What Is It Like To Run A Bed & Breakfast?

jyl · jyl's Garage

My ambition has long been to have three careers by the time its over. Some ten years ago, my wife and I thought that owning and running a bed and breakfast in some pretty vacation spot would be a good semi-career during semi-retirement.

You know - not too big a place (3-4 guest rooms maybe?), in a place where you'd like to retire anyway (somewhere coastal, for me), that has a high and low season (so you get some peace and quiet time).

I'm nowhere ready for a third career yet, but still that old idea popped up again this week, as we were hanging out in (unfortunately rainy) coastal Oregon. Whispering "remember me? It's never too early to start thinking about the next step".

So, what do you guys think? Anyone here ever run a B&B or similar business? What's it like?

Gogar · 02-24-2010, 05:57 PM

I think that owning a bed/breakfast would require you to be the perfect kind of a "people person." Too much, and you're creepy. Too little, and you just own a tiny hotel.

Do you entertain at home? Have relatives visit often, etc? I think if you can get a handle on the social concepts then the business stuff is probably a piece of cake.

VaSteve · 02-24-2010, 06:01 PM

I have read that it's one of those things people always think they want to do until they are actually doing it....look at how many are for sale. Ask why.

boba · 02-24-2010, 06:11 PM

A friend of mine did what you are thinking about as a transition to final retirement. As Gogar said both you and your wife have to have just that right personality, and they did. It was hard work with questionable economics. They had the money to fund everything with top quality provisions. They loved to entertain and developed a repeat clientele. They did it for 5-7 years and then felt it 'lost the new' and took on the feel of a job, thats when they sold. He said they did not make money, did not lose money on operations. At the end of the day they were glad they did it but were glad it was done.

BeyGon · 02-24-2010, 06:20 PM

It's a 24 hour a day job, 7 days a week, you will never have any time of your own. Rent the rooms and show the guests where they can find meals.

jyl · jyl's Garage

We like to entertain, have visitors often, give big dinner parties, etc. I have this idea (based upon no facts) that a B&B owner in a northern climate would be a host maybe 6 hours a day? (Breakfast and afternoon/evening? The B&Bs I've stayed in, the owners aren't around the rest of the time). For 9 months of the year? (winter is d-e-a-d on the OR coast). My wife is Miss Social all the time, I am sociable for a few hours at a stretch. Financially, I'd just want it to pay basic living expenses and break even (I think). The town we were in, Manzanita, has one B&B with two rooms. Which suggest to me either there's an opportunity - or there isn't . . . Anyway, it's a thought for 10 years hence. I'm in harness for many years yet.

boba · 02-24-2010, 06:37 PM

Much like racing: the best way to make a small fortune is to start with a large fortune.

LWJ · 02-24-2010, 06:51 PM

I think it would suck. But that is just me.

I know of some people in a ruined marriage with a beautiful B&B near Kona. It is for sale. Approx. $1MM. From what I hear, they are miserable.

Not saying this would happen to you of course.
Larry

vash · vash's Garage

i couldnt handle cleaning up after people. cooking for them? no problem.

the suckyest part i think is that your high season is also the best time for you to get away. you will essentially work thru the best times of the year.

Bill Douglas · 02-24-2010, 07:25 PM

Book me in please. Double room, sea views, extra bacon with the "big bay bacon and eggs".

ckissick · 02-24-2010, 07:29 PM

Just get good help.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

I have to agree with the general sentiment. It would get old fast. And I have thought about it too.

Ian

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I hate everyone anyway. But the two times I've stayed at B&B's, I didn't like them. I just don't like feeling like I'm staying in some stranger's house. Both times the owners cooked a very nice breakfast for everyone and made plenty of conversation. But what a mess to clean up, change sheets, make up rooms and be responsible for everything. I'll probably make people take off their shoes when we move into our new house soon. I can't imagine renting rooms out to strangers. Couldn't pay me enough.

john70t · 02-24-2010, 08:46 PM

I've thought about it too, and know someone who has, but there are some logistics:
1). Physical seperation of the house: Optimally there would be two staircases/entrances so you can enjoy personal time(without someone walking around looking for the bathroom) when the service bell isn't ringing, while having someone keeping track of the grounds.
Sometimes it helps to think like a traveller-are the bathrooms and kitchen accessable etc...?
2). Money transactions: Being able to check and process currency and credentials from international guests. Some of these people will be tired freaks(!!!), but some will be fascinating story tellers that will keep you entertained to the wee hours.
3). Business plan/profit vs. investment: In down times there is a reduction in travel, and the area has to have a constant/seasonal draw for people with travel money. Big cities near convention centers/museums/etc. are good, so are tropical paradises.
4). Division of labor, and variables: There will be daily bedsheets and vacuuming to do. Trustworthy help is a must, and the business and your back depends on it.
5). Probably second most important-Advertising: Where, when, how, how much.
6). Most important-Self realization: Now this business is up and running enough, you are stuck doing the same old things, and answering the same old questions year after year...are you happy? Does peak season interfere with track season? Important to think about now.

Reading your posts I think you'll do fine in whatever you choose.

VINMAN · 02-25-2010, 07:22 AM

Ive done it.

Ive raised teenagers......

Hetmann · 02-25-2010, 08:34 AM

We stayed in a BB in Santa Fe that was pretty rustic but still nice. I could tell the owner was pretty sick of running the place. He went thru the motions, cooked a nice breakfast and so forth. I think he enjoyed it at first but it had turned into a grind for him. Towards the end of our stay I felt like I was hanging out in a stranger's place. Couldn't wait to hit the road.

Sunroof · 02-25-2010, 09:13 AM

We stayed in one recently in the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina. It was an old established B&B. The owner had to have an off day as you can sense the bad mood, lack of enthusiasm toward the guests, indifferent, aloof...

Grant it, you do not stay at a B&B so you can be entertained by the host, but first impressions are lasting impressions and the vibes were horrible!! Understandably human beings have bad days and folks are entitled to their moods, but we picked probably one of the worst days this owner cared to be around people let alone clients.

This just made us realize how much of a people industry the B&B business is. Folks driving say hundreds of miles for a much needed break in an expensive B&B do not need to be treated or made to feel unwanted from the get-go.

Despite the rural and scenic locations of many B&Bs that make up the attraction of ownership, I never want to have to take a "happy pill" every morning to appease my clients.
Its not would I want to do after retirement, unless I stayed well behind the scenes and let other staff pamper the clients. Its purely a people business................

stevepaa · 12:26 PM

Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast Amelia Island Florida
Lodging Resources Partners:: Seminar for Aspiring Innkeepers

Contact Dave Caples and take the course to see if you really want to do this. He has been doing this succesfully for at least twenty years. He and Susan are very nice people.

pwd72s · 02-25-2010, 10:32 AM

You might take some time off & stay here for a while. Mike & Robin are friends of ours.

I'm sure they'd give you the straight skinny...just say Paul & Cindy steered you.

Hmmm, thinking about it, both were in Cindy's high school class. They may be thinking of retirement. Anyway, nice people.

MacKaye Harbor Inn, Lopez Island, Washington: Bed and Breakfast in the San Juan Islands

Dueller · 02-25-2010, 10:45 AM

In law school I lived in a cottage behind a B&B. Became friends with the owners who did not live in the B&B. It was not as easy as it looked. It became some what of a tedium for them.

Having said that, me and my then wife were often asked to handled breakfast chores when they were out of town or do simple maintenace around the B&B in exchange for a discount on our rent. Not a problem as I enjoyed cooking in the modern commercial kitchen. Guests ranged from 2-12 at any given time. When I did the b'fast duties usually on weekends I had to read the mood of the guests. Did they want to be quietly served and left alone in the dining area, or would they enjoy having a leisurely group gathering down in the kitchen with everyone joining in and breakfasting down there? Most enjoyed the latter which made it casual and fun gathering in the kitchen but some I misread and they got all in a huff...oh well.

Didn't mind the minor maintenance work. Only thing I found distatsteful was cleaning up the mess when a guest committed suicide with a shotgun on a weekend when the owners were away and I was left in charge.

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