Lodging businesses come in all different forms, from quaint bed and breakfasts to large hotel and motel franchises. If you’re thinking of putting your hospitality skills to work in your own business, which direction would be right for you? Do you like the personal connections and slower pace that come with a bed and breakfast, or the more profitable hustle and bustle of a large motel or hotel? How do you start?
We’ve grouped the following resources together as a starting point for your research into what it would take to start your own B&B or hotel business. In addition to the free content (such as sample business plans that you can read in full online), you will also find links for additional tools and products to help you move from the “where do I begin?” research step to the “how do I get started?” step — when you’re ready.
Bed and Breakfast and Hotel Business Plans
Looking for inspiration? Check out our bed and breakfast and hotel sample business plans. See how others like you got started and turned their business idea into a reality. These plans can be read fully online.
Bed and Breakfast Business Plan (Full Plan Online)
Coach House Bed and Breakfast
Motel – Hunting Lodge Business Plan (Full Plan Online)
Lowland Heights Roadhouse
Hotel Marketing Plan
Once you’ve decided on the type of business you want to start, you must also plan how you will reach your potential customer market and how you will convince them they want to do business with you. That’s what marketing is all about. Ready this sample marketing plan and see how Riverview Hotel targeted its ideal online customer base.
Articles on Starting a Business
Find out what our business planning experts have say about successful start-ups.
Reducing Risk for a Start-up Business
The Right Business For You
Top 15 Questions from SCORE
And more…
Additional Sample Plans Available in LivePlan
These, and other Bed and Breakfast and Hotel sample business plans, as well as the fully viewable plans listed above, are available in LivePlan.
Resort Hotel Ski Lodge Business Plan
Executive summary (excerpt only)
The Silver Bear Lodge is located three blocks from Crest Lake Village, mid-mountain at Bear Valley Resort and on the free shuttle system. Located in the recently expanded Crest Canyon area, Silver Bear Lodge will offer customers 12 two-bedroom units with underground parking, fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and stone fireplaces. Silver Bear Lodge also will offer a common-area outdoor hot tub as well as a on-site store and on-site front desk service.
Bed and Breakfast Inn Business Plan
Executive summary (excerpt only)
The Magnolia Inn is a beautiful facility that sits atop a bluff over looking the Pacific Ocean in scenic Half Moon Bay California. The Inn offers seven individually furnished rooms, each with its own antique theme. We are a complete bed and breakfast Inn with a full complementary breakfast served each morning to our guests. Magnolia’s target market strategy is based on becoming a destination of choice for professional couples in the greater San Francisco Bay area who are looking for a place to relax and recharge.
Vineyard Bed and Breakfast Business Plan
Executive summary (excerpt only)
The Enchanted Vineyard Bed & Breakfast is a charming bed and breakfast (B&B) located in the Lorane Valley. The valley is well known for its beauty and concentration of vineyards. The B&B will be set up as a sole proprietorship of Missy Stewart. The B&B will reside in The Stewart’s newly renovated home. Their home is the centerpiece for the entire B&B experience.
Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and Bplans.com. Follow him on Twitter @Timberry.
