Small owner-run hotel with breakfast

Leisure visitors, business travellers, wedding and event guests, and walkers or tourists in the area. Some rooms may also go to contractors on longer stays.

Nightly room rates, with extras such as breakfast upgrades, parking or packages. Bookings come direct, by phone, and through booking sites that take a commission.

• Friendly, patient customer service
• Organised, with attention to cleanliness
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Comfortable working long and unsociable hours

• Fire risk assessment and fire safety rules for sleeping accommodation, check with your local fire and rescue service
• Planning permission and use class for the building, check with the council before committing
• Food business registration with your local council before serving breakfast, and food hygiene training
• Insurance, including public liability, buildings and contents, and employer's liability once you hire
• Keeping guest registration records as required, and checking other rules such as business rates and TV licensing
• Seasonal income and high fixed costs, so keep a cash buffer

Startup costs are typically around £40,000 to £200,000, depending on the property, whether it is leased or bought, and its condition. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on room numbers, season and occupancy.

Check fire risk assessment and fire safety rules for sleeping accommodation, planning permission and use class, and food business registration before serving breakfast. Also check insurance, guest registration records, business rates and TV licensing.

You need friendly customer service, organisation, attention to cleanliness, basic bookkeeping and pricing, and comfort with long, unsociable hours. The estimate is at least around 45 hours a week, depending on staffing and how many rooms you run.