How to Hire Employees for a bed and Breakfast
Hiring employees for a bed and breakfast is no different than hiring for any other service-oriented business. You must make some fundamental decisions about the type of business you expect to operate, and then choose employees who can best provide the services needed. In general, a bed and breakfast runs on a much smaller scale than other overnight accommodations but needs far fewer employees.
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Instructions
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Determine the types of services the bed and breakfast will provide. For example, you must decide if the bed and breakfast will offer three meals a day. Also note whether you will offer individual bathroom accommodations or communal services.
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Choose which days and seasons to operate. Some bed and breakfasts are only open on weekends, during special local events or during certain seasons of the year.
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Identify the number and type of employees you need, based on the bed and breakfast's services and the hours of operation. In general, a bed and breakfast requires the same type of employees as a hotel or motel: a hostess, one or more maids, an office manager or accountant and a maintenance person.
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Decide the level of skill, education and training that each employee should have. Some employees need less experience and training than others. For example, maids don't need much experience or training but should be in good health as the job is physically demanding. Past experience is a plus for a hostess or a maintenance person, though.
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Advertise for qualified employees in local newspapers. Online advertising may also yield positive results. Internet job boards such as CareerBuilder and Craigslist are popular for posting specialized jobs (see Resources).
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Conduct interviews of candidates who respond to the advertisements. Ask about their relevant job experience. A maintenance person who does landscaping is ideal. A hostess who also cooks may be desirable if budget is an issue. An office manager should have experience with accounting, scheduling, purchasing supplies and marketing.
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Write employment contracts for each employee you select. Employment contracts should outline expected salary and benefits provided to the employee, as well as services expected by the employer.
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Tips & Warnings
Conduct a background check on potential employees.
There are several websites that can help you build your bed and breakfast business. Two such websites are Professional Association of Innkeepers International and Bed and Breakfast Internet Marketing - Partnering with Innkeepers (see Resources).
Don't hire based on friendship or family connection; these types of people often do not make the best employees.
Do not let a person charm you into hiring them. You must base your decision on your perception of the person's ability to help you make a profit, not on whether you like him or her.
