Dark Falafel: Business

Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts

Monday, January 18, 2016

Tips for Running a Bed & Breakfast

Many people dream of running a bed and breakfast. It may also be a lucrative business idea for people who want to work for themselves. Bed and breakfast establishments tend to thrive in country settings. They're also found in vacation areas like Key West.

Startup Funds and Planning

You'll naturally need a property to run your bed and breakfast. Some people prefer to find a fixer-upper. Keep in mind that guests will be staying here as though it were a hotel. You'll also need to furnish the bedroom that guests will be staying in. Local ordinances may require you to install new safety fixtures. You'll want to look at what kinds of guests could potentially be staying at your bed and breakfast. Tourists and business travelers are an obvious choice. Many married people stay at bed and breakfast establishments on their honeymoon. You'll want to make sure that your establishment is warm and inviting before you start advertising to potential guests. The good thing about starting a bed and breakfast is that many people want to stay at a place that looks familiar. You may not have to change anything at all. You should also plan out your menu and figure food costs into your expenses.

Licensing and Zoning Laws

A bed and breakfast is like any other business, so you'll need a business license. You may want to come up with a catchy business name. You'll have to look up the zoning ordinances in your area. These vary based on the county that you live in. Some bed and breakfasts can operate as standard residential businesses.

Setting Prices

Bed and breakfast establishments usually charge a flat fee that includes everything. You'll want to call other bed and breakfast businesses in your area to determine what the going rate is. Beachfront properties can typically charge significantly more than ones that are opened in suburban areas. Rural bed and breakfast establishments often make a lot of money because the mortgage prices on the home are lower. Adding amenities to the property may allow you to increase prices.

Consider Hiring Employees

Some bed and breakfast businesses don't hire any employees. Some people prefer to seek out a helping hand after a few years of consistent business. Try to hire someone that fits the image of your business. A typical bed and breakfast doesn't have more than one or two people running it.

About the Author: Collin is a guest contributor from The Inns of Glendeven, a wonderful Little River bed and breakfast.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Chapter 5

It's been a long week. I'm about halfway through editing and revising Chapter Five. It's been both fun and difficult as I've had to include more information than was originally there - due to the improvements I made at the end of the story. It seems to be working well so I'm just going to stick at it. Even as I'm writing it I can just tell that this is only the beginning of a very long and meticulous revision process. It's not so much that I can see inconsistencies in the structuring of the plot, but I just don't feel that it's 'gelling' together very well between chapters.

In Chapter Five I have a character who must appear to be a goody, but in actual fact he's working for the enemy. I want to write it in such a way that the reader won't see through the disguise on the first reading, but when (if) they read it for a second time they will learn more about how deceitful this particular character is. The problem I have when writing like this is that I always feel like I've given too much away and so constantly alter it to make things more subtle to the point that it no longer achieves its purpose.

I've adopted the mentality that as long as I'm constantly working on it, it doesn't really matter when I finish. Once the plot inconsistencies have been rectified I think that I'll feel much better about it all. So for now I'm going to get back to it and hopefully complete the editing of Chapter Five tonight.

Monday, March 18, 2013

A Few Boat Reviews

Manitou Boats X-Plode

A mix between raw power and luxury, the X-Plode is a great boat for doing all sorts of activities. A great radio system equiped with Infinity Radio, plenty of room for moving about, and comfortable wrap around seating makes it a great boat for all occasions. If you're looking for other pontoon boats to do some fishing, then you may want to take a look at Manitou Pontoon Boats' other models.

Hydra-Sports 1650 Key Largo

The Hydra-Sports 1650 Key Largo is a classic flats boat design. A combination of sharp-V entry with dry-riding bow flare makes crossing large harbors and open bays comfortable. The 1650 Key Largo is designed for shallow water angling, drawing only 11 inches of water.

American Skiff 165 CC

The American Skiff 165 CC is the top seller in the American Skiff line and there is no question why. A deep self-bailing cockpit provides lots of walk-around room for fighting big fish, plus there are large casting decks on the bow and stern for the avid fly fisherman. The 165 CC also has a large livewell and four large storage compartments. As with all American Skiff products, the 165 CC is laid-up entirely by hand with 100-percent composite construction and stainless hardware, with no wood to rot.

Workskiff 16

The Workskiff 16 is built of 3/16 inch tough 5086 marine aluminum alloy. The lack of internal ribs provides enhanced interior volume. A 25 hp outboard will push it at 29 mph. The semi-vee bottom is stable, while allowing some vee to take the punch out of the chop. A tough, dependable, no-frills, industrial-grade aluminum utility skiff, Workskiffs are simple, fuel-efficient, low maintenance, trailerable, competitively priced, and carry a life-time warranty to the original owner. Practical hulls allow the users to install their own innovations. Popular options include foredecks center and side consoles, pilothouses, T-tops, and windshields. The foam-filled double bottom makes these boats practically unsinkable. Level flotation keeps engine's upper unit out of the water when boat is swamped.