How to make a success of a bed and breakfast

My name is Bobby, and I've been running B&B's in various parts of British Columbia for more than ten years. I've found it a great way to supplement my income and inspire stories. (I'm a writer with lots of published romances and one lonely memoir.) I'd like to share my experiences at starting and operating a successful B&B.

So you've made the decision to turn those free bedrooms into an income stream. Now, how to go about it?

It goes without saying that you need a guest bathroom to go with the bedrooms. (Maybe it should be Bed, Breakfast and Bath??) You don't have to have an adjoining bathroom, but it helps. I don't, and it doesn't seem to lose me a lot of business, but it would be ideal to have en suite bathrooms instead of sharing. For one thing, I could charge more. I'm putting en suite bathrooms on my wish list for my next Bed and Breakfast.

You also need comfortable mattresses, the best bedding you can afford, and a stock of recipes for marvelous breakfast items.

Pricing--check in your area for what other facilities are charging--you don't want to price yourself out of the market. The public generally expect to pay less for B&B accommodation than they pay for hotels or motels, despite the fact that they're getting breakfast as a bonus prize. If that bugs you, look at it this way--how much have you been earning from that empty bedroom?

It's also a nice touch to have sample size toiletries in the bathroom, as well as new toothbrushes and toothpaste.

All of the above is necessary, but the most important element for a successful B&B is your attitude. Your warmth, friendliness and genuine delight and interest in your guests is what will keep them coming back and have them recommending your B&B to their friends. Try it. You might just like earning extra income while you--and your guests--sleep.