Everything You Should Know About Airbnb Co-Hosting Fees

You’ve finally taken the plunge and become an Airbnb host.

Congrats!

By now you’re realizing just how much work goes into being a host – from cleaning to communicating with guests. And if you’re like most people, you don’t want to do it all yourself.

Enter the Airbnb co-host.

A co-host is basically a helping hand for hosts. They can do things like help manage your calendar, create a marketing strategy, communicate with guests, and even clean your rental. Basically, they make your life as a host a whole lot easier.

The question is, how much should you be paying your co-host? And what exactly are their responsibilities?

In this article, we’ll answer all those questions and more. So read on for everything you need to know about Airbnb co-hosting fees!

What is Airbnb Co-Hosting?

Before we dive into fees, let’s first quickly review what co-hosting is. According to Airbnb, “A co-host is someone who helps you manage your listing. They can do things like answer guest questions, schedule cleanings, and check in guests.”

In other words, a co-host is someone who can help you with the day-to-day tasks associated with being an Airbnb host. 

Many hosts use co-hosts to manage their entire portfolio of listings. This is especially common for hosts who have multiple properties or who live in a different city than their rental.

Co-hosts can also be a great option if you’re going on vacation and don’t want to close your calendar. In this case, you can give your co-host access to your listing so they can manage it in your absence.

Responsibilities of an Airbnb Co-Host

As a co-host, you’ll be responsible for managing the listing and communicating with guests. This includes responding to inquiries, confirming bookings, and coordinating check-ins and check-outs. You’ll also be responsible for maintaining the listing’s calendar and updating the availability status.

In addition, it’s important to be familiar with the Airbnb policies and procedures. You’ll need to know how to handle deposits, cancellations, and other situations that may arise.

It’s also a good idea to have some basic marketing skills. You’ll want to make sure your listing is always looking its best, and that you’re actively promoting it online and through social media.

So those are the basics of being an Airbnb co-host. If you’re interested in becoming one, be sure to read through our co-hosting beginners guide.

Airbnb Co-Host Fees

As a general guideline, co-hosts charge between 10-30% of gross rentals in addition to collecting the cleaning fee so they can outsource cleaners on behalf of the owner, or be compensated for doing the cleaning themselves.

For example, if your monthly rental rate is $2000, the co-host would charge a fee of $400-$600 per month. This gives them a percentage that’s high enough to be worth their time, but low enough that it doesn’t eat into your profits too much.

However, we should note that this is all negotiable and there is no rule or standard when it comes to co-hosting fees. The percentage you charge will ultimately depend on your level of experience and the services you’re offering.

For example, if you’re simply managing the calendar and communicating with guests, you may only charge a small percentage of the rental fee. But if you’re also responsible for cleaning and maintaining the property, you may charge a higher percentage.

Of course, the responsibilities of a co-host can vary greatly from one listing to the next. So it’s always a good idea to discuss expectations and pricing upfront, before you start working together.

Some questions to discuss with your co-host:

• Are they handling all the bookings, replies, emails, etc. for you? In most cases, co-hosts will handle all of the communication with guests on your behalf.
• Are they handling the cleaning? Many co-hosts will collect the cleaning fee and handle the outsourcing of cleaners on your behalf. Others may simply clean the rental themselves between guests.
• What about simple maintenance? In most cases, the owner is responsible for any repairs or maintenance that’s needed. But in some cases, the co-host may be able to handle simple tasks like changing lightbulbs, fixing a clogged sink, etc.
• Are they on-call for the guests? Being on-call means being available to guests 24/7 in case they need anything. In most cases, the owner will be on-call. But if you’re going on vacation, you may want to ask your co-host to be on-call for you.

All of these factors will affect how much your co-host will charge. As a general guideline, the more responsibility you’re asking them to take on, the higher their fee will be.

Can you pay your co-host through Airbnb?

You can pay your co-hosts easily by going into the Airbnb platform and changing your Payout Preferences to split payments. With their permission, add their payout information under the Payout Preferences tab, and set the percentage you would like to share with them.

If your co-host is not comfortable sharing their account details or ever withdraws their authorization, you can pay them outside of Airbnb through apps such as Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.

If you’d prefer to use more traditional methods, bank deposits, cashier’s checks, and personal checks are also options for receiving payment.

Airbnb Co-Host Agreement

Airbnb allows you to be your own boss, but there are some important details that they require from everyone. For starters: Airbnb requires a co-host sign their terms of service policy before they can join; however hosts and co-hosts can still write up their own agreements.

In fact, you will want to have a written agreement between you and your co-host that outlines everyone’s responsibilities. This will help avoid any misunderstandings and potential legal disputes down the road.

Be sure to include the following in your agreement:

• A description of the duties and responsibilities of the co-host
• The percentage or flat fee that the co-host will receive
• How and when the co-host will be paid
• The length of the agreement
• Any other relevant details

While it’s always best to consult with a lawyer before drafting up any legal document, we have an Airbnb Co-Host Agreement that you can use as a starting point, which is available here.

Final Thoughts

Running an Airbnb can be demanding, especially if you’re trying to do it all on your own or you want to grow your portfolio of properties. Adding a co-host to your team can help take some of the load off, while still allowing you to maintain control over your listing.

Co-hosting is getting more popular too, with nearly 40% of Airbnb hosts saying they’re considering adding a co-host.

Professional co-hosting companies are also starting to pop up, which can be a great option if you don’t have anyone you trust to co-host with or if you want the convenience of someone else handling all the details.

If you’re thinking about finding a co-host, be sure to do your research and find someone who you can trust.

Be clear about your expectations, and be sure to draw up a legally binding agreement between the two of you. And last but not least, be sure to communicate regularly with your co-host so that you’re both on the same page.

Do you have any experience with Airbnb co-hosting? Let us know in the comments below!