and dining room too....
Finding the Right Funding & Finance for Business
Starting a bed and breakfast is an achievable dream for many people but it's crucial that you prepare budgets for the funding opportunities necessary to provide the finance for it....
Finding the Right Niche Market for Your Business
Setting up your B & B so that it appeals to certain niche markets is well worth trying, but you need to research the area that you're in and it's attractions in order to make the right choice....
Fire Regulations and Bed & Breakfast Businesses
In 2005 and 2006 changes to the way that fire safety measures were implemented caused huge problems for B&B owners in the UK but relief is on the way....
Food Hygiene Requirements for a B&B
Food safety is incredibly important for a B&B because once you have a bad reputation it is very difficult to shake off....
Handling B&B Guest Complaints
Despite your best efforts it's inevitable that at some point you will have to deal with a complaint or a problem brought to you by a customer and if you know how to deal with this then the chances of ...
Health and Safety Requirements for B&B Accommodation
It's the B&B owners' responsibility to be aware of all the health and safety requirements and to ensure that the accommodation is compliant....
Hiring a Gardener for Your B&B
If your bed and breakfast has a large garden then you may need help from a gardener, but the summer months are when you'll need the help the most....
Hiring a Plumber
A plumbing disaster could put off a lot of bed and breakfast guests and they won't come back, nor will they be referring other guests to you so it's critical to find a plumber you can work and rely on...
Hiring an Electrician
With the tightening of government regulations concerning electrical work in all buildings, including bed and breakfasts, it no longer makes sense to do-it-yourself and you are pretty much forced into ...
Hiring an Interior Designer
Hiring an interior designer might seem like overkill for a humble bed and breakfast but if you want to move your B&B into a different market and aren't sure how bold you can be, it could be a good inv...
Housekeeping at Your B&B
Tip top attention to housekeeping in the guest rooms and other areas of your B&B will do more to keep customers happy, and keep them coming back, than any amount of testing the water with different ro...
How Much Profit Can a B&B Make?
Working out whether or not there is a decent profit to be made from a B&B is a vital part of the planning stage but a surprising number of owners don’t pay too much attention to this step....
How to Handle Parking Problems at Your B & B
Many B&B businesses face parking problems and building relationships with neighbours is the best way to deal with them....
Insurance for a Bed and Breakfast Business
Insurance is very important for a bed and breakfast, there are legal requirements and good business reasons for looking at the risks you face and choosing the right policies to cover them....
Internet Marketing and Your Business
Internet marketing is getting more and more important for all businesses, with email newsletters and search engine rankings becoming vital parts of the marketing mix, and bed and breakfasts are unlike...
Is a B&B Conversion Financially Viable?
Before starting your B&B business you should weigh up the cost of converting your property into a bed and breakfast, and making it conform to building and health and safety regulations, before conside...
Is a Bed and Breakfast The Right Business For You?
If you're considering a bed and breakfast as a business startup then you need to make an honest assessment of your capabilities, in particular handling the stresses and strains that will be placed upo...
Legal Aspects of Running a Bed and Breakfast
You would be the luckiest business owner in the world if you end up running a B&B for a while without ever having to resort to legal advice, but as long as you do the basic groundwork the situation sh...
Lighting Styles Indoors & Out
Lighting inside a bed and breakfast is important but you should also consider lighting outside your establishment, for security, safety, pleasure and to advertise where you are....
Local Initiatives to Promote your Business
Local promotion initiatives for a B&B might sound a bit odd, as most of the customers will come from outside the area, but there are some common sense business reasons for having some involvement loca...
Maintaining a High Market Position
Constant improvement and maintenance as well as an eye on the competition and your marketing are the ways to maintain the market position of your bed and breakfast....
Maintaining Quality and High Standards
The way to ensure that your bed and breakfast maintains high standards and quality is to implement a cycle of constant measurement and improvement to increase the chance of meeting customer expectatio...
Making the Best of a Seaside Location: A Case Study
Seaside locations are great for a B&B but you have to be on your toes with your research and marketing to make the best of it....
Marketing Strategy for a B&B
Any business, even a small one like a bed and breakfast, should have a marketing strategy that drives changes to the business, how it is marketed and where it is advertised....
Marketing your Business in Directories and Guides
It's imperative for a Bed and Breakfast marketing plan to include entering the businesses in guides and directories but how do you decide which ones are worth the investment?...
Marketing your Business in Magazines and Newspapers
Paid advertising in newspapers and magazines is a useful marketing tool for your B&B, but consider also writing features about your business, or getting some else to do it....
More Internet Marketing Initiatives
Once you've got your B&B internet marketing strategy sorted you have to deal with all the website, email and social media updates but fortunately there are management tools to help....
Permission for B &B With Fewer Than 3 Rooms?
There is no hard and fast limit on the number of rooms that will avoid applying for planning permission or building regulations change of use....
Planning and Building Regs for a B&B
Planning permission and conformation to building regulations will be required if you are planning to convert your home in a B&B and it's vital to get everything sewn up before construction begins....
Promotion Through Tourist Boards and Associations
Joining tourist boards and associations can benefit you as well as the industry as a whole and your region, giving you access to promotion, marketing and advertising on a large scale and lobbying powe...
Providing Access for Guests with a Disability
Bed and Breakfast owners are now required by legislation to be providing access for disabled guests but this can be seen as a commercial opportunity rather than a burden....
Questionnaire: Are You the Right Person to Run a B&B?
Do you think that you have the right personality and skill set to run a successful B&B?...
Questionnaire: What is the Target Market for Your B & B?
Advertising and marketing your B&B will be more effective if you know your target market and these are the questions that will help you work it out....
Questions to Ask Property Professionals
You may need to call on the expertise of architects builders, engineers and planners when planning the conversion of your property into a B&B....
Registering With Holiday Companies and Travel Agents
Registering with holiday companies and agencies is a good way to get your B&B in front of lots of customers without too much effort, but you will lose money in commission, so how can you assess if it ...
Relevance of Anti-Discrimination Laws
The B&B owner needs to be aware of the impact of anti-discrimination laws, in particular relating to equal employment opportunity and the Disability Discrimination Act....
Seasonal Promotions for a Bed & Breakfast Business
Research what's going on in your area and target holidays, festivals and other events to fill your B&B all year round, not just in the summer holidays....
Selling Products in Your B&B
Selling things at your B&B can be a lucrative sideline but only if you choose the right items to offer your guests....
Setting Guests Rates
The balance between loss-making pricing and being in profit can be a tricky one to get right for a bed and breakfast so do your research then tweak it until it's right....
Setting Room Rates
Setting different guest room rates in throughout the year is a delicate juggling act between covering business costs and countering competition while at the same allowing for a reasonable profit margi...
Should I Extend My B&B to Add More Bedrooms?
We show you what to consider when weighing up the cost of an extension to a B&B, giving more bedrooms, with the returns you can expect....
Should I Offer Evening Meals at My B&B?
With bed and breakfast establishments facing competition from pubs with rooms and small hotels it's not unusual for customers to expect a B&B to offer an evening meal....
Should You Accept Pets at Your B&B?
Whether you decide to accept pets or not, make it absolutely plain in your marketing material, and if you go for it, make sure the right facilities are in place....
Should You Sell Alcohol in Your B&B?
Selling alcohol in a B&B is unlikely to be a big money-spinner but can be a useful addition to the attractions of the business, so check out the regulations in your region and put in an application fo...
Small Business Accounts and Tax
For many people the thought of managing accounts and tax issues is a major barrier to setting up any small business and a B&B is no exception, but all it needs is a bit of organisation and confidence....
Specialist Add-ons Such as Swimming Pools or Gyms
Prestige facilities such as swimming pools and gyms, or niche facilities like provisions for guests' pets, enable you to charge higher rates but you must be sure the investment costs are worthwhile....
Staying Fully Booked Throughout the Year
All bed and breakfasts will have a high and low season, perhaps a marked difference in a very touristy area, and it can be handy to have a quiet period without guests, but a few canny marketing tricks...
Systems and Procedures For Booking in Guests
Double bookings or ghost bookings are a nightmare for a B&B and can hurt your reputation as well as your income, so design and enforce strict procedures to control your guests and accommodation to mak...
Ten Tips for Your Outdoor Enthusiast B&B Guests
Ten top tips to help you get the most out of the specialist outdoor enthusiast market and make your B&B an attractive destination for a specific and loyal market....
The B&B That Failed: A Case Study
The idyllic idea of a B&B as a lifestyle business and change of pace is often trotted out but if there isn't sufficient focus on the business then it will fail like any other....
The Benefits of Being Based in a Tourist Area
Location is the crucial watchword for any tourist-based business and a B& B is no different, so make sure you weigh up the benefits and disadvantages of you chosen area before you take the plunge....
The Specialist Outdoor Pursuits B&B: A Case Study
Becoming a specialist B&B, focusing on wildlife and outdoor pursuits, paid off for a couple running a B&B in Scotland, filling the otherwise empty autumn and winter months....
Top Ten Marketing Tips for a B & B
A quick reference guide to the ten most important things to look after to turn your B&B customers into loyal repeat customers....
Using Social Networking to Increase Bookings
Social networking websites are coming of age as business tools and the canny B&B owner will be using them to attract repeat business and new guests....
We Spent Our Redundancy On a B&B: A Case Study
The dream of a B&B in a beautiful tourist area is a popular one so we found out from one couple whether running the business came up to their expectations....
What Did Volcanic Ash Ever Do for Us? Case Study
Read how the volcanic ash debacle brought unexpected benefits for one couple who were able to take advantage, soaking up the short break demand....
What If Your Neighbours Object to Your B and B?
Having to deal with neighbours when they object to your B&B can be tricky but resolving problems amicably will be by far the best option for you business....
What Will Make Your B & B Stand Out?
Making your bed and breakfast stand out from the rest isn’t easy, particularly if there's a lot of local competition, but some lateral thought and a concerted marketing and advertising campaign should...
Will a City B & B Work?
Can a B&B work in a major city rather than the more traditional tourist locations?...
Word of Mouth Marketing and Promotion
Although it's the most effective marketing, advertising and promotional tool, word of mouth is impossible to control, but you can do things that will influence it....