Product Description

Experience the joy–and profits–that come from managing your own bed and breakfast!

Whether you already know the magic that comes with owning a B&B or you are at the planning stage, the fourth edition of Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast–now updated with everything you need to know about online marketing–guides you through this special world. Barbara Notarius, one of America′s most widely recognized and respected B&B experts, shows you how to make your dream a reality. Some of the essential information provided in this book includes:
∗ Your responsibilities–and those of your guests
∗ Financial considerations
∗ Advertising, the Internet, and working with a reservation service
∗ Evaluating your home′s assets and liabilities
∗ Conforming to the ADA
∗ Legal, tax, and insurance issues, including recent changes in the tax code
∗ Interviews with successful hosts
∗ Lists of B&B associations, guidebooks, and B&B reservation services


This new edition is an informative update of every aspect you need to know in order to run your B&B smoothly and successfully. Combining a meticulous business approach with a sincere appreciation for the pleasure that comes with running a B&B, Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast is an invaluable resource.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #363312 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

From the Back Cover
Experience the joy–and profits–that come from managing your own bed and breakfast!

Whether you already know the magic that comes with owning a B&B or you are at the planning stage, the fourth edition of Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast–now updated with everything you need to know about online marketing–guides you through this special world. Barbara Notarius, one of America’s most widely recognized and respected B&B experts, shows you how to make your dream a reality. Some of the essential information provided in this book includes:

• Your responsibilities–and those of your guests
• Financial considerations
• Advertising, the Internet, and working with a reservation service
• Evaluating your home’s assets and liabilities
• Conforming to the ADA
• Legal, tax, and insurance issues, including recent changes in the tax code
• Interviews with successful hosts
• Lists of B&B associations, guidebooks, and B&B reservation services

This new edition is an informative update of every aspect you need to know in order to run your B&B smoothly and successfully. Combining a meticulous business approach with a sincere appreciation for the pleasure that comes with running a B&B, Open Your Own Bed & Breakfast is an invaluable resource.

About the Author
BARBARA NOTARIUS is a lecturer and consultant on operating a B&B. She is founder and publicity director of Bed and Breakfast Reservations Worldwide, the only nonprofit trade association in the B&B industry. In addition, she runs her own B&B, the Alexander Hamilton House, in Croton–on–Hudson, New York.
GAIL SFORZA BREWER is a professional writer and lecturer.

Customer Reviews

Excellent motivation - note the US bias
If you are interested in running a B&B or are investigating the possibilities of converting your home into one (or buying a property, etc.), I would recommend this book. It is an American publication and many of the references to legislation, etc., will be of no use to a non-US reader. However, the value of the book is in its witty, human, and occasionally quite cynical look at the trials and tribulations of having guests in your home. They are the object of your business, they pay your bills, they are your customers, and they can be vermin!

Barbara Notarius begins her description of 'our Dream House' with, "when my ex-husband and I bought our house". Does running a B&B propel you towards the divorce courts? The answer is ... possibly. Running a B&B is very demanding psychologically, emotionally, and physically. It can also impart a major financial strain as you try to ready your home to pass inspection by fire officers, environmental health officers, tourist board representatives, the bank manager, etc., etc.

Notarius & Brewer explore how to start a B&B business. The point they get across is that you must start by seeing it as a business. It's not just a way to earn some pin money - you are handing over your house to strangers who will be unforgiving about the quality of service you provide. This is a business, you are providing a service, and your own home is part of the product you are selling! It's a business, first and foremost.

Notarius & Brewer provide a well-paced, highly readable, very human but very professional introduction to the challenge of opening a B&B. They provide much practical information which applies equally inside and outside the USA - checklists, how-to advice, ideas, marketing advice, and a perspective on the human interaction which will take place within the walls of your business.

They are, indeed, particularly good on customer relations and marketing. Relate your product to the area in which you live! Who comes here? What are they looking for? Tie your business into the needs of walkers, or surfers, or climbers, or sales reps, or whatever. Your customers are your business - you want them to come back, you want them to recommend you to their friends ... and you'd love to be in a position to choose which ones you allow back through your front door.

Excellent advice, but you will need to supplement it with specific local information from your Tourist Board, Council, etc. [Stewart Whyte & Nigel Jess' "Starting and Running a B and B: A Practical Guide to Setting Up and Managing a Bed and Breakfast Business" offers good practical direction from a UK perspective.] If you're wanting to start in the B&B business, read as widely on the subject as you can (do a search on Amazon), absorb the business aspect as thoroughly as you can, but do look at Notarius & Brewer for their human understanding.

Down to Business
I fell in love with this book within the first two pages. Barbara Notarius begins her description of 'our Dream House' with, "when my ex-husband and I bought our house". So, will going into business take you to the divorce courts?

This is actually a superb, thoughtful exploration of how to start a B&B business. Remember, it's a business, not a hobby. Anecdotal in style, it has a distinctly feminine flavour - it takes a good look at the relationships involved in a B&B. Your business, remember, is not simply about providing a warm bed and meal - the challenge is to relate to your guests, communicate with them, and provide human warmth.

This book contains a wealth of practical information - checklists, how-to advice, ideas, opportunities, and a run through of the many adventures you're likely to face.

The customer relations and marketing chapters are of particular value - well worth a read, even if you've been running a B&B for some time. Notarius has sound advice for getting to know your area and incorporating local history and local resources into the services you offer. The aim, after all, is to transform that overnight stay (whether it's for business or pleasure) into a memorable experience; give your guests that added value and they'll appreciate having a warm, homely base from which to operate. Read and learn.

Excellent motivation - note the US bias
If you are interested in running a B&B or are investigating the possibilities of converting your home into one (or buying a property, etc.), I would recommend this book. It is an American publication and many of the references to legislation, etc., will be of no use to a non-US reader. However, the value of the book is in its witty, human, and occasionally quite cynical look at the trials and tribulations of having guests in your home. They are the object of your business, they pay your bills, they are your customers, and they can be vermin!

Barbara Notarius begins her description of 'our Dream House' with, "when my ex-husband and I bought our house". Does running a B&B propel you towards the divorce courts? The answer is ... possibly. Running a B&B is very demanding psychologically, emotionally, and physically. It can also impart a major financial strain as you try to ready your home to pass inspection by fire officers, environmental health officers, tourist board representatives, the bank manager, etc., etc.

Notarius & Brewer explore how to start a B&B business. The point they get across is that you must start by seeing it as a business. It's not just a way to earn some pin money - you are handing over your house to strangers who will be unforgiving about the quality of service you provide. This is a business, you are providing a service, and your own home is part of the product you are selling! It's a business, first and foremost.

Notarius & Brewer provide a well-paced, highly readable, very human but very professional introduction to the challenge of opening a B&B. They provide much practical information which applies equally inside and outside the USA - checklists, how-to advice, ideas, marketing advice, and a perspective on the human interaction which will take place within the walls of your business.

They are, indeed, particularly good on customer relations and marketing. Relate your product to the area in which you live! Who comes here? What are they looking for? Tie your business into the needs of walkers, or surfers, or climbers, or sales reps, or whatever. Your customers are your business - you want them to come back, you want them to recommend you to their friends ... and you'd love to be in a position to choose which ones you allow back through your front door.

Excellent advice, but you will need to supplement it with specific local information from your Tourist Board, Council, etc. [Stewart Whyte & Nigel Jess' "Starting and Running a B and B: A Practical Guide to Setting Up and Managing a Bed and Breakfast Business" offers good practical direction from a UK perspective.] If you're wanting to start in the B&B business, read as widely on the subject as you can (do a search on Amazon), absorb the business aspect as thoroughly as you can, but do look at Notarius & Brewer for their human understanding.