Aspiring Innkeeper needs consultation

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HindmanBB

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My Wife and I hope to open a B&B in the next 4-5 years. We thought to get our feet wet, we would buy an existing B&B but we need a consult. We live in Western Washington near Seattle. Does anyone know of a good resource who we can meet in person, who can help us plan our B&B future?
 
I'm the odd ball here as an 8 room motel so if you choose to ignore my comments that's ok, but while not hand holding in person there are some super folks with great knowledge right here on this forum. Now honest I'm not big on hiring a professional consultant as I think of some folks on a prior day job who for around 25 grand talked to all the employees and wrote up a pretty document of what we already knew, I'm more of the idea of saving for the real thing, I also wonder how much changes over the next 4 or 5 years in your lives and the industry.
Now by normal knowledge I'm sure I did everything the wrong way, we chose a place in an area we liked to visit, bought the least expensive option with little knowledge of the specific business or the trade in general, but 25 years later I still love what we do. My view is that you have an idea of the sort of place that you would enjoy operating, go for that plan and attract guests that like what you like, in that way both of you are happy. If I try to be something that I am not either I will be unhappy or I will fail at the job and my guests will be unhappy and my business will fail.
You won't get my answers from everyone, but ask your questions here and I bet you get good answers.
 
Suggest you get a job in the hotel industry. You will know if it's a good fit for you.
In the meantime, save your money, and watch the area real estate.
 
I agree with both Beach House and Jim Boones. I would add looking up on B&B Team under innkeepers/help wanted. One thing you must have is wanting to be with people.
 
Your state should have an innkeeper's organization where you can get guidance on regulations and things like that. They may also be able to hook you up with on the job experience. (We had zero prior experience, so it's not necessary.)
Try staying at B&B's when you travel. You'll get tons of ideas on what you like and don't like.
 
Your state should have an innkeeper's organization where you can get guidance on regulations and things like that. They may also be able to hook you up with on the job experience. (We had zero prior experience, so it's not necessary.)
Try staying at B&B's when you travel. You'll get tons of ideas on what you like and don't like..
We had no B&B experience either. We always knew it was something we'd be good at.
We both have retail and restaurant experience. And we love giving parties and hosting family. Plus, DH was a business major, who managed retail stores for a living before this.
Mush all that together and you have a good combination.
 
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