To run a bed & breakfast inn (B&B), you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests. To make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the "breakfast" part of the service. You also need to keep important phone numbers handy for those unexpected but inevitable problems.
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Business to Take Care of before You Open Your Bed & Breakfast
Your bed & breakfast is a business, so you need to get your ducks in a row and necessary forms filled out and filed before you open your doors to guests. Use the following list (and the help of your accountant, lawyer, consultant, and/or broker) to ensure you have the accounts and paperwork you need before opening day (then mark renewal dates on your calendar). These include your
Conditional use and sign permits (if required)
Business license
Business name and/or DBA registration
Certificate of occupancy
Account for transient/lodging taxes
Sales tax account (seller’s permit)
Federal and State Tax ID
Business checking credit accounts
Merchant account (to process credit cards)
ServSafe food certification (if required)
Health Department inspection
Fire Department inspection
Liquor license, if applicable
Insurance (business, liability, property, and liquor liability if applicable)
Property management/reservation and accounting software
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Readying Guest Rooms in Your Bed & Breakfast
If you’re running a bed & breakfast, you want to give your guests the best possible experience in your inn. Use the following checklist to make sure your guest rooms make a good first impression:
Clean guest bedroom: dust; vacuum; change sheets; make bed; empty trash cans; check under beds, in drawers, and behind curtains for anything left by previous guests; note anything broken; reset thermostat
Check guest bedroom amenities: fresh glassware and beverage coasters, TV and DVD remotes on night stand, guest welcome letter, and so on
Stock guest bedroom closet: fresh robes hanging and arranged properly with belts tied, luggage rack open, wooden hangers (10 men’s/10 women’s), extra pillows and blankets
Add the finishing guest bedroom touches: check clock radio to be sure the time is set correctly and the alarm is turned off, adjust all blinds to the same level, display current magazines, add fresh candy to a dish, stage guest book with pen, and so on
Clean guest bathroom: dust; vacuum; mop; clean shower, toilet, mirrors, and vanity; empty trash cans
Check guest bathroom amenities: replace bath, hand, and face towels; replace bathmat; stock basics such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toilet paper, tissue, and fresh glassware
Add the finishing guest bathroom touches: add bath gel, mouthwash, makeup remover pads, hair dryer, deodorizer, and so on
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How to Take Complete Reservations for Your Bed & Breakfast
You need to gather essential information when taking guest reservations for your bed & breakfast by phone, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget the basics. To cover all the bases, begin by taking down the following information:
Date reservation taken and who took the reservation
Guest name(s), address, telephone (day, evening, cell), and e-mail
Arrival and departure dates (confirm number of nights)
Room selected and special add-ons
Reason for visiting the area and whether this is a special occasion
Referral source (how they originally found you)
Credit card number, expiration, 3 digits on back (4 digits on front of AMEX)
Wrap things up by
Confirming the rate plus tax and any additional charges
Reviewing policies (especially deposit and cancellation policies) and check-in time (ask for approximate arrival time)
Noting any dietary restrictions or allergies
Offering to make reservations for dining, events, tours, and so on
* Telling guest the next step such as a follow-up confirmation by e-mail
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Important Phone Numbers to Keep Handy for Your Bed & Breakfast
Even the best-run bed & breakfast suffers an occasional crisis, and the time to search for a drain-cleaning service is not when you have guests waiting for breakfast. Record telephone numbers for the following services and keep the list on hand for quick fixes to ensure your guests’ comfort, enjoyment, and safety:
Plumbing & drain cleaning service
Heat/AC equipment person
Electrician
Carpenter/Contractor
Roofer
Septic tank info
Propane gas supplier
Cable provider
Internet provider
Power company
Phone service provider
Hot tub repair
Appliance repair
Snow removal service
Landscaper/tree removal service
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Breakfast Prep to Do before Bed for Your Bed & Breakfast
Mornings at a bed & breakfast are a scramble, and not just of eggs. Breakfast at a B&B is part of the attraction, so although you’ll get used to serving it, you may want to use the following checklist to have breakfast practically ready before you go to bed.
Review menu choices
Check guest register for dietary restrictions and guest allergies
Check for all ingredients; decide on quick substitutions if necessary
Set out all cooking utensils by recipe
Set out serving dishes and utensils
Measure all dry and nonperishable ingredients
Take frozen items out of the freezer to defrost
Set breakfast table(s)
Set up early departure “to go” bags
Set up early morning coffee and tea service
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dummies
Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/running-a-bed-breakfast-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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