So -- You Want to Be an Innkeeper: The Definitive Guide to Operating a Successful Bed and Breakfast or Country Inn
by Mary E. Davies, Pat Hardy, Jo Ann M. Bell, Susan Brown

Publisher:  Chronicle Books
ISBN:  081181226X

The subtitle of this book The Definitive Guide to Operating a Successful Bed and Breakfast or Country Inn couldn't be more accurate. Readers will find more than 300 pages packed with useful information for aspiring innkeepers.

The four co-authors all have extensive experience as innkeepers, and two now run the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, arguably the world's most important innkeeper association. Their experience is matched by their passion, as they clearly want others to enjoy a vocation they've found to be so rewarding.

But passion can't outweigh preparation when it comes to starting a business, and So -- You Want to Be an Innkeeper really shines when it comes to practical advice.

The first chapter features a quiz to help you decide whether innkeeping is a reasonable career choice, while the second chapter includes checklists related to finances, marketing, food services, staff, and other related topics. Other chapters discuss formulating a business plan, renovating an inn, decorating rooms, producing a brochure, establishing room rates, buying insurance and much more.

Anecdotes are sprinkled throughout the book, providing real-life examples of what's being discussed. Some find their roots in the experience of the authors; many are drawn from various innkeepers around the globe.

Several appendixes serve as worksheets to complete while you determine where to open your bed and breakfast, and a list of outside resources is especially helpful.

By the time of your inn's grand opening, expect this book to have handwritten notes on almost every page. So -- You Want to Be an Innkeeper should be required reading for anyone looking to make a career change into the world of B&Bs.

Elizabeth Arneson, your Guide for Bed & Breakfasts