Operating a short-term rental feels like running three businesses at once: hospitality, operations, and guest experience. Some hosts love the day-to-day details…but others would rather hand off the moving parts and focus on the big picture.
If you’ve ever considered hiring an Airbnb management company to help you reign in the chaos, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
We cover:
- What Airbnb management companies do
- How much it costs to hire STR property management companies
- How to decide whether you need an Airbnb manager
- Tips for choosing the right manager for your vacation rental
First off, what do Airbnb management companies actually do?
An Airbnb management company takes on the responsibilities you’d normally juggle as a host. The goal is to make your property run smoothly without needing your constant attention.
Management companies’ services tend to fall into these buckets:
Creating and optimizing listings
This is especially helpful if you have more than one rental property to oversee.
Your property manager can:
- Coordinate taking (or updating) listing photos
- Write keyword-rich descriptions and listing titles
- Keep your listing up to date (i.e. is your hot tub temporarily broken? Your manager will be on top of making sure that’s reflected in your listing to prevent disappointment)
- Ensure your listing is consistent across platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.)
Manage revenue and adjust pricing
Strong pricing is one of the biggest levers to boost your earnings, and most Airbnb management companies treat it as an ongoing process rather than a set-it-and-forget-it task. Instead of guessing where to land each night, they use tools that analyze booking patterns, seasonal shifts, and what similar properties are charging.
Communicating with guests
Most management companies will handle everything from responding to inquiries to sending check-in instructions and post-stay messages. If late-night pings from guests aren’t your thing, this alone can be worth the management fee.
Cleaning, turnover coordination, and maintenance
Most Airbnb property management companies have cleaners, handymen, and inspectors on speed dial. On your behalf, your manager can schedule cleanings, restock essentials, and handle maintenance issues before they escalate into expensive problems.
Maintaining compliance
Short-term rental regulations can change quickly, and keeping track of them can feel like a job on its own. A good Airbnb property management company will monitor local rules for you, like permits, registration requirements, occupancy limits, tax collection, and anything else your city may require.
They’ll flag updates, handle routine filings when applicable, and help make sure your listing stays on the right side of local laws so you’re not hit with surprise fines.
Reporting
Expect monthly statements, occupancy summaries, and revenue snapshots. Larger firms may provide a dashboard where you can track your listing’s performance in real time.
How much does it cost to have someone manage your Airbnb?
Expect to pay anywhere from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars per month to have someone manage your Airbnb.
That’s a wide range, but that’s because Airbnb management fees vary drastically depending on:
- Property type
- Market competitiveness
- Size of the portfolio
- Whether you need boots-on-the-ground support or mostly digital tools
Most companies charge their fee as a percentage of gross booking revenue.
Fees generally fall into these ranges:
- 15-30% for full-service management
- 10-15% for partial-service or flexible management
- Flat monthly fees for some local operators
- A la carte pricing for one-off services like dynamic pricing, messaging, or cleaning oversight
If you’re already stretched thin or you’re managing multiple listings, the fee can pay for itself by increasing occupancy and improving the guest experience. But if you're local, hands-on, or enjoy hosting, you may not need a full-scale manager — especially if you’re comfortable with most of the operational duties.
So should you hire an Airbnb management company?
The answer depends on your goals and your tolerance for daily operational tasks. Some hosts thrive as hands-on operators. Others want their STR to feel more passive. Many sit somewhere in between.
You might benefit from a management company if you:
- Live far from your rental and manage it remotely
- Have multiple properties or plan to scale
- Struggle with guest messaging or round-the-clock communication
- Want higher nightly rates through expert revenue management
- Don’t have reliable cleaners or maintenance help yet
- Feel drained by the operational load
You may not need one if you:
- Enjoy guest interactions
- Live close to the property
- Have strong local contractors and cleaners
- Already use automated pricing tools
- Want to keep more of the revenue and stay fully involved
There’s no wrong approach. The right choice simply aligns with your goals, time, and energy.
Pros and cons of working with an Airbnb property management company
Pros:
- Time saved
Offloading repetitive tasks like coordinating cleanings, replying to messages, and handling maintenance requests frees up SO much time every week. - Better guest experience
Consistency and responsiveness typically improve reviews from guests. - Higher occupancy
Expert pricing and constant oversight will likely lead to more days booked. - Less stress
If you've ever juggled three turnovers in one weekend, you already know the value here.
Cons:
- Management fees
The cost is real and you should weigh it against potential revenue gains. - Loss of control
You won’t have your hands on every detail, so make sure you’re OK relinquishing control. - Quality varies
Picking the wrong company might mean poor communication or mismanaged cleanings. - Contract terms
Some agreements make it difficult to switch providers or get out of a contract early.
Tips for choosing the right management company for your STR
Since quality among Airbnb management companies varies, here’s how to evaluate your options thoughtfully:
1. Start with setting your goals and defining your non-negotiables
Before you look at a single management company’s website, get clear on what you actually need:
- Do you want to be fully hands-off, or are you OK handling some tasks like design or maintenance approvals?
- Are you trying to grow into multiple properties, or keep one or two places performing really well?
- What is your minimum net revenue goal after fees?
You should also write down 3-5 non-negotiables — for example:
- Must offer 24/7 guest communication
- Must provide detailed monthly reporting
- Must have local cleaners, not just a marketplace app
This list gives you a filter so you can quickly eliminate companies that are a bad fit instead of getting pulled in by shiny marketing.
2. Review the listings they already manage
This is one of the most revealing steps you can take, and it only takes 15-20 minutes per company.
Pick 3-5 listings they manage and look closely at:
- Overall rating and number of reviews
- Cleanliness and communication sub-scores
- Photo quality and listing descriptions
- How frequently the calendar is booked in your high season
- How fast they respond to guest reviews (and the tone they use)
If you wouldn’t be proud to have your property presented that way, keep looking.
3. Ask about their operational systems
On intro calls, a lot of STR property management companies will say they’re “full service” and “data-driven.” That sounds nice, but what do they actually mean?
Push for specifics by asking:
- Who answers messages, and during what hours? What is your average response time?
- Do you use in-house cleaners or contractors? How do you verify quality after each turnover?
- Who makes repair decisions under a certain dollar amount? How do you handle emergency calls at 2 a.m.?
- What tools or data do you use to set rates? How often are prices adjusted during peak seasons?
- What can I see each month? Can you show a sample owner report?
4. Run the numbers like a business
Before signing with anyone, plug their fees into an actual revenue scenario, not a hypothetical.
For example:
- Estimate annual gross revenue using past performance or market data.
- Subtract the management fee (percentage or flat).
- Subtract cleaning, maintenance, platform fees, and supplies.
- Compare that “managed” net income to your self-managed net income and your time cost.
5. Understand their local knowledge
Your Airbnb management company should understand:
- Local STR regulations and registration requirements
- Busy seasons, shoulder seasons, and low-demand periods in your region
- Major local events that impact pricing
- Neighborhood quirks and guest expectations
Ask them to describe your market in their own words and how they tailor their approach there. If their answer feels generic, they may not be as attuned to the region as you need.
6. Ask for references and case studies
A good Airbnb property management company should be willing to connect you with at least one or two current owners in a similar market or property type so you can pick their brain about their experiences.
Good questions to ask those owners:
- How has your revenue changed since hiring them?
- How does the manager handle problems or last-minute issues?
- Have you ever considered leaving, and if so, why did you stay?
FAQ
Who can I hire to manage my Airbnb?
You can hire a full-service manager, a partial manager, or a co-host. Each option varies in scope and cost. Co-hosts are often best for local, flexible support, while management companies offer full operations.
Are Airbnb management fees worth it?
If you value convenience, want to improve occupancy, or need help maintaining consistent guest experiences, the management fee could pay for itself. But if you enjoy having day-to-day involvement, a manager might not be necessary.
Should I hire a property manager or a co-host for my Airbnb?
A co-host works well if you only want help with a few tasks like messaging or check-ins. A full-service manager is the better choice if you want oversight across the entire operation, especially in busy or super competitive markets.