[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":721},["ShallowReactive",2],{"help-\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website":3,"help-related-\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website":606},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"category":594,"description":595,"extension":596,"meta":597,"navigation":598,"order":599,"path":600,"product":601,"seo":602,"stem":603,"updated":604,"__hash__":605},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website.md","Inn or bed and breakfast website: what guests check before they book",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":574},"minimark",[9,13,16,21,29,90,101,105,108,136,140,143,188,195,199,206,241,244,248,251,277,284,288,299,302,306,309,327,331,334,338,353,356,360,391,397,401,408,412,415,438,448,452,469,473,476,509,513,534,538],[10,11,12],"p",{},"A guest on your site has picked the town. Now they're choosing a room, a price they can trust, and whether your rules fit them: pets, children, stairs, cancelling. They book in your reservation system, so your site's job is everything around that click.",[10,14,15],{},"In October 2026 we opened 34 independent inn and B&B websites in 12 states. Nearly all had a page for each room. Far fewer showed their phone number on a phone, described their access, or gave one clear total price.",[17,18,20],"h2",{"id":19},"link-to-your-reservation-system-from-every-page","Link to your reservation system from every page",[10,22,23,24,28],{},"All 34 booked in a system the inn pays for, like ThinkReservations (17 of 34), ResNexus, Cloudbeds or Rezstream. Keep it. Our ",[25,26,27],"strong",{},"Bookings"," add-on is not a room-by-night system: it has no nightly availability, multi-night stays or rate calendar. Use your own for rooms.",[30,31,32,48,68],"ol",{},[33,34,35,36,39,40,43,44,47],"li",{},"Open ",[25,37,38],{},"Pages",", choose your home page and click ",[25,41,42],{},"Add a section",". Pick ",[25,45,46],{},"Booking",".",[33,49,50,51,54,55,58,59,62,63,47],{},"Set ",[25,52,53],{},"Booking service"," to ",[25,56,57],{},"Other",", paste your booking page link, and type ",[25,60,61],{},"Button text"," like \"Check availability\". See ",[64,65,67],"a",{"href":66},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-booking#add-the-section","Connect a booking calendar",[33,69,70,71,74,75,78,79,81,82,85,86,47],{},"Click ",[25,72,73],{},"Menu",". Under ",[25,76,77],{},"Header button",", type ",[25,80,61],{}," like \"Book your stay\" and point ",[25,83,84],{},"Goes to"," at your booking page. See ",[64,87,89],{"href":88},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmenu#set-up-the-header-button","Set up the header button",[10,91,92,93,96,97,47],{},"If your system gives you a widget, an ",[25,94,95],{},"Embed code"," section can show it on your page. Some won't load inside another site, so keep a button too. See ",[64,98,100],{"href":99},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-embed-code","Add embed code",[17,102,104],{"id":103},"make-your-phone-number-one-tap-away","Make your phone number one tap away",[10,106,107],{},"Nineteen of 34 showed no phone number on the first phone screen. Inns are still a business where people call about a long stay, a wedding or the whole house.",[30,109,110,120],{},[33,111,70,112,115,116,119],{},[25,113,114],{},"Business info",". Check ",[25,117,118],{},"Phone",", typed the way you'd say it.",[33,121,70,122,124,125,127,128,131,132,47],{},[25,123,73],{},", and under ",[25,126,77],{}," turn on ",[25,129,130],{},"Call bar on phones",". See ",[64,133,135],{"href":134},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmenu#add-a-call-bar-on-phones","Add a call bar on phones",[17,137,139],{"id":138},"give-every-room-its-own-description","Give every room its own description",[10,141,142],{},"Thirty of 34 had a page or card for each room. Guests want the bed, bath, floor and who it sleeps. Use real names, like \"Garden Room\".",[30,144,145,174,181],{},[33,146,147,148,151,152,155,156,158,159,162,163,158,166,169,170,173],{},"Add a ",[25,149,150],{},"Services"," section to a ",[25,153,154],{},"Rooms"," page (",[25,157,38],{},", ",[25,160,161],{},"New page","), with one item per room: ",[25,164,165],{},"Name",[25,167,168],{},"Photo"," and a ",[25,171,172],{},"Description"," such as \"King bed, private bath, gas fireplace, second floor, sleeps 2\".",[33,175,176,177,180],{},"Fill in ",[25,178,179],{},"Link"," with that room's page in your booking system.",[33,182,183,184,47],{},"Describe each photo. See ",[64,185,187],{"href":186},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#describe-your-photos","Describe your photos",[10,189,190,191,47],{},"Use your own photos. A stock bedroom on a page about the \"Rossetti Suite\" costs trust. Stock is fine for breakfast or the garden. See ",[64,192,194],{"href":193},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#free-photos","Free photos",[17,196,198],{"id":197},"show-the-total-price","Show the total price",[10,200,201,202,205],{},"Thirty of 34 showed dollar amounts, and about 12 said tax is added. Two named a mandatory fee in their policies: one a $9-a-night service fee and one a $30 cleaning fee per stay. Since May 12, 2025 the FTC's fees rule covers inns, and it says to show the ",[25,203,204],{},"total price",", including mandatory fees, more prominently than any other price. Taxes can be listed separately; optional extras can stay out.",[30,207,208,225,228,235],{},[33,209,147,210,213,214,217,218,220,221,224],{},[25,211,212],{},"Price list \u002F menu"," section to your Rooms page. Make a ",[25,215,216],{},"Group"," for each kind of room and an item for each room with its ",[25,219,165],{}," and ",[25,222,223],{},"Price",", like \"From $189\".",[33,226,227],{},"Make \"From\" the lowest total a guest can really book, with mandatory fees already in it.",[33,229,230,231,234],{},"Under ",[25,232,233],{},"Fine print",", say what's added: \"Plus 10% lodging tax. Rates are per night for two guests.\"",[33,236,237,238,47],{},"Type the date in ",[25,239,240],{},"Prices last updated",[10,242,243],{},"If your rates change by date, say \"from\" and when. This isn't legal advice: check the rule with your state's lodging office or a lawyer.",[17,245,247],{"id":246},"say-your-cancellation-and-arrival-rules","Say your cancellation and arrival rules",[10,249,250],{},"Twenty-one of 34 gave a notice period, and 10 kept a processing fee even for a cancellation in time.",[30,252,253,265,268],{},[33,254,70,255,257,258,260,261,264],{},[25,256,38],{},", then ",[25,259,161],{},", start from the ",[25,262,263],{},"Basic page"," template and call it \"Policies\".",[33,266,267],{},"Say: the days of notice, what you keep, the deposit and when it's taken, the minimum stay by season or weekend, and early departures.",[33,269,270,271,257,273,276],{},"Link it from your footer (",[25,272,73],{},[25,274,275],{},"Add footer links",") and next to your Book button.",[10,278,279,280,283],{},"Also give your check-in and check-out times, and how a late guest gets in (a code, or a call ahead): 21 of 34 gave a check-in time and 12 explained late arrival. Say if there's parking or an EV charger. Put the short version in your ",[25,281,282],{},"FAQ",", and match what your booking system says. About 14 of 34 gave a minimum stay.",[17,285,287],{"id":286},"describe-breakfast","Describe breakfast",[10,289,290,291,294,295,298],{},"Twenty-two gave breakfast hours and 23 mentioned allergies or diets. Say when it's served, whether it's hot, at a table or in the room, and how much notice a special diet needs. Make a ",[25,292,293],{},"Breakfast"," page with a ",[25,296,297],{},"Photo + text"," section and a photo of a real plate.",[10,300,301],{},"Rules for serving breakfast differ by state. Texas, for example, exempts a small B&B serving only overnight guests but asks for a food manager's course, and Vermont wants a food license for more than packaged items, whole fruit or coffee. Ask your health department, and don't say it needs no license.",[17,303,305],{"id":304},"describe-your-access-in-words","Describe your access, in words",[10,307,308],{},"Sixteen of 34 said something about stairs or access. Eight said the building isn't accessible, and only 2 described a room as accessible. The ADA's reservations rule (28 CFR 36.302(e)) asks a lodging to describe accessible features in enough detail that a guest can judge for themselves. A historic building doesn't remove the need to describe it.",[30,310,311,321,324],{},[33,312,313,314,317,318,320],{},"Open your ",[25,315,316],{},"Accessibility"," page, or make one. Add a ",[25,319,297],{}," section: \"Getting around the inn\".",[33,322,323],{},"Say which rooms are on the ground floor, how many steps from parking to the door, whether there's an elevator, and the bathroom (a tub, a shower, a grab bar).",[33,325,326],{},"End with a number to call. Say plainly if no room is accessible. A site accessibility statement on its own isn't enough: 10 of 34 had one and said nothing about their rooms.",[17,328,330],{"id":329},"pets-children-and-who-it-suits","Pets, children, and who it suits",[10,332,333],{},"Twenty-three of 34 stated a pet policy and \"pet friendly\" and \"adults only\" are searched on their own. Say which rooms, what size, the fee, and that service animals are welcome. Give an age for children, or say you're adults only. Say your smoking rule too.",[17,335,337],{"id":336},"sell-gift-certificates-and-say-if-they-expire","Sell gift certificates, and say if they expire",[10,339,340,341,344,345,348,349,47],{},"Twenty-two mentioned gift certificates and only 4 said whether they expire. If your reservation system sells them, link to it. For an amount at your desk, the ",[25,342,343],{},"Gift cards and coupons"," add-on sells a card on a ",[25,346,347],{},"Gift cards"," section and scans it in person. It can't be used inside your outside system, so you take the amount off by hand. See ",[64,350,352],{"href":351},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-cards-and-coupons#sell-gift-cards-on-your-site","Sell gift cards on your site",[10,354,355],{},"Federal rules say a gift card can't expire within five years, and some states bar expiry. Say what yours do.",[17,357,359],{"id":358},"weddings-retreats-and-packages","Weddings, retreats and packages",[10,361,362,363,366,367,370,371,375,376,378,379,382,383,220,387,47],{},"Twenty-three mentioned weddings or elopements, and \"elopement packages\" is its own search. Make a page with the sizes you host, what's included and a ",[25,364,365],{},"Form",". For a retreat weekend sold per person, an ",[25,368,369],{},"Event"," can take sign-ups with a set number of spots. See ",[64,372,374],{"href":373},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fevents#take-sign-ups-on-your-site","Take sign-ups on your site",". The ",[25,377,27],{}," add-on suits a class, tour or tasting, and ",[25,380,381],{},"Reservations"," a dining room open to the public. See ",[64,384,386],{"href":385},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookings","Take bookings on your site",[64,388,390],{"href":389},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freservations","Take restaurant reservations",[10,392,147,393,396],{},[25,394,395],{},"Packages"," section for getaways. Say what's extra.",[17,398,400],{"id":399},"give-a-reason-to-book-direct","Give a reason to book direct",[10,402,403,404,407],{},"Thirteen of 34 made a book-direct promise, and the best were specific: \"no service fees or booking commissions\", a free upgrade, or three nights for the price of two. Put the perk in a ",[25,405,406],{},"Highlights"," section on your home page and next to your Book button. Say what it really is, and don't promise a \"best rate\" you can't keep.",[17,409,411],{"id":410},"show-your-reviews","Show your reviews",[10,413,414],{},"Nineteen linked to TripAdvisor.",[30,416,417,424,429],{},[33,418,419,420,423],{},"Add your best recent reviews to your ",[25,421,422],{},"Reviews"," list.",[33,425,147,426,428],{},[25,427,422],{}," section to your home page.",[33,430,431,432,435,436,47],{},"Paste your Google review link into ",[25,433,434],{},"Leave-a-review link"," in ",[25,437,114],{},[10,439,440,441,220,444,47],{},"Asking everyone is fine. A perk only for five stars isn't. See ",[64,442,422],{"href":443},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freviews",[64,445,447],{"href":446},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fask-for-reviews","Ask customers for a review",[17,449,451],{"id":450},"show-your-license-number-if-your-area-asks","Show your license number if your area asks",[10,453,454,455,458,459,435,462,464,465,47],{},"None of the 34 showed a license or registration number. A licensed inn often doesn't need one in its ads, but short-term rentals do in some places: Denver requires a license number in every ad, and New York City requires a registration number. Check with your city. Then type it into ",[25,456,457],{},"License number"," under ",[25,460,461],{},"Location",[25,463,114],{}," and it shows in your footer. See ",[64,466,468],{"href":467},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#location","Business info and hours",[17,470,472],{"id":471},"know-the-rules","Know the rules",[10,474,475],{},"This isn't legal advice, and the rules vary by place. Check yours with your state and your city.",[477,478,479,485,491,497,503],"ul",{},[33,480,481,484],{},[25,482,483],{},"Prices."," The FTC's fees rule; California has its own.",[33,486,487,490],{},[25,488,489],{},"Access."," The ADA's reservations rule.",[33,492,493,496],{},[25,494,495],{},"Food and lodging licenses."," State by state.",[33,498,499,502],{},[25,500,501],{},"Reviews."," The FTC's rule bars fake reviews and rewards tied to a good one.",[33,504,505,508],{},[25,506,507],{},"Gift cards."," Expiry limits.",[17,510,512],{"id":511},"answer-the-questions-guests-ask","Answer the questions guests ask",[10,514,515,516,518,519,435,522,525,526,529,530,47],{},"Add an ",[25,517,282],{}," section: How do I book? Is it cheaper direct? What's the total with tax? Cancellation? Check-in and late arrival? Breakfast and diets? Pets? Children? Is it accessible? Parking? Weddings? Gift certificates? ",[25,520,521],{},"Suggest questions",[25,523,524],{},"Lists"," › ",[25,527,528],{},"FAQs"," drafts more. See ",[64,531,533],{"href":532},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffaq-list#use-suggested-questions","Use suggested questions",[17,535,537],{"id":536},"tips","Tips",[477,539,540,547,557,567],{},[33,541,542,543,47],{},"Give your home page a search title with your town, like \"Bed and breakfast in Cape May, NJ\". See ",[64,544,546],{"href":545},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsearch-and-sharing#set-a-pages-search-title-and-description","Set a page's search title and description",[33,548,549,550,553,554,47],{},"Match your Google Business Profile: the same name, phone and hours. Most small inns fit ",[25,551,552],{},"Bed & breakfast",", and an inn with a public restaurant fits ",[25,555,556],{},"Inn",[33,558,559,560,563,564,47],{},"The ",[25,561,562],{},"Ask us chat"," can answer \"Is there parking?\" for you. See ",[64,565,562],{"href":566},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fask-us-chat",[33,568,569,570,47],{},"Spanish is available at no extra cost. See ",[64,571,573],{"href":572},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flanguages","Show your site in Spanish",{"title":575,"searchDepth":576,"depth":576,"links":577},"",2,[578,579,580,581,582,583,584,585,586,587,588,589,590,591,592,593],{"id":19,"depth":576,"text":20},{"id":103,"depth":576,"text":104},{"id":138,"depth":576,"text":139},{"id":197,"depth":576,"text":198},{"id":246,"depth":576,"text":247},{"id":286,"depth":576,"text":287},{"id":304,"depth":576,"text":305},{"id":329,"depth":576,"text":330},{"id":336,"depth":576,"text":337},{"id":358,"depth":576,"text":359},{"id":399,"depth":576,"text":400},{"id":410,"depth":576,"text":411},{"id":450,"depth":576,"text":451},{"id":471,"depth":576,"text":472},{"id":511,"depth":576,"text":512},{"id":536,"depth":576,"text":537},"Guides by business","We looked at 34 independent inn and B&B websites: what guests need before they reserve, what most leave out, and how to set up each part, including the new rule about showing the total price.","md",{},true,389,"\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website","sites",{"title":5,"description":595},"help\u002Finn-bnb-website","2026-10-30","5VKkIaM5CiYAjo62GpSgihXcymrjifT1bEJJMMYAqiY",[607,610,613,616,619,622,625,628,631,634,637,640,643,646,649,652,655,658,661,664,667,670,673,676,679,682,685,688,691,694,697,700,703,706,709,712,715,718],{"path":608,"title":609},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fauto-repair-shop-website","Auto repair shop website: what earns the call",{"path":611,"title":612},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcar-wash-website","Car wash website: what brings drivers in and keeps members happy",{"path":614,"title":615},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsmoke-shop-website","Smoke and vape shop website: useful and on the right side of the rules",{"path":617,"title":618},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdeli-website","Deli website: what gets the order",{"path":620,"title":621},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fstaffing-agency-website","Staffing agency website: what brings in applicants and orders",{"path":623,"title":624},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flive-theater-website","Live theater website: what sells the tickets",{"path":626,"title":627},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcinema-website","Independent cinema website: what fills the seats",{"path":629,"title":630},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhair-salon-website","Hair salon and barbershop website: what gets people into your chair",{"path":632,"title":633},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fplumber-website","Plumber website: what earns the call",{"path":635,"title":636},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdentist-website","Dentist website: what patients check before they call",{"path":638,"title":639},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frestaurant-website","Restaurant website: what gets the table filled",{"path":641,"title":642},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgym-website","Gym website: what brings people through the door and keeps members",{"path":644,"title":645},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freal-estate-website","Real estate agent website: what brings sellers and buyers to call you",{"path":647,"title":648},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fveterinarian-website","Veterinarian website: what pet owners check before they call",{"path":650,"title":651},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flaw-office-website","Law office website: what clients check before they call",{"path":653,"title":654},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flandscaping-website","Landscaping and lawn care website: what earns the estimate",{"path":656,"title":657},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdaycare-website","Child care website: what parents check before they call",{"path":659,"title":660},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcafe-bakery-website","Cafe and bakery website: what gets the order",{"path":662,"title":663},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmassage-spa-website","Massage and spa website: what gets people onto your table",{"path":665,"title":666},"\u002Fhelp\u002Felectrician-website","Electrician website: what earns the call and the big jobs",{"path":668,"title":669},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhvac-website","Heating and cooling website: what earns the call and the sale",{"path":671,"title":672},"\u002Fhelp\u002Froofer-website","Roofer website: look local, honest and easy to call",{"path":674,"title":675},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpainter-website","Painter website: what earns the estimate",{"path":677,"title":678},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcarpenter-website","Carpenter and remodeler website: what earns the estimate",{"path":680,"title":681},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fflorist-website","Florist website: what gets the order and the trust",{"path":683,"title":684},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website","Photographer website: what clients check before they write to you",{"path":686,"title":687},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fyoga-pilates-website","Yoga and Pilates studio website: what fills your classes",{"path":689,"title":690},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmartial-arts-website","Martial arts school website: what parents look for and how to show it",{"path":692,"title":693},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdance-studio-website","Dance studio website: the classes, costs and policies parents look for",{"path":695,"title":696},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fnail-beauty-website","Nail salon and beauty studio website: what gets people in the door",{"path":698,"title":699},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpet-grooming-website","Pet groomer website: what dog owners check before they book",{"path":701,"title":702},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookstore-website","Bookstore website: what brings readers through the door",{"path":704,"title":705},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fantiques-website","Antique and vintage shop website: what buyers and sellers look for",{"path":707,"title":708},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website","Gift shop and boutique website: what shoppers look for",{"path":710,"title":711},"\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website","Accountant and tax preparer website: what clients check before they call",{"path":713,"title":714},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finsurance-agent-website","Insurance agent website: what customers check before they call",{"path":716,"title":717},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fwinery-brewery-website","Winery, brewery or distillery website: what fills the tasting room",{"path":719,"title":720},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffarm-stand-website","Farm and farm stand website: what gets the visit and the order",1793740286999]