The Facts of Life

Do you remember the theme song to that old TV show, "The Facts of Life"?

"You take the good, you take the bad,

you take them both and there you have

The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life."

I think that theme fits the life of an innkeeper perfectly!

Let's look at some of the good:

• Meeting and interacting with some wonderful people who you can share your home and your vision with
• Making a real connection with your guests and very often are able to see how their lives and family change over the years
• Create and explore your culinary skills and creativity
• Making memorable events for others
• Provide hospitality in a world that's consumed with the hustle and bustle of life
• Become an interior designer
• Live in a fabulous house
• No commute!
  
• You might love to restore and/or enjoy antiques
• Being your own boss
• Provide a sanctuary for couples to get away and reconnect
• Build a business you can sell at a profit when you're ready to retire
• You love to garden
• Networking with other innkeepers
  

Ok, now for some of the bad:

• Laundry
• Dishes
• Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning
• Spending time doing tasks that you may not enjoy, but are necessary for a successful b&b
• Hurry up and wait. Much of your day is spent hurrying to clean, then waiting for the arrivals.
• Tied to the business. It's difficult to get away
• Privacy can sometimes be a challenge. Sometimes you just want to run around in your grubbies!
• Putting heads in beds. Keeping up with trends on how to keep guests coming through your doors
• Sometimes having to put personal plans on hold because unless you're rich, business comes first

Well, there you have it. The facts of life. If this all sounds good to you, then you might be ready for a life of being an innkeeper! If you're an aspiring innkeeper, keep following us and feel free to e-mail or post questions. We're here to help you make your dream of buying or creating a bed and breakfast a reality.