BED AND BREAKFAST: A HOME-STYLE BUSINESS

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An extra room and a bit of hospitality can bring you friends and supplement your income.

by Dennis W. Brezina

Many residents of the British Isles traditionally open their homes to tourists by operating bed-and-breakfast establishments. Such enterprises are just what the name implies: Guests receive overnight accommodations, and breakfast the following morning, in exchange for a (usually modest) fee. The system is often ideal for all parties involved, too . . . since the travelers enjoy both home-style lodging and family hospitality, while their hosts have the opportunity to meet new people and earn a little money, to boot!

Not long ago, the bed-and-breakfast concept was imported to the United States (via California) and embellished somewhat in the process. For one thing, the system has become much more organized in security-conscious America.

But even so, the U.S.A.'s version of bed and breakfast is catching on—in much the same manner that motels did during the 1950's—with economy-minded tourists and business people. And in these days of hard-to-find employment and rising costs, operating such a facility is also popular among homeowners looking for new ways to help pay the mortgage and find some tax relief.

Of course, as is the case with any undertaking, the success of such an enterprise will depend upon the commitment of the people running it. But any family with a sizable home that's near vacation spots, tourist attractions, or urban centers will certainly have an advantage from the outset.

LEARNING THE ROPES

When my wife and I first began discussing the possibility of trying our hands at running a B & B business, we wondered whether there'd be problems with zoning laws and/or our homeowner's insurance, and we also worried a bit about whether we'd be comfortable letting strangers "live" in our home.

However, we went ahead and took the initial step of contacting a few referral services. It wasn't long before the directors of those agencies visited our home and interviewed us . . . in order to determine whether our accommodations were suitable. All of our questions about the B & B process itself were answered to our satisfaction at that time ... particularly those regarding the kinds of people who prefer this mode of lodging.

Our concerns about allowing people to stay in our restored nineteenth century farmhouse were reduced when we learned that we'd always receive advance information about the travelers—names, addresses, occupations, references, etc.and could accept or refuse their registration at that point without any further obligation. We also discovered that we were free to set our own rules. For example, my wife and I agreed that we didn't want to host folks with young children . . . because our home's long staircases would pose a hazard, and the extensive woods surrounding the house are loaded with poison ivy.

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