BED AND BREAKFAST - THE EASIEST HOME-BASED BUSINESS

    There's an exciting new "down-home" kind of business springing up
    among homeowners all across the country.  It's called Bed and
    Breakfast.

    Basically, this is a transplant of European Hospitality, adapted and
    refined to the American way of doing things.  To foreign visitors,
    it's the comfort and hospitality of home - staying overnight "with
    people of the land" and enjoying a hearty breakfast - without the
    traditional gaudiness and plastic feelings visitors get from most
    big cities in the United States.  To U.S. citizens, it is a welcome
    alternative to the same old hotel/motel circuit.

    Now, all it takes is a spare bedroom, a good cook and an outgoing
    personality.  Prices per night range from a low of $25 to $100 or
    more.

    If you have an extra bedroom, a large home, or extra space in your
    farm house, you have the necessary beginnings to start making extra
    income as a Bed and Breakfast Inn.  One of the beautiful aspects of
    this idea is that so long as you're hosting "over night visitors" on
    a small scale, no licenses will be required.  It's always best,
    however, to check with your local authorities just to be sure.

    Naturally, your "visitors" will expect a clean, neat and comfortable
    home.  So assuming that your home meets these prerequisites, and you
    have a spare bedroom, simply "doll it up" a bit.  Make sure it's
    painted brightly, there's an outside window, lots of room, closet
    space and bureau, and perhaps a small writing desk, and a large
    comfortable bed, or twin beds.

    Most foreign visitors will expect and appreciate a "quick tour" of
    the interesting sights in your area.  However, as your particular
    popularity as a B & B Host grows, you'll find that a lot of American
    tourists and business people on the road will begin availing
    themselves of your hospitality.  Certainly with these people, it
    won't always be necessary to give the "Red Carpet" visitors'
    treatment.

    Which brings us to the basic appeal of a Bed and Breakfast Inn.
    Travelers seem to be looking for, and appreciate a quiet
    "home-style" place to stay.  Generally, they enjoy visiting with the
    people off the superhighway and want to get away from the sterilized
    atmosphere and sameness of hotels and motels.

    Most people will either write to you ahead of time, inquiring about
    the possibilities of staying at your home while in your town or
    city.  This means a bit of advertising on your part, or listing your
    availability with a B & B broker.  Some people will check the local
    telephone listings, and the newspaper advertisements when they
    arrive in a strange town.  And some people will just be driving
    across the country, come to a town or city they think is
    interesting, and start driving through the residential areas looking
    for Bed and Breakfast Inns.

    Thus, you should have a small sign posted either in your front yard
    or on the front of your house.  This sign needn't be much more than
    about two feet wide by about ten inches deep.  It need only state:
    BED AND BREAKFAST - Inquire Within or Call 123-4567.

    For newspaper advertising, a similar listing in the personal column
    of your local paper, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and
    Saturdays, will be all you'll need.  But when it comes to the yellow
    pages of your telephone and business directories, go with a small
    display ad that describes in greater detail the comforts and
    pleasures of your services.

    Be sure to list your services with all the travel agencies in your
    area.  A brochure or a short synopsis of what you offer will most
    assuredly give the travel agents an idea for steering visitors your
    way.  At the same time, listing your services in a number of
    national travel magazines - particularly those that cater to women -
    will bring customers in for you.

    Listing your services with a broker usually won't cost you anything
    up front, but they will expect some sort of referral fee. It might
    be a certian percentage - usually about 25% of the total bill.  This
    same arrangement applies with travel agents.

    By all means, have some business cards made.  Include them with
    everything you mail out - letters, thank you notes, etc.  Give a few
    to those brokers, travel agents and your guests.  You might even
    think about getting some card holders and leave your cards on the
    counters in car rental agencies. In this business, word of mouth and
    good use of business cards can be two of the best and least
    expensive ways to advertise.

    Now, suppose you're organized and ready to receive your first
    customers.  You greet them as host or hostess and offer to assist
    them in getting situated in the room or rooms you have for them. If
    they'd like to take a drive around your area and see the points of
    interest, you do that.  And then in the morning, serve them a big,
    delicious breakfast.

    You'll probably find that foreign visitors will want to stay several
    days.  With most people of this country who are just travelling
    through your area, it'll be a one-night stopover. Whatever, if they
    want to sleep comfortably through the night, eat breakfast and be on
    their way, so be it.  If they want to sit around after breakfast and
    plan an itinerary for a complete visit of your area, your assistance
    and help will be greatly appreciated. (Remember those
    recommendations)!

    That's it! The complete how and why of this tremendously profitable
    business that's becoming more and more popular.  It's called Bed &
    Breakfast, and it's very definitely a low investment idea.  And you
    can parlay it into a very interesting and comfort-able income
    producing business - all from the comforts of your own home!