1.  Industry Overview
This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing short-term lodging in facilities known as bed and breakfast homes. These establishments provide guest rooms in private homes or in small buildings converted for this use, and they often possess a unique or historic character. Bed and breakfast homes are characterized by a highly personalized service, and the inclusion, in the room rate, of a full breakfast served by the owner or owner-supervised staff.

2.  Questions to ask when starting a bed and breakfast

• Is your home located in a desirable setting?
• What makes your home unique or attractive to prospective guests?
• Will the structure of your home have to be altered to function well for you, your family and your guests?
• Will additional furnishings be needed?
• Will you have the time, money, and skills to accomplish what is needed?
• Are you and your family emotionally prepared to have strangers stay in your house?
• Have you consulted professionals with expertise related to the bed and breakfast industry?
• Do you like being with people; do you have good hosting, conversational and listening skills?
• Do you enjoy maintaining a neat and clean home?
• Are you well-organized (for example, to maintain reservation schedules and prepare breakfast) and do you understand the basics of managing, accounting and bookkeeping?
• Have you done your research (i.e. analyzed the demand for your services; identified your competitors and established what will set you apart from them; determined how you will advertise)?
• Do you have realistic expectations? (Do not expect big profits...these are not get-rich-quick operations.)

3.  Furnishings and Equipment
When furnishing a bed and breakfast, here are some items to consider:
Bedrooms

• Each guest room should have a double, queen or twin bed(s), bedside tables, dresser or writing table or combination, mirror, easy chair(s), desk chair, bedside rug, window screens and coverings, closet, smoke detector, wastebasket, locking door and a posted rate card;
• invest in good quality mattresses; and
• consider extras such as a clock radio, full-length mirror, luggage racks or local newspaper.

Linen

• For each bed, have one bedspread and throw blanket and two each of: blankets, sheets, pillow cases and allergy-free pillows; and
• if you send laundry out, have at least three times the amount of linen in use.

Bathrooms

• Will you have shared or private bathrooms;
• for each person, provide a bath towel, hand towel, face cloth, wrapped soaps and drinking glass (paper cups in shared bathrooms) ;
• install towel racks and good lighting near bathroom mirror;
• remove or lock away all personal belongings, medicines, cleaning solutions, toxic or hazardous substances; and
• put a name plate on the outside of a locking door.

Lighting

• Install wall outlets and lights near beds, mirrors, desks and chairs.
                 
  Flooring

• Ensure floors can withstand traffic;
• use penetrating seals on wood floors and opt for inlaid instead of printed vinyl;
• use rug underlays to prevent skidding; and
• choose thick and heavy scatter mats so that they lie flat.

Used Equipment - Consider buying used equipment as a cost-saving measure. Sources of used equipment could be a restaurant that is closing or dealers in second-hand equipment. The drawback to this approach is that, often, there are no guarantees with the purchase.

Leasing Equipment - Another alternative is to lease equipment to help keep start-up costs down.

4.  Regulations

4.1  Tourism Establishment Licence
All establishments offering overnight accommodations to the travelling public must contact the New Brunswick Tourism Grading Inc. to register for the Tourism Establishment Licence. The fee is dependent upon the number of rooms offered. For more information contact the New Brunswick Tourism Grading Inc. at 506-458-1995, or visit the Web site at the following address: http://www.selectnb.com

4.2  Food Service Establishment Licence
If you will be preparing and serving foods other than breakfast, or serving meals to overnight guests and the general public, you will need to present a floor plan of the kitchen area, i.e. sink, etc. to the provincial Department of Health. The fee for this Food Service Establishment Licence is $85.00 / year from 0 to 25 seats. Look under "Public Health Services" in the Provincial section of the blue pages of your telephone directory for your nearest office.

4.3  Liquor Licence
A Liquor Licence can be obtained from the provincial Department of Public Safety, at 506-453-7472. The fee is $100.00 per application plus additional fees according to licence type.  

4.4  Music Licence
Performances of music in public, i.e. restaurants, clubs, hotels, dance halls, offices, stores, etc., require a Music Licence. This licence is necessary whether the music is performed by live or recorded means.  

For more information, contact the SOCAN office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia at 1-800-707-6226 or you may also visit the Web site at the following address: http://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/index.jsp.

4.5  Fire Marshal Approval
Under the Fire Prevention Act, it is required that you submit plans of the establishment to the Office of the Fire Marshal for review. For  more information contact the Office of the Fire Marshal at 506-453-2004 or you may also visit the Web site at the following address: http://www.gnb.ca/0276/fire/index-e.asp

4.6  Advertising and Signage
The provincial Department of Tourism and Parks may be able to provide assistance with advertising / promotion through their publication entitled  TP-Retail Marketing Opportunities. For more information, contact Tourism and Parks at 506-453-8757.

Some regulations related to tourism signage on major highways in New Brunswick have been revised. For the Highway Advertisements Information Kit containing present regulations, sign specifications and templates, revised Exit numbers and application form, please call  your local Transportation District office listed below or visit the Department of Transportation Web site at:http://www.gnb.ca/0113/hwy-ads/info-e.asp.

4.7  Protection of Personal Information: Your Responsibilities
The Guide to Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act  (PIPEDA) helps businesses understand their obligations and comply to the Act. Since January 1, 2004, the PIPED Act covers the collection, use or disclosure of personal information in the course of all commercial activities in Canada, except in provinces which have enacted legislation that is deemed to be substantially similar to the federal law.

For more information, see the document Protection of Personal Information - Your Responsibilities, call toll-free 1-800-282-1376 or visit the Web site: www.privcom.gc.ca/information/guide_e.asp.

4.8  Operating a Bed and Breakfast in your Home (Canada Revenue Agency)
The "Operating a Bed and Breakfast in your Home" info sheet explains how the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) applies to bed and breakfast (B & B) establishments operated by individuals in their own home.

For more information, visit the Web site: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/gi/gi-007/gi-007r-e.pdf or call the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-5525.

5.  Associations and Other Sources of Information

New Brunswick Bed & Breakfast Association
http://www.bbcanada.com/associations/newbrunswick/

Bed & Breakfast Associations in Canada
http://www.bbcanada.com/bb_associations.cfm?

Canadian Hospitality Foundation
http://www.chfscholarships.com/
416-363-3401 (Toronto)

Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
506-458-5646 or toll-free: 1-800-668-5313
http://www.tianb.com/index.php  

Tourism and Parks
www.gnb.ca/0397/research-e.asp

6.  Canada Business - New Brunswick

Canada Business - New Brunswick is an innovative partnership of federal and provincial government departments. Both levels of government work with key private-sector organizations to create a seamless information network for entrepreneurs.

Our mission is to improve the start-up, survival and growth rates of small and medium sized enterprises by giving business people in every part of New Brunswick access to accurate, timely and relevant information and referrals.

What can we do for you? We can guide you in the right direction!  We can give you the information you need! We are your best source of comprehensive business information!

Canada Business - New Brunswick is accessible province-wide and free of charge. You may reach us through our toll-free number or visit us with your questions. Our office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. We also provide a 24-hour business information service, seven days a week, through our Web site.

Here's how to reach us :

Canada Business - New Brunswick
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Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 6Z6
Telephone: 506-444-6140
Fax: 506-444-6172
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