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It’s wonderful when an innkeeper can cover the mortgage on revenue from rooms alone… but it’s even more wonderful when the innkeeper has extra money at the end of each month.
But how do you generate extra cash without raising rates out of reach?
Many have parlayed hobbies and pre-B&B skills to supplement their “inn-come” with cash-producing sidelines. Not only does that find more money in the bank at the end of the month, it’s another asset to attract guests.
Here are a few sideline business that I’ve seen in my travels. Maybe they’ll spark a few ideas on how you can add to your own “B&Bottom line.”
And, of course, if you have a supplemental career that you’d like to share, just drop me a line at bandb@aboutguide.com and I’ll add it to a link from this feature.
• Walking Tours. In a small village on Cape Cod, innkeepers offered (for a fee) a guided walking tour on which they discussed the area’s nature and history.
• Boat Tours. In St. Augustine, innkeepers who had sailed around the world prior to opening their B&B would take guests and other paying passengers on a leisurely cruise on Matanzas Bay.
• Catering. Your culinary skills don’t have to stop after breakfast. Many innkeepers I’ve met optimize their kitchens with catering gigs.
• Romantic Dinners. Not all inns can do this (and some city regulations limit B&Bs to breakfast), but if your cooking skills are legendary, consider scheduling periodic dinners for guests and people in the community.
• Teas. After the breakfast dishes are cleared, is your B&B suitable for an afternoon tea enhanced with hors d’oeuvres? If so, civic groups and associations may pay for the privilege.
• Gift Shops. If you live in an area where there are crafters and artisans, or if you possess that talent as well, maybe the best use of space would be to reserve an area of your B&B where you can sell jewelry, souvenirs, mementoes, etc. in your own mini-mall.
• Murder Mysteries. Consistently popular, these are often produced as part of a package for inn guests and also opened to members of the community.
• Weddings. Up in the air on this one since there are often zoning limitations on parking, cooking, and events (not to mention the prospect of what guests can do to your inn), but if you’re up for it – and can turn a profit – there you go.
• Products. I recently spoke with the owners of an Ohio B&B who supplement their income with tours of their farm as well as a line of jams. Clever.
Your bed and breakfast is already a commercial enterprise. Use it as a resource, consider your talents, brainstorm on ways to maximize its potential and you can maximize your income.
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