Articles for Innkeepers

Below is a list of printable articles authored recently, many of which have been published in various periodicals.  Feel free to print them and use them as needed.

A Toolkit for Selling Your Inn

A TOOLKIT FOR SELLING YOUR INN By Scott Bushnell If a carpenter only had a handsaw and a hammer in his toolbox, he could build a house alright, but it would take a long, long time and the delays would be frustrating to both him and the ultimate homeowner. Similarly, unless your marketing partner, whether a realtor or consultant, has EVERYTHING about your inn that a buyer is looking for, you WILL miss your goal of selling your inn in a reasonable amount of time for a fair price. And what is a buyer looking for?

  • Profit history and potential usually stated in terms of Occupancy, Average Daily Rate (ADR), and Cash Flow
  • Believable and trusted financials in the standardized chart of account format
  • Favorable market and trend analysis of the region
  • Suitable owner¡¦s quarters
  • Opportunities for growth, both physically and profit
  • Curb appeal
  • Zoning and regulatory irregularities resolved
  • Future salability potential
  • Inspection points of contention resolution
  • Community, schools, and cultural stimulation for their personal needs
  • Reputation, prestige and respect for the inn in the community
Leave out any of these tools, and you are jeopardizing the smooth and timely process of selling your inn. It may NOT be the selling price of your inn that is slowing down progress, your marketing partner may not have all the tools needed to meet your goal of selling your inn on YOUR schedule. (Copyright, Scott Bushnell, 2006, All Rights Reserved)