If you’ve been subscribed to my newsletter or reading my blog for a while, you might have noticed that I’ve recently been sharing listings for B&Bs that are up for sale.

These are B&Bs run by people who’ve taken my course and are now ready to move on.

Understandably, when other B&B owners see a few of these come up at once, it can cause a degree of worry. Just the other day, someone asked me:

“Why is everyone selling up?”

It’s also worth mentioning that when we see a few B&Bs for sale at once, it can feel like everyone’s selling up — even if that’s not really the case. This is a classic example of something called the availability bias — we tend to assume something is more common or widespread just because we’ve noticed it recently. And once we’ve got that idea in our heads, confirmation bias can creep in too — we start spotting more of the same and overlooking anything that doesn’t fit the pattern. It’s human nature, but it can sometimes lead us to worry unnecessarily.

So I wanted to write a quick reassurance post to put things in perspective.

How long do people run a B&B for?

There are no official stats on this. Anything you hear is likely anecdotal.

Alistair Sawday, the founder of the well-known holiday directory, was quoted by someone (so hearsay about hearsay!) as saying the average time people run a B&B is five years.

But in my experience, it varies a lot. I know plenty of people — myself included — who’ve run one for much longer. 17 years in my case.

I’ve also met many people on my course who planned to run their B&B for a fixed amount of time — five years, for example — and then move on to the next chapter. I’ve always admired anyone who can stick to a five-year plan!

How long have I been running B&B Academy?

I set up B&B Academy in 2006, and since then, I’ve trained hundreds of aspiring B&B owners.

That means someone who came on one of my early courses could have run their B&B for 18 years and only just be thinking about selling now. It’s natural that we’re seeing more former course attendees putting their businesses on the market — it’s simply a sign that time has passed.

How old are people when they set up a B&B?

I’ve never asked course attendees for their date of birth, but my guess is most people who take my course are in their 40s or 50s. That said, I’ve had people in their 20s, and plenty in their 60s too.

A lot of attendees come from careers where early retirement is common — the armed forces, police, cabin crew — and they’re looking for a fulfilling second career.

So, many of the people who took the course 10–15 years ago are now heading into proper retirement.

Life Happens

Sometimes it’s joyful — like becoming a grandparent and wanting to spend more time with family.

Sometimes it’s challenging — illness, bereavement, caring for ageing parents. Life events like these can make running a B&B more difficult.

When circumstances shift

And that leads me to my own story.

Why I decided to close my B&B

This is something I’ve never really written about before. Mostly because there wasn’t one single reason — it was a gradual build-up of events that made me feel like the universe was nudging me towards a new chapter.

Our changing dog situation

We’d lost our two perfect B&B dogs, Mitsi and Murphy — friendly, gentle, and brilliant with guests. After they died, we adopted two rescue dogs, Saffy and Ralphie. They’re lovely in their own way, but not ideal for B&B life. Ralphie is scared of other dogs, and Saffy — who was once attacked by a guest’s dog — can be unpredictable.

Running a dog-friendly B&B had always been part of my brand, and it was becoming stressful trying to make it work.
Can you run a B&B if you have dogs? → Read the blog

Staffing changes

Then one of my long-time cleaners left for a full-time job. She’d been with me for years, and the idea of finding and training someone new filled me with dread.

Growing demands from B&B Academy

At the same time, B&B Academy was growing. One day, I was running a live webinar with over 45 people when my guests turned up early expecting the full welcome. It was becoming impossible to do both jobs well. 

And life moved on

Since then, life has changed even more — in ways that would have made running a B&B near impossible anyway.
My grandson arrived in London.
My mum moved into a care home.
My dad now needs more support.

It all added up. And sometimes, the decision gets made for you.

So, is it time to panic?

Absolutely not.

People sell their B&Bs for all sorts of personal, practical, and positive reasons — not necessarily because there’s anything wrong with the B&B industry.

That said, this blog post isn’t intended to offer investment advice or comment on the current state of the industry. If you're thinking about buying a B&B, it's essential to do your research, check the figures, and make sure the business has potential in the current economic climate. Good due diligence is key.

Running a B&B is rarely a forever job. For many, it’s a fulfilling chapter — whether that’s five years, ten, or twenty.

And one thing I’ve noticed: no one has ever told me they’re selling up or closing their B&B because they regretted running one or felt it was the wrong decision — well, not that they’ve admitted to me anyway! Most simply feel it’s the right time to move on.

So if you’re just starting out, thinking about it, or somewhere in the middle — don’t be discouraged. But do go in with your eyes open, a clear plan, and a realistic view of what’s involved.

And if you're still deciding whether it’s the right path for you, my First Steps to Running a B&B Workshop will help you explore your options and make an informed decision — no rose-tinted specs required.