AERN home > Success stories > The Mason, Butler, Alabama, Winter 2007
A New Bed and Breakfast for Butler, Alabama
Ron Mason is owner of The Mason, a new bed and breakfast at 1006 Desotoville Avenue in Butler. In getting his business going, he benefited from the resources supplied by AERN through the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce. Mason opened the lodge in June, 2007 because he felt there was a need for a nice quiet place for people to stay. The idea came to him when he was trying to find places for friends and family to stay when they came to visit. "I felt there was a need for lodging in the area and I wanted to try to meet that need," Mason said.
While he was putting his plan into action he used the AERN resources that he found at the Choctaw Chamber of Commerce to help him figure out how much things would cost and the details of a successful business plan. He also found a book that contained a complete guide to bed and breakfasts that proved to be an invaluable resource for him throughout the process.
When he is not at the lodge taking care of guests, Mason is district manager for Hardee's restaurants and also sells real estate. yet somehow he found time to start a new business. "It certainly was not easy," he said. But his plan, support from the chamber, and the AERN tools made it manageable.
Developing the business plan was key to a successful opening. It acted like a road map showing where to go, Mason said, adding, "without the plan and the Chamber and AERN there were things I would never have thought of." For example, what licenses would he need to open this type of business? He found the answer to that and other questions at AERN.
He also attended a number of workshops focusing on everything from taxes to building a Web site. There was even one specifically on how to start and maintain a bed and breakfast.
"It definitely was not easy, but the tools provided by the chamber made the process flow smoothly," he said.
The Mason consists of two duplexes giving it a total of four units, three for guests and one for the office. Each guest unit has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living area and a dining area. There is a covered front porch and a deck on the back allowing guests to step out and get fresh air regardless of the weather. The price starts at $150 for one night, $125 for multiple nights, but can vary from $100 to $150 depending on length of stay and number of guests. Mason said that the lodge is filled about 70 to 80 percent of the time.
Mason gets satisfaction from seeing his guests happy and knowing that he can help people out, giving them a little peace of mind by making their stay in Butler the least of their worries. "It is one less thing they have to worry about because they know they have a great place to stay," he said.
— Contributed by Jonathan Stinson
From AERNews, Vol. 7, No. 4, Winter 2007