Whether you’re looking into becoming a co-host or hiring one, you’re probably wondering how the whole situation works. How do you find one, what do they do, and, most importantly, what does it cost?
Airbnb co-hosts can make a comfortable living or a side income off of their jobs based on how much they do and how many properties they co-host for. If you’re a host looking to hire a partner, how much can you expect to pay them?
What are the Airbnb co-host fees?
The amount that co-hosts charge can vary significantly based on what duties they have, the size of the house, and where they are located. In general, hosts can expect to pay between 10-30% of the nightly listing price to an average co-host.
Make sure to read down below to find out more about how co-hosts make money!
How much does a co-host make?
Airbnb co-hosts have the advantage of working for themselves, much like Airbnb hosts do. Because of this, they are able to set their own rates and schedules (to some degree, at least). It is a nice gig for someone looking to make some extra money, and can even be a full time job for a dedicated and ambitious worker.
What a co-host charges will probably depend mostly on the duties that the host wants to pass off to them. If it’s simple message responses and the occasional listing update, it’s unlikely that they’ll charge 30% of the listing price. If the co-host functions as essentially the host themselves, they can charge a much higher price for doing more work.
If you’re considering co-hosting, be sure to value your time accurately and fairly. Remember, if it was easy they would just do it themselves! Consider how much work goes into dealing with guests, maintaining a property, stocking and replenishing things, checking people in and out… the list goes on and on.
If you’re a host looking to hire someone to co-host with you, keep these things in mind as well. You’re likely looking for a co-host because you recognize how much time and effort goes into running your Airbnb, so remember that you value your time enough to delegate these tasks to someone else. A good business partner is worth their weight in gold, so pay fairly and you’ll set yourself up for success in the long run.
Want more details? See more about how co-hosts get paid HERE!
How much do Airbnb managers make?
An Airbnb manager is a bit different from a co-host. They basically assume the role of the host while the host themselves takes a much more hands-off approach to running their Airbnb. Manager pay can also vary greatly, and many managers are actually employees of other companies that specialize in vacation rental management. As such, these managers may not even set their own rates, so negotiating can be more difficult.
If you’re looking to hire some help for your Airbnb, you need to decide whether you want a co-host or a manager. A co-host is typically someone you already know (or at least that’s what I would recommend) and a manager is more of an employee. As mentioned above, many managers work for companies that cater to vacation rental owners. They may have more experience and more resources on hand, but they also might cost more.
Management companies all charge differently, but many of them also promise to increase your Airbnb’s revenue as well. This could potentially mean that you make even more money by paying a manager than by not having one at all! Obviously none of this is ever guaranteed, but it could be helpful to shop around with some companies and see what kinds of things they offer.
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What are Airbnb Service fees?
Every Airbnb booking comes with a much higher price tag than the regular listing price itself. Hosts pay a flat 3% fee per booking, while guests foot most of the bill by paying between 10-15% of the total price per stay. These fees are how Airbnb makes money, so it’s no surprise that they can be so high. Offering a free service means that they have to tack on the extra cost somewhere!
Airbnb service fees are not to be confused with cleaning fees, which are set and collected by hosts. These fees are displayed as part of the nightly rate, but you can see them separately when you go to check out. Some guests wonder why they are so (seemingly) high, but they don’t always see the full picture.
When you book a hotel room, you don’t typically see the cost breakdown of the sticker price that you end up paying. The hotel pays staff to clean your room, launder the bedding, stock the bathroom, and more. Your Airbnb host does the same. Even if they do all these things themselves, their time is still valuable!
You do have the option of hunting around for an Airbnb with a lower cleaning fee, but notice that the base listing price likely increases as the cleaning fee decreases. Some hosts don’t even list a cleaning fee and instead roll all of their costs into one flat nightly rate.
More unanswered questions about the Airbnb cleaning fee? See Rental Recon’s explanation HERE.
How can you avoid paying service fees on Airbnb?
The short answer is: you can’t. What you can do is avoid extra charges by being a model guest! Many hosts collect a security deposit prior to a booking. As long as you haven’t damaged anything at the property, you should get this returned back to you. You don’t want to end up losing your security deposit! Some of them are pretty hefty, sometimes hundreds of dollars.
In that same line of thought, you definitely don’t want to incur any extra charges as a guest. Many Airbnbs charge for an early check-in or a late check out. This is due to the fact that the host has a shorter turnaround time between rentals and has to hurry to get things done. If it’s all the same to you, arrive and depart on time. Your wallet will thank you!
Rental Recon Tip: If you’re a host deciding how to set your fees, remember to value your time at what you would pay someone else to do the same job (if not more!). For example, if it takes you 2 hours to clean your Airbnb, and you would have to pay a cleaner $15 an hour, make your cleaning fee $30! Don’t forget to build in the cost of stocking things like toilet paper, soap, and laundering if applicable.
Related Questions:
Where can I find an Airbnb Co-Host?
There isn’t really a centralized place to find a quality co-host for your Airbnb. A lot of people turn to popular Airbnb-specific forums and post a sort of “help wanted” ad. This does leave you vulnerable to scammers or inexperienced people, so proceed with caution. You can also post the area that you live in and ask if anyone has recommendations for you. Interested in the other side of the equation? Learn more about becoming an Airbnb co-host today!
Sources:
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1243/whats-a-cohost
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1534/what-can-a-cohost-do
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1244/how-do-i-add-a-cohost-to-my-listing
