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Hello everyone! Our plans are to open our 2 (maybe 3 in the future),room B & B early 2016. Just at the beginning phase right now. Hope to get much good advice and info from all of you.
My name is Pauline, I am 58 and have been an RN my whole adult life. SO done with nursing! Time for something new! I have a million questions as you all know because you were once 'me', but I'll begin with this one: What is the best software program to run a small B&B? One that helps with accounting as well as booking rooms?
Thank you so much and I hope to be an active member. I've got a lot to learn!
Thanks in advance :)
 
Aloha and welcome VFG
Here is our best wishes for you as you start a new chapter.
You'll find Reservation Key is the best choice for a small bnb on a budget as well as larger operations.
 
Welcome
As you refer to yourself as a vegan, I'm curious know how juggle your preference with serving the carnivorous breakfasts preferred by the Western palate...
wink_smile.gif

As said by HK and most others here, Reservation Key, and MyAllocator to hook it to various booking platforms (OTAs). The OTAs (online travel agencies) used are generally Tripadvisor and Booking.com. Some also use AirBnB, Craigslist (there is a vacation section under housing), etc.
And Square for credit cards, although saw a plug or two for Amazon.
I am hopefully several months away from starting, although dealing with code things that the seller needs to address.
And again, welcome!
 
Welcome
I'm the odd one on this list as we operate a mom and pop motel, only 8 rooms. We don't book online, other half is not a computer person, guests telephone and reservation information is written in a notebook of sorts that I have printed, a page for each day, former owner used a blank spiral notebook, but we wanted printed pages.
As business is cash or credit card we use a very simple accounting system that is mostly a computer check register where I enter income and expenses and charge them to specific accounts. Maxine writes checks manually and records the deposits, every so often I enter the information into the computer program which allows me to print out an annual report for our CPA. This has worked for 20 years, my suggestion is to start simple and advance as needed.
 
What do you want the software to do? Take reservations? Keep track of guest info? Give you reports for tax purposes?
 
Welcome and good luck!
Reservation key is the ONLY WAY TO GO. Forget anything else for your small 2 room place right now.Don't worry about things like Book ing and don't mess with Craigslist..you will regret guests coming from there. You may want to consider Air b n b as this will get you out there. Start working on getting a pro do do your website. Don't try to do it yourself unless you REALLY know what you are doing.
Take time to really read through past threads, we have covered it ALL lots of times before. A simple search at the top of your page will get you lots of information. Many have been here before and asked the same things. So search first and then ask if we haven't covered it before.
 
Welcome VFG! Type Reservation Key or ResKey in the search box on the top right of the screen and you'll see LOTS of threads about this program. It will do everything you want and need for a low cost.
 
Welcome VFG! I am sorry that I can not help with your software question. We have been running this 3 room B+B for 26 years without it. I am not suggesting that you do the same since you are just starting out and guest expectations have changed a lot since 1990! But I am suggesting that a small B+B can survive without the software, if you are in the right area and have an aggressive marketing plan.
So my advice to you is Location, Location, Location first and foremost...then marketing...and software for bookkeeping and on-line reservations.
 
Welcome!
Planning is a fun part of this business. I also use Reservation Key having changed from another that did far less for more $. IMHO for such a small operation you do not need the high end / high priced systems that are out there.
I agree with Empty Nest in saying that you should spend some valuable time reading this forum. You will find many answers to questions you have (and some you have not thought about) right here.
And since this is something many do not think of, if you have not done so the first thing to research, both here and though your local gov., is zoning.
Good luck and look forward to reading your progress.
 
Welcome, Girl!
Seems like Reservation Key is working great for small B&Bs here. Don't forget to build a great website with plenty of photos and online bookings! Folks do want the ease of booking from their electronic devices. Do get good liability insurance. Square does work well for smaller properties and hopefully they will have a solution for chip cards down the road also.
There's a lot of great advice here from owner innkeepers, retired innkeepers, and innsitters who know what works and what does not work!
Best of luck in your journey...
 
Thank you all so much! I have been reading extensively and researching too. Plan on getting this project going early next year. My B and B will serve vegan breakfasts. Since I am vegan I dont cook meat . If this is a big deal for people, there is a Motel 6 and a Waffle House in town. ;) I think stuffed french toast with vegan Nutella covered with fresh strawberries, fresh scones, savory home fries, tofu scramble in a wrap with homemade salsa and vegan sour cream, etc, etc... Will be an enticement. I'm not trying to make a fortune, just serve interesting and healthy food in beautiful surroundings with lots of hospitality.
I will read all the threads and educate myself. I'm sure we could keep manual records and I like the personal touch of speaking to people on the phone so if the software cuts me out of the process, it won't be right for me.
Nice to meet all of you! I look forward to someday being the one with wisdom to offer others.
Pauline.
 
Thank you all so much! I have been reading extensively and researching too. Plan on getting this project going early next year. My B and B will serve vegan breakfasts. Since I am vegan I dont cook meat . If this is a big deal for people, there is a Motel 6 and a Waffle House in town. ;) I think stuffed french toast with vegan Nutella covered with fresh strawberries, fresh scones, savory home fries, tofu scramble in a wrap with homemade salsa and vegan sour cream, etc, etc... Will be an enticement. I'm not trying to make a fortune, just serve interesting and healthy food in beautiful surroundings with lots of hospitality.
I will read all the threads and educate myself. I'm sure we could keep manual records and I like the personal touch of speaking to people on the phone so if the software cuts me out of the process, it won't be right for me.
Nice to meet all of you! I look forward to someday being the one with wisdom to offer others.
Pauline..
I stayed at a beautiful B&B in California and the owners/innkeepers were vegetarians, not vegans. So, they did cook eggs, but didn't cook any breakfast meats. They did serve us a tofu meat product one morning which for this omnivore, was not good at all. (And I am very open minded and cooked for vegan guests!)
It is kind of hard to get around eggs for breakfast for the general public. You might have to reconsider this unless you're going to target vegans specifically...
 
Thank you all so much! I have been reading extensively and researching too. Plan on getting this project going early next year. My B and B will serve vegan breakfasts. Since I am vegan I dont cook meat . If this is a big deal for people, there is a Motel 6 and a Waffle House in town. ;) I think stuffed french toast with vegan Nutella covered with fresh strawberries, fresh scones, savory home fries, tofu scramble in a wrap with homemade salsa and vegan sour cream, etc, etc... Will be an enticement. I'm not trying to make a fortune, just serve interesting and healthy food in beautiful surroundings with lots of hospitality.
I will read all the threads and educate myself. I'm sure we could keep manual records and I like the personal touch of speaking to people on the phone so if the software cuts me out of the process, it won't be right for me.
Nice to meet all of you! I look forward to someday being the one with wisdom to offer others.
Pauline..
I stayed at a beautiful B&B in California and the owners/innkeepers were vegetarians, not vegans. So, they did cook eggs, but didn't cook any breakfast meats. They did serve us a tofu meat product one morning which for this omnivore, was not good at all. (And I am very open minded and cooked for vegan guests!)
It is kind of hard to get around eggs for breakfast for the general public. You might have to reconsider this unless you're going to target vegans specifically...
.
We do have our own chickens and I have no problem cooking their eggs for my guests.
 
Thank you all so much! I have been reading extensively and researching too. Plan on getting this project going early next year. My B and B will serve vegan breakfasts. Since I am vegan I dont cook meat . If this is a big deal for people, there is a Motel 6 and a Waffle House in town. ;) I think stuffed french toast with vegan Nutella covered with fresh strawberries, fresh scones, savory home fries, tofu scramble in a wrap with homemade salsa and vegan sour cream, etc, etc... Will be an enticement. I'm not trying to make a fortune, just serve interesting and healthy food in beautiful surroundings with lots of hospitality.
I will read all the threads and educate myself. I'm sure we could keep manual records and I like the personal touch of speaking to people on the phone so if the software cuts me out of the process, it won't be right for me.
Nice to meet all of you! I look forward to someday being the one with wisdom to offer others.
Pauline..
I stayed at a beautiful B&B in California and the owners/innkeepers were vegetarians, not vegans. So, they did cook eggs, but didn't cook any breakfast meats. They did serve us a tofu meat product one morning which for this omnivore, was not good at all. (And I am very open minded and cooked for vegan guests!)
It is kind of hard to get around eggs for breakfast for the general public. You might have to reconsider this unless you're going to target vegans specifically...
.
We do have our own chickens and I have no problem cooking their eggs for my guests.
.
Awesome!!
 
Welcome
I'm the odd one on this list as we operate a mom and pop motel, only 8 rooms. We don't book online, other half is not a computer person, guests telephone and reservation information is written in a notebook of sorts that I have printed, a page for each day, former owner used a blank spiral notebook, but we wanted printed pages.
As business is cash or credit card we use a very simple accounting system that is mostly a computer check register where I enter income and expenses and charge them to specific accounts. Maxine writes checks manually and records the deposits, every so often I enter the information into the computer program which allows me to print out an annual report for our CPA. This has worked for 20 years, my suggestion is to start simple and advance as needed..
Jim and Maxine, how knd of you to offer to send me a copy of your registration page! I would love it! You can send it to my email: [email protected]. Thank you so very much!
 
Welcome
As you refer to yourself as a vegan, I'm curious know how juggle your preference with serving the carnivorous breakfasts preferred by the Western palate...
wink_smile.gif

As said by HK and most others here, Reservation Key, and MyAllocator to hook it to various booking platforms (OTAs). The OTAs (online travel agencies) used are generally Tripadvisor and Booking.com. Some also use AirBnB, Craigslist (there is a vacation section under housing), etc.
And Square for credit cards, although saw a plug or two for Amazon.
I am hopefully several months away from starting, although dealing with code things that the seller needs to address.
And again, welcome!.
Thank you Undersea!
 
We offer vegetarian and vegan only breakfast. Vegan only will hurt your business. Have guests from time to time worrying that they will be haungry calling and asking what is vegetation or vegan breakfast.
We are vegan ourself but had to compromise and offer eggs and limited dairy (milk, butter and cheese in omlettte) breakfast. Welcome - namaste
 
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