Bed and breakfast from your own home

Tourists, visitors to family and friends, wedding and event guests, and business travellers staying in your area.

A nightly rate per room, often with a higher price on weekends, school holidays and local event dates. Breakfast is included or sold as an extra.

• Friendly, welcoming manner
• Housekeeping and laundry routines
• Basic cooking and food handling
• Managing bookings and guest messages

• Council approval or planning rules for running accommodation from a home, which differ by council and state
• Food rules for serving breakfast, check with your local council about registration or notification
• Public liability insurance and whether your home insurance covers paying guests
• Fire safety, smoke alarms and safe exits, check your state's requirements for guest accommodation
• Short-stay rules and any registration requirements in your state or council area
• Income tax and GST obligations, check with the ATO or an accountant

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many rooms you prepare, the bedding, furnishings and breakfast supplies you buy, and any safety equipment. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many rooms you offer and how often they are booked, from about 8 hours a week. Results depend on your area and the season.

Check council approval or planning rules for accommodation, food registration or notification for serving breakfast, and whether your home insurance covers paying guests. Check fire safety requirements, short-stay registration in your state or council area, and tax and GST obligations.