Have you ever wondered what it’s like hosting or co-hosting on Airbnb?
You’ve probably stayed at a vacation rental yourself, and know how it feels to have an excellent stay. Or you may have friends and neighbors hosting Airbnb properties, and you’ve seen their their businesses grow.
Hospitality is an art. And anyone who’s done it knows the joys and rewards of hosting happy guests.
If you’ve ever wondered if you could host on Airbnb too, but didn’t think so, think again. Airbnb co-hosting is very doable. Even if you don’t have the experience nor any property or your own to rent out.
Every business has a start. And every person who wants to start an endeavor has to begin somewhere.
When it comes to hospitality, getting into the short-term rental space is easy. You can do it by co-hosting on Airbnb.
Airbnb co-hosts help property owners take care of their guests and their homes. They’re usually family members, neighbors, trusted friends, or anybody the primary host has hired to help with his or her listing.
You may be thinking, “Why would anyone want me to co-host if I don’t have any experience?” Well, if you’re afraid of managing other people’s properties, there’s no need to be. You don’t have to manage every single aspect of the business.
Some property owners need just a bit of help. Others may need a lot, especially if they’re already managing multiple properties and feel a bit overwhelmed.
But then some hosts don’t have any experience hosting at all. They just acquire properties to use as investments, retirement properties or summer getaways.
And that’s where you come in. Whatever support you can give in the areas they need help, that will be your main contribution.
Co-hosting on Airbnb doesn’t require prior experience. You can even do rental arbitrage without any previous training. You’ll just have to start somewhere.
And the best place is right where you are, at home. Right now.
Go online and start researching. Get as much information as you can on the areas you wish to pursue — those may be marketing, guest communications, inventory oversight, or website building.
You can look at some of the content on this website and our YouTube channel. Our articles and videos can teach you the basics of short-term renting.
When you educate yourself, you’re getting an introduction plus some foundational knowledge in the hospitality and real estate industries.
When you’re ready to help someone host their property, you can approach them and say, “I don’t have a lot of experience but can I help you manage your guest communications?” Or, “I know a little about interior decorating.” Or something as simple as, “Can I help with the cleaning and turnovers?”
Think of the routine things that primary hosts need to do in their daily operations, and see where you can help.
You can handle as many tasks as you want or just a few. You decide how much you commit. Work it out with the listing owner, then ask him to add you as co-host.
Many of the functions that Airbnb co-hosting entails are:
All these are skills you can learn. And anyone who can do them while honoring Airbnb’s hosting terms and conditions is certainly eligible to co-host.
Note that as a co-host, you’re not allowed access to the listing owner’s private information, such as transaction or payment history, tax information, and other important financial data.
The fees you charge for your Airbnb co-hosting will depend on the amount and quality of tasks you do. You can charge a flat rate or you can do a percentage.
If you’re handling everything from managing the bookings to welcoming guests in person, and from coordinating turnovers to leaving guest reviews, feel free to charge 20% to 25%. If you’re just starting and doing a lot less, bring down the cost accordingly.
If you do decide to co-host, you’ll have to market your services. There are Airbnb co-hosting marketplaces online such as CohostClub and CohostMarket where you can create a listing to let others know about your services.
You can also go on platforms for freelancers and micro-entrepreneurs such as Fiverr and Craigslist.
Or you can join vacation rental groups and forums to get some leads. AirHosts is a forum dedicated solely to hosts and property managers. BiggerPockets has one for property owners and investors.
You can also use social media to get the word out. Letting your friends and family know that you’re starting a co-hosting business can go a long way.
There are Facebook groups in the rental property industry where you can find leads. You can join our very own Facebook Group, The Host Nation, which has over 27,000 members. We have a lot of new Airbnb hosts there that are needing help with their daily operations.
Or, if you want to get out into the real world and meet people in the Airbnb industry face to face, join meet-ups. Go to Meetup.com and find people in your area that are gathering for real estate meetings. BiggerPockets also hosts meetups for real estate investors.
Get to know property owners in your community. See if there are landlords who’d be interested in renting their spaces short-term, and let them know that you’d like to help.
Then, once an opportunity opens up, take on the challenge. If you do a good job, that small side hustle can grow into multiple ongoing projects in your area. Start with one Airbnb co-hosting gig then build up from there.
Airbnb sends all revenue directly to the listing owner’s account 24 hours after the guest checks in.
Draw up an agreement with the primary host on how your share will be sent to you. Bank transfers, Venmo, Paypal, and Payoneer debit cards are some of the common options hosts and co-hosts use.
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