Background Beds and breakfast are the small business component of the hotel industry. Like all types of small businesses, many fail due to poor planning or misguided management. As more new entrepreneurs enter the market due to the decline of the economy and the unreliability of corporate America, it is important to identify the proper components of a business plan for beds and breakfast and to outline a successful operations model. A study of business plan and bed and breakfast operation models is included here. Results Existing literature suggests several components of a successful business plan. These include a detailed business description, marketing plan, management model and financial projections. The literature suggests that a successful innkeeper will develop a strong and identifiable brand, focus on a memorable eating experience, execute a successful marketing plan, and enact easily understood rules of the house. A sample business plan for a bed and breakfast currently for sale in Savannah, Georgia is included in this document as a guide to potential innkeepers
