Would owning a B&B suit me? Here are 4 things to consider

As the B&B Mentors, we speak to many people who are looking for a lifestyle change and have thought that running a B&B may be the answer. But how do you know if it’s the right choice to have that work/life balance that so many people crave? Here are four points to consider:

Do you like people?

It may seem obvious but ask yourself whether you could cope with strangers living in your house, coming and going, with their own agendas? You may be having a bad day but you can’t show your guests — could you cope? The boiler may break down just as a guest is about to use the shower — would you panic? It could become a horror story rather than a happy ever after.

However, if you are a sociable type of personality, are flexible enough to go with the flow and enjoy making things happen, ensuring your guests have a wonderful time, then owning a B&B could be the start of an exciting new adventure.

My husband and I took the plunge of leaving the corporate world behind 15 years ago and we have never looked back. We love meeting guests from all over the world, from all walks of life and can’t imagine not opening our doors to guests.

The right location

You know what they say about “Location, Location, Location” — well it’s true. If you want your B&B to be profitable and successful, then it needs to be in the right place, whether it be on the coast, city or in the countryside. All will have different pros and cons so you have to think “Where would be my happy place — where I can find that work / life balance that I crave?”

Who are your guests? Where are they coming from? Why are they coming? You need to do your research on where would be the best area before you even start to look at a property.

The right property

Don’t confine yourself to looking at established businesses. Other properties can be changed into the perfect B&B with some investment and, if our experience is anything to go by, a lot of hard work! But it’s well worth it when you see the end result.

In all the businesses that we have developed, we have always gone for the worst property in the best location and made it look beautiful, achieving 4 and 5-star ratings.

The best tip I can give you for choosing the right property is to look at the flow of the house — can it give you privacy as a family as well as privacy for your guests? If you don’t get this right at the start, you probably won’t enjoy your new life which would be a shame because it can be a fantastic, flexible, profitable lifestyle.

Be the best you can be

Whatever level you choose to operate at (4-star/5-star), do the best you can to stand out from the crowd. Today’s travellers are very discerning and appreciate hosts who go the extra mile to make their holiday memorable.

It costs nothing to be friendly and helpful. Making suggestions on what to do on a rainy day, making a booking for a restaurant, or giving information on the best beaches to visit are invaluable to a guest who is new to your area and only has a precious few days break away from their real life and wants to make the most of every second. It’s little touches like this that make your guests feel special and that you have given them a 5-star service.

So what do you think? Could owning a B&B be your next adventure??