4 Big Mistakes in Running Your Bed and Breakfast, Guest House, Or Inn and How to Avoid Them

Hello, It’s Yvonne here and in today’s video I’m going to talk about the 4 big mistakes I made in my B&B and how you can avoid them, so if you’re not making the kind of money you want to make, or attracting the guests you want to welcome, and you’re sick of paying online travel agents as well, then I have 4 important tips you’ll want to pay attention to, which will help you.
When I started my B&B in 2001, I had no clue about business or how to run one. I just thought that my love of meeting people, entertaining, and keeping a lovely clean home would be enough, and that people would flock to my door! Well, why wouldn’t they? Well they didn’t and here’s the biggest reasons why they don’t.
Big mistake No. 1:
It’s not enough to be brilliant at all that, you’ve also got to learn about marketing, otherwise the best kept garden, kitchen, bedrooms etc. is going to be completely wasted unless people know about you. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that the marketing is even more important than the actual “product” you create, although of course, it’s important.
And here’s the thing, when you start learning about marketing and you figure out what 2 or 3 things actually work for you, you’ll be amazed at how excited you’ll feel about your business. It’s kind of addictive actually! When you see something working, you just want to do more of it.
My tip is to dedicate yourself to upskilling in marketing your business, and forget about improving your services for a little while.
Which leads me to my next Big Mistake No. 2:
I printed out a gazillion leaflets and distributed them locally when my market is international, but I hadn’t figured that one out at that stage! Knowing your market, and your ideal guest, is crucial. Once I’d figured out that I wasn’t much use to domestic travellers - an Englishwoman in France, telling the French about their country! I don’t think so! I concentrated on who I could best serve and add value to. I went online, and I found them, and built relationships with them. I still printed up a few leaflets for local businesses who serve international customers, but I no longer went and plonked them anywhere and everywhere. They’re expensive, and they didn’t bring me any business.
My tip is to think about where your business comes from primarily, and then focus on those channels only and save yourself a fortune on printed leaflets, and wasted energy.
Big mistake #3:
I spent too much money on my “product” that is, the rooms, the accessories, the little touches, when what guests really want is an experience. They will not remember the toiletries, the flowers, the chocolates as much as they will remember the feeling they had while they were with you. Focus instead on creating an atmosphere of love, kindness, laughter and lightness, exuding from yourself and your team. This is “inside” work that might need to be done on yourself. If there’s any trace of resentment or annoyance while you’re in the company of your guests, they will feel it. This is very over-looked in the hospitality world.
So forget about your product for a minute, and start focusing on your own attitude and your own energy and how you show up on a daily basis, both for your guests and your team.
And finally, Big Mistake No. 4:
I was over-delivering. In my attempt to please my guests, I forgot about my accounting. Just an extra bottle of champagne here, and extra breakfast supplies there, and yes, I’ll be your taxi service because you don’t want to drink and drive, etc. etc. meant that my profit margin was becoming smaller and smaller. It’s lovely to be able to offer extra champagne or wine, bigger and better breakfasts, and be that occasional taxi-service, and so I put my prices up. And as my confidence grew with each little increase, and my sense of my own value grew, I just kept going until the balance between what I charge and what I deliver was clear. Then I could give a great service, but my books balanced too!
There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of the year, and finding that you haven’t made any profit. If you’re running your B&B as a business, rather than a hobby, then it’s essential to make a profit. Otherwise, you’re working for nothing.
I created a framework that teaches you how to do this, so if you’d like to know more, then register below for my upcoming Masterclass where I’ll show you how to make more, work less, pay less commissions with less stress.
bedandbreakfastcoach.com/mast...
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[@capitalzoneestategulberg6088]

Thank you for sharing

[@zomaanphurain1666]

Hellow Mam I hope you are doing well. I was planning to open my bnb in the month of July and I was not aware of these things, so just want to thank you for your informative vedio. God bless you 🙏

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Glad it helped you :)

[@snoopdoggydog5640]

Excellent tips. Thanks for posting.

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Thank you :) Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@northstarfarmeventcenter7964]

This is true for weddings too 🎉

[@harishjethwa]

Great tips specially the 4th . Thank-you.

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

thank you :)

[@LeaBartido]

Thanks for the information. Were planning to build an air b n b. Soon.

[@gaudenciamalimbe8118]

Helpful ❤

[@MegaAli213]

Great review thank you ♥

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@Music-yn6ev]

I totally agree

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Hey, thanks for commenting :) Come join my FB group here, so we can chat more: facebook.com/groups/DynamicBedandBreakfastOwnersGroup/

[@ImaMonaKnight]

Thanks Soo Much*

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

You're welcome :)

[@radenbahagia164]

Sorry forgot about fitness centre at the hotels too are important

[@ashleyfield63]

You should do swingers parties, don't fail to invest in cleaning products and wet ones though.

[@radenbahagia164]

All l do is extention extra room that is my calculations between VVIP ROOM CAPICITY VS STAFFS I NEED FOR THE GOOD SERVICES......ONCE I LOCKED IN OK THE REST WILL BE CITA CITATA ENTERTAINMENT....EXAMPLE

[@radenbahagia164]

Included a package room and massages palor caused this is all important for the hotels service's- THE HOTELS WILL ORGANISE A TRIP TO 200 ANY MOUNTAIN PEAK TRACKING WITH MOTOR HOMES MAXUS V 90 DOUBLE DECK WITH LIFT TO UPPER DECK.....THIS IS OPTIONAL HOW THE HOTEL BUSINESS RESPONDED OK

[@radenbahagia164]

When come to attracting the VVIP - FIRST MY WORKER'S STAFF IS MY HOTELS FOAUNDATION THANK YOU .....

[@capitalzoneestategulberg6088]

Please explain how you find online your target Clients ?

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Take a look here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3LPfGWHpdumbposi=WyrOsTVvPiyTMucA

[@pixelhut6240]

Hey there, we are in the process of starting plans to develop a Guest House/Hotel in the Philippines. A different market but would certainly welcome any advice you have.

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Hi there, and thanks for your question :) Come join my Facebook here: facebook.com/groups/DynamicBedandBreakfastOwnersGroup/ See you there :)

[@radenbahagia164]

Foundations

[@arslantarar]

I am going to start guest house business with my wife can you teach little bit

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Hi there, please go ahead and book a free call with me here: meetme.so/YvonneHalling

[@mauroofahmed8212]

where can i find an investor,im from maldives

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Hi there and thanks for your question. I suggest you use your local network to search for investors

[@eduardokallenbach2697]

Great video. Is there an email address to contact you directly? Regards, Edward

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Hi Eduardo - thank you :) Please email me at [e-mail] and I'l be happy to help you

[@BedandBreakfastCoach]

Register to my next Masterclass: www.bedandbreakfastcoach.com/masterclass/