Hebrews 13:2 – Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

In essence, if you wish to set up a home-based bed-and-breakfast business, then you are required to have written an elaborate business plan which will stand a reality check if put under a real-world examination; you need to be working from facts, figures, and other indices of the tourism/hospitality sector, as applicable for the place or country where you are planning to set up a bed-and-breakfast business. Factors such as location where you plan to set up the bed and breakfasts, size of bed and breakfasts you wish to set up which is number of rooms etc, and, of course, state of economy at the time when you intend starting the business.

1 Peter 4:9 – Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Marketing your property, taking reservations, checking guests in and out, refining the services that you offer, maintaining strong relationships with your audience, reporting performance, and making a budget are all things that you are going to have to take into consideration when going through the life as a bed and breakfast operator. You have to determine how you are going to manage your bed and breakfast operation, market yourself, generate sales, turn a profit, and grow. Whether you are looking to open your own bed and breakfast to escape the rat race, to supplement income, create a business from an historic house that you love, or to indulge in your love for being a host or a sitter, you are going to need to understand profit factors.

The answer will vary greatly, depending on how many rooms you have at your B&B, the seasonal nature of your location (or lack thereof), how long you have been operating, how creatively you market your business, and how much work you are willing to put in. The legal requirements of your B & B will vary depending on how many guests you are planning on hosting, what services you are offering, and so forth. Your business goals and how you want guests to experience your B & B will influence how you run day-to-day.

Leviticus 19:34 – But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Romans 12:13 – Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Review any building codes and zoning requirements for your business location to make sure that your business is compliant and will be able to receive CO. Check if you can get the business license to the nicest one in the place you prefer.

Partner up with a local business that is complementary to yours, so that you can assist one another and build a relationship of mutual promotion. Get assistance from one of the local associations listed on U.S. Small Business Associations Local Business Resources Directory.

Acts 28:2 – And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

While brick-and-mortar products and discounts are a great starting point, you can take those relationships further by continuing to partner with businesses in your community. For instance, working with a local spa to offer reduced rates for couples massages for guests staying at your B&B is a great way to bring more business, and benefits more than just a single local business. Getting listed on bed and breakfast websites, as well as offering reservations at sites that offer deals for hotels, may help to draw guests. While this kind of business has been viable for years, recent innovations in the travel industry, such as the introduction of Airbnb and similar apps, provide more opportunities for these types of businesses.

Airbnb has opened the market so even if you only have a room to spare, you can earn from it. With Airbnb, you can now have everything from a couch to an entire home, without having to do any of the cooking. You can offer luxurious features such as hydromassage bathtubs, fireplaces, King-size beds, or private balconies, or more mundane features such as swimming pools. Most properties will house guests in private bedrooms with a private bathroom, and the public spaces offer coffee, tea, and amenities such as living rooms or dining rooms.

1 Timothy 5:10 – Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

You will want to provide shared spaces that guests can enjoy beyond the rooms they are in — and you might not necessarily want this space to be an overused family room, if you have a big family that is still living in the house. For instance, if a guest has food restrictions, preferences about rooms, or physical limitations, the host may want to make the required arrangements to make their stay more comfortable. A sense of privacy is maintained, hosts and their guests are likely to be in a closer relationship due to events such as check-ins and breakfasts.

In some cases, hosts provide breakfast as a sitting-down event, with each guest invited to eat together. Guests may see additional staff helping to serve breakfast and clean beds, but most likely, the host is the one cooking meals, refilling teabags in your room, and making sure towels are fresh. If you think the time is right for you to open up your home to paying guests, heres our guide on getting started.

You can also download our free business plan template to help get started. If you are interested in starting your own bed & breakfast, below are a few basic steps that you can use to start. All you have to do is take a look at what is out there for you, and you can then make the right business decisions regarding choosing to either start your B&B from the ground up, or to purchase an existing franchise.

Mark 9:41 – For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

The amount of money that you can expect to earn will depend entirely on the size of your property, the location that you are located in, and how upscale your property is, but in the end, running a bed and breakfast is definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you are turning your home into a bed and breakfast, the suggested rule of thumb is $20,000-$40,000 per guestroom for a smaller property, and $35,000-$50,000 for a larger property. Also, the fact that you are using your own residence means you are not spending a tremendous amount to buy or lease property for the purpose of running a bed and breakfast, except when you want to expand the operation outside the home where you are currently living.

Ephesians 6:7 – With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

If your place of business is going to be renovated prior to reopening, you are advised to put language into the lease that says that rent payments will not begin until you have received your valid certificate of occupancy.