HOW TO OPEN A B&B. REGULATIONS AND DIFFERENCES WITH B&Bs

Do you own a property that you would like to make profitable? Great! Let's see what characteristics you need to have to start a bed and breakfast business.

First of all, when you want to generate income from a property, you need to respect some legal requirements that vary from region to region, but mainly all the main documents to carry out the bureaucratic procedures can be found here -> Editable Multilingual PDF

For example (Click on the name to see the product sheet):

• Privacy Policy and Consent Template
• Data Collection Template for Web Guests
• Damage Assessment and Deposit Withholding Form

But before we analyze the bureaucracy that underlies the hospitality sector, let's clarify for a moment the meaning of the word "apartment" and what the difference is with a B&B.

Framework law 1983 n.217 states:

Bed and breakfast establishments are those consisting of no more than six rooms located in no more than two furnished apartments in the same building in which accommodation and, where applicable, complementary services are provided.

At this point it is legitimate to ask what the difference is between a B&B and a guest house . Let's look at the characteristics of a B&B together:

1. A B&B is a family-run establishment managed in a non-entrepreneurial manner, while a guest house usually has a professional nature.
2. B&Bs are required to stop their business. Bed and breakfasts, on the other hand, can operate without interruptions throughout the year.
3. By definition, a B&B has the obligation to serve breakfast . Guest houses do not.

What is the regulation that governs the legislation for bed and breakfasts?

This is about the Law 135/2001 (Reform of national tourism legislation) establishes the rules and requirements for this sector.

Although of a national nature, the regulation of bed and breakfasts is managed by the Regions , which independently establish:

1. The maximum number of rooms that can be rented (always no more than 6 )
2. Other requirements related to opening the business (applications, documentation, etc.)
3. The minimum standards to be guaranteed (cleaning, linen change, energy supply, etc.)
4. Provisions concerning administrative matters

Now let's get down to business. What are the first steps to take before opening a guesthouse?

The first consideration we invite you to make is whether you intend to open a professional or non-professional structure. In the first case it is important that your residence or domicile does not coincide with that of the bed and breakfast, in the second instead it does not.

If you are thinking of taking the professional path you will have to:

1. Open a VAT number. This must be done 30 days before starting the business
2. Registration at the Chamber of Commerce
3. Deliver the SCIA (Certified Notification of Commencement of Activity) to the Municipality.
4. Communicate guest data to the competent authorities in the case of stays of less than 30 days. To do this, the State Police offers a very functional online service: the Guest Service.
5. For longer stays (over 30 days) the rental contract must be registered with the Revenue Agency.

As you might imagine, for non-professional bed and breakfasts the bureaucracy is in some ways much less, although you will still have to communicate the SCIA to the relevant Municipality.

In conclusion:

• To be considered a bed and breakfast, the building must have a maximum of 6 rooms.
• To open a professional business you must open a VAT number, register with the Chamber of Commerce and deliver the SCIA to the municipality.
• Stays of less than 30 days must be communicated to the competent authorities through the Accommodation Service.