Charging for Add-ons

Hi Everyone. When a guest asks for something special, like a bouquet of flowers, tickets to a show, a celebration cake, etc., how do you charge for that? Do you just charge what each item costs or do you add something to the bill for your time? If so, how much do you charge for your time? Or do you sell add-ons as a "special" and offer the items at a discount in exchange for getting a two-night (or longer) booking? If so, what is the discount?

I add to the bill a markup. My time has a value and if I have to get it, someone needs to pay for my time.

Definitely mark up whatever add on you decide to do. I try to get as close to 100% markup as I can. Your time and energy is valuable and it's a great way to bring in extra revenue.

Jon Sable said:

I add to the bill a markup. My time has a value and if I have to get it, someone needs to pay for my time..

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If I do not need to go around trying to find some thing then I would add 25% But if I have to drive to the big city then I would add 100%. for my time and gas. I think you have to go with what you feel it is worth for your time . But the bottom line nothing is free.
I know we all love giving some thing special to our guests. But pkgs do sell well.

Business is about reward vs. risk
Nothing ever costs the price YOU pay for it. You are losing money by not charging a markup. Your time. Your gas. Your profit.
One reason I imagine some people don't give tours to people who knock on the door. They disturb your routine, they may disturb your guests, etc. It isn't a museum.

Flower said:

Jon Sable said:

I add to the bill a markup. My time has a value and if I have to get it, someone needs to pay for my time..

Click to expand...

If I do not need to go around trying to find some thing then I would add 25% But if I have to drive to the big city then I would add 100%. for my time and gas. I think you have to go with what you feel it is worth for your time . But the bottom line nothing is free.
I know we all love giving some thing special to our guests. But pkgs do sell well.
.

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We try to minimize our travels. We keep the wine in the house, the goodies in the freezer, we just have to go out for the flowers.

Do you have them for sale and listed somewhere? or is this just spur of the moment? I ask as spur of the moment at a florist will cost you what? They mark up their items.
So if a man walks into a bar and says "innkeeper" sorry couldn't resist...if he says "Can you get flowers for my wife its our anniversary" then the florist would say $60, or you can got get them and say $60 if they cost $40. Or order them right from the florist. I don't like things coming through this way, as it shows up as revenue on our business statements later on, so if you don't make anything, you may as well order it and let them bill him!
You can see our romantic add ons on our website.What I pay is always different, so it all comes out in the wash. I was able to procure roses at a good rate yesterday. But there is the vase and the gas and the time.

I sell a local jelly in my "gift shop. She give me wholesale price with a price sheet of what SHE charges retail. I add 50 cents to her retail price to make it easy on me to figure out. (it is also available in Kroger for about what her retail is) And yes, if I have to go get something or make something it is at an inflated price to cover my time. Since I paid (all have gone off to college) the high school kids who did chores $10 per hour, I figure I am worth at least that.

There is perceived value.
I offered my guests discount cruise tickets ... lighthouse, sunset, nature and lobster dinner. They didn't have to stay more than one night. I had very few takers. They would check in around 4 on a Friday or Saturday and head over to their cruise or they'd go the next day after checking out.
Switched it up and included the cruise tickets with two night booking packages (we often had one night stays) and they were a big hit. I wanted those 2 and 3 night bookings to cut down on my having eight room flips to deal with on so many mornings! I included my cost for the tickets in the package price. This, of course, cost them less than guests booking two nights plus buying their cruise tickets on their own. Plus they had a more leisurely time.