Change your life: Open a B&B

Gîte and chambre d'hôte: different services

You don't need any special training or qualifications to open a gîte, but a short training course in setting up a business can be a very useful way of getting your business off to a good start. This will give you a few pointers on how to deal with customers. Your main assets will of course be your welcoming and organizational skills! It's also a good idea to draw up a business plan before you open your gîte.You'll need to study the local market to determine the best strategy for getting your business off the ground. Setting up your own website to manage bookings and advertise will also be essential, bearing in mind that today 90% of bookings are made online.
You need to know what you want to develop as a rental offer, because gîtes and chambres d'hôtes are not the same thing.

- A gîte, also known as a meublé de tourisme, is an apartment or house offered for seasonal rental for a variable period. The accommodation consists of bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom facilities. Residents can live in complete autonomy. It is fully equipped, except for household linen, and the owner (who is not necessarily on site) does not provide meals.

- A chambre d'hôte is, as the name suggests, a room in the owner's home, but independent of the owner's residence, rented by the night. As with a hotel, bed linen is provided and breakfast is included.

Legal compliance

Rules and standards will mark out the path for the creation of your gîte. To open your gîte, you'll need to comply with a number of regulations:

- Register with your local town hall by filling in a Cerfa form.

- If you can accommodate more than 15 people, your gîte will be considered an establishment open to the public (ERP), and therefore subject to stricter safety and accessibility regulations. You will then need to submit your file certifying compliance with ERP regulations to the prefecture.

- Display overnight rates. If ancillary services are offered for a fee (e.g. bicycle hire), their price must also be displayed.

- Install a smoke detector.

You'll also need to think about your legal status. The question is whether you'll be running gîtes on an occasional or regular basis. If it's an occasional activity, you won't be required to register as an individual with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés. This situation is perfectly legitimate if the activity is carried out on an ancillary basis, as a complement to a professional activity. It does not, however, qualify you as a merchant. You can therefore include your rental income in your income tax return.

On the other hand, if this activity is carried out on a full-time basis, i.e., the gîtes are operated on a regular basis, you'll need to choose a legal status for declaring the rental income. If your gîtes are operated on a "regular basis", you'll need to register with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés, and opt for a specific legal status. There are several options open to you:

- you can set up a sole proprietorship, which includes micro-enterprises and EIRLs,

- or create a company such as EURL/SARL, SASU/SAS... You should seek professional advice (notary, accountant, etc.) to help you make the right choice, since every situation is different.

Putting your guests' comfort first

As far as your obligations as a renter are concerned, a written rental contract must be signed with each guest, describing the premises to be rented, the location of the gîte and the terms and conditions of the rental. Make sure your photos are attractive enough to put on your website and make travelers want to come to you.

Don't forget your guests' comfort: the gîte must have at least :

- a furnished common room

- a kitchen or kitchenette in the common room, with at least one sink, a stove, a refrigerator, a table and chairs in proportion to the guest capacity, a cupboard and all necessary utensils

- a bathroom with at least one washbasin and one shower

- indoor toilet

- electricity, running drinking water (hot and cold) and a heating system

- one (or more) independent bedroom(s) equipped with a bed and furniture

- washing, drying and ironing facilities.

As well as complying with legal criteria, the main labels also lay down their own obligations: these relate to room comfort, surface area, quality of bedding and bathroom facilities. Your renovation and refurbishment efforts should focus primarily on these essential elements. Here are a few tips to help you with your interior design. For example, if you don't have a lot of space, it's better to create one large bedroom with a nice bathroom at a higher price than two small ones. People like to have their own space, especially on vacation. You can also provide your guests with a common room, complete with library, fireplace and sofas, where they can relax and socialize. In very large old houses, this is an opportunity to bring back to life rooms that you no longer use! The investment won't be the same, but your guests will surely appreciate a relaxation area: spa with hammam, jacuzzi or even an indoor swimming pool... Your move upmarket is virtually guaranteed!

What about decor?

Your decor should be welcoming, soothing, intimate and personal, but not overly so. You need to appeal to as many people as possible... and make everyone feel at home! Go for all-purpose colors like beiges and grays, with touches of color for accessories. Don't overload on knick-knacks, because your main enemy is dust!

The little extra with certified gîtes

When it comes to gîtes, as in many other fields, having a label is synonymous with quality services. The best known are Gîtes de France and Clévacances, for example. Obtaining this precious label involves several stages, from the project appraisal to the final visit, carried out by experts who are vigilant about compliance with standards. All accommodation is checked, selected and awarded the label according to precise comfort criteria and a national quality charter.
By applying for a label, you'll benefit from greater visibility and a higher profile with your future guests, thanks in particular to :
- the strength of a network synonymous with experience and a key player in the tourism industry. The label is a guarantee of commercial visibility that is competitive with other vacation rental methods;
- the guarantee for customers that they are renting a property that is rigorously and regularly monitored;
- the assurance that you are meeting the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele that is attentive to its quality of life during its holidays. quality of life during the vacations;
- the opportunity to benefit from personalized support to help you adapt your accommodation to market trends, follow training courses and obtain answers to all your questions, whether legal or tax-related.
Each label has its own classification system, comprising various chapters (environment/situation/exterior, habitability(environment/situation/exterior, habitability, technical equipment, general equipment, layout and equipment per room, services, standing/decoration) defining an upmarket positioning.

Think unusual gîtes

Unusual accommodations are very much in vogue. Why not ride the wave and create your own? Sleep in the trees, in a yurt, in a bubble under the stars or in a den like a hobbit: let your childlike soul be your guide!

Stéphanie SWIKLINSKI