How to Start and Operate Your Own Bed-and-Breakfast: Down-To-Earth Advice from an Award-Winning B&B Owner (Paperback)

~ (Author), Amelia R. Seton (Illustrator) "Picture yourself wearing your favorite weekend clothes, serenely drifting down the stairs of a rambling old manse, and quietly sipping a cup of coffee in..." (more)
Key Phrases: towel valets, reservation calendar, reservation sheet, New England, New Hampshire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Down to earth advice from an award-winning B&B owner. Illustrated with charming line drawings and lightened by real-life anecdotes, this is an easily accessible guide to an ever growing small-business niche.

About the Author

Martha Watson Murphy is the owner of Murphy's B&B in Narragansett, Rhode Island. She teaches a seminar based on the book at Brown University's Learning Community.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (May 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805029036
• ISBN-13: 978-0805029031
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #189,792 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The nitty gritty of running the shop., June 17, 2000

By	R. Bolton "Read A Lot" (Orange, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book goes room by room into decorating, supplies needed, rules, safety, and the likes which really helps when you are running a B&B. IT failed to really go into depth about the business aspects which I thought was a shame. This book is great if you are already running a B&B or want to decorate your house like one, but I would suggest buying several other B&B books to help give the complete picture. It also include recipies which was an added bonus. A good book for the right need.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-Written, Easy Read, August 17, 2004

By	D. Russell (Grass Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a good introduction to the Bed & Breakfast business; I'm glad I read it first. It contains useful information and the tone is pleasant and light. But it is just a little dated (almost 10 years old), and you need to read several more books to get all the information you need (such as The Complete Idiot's Guide. . .)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Folksy, Practical . . . Very Sweet, May 1, 2004

By A Customer

The tone of this book is as lovely as I'm sure the author/innkeeper is. She's experienced at her business and her craft of teaching the art of owning a Bed and Breakfast.

This is one of many books you should purchase/read if you are interested in this field. Look for others (So-You Want to Be an Innkeeper: The Definitive Guide to Operating a Successful Bed-And-Breakfast or Country Inn, for example) for more hard-core business advice, and I'm Living Your Dream Life: The Story of a Northwoods Resort Owner, for true a taste of owner experience in the business