Welcome!! Glad you have joined us! First of all make sure you understand that innkeepers are some of the hardest working people in the world! So understand, that at times myself included come here to vent and get support! We all come up with great ideas to better what we do. I am going to cut to the question on hand. If you are nearing retirement age, I would reconsider being an innkeeper unless you are going to have a staff of people to help you! You will work harder than you can ever imagine doing this job. I had 2 couples at breakfast talk about opening up a Bed & Breakfast when they retire. I told them they should consider innsitting! Maybe this is something you might think about! They thought that was a great idea. If you still think you want to adventure off into this crazy line of work, try a practice run! Get up and make a home cooked meal for your family. Clear the table and do the dishes. Then go clean their rooms and make their beds. Wash sheets and towels and clean the house. Go to the store and restock supplies....ect.... You get the idea. All of this before 3 pm. Oh and don't forget the afternoon snack when everyone gets home. There I'd s lot more than this during the day to do. This is just a few things. Oh did I mention you need to do this everyday for 6 months without a day off! If you get sick or have to leave, make sure somone covers for you! If you can do this, you might be able to do this job! Best of luck!.
Only problem with the innsitting idea..which we have discussed here many times....who is going to hire someone with NO EXPERIENCE to innsit? I certainly would not.
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I would agree! the shadow idea is great! Work with someone and work into being an innkeeper slowly. My point is this. Retirement age is not a good age to start a B & B! You could probably handle a hobby B & B. I started being an innkeeper when I was 19. My mother had to move to KC and take care of my Grandfather shortly after she opened. I had been at the Bed and Breakfast for ever step of building it and running it. We started in 96. I married very young and my wife and I have been running it from that point on! I'm now 33 and I'm really tired at the end of the day. My last day off was March 11. My next day off is Aug 12- 20. We blocked that off so we could spend time with our kids before they go back to school! I love what I do! I don't want people to think being a innkeeper is not! Especially if you have small kids! For those of you who live in your B & B with your guests, my hats off to you!
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Bob said:
I would agree! the shadow idea is great! Work with someone and work into being an innkeeper slowly. My point is this. Retirement age is not a good age to start a B & B! You could probably handle a hobby B & B. I started being an innkeeper when I was 19. My mother had to move to KC and take care of my Grandfather shortly after she opened. I had been at the Bed and Breakfast for ever step of building it and running it. We started in 96. I married very young and my wife and I have been running it from that point on! I'm now 33 and I'm really tired at the end of the day. My last day off was March 11. My next day off is Aug 12- 20. We blocked that off so we could spend time with our kids before they go back to school! I love what I do! I don't want people to think being a innkeeper is not! Especially if you have small kids! For those of you who live in your B & B with your guests, my hats off to you!
Bob... your points are well taken. The fact is, I am 52 and DH is 48. We would be unable to make any kind of change before DS graduates from HS next year, so we'll be at least one year older. We are both in good health. I look hard at what you are saying because I am looking to move to a high volume tourist area, so theoretically should be very busy "in season". A lot of the B&B's in this area are 4 beds, and this is probably what we would be looking at. I wouldn't want any more than that anyway. After 5-10 years of operations, DS may want to step in and begin taking over and that would please me very much. He's 17, plans to go to community college and doesn't really know what he wants to do at this point. Again, I've just started even thinking about this and all feedback is appreciated. I haven't been scared off yet
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