Innkeeping at the Simmons-Bond Inn

Many people ask, “What’s it like running a Bed & Breakfast?” Being a fairly new innkeeper, I may have a unique point of view over others who have been doing this for years. Coming from owning a retail food franchise and a medical IT company, the business aspect of a B&B was not that challenging. Even the breakfast preparation was easy to work into. That being said, there are definitely some things that go along with owning a 115-year-old property.

Maintenance, repairs, and upkeep will take up a portion of every day but keeping the integrity of an historic home preserved is a labor of love. Sometimes you never know what you’ll run into, and I always have professional contractors’ phone numbers on hand.

But here’s the best part of owning and running a Bed & Breakfast: The guests that stay with us in our home. Tanya and I have met the most interesting and friendly people from around the area, across the country, and from all over the world. Taking care of our guests and treating them like family is the priority of our business. It’s great to be able to spend some time at breakfast with folks staying here and learn about them personally. We also love the opportunity to share our journey to becoming innkeepers too. Preparing a delicious breakfast is the creative part; socializing with our guests is the icing on the cake. And there’s nothing like being part of an awesome local community.

For anyone considering a Bed & Breakfast for their next adventure, I highly recommend looking into the benefits, the challenges, and the joys of ownership and innkeeping. The Simmons-Bond Inn was a fantastic opportunity for Tanya and me, and we’re loving all it has to offer. If you’re in the area of Toccoa, GA, stop by and see us, grab some of Tanya’s fresh-baked cookies, and we’ll show you around.