HostStarter was founded after a firsthand experience with overpriced, underperforming property management. We built the company we wished existed.
Like many property owners, David Donley started with a simple goal: earn passive income from his short-term rental properties. He did what most owners do — hired a property management company.
What followed was a lesson in what the property management industry gets wrong. The company charged over 20% in fees, locked him into a year-long contract, and delivered mediocre results with zero transparency. Guest reviews were average. Revenue was below market. When David asked questions, he got vague answers.
So he took his properties back in-house. Within six months, he had tripled his monthly revenue. The difference? Better photography, data-driven pricing, hands-on guest communication, and genuine attention to the details that guests actually care about.
David looked at the short-term rental management industry and saw a massive gap: almost every company was doing what his first manager did — charging too much, locking owners in, and treating properties as an afterthought. HostStarter was built to be the opposite.
Fair fees. No contracts. Professional service. Complete transparency. Owner-first, always.
Six core values guide every decision we make at HostStarter.
Clear pricing, clear reporting, clear communication. No surprises, no hidden fees, no excuses.
We don't need a contract to keep you. We keep you by earning more revenue than you'd earn anywhere else.
Deep knowledge of each market we serve — neighborhoods, demand patterns, regulations, seasonal trends.
Your property is your investment. Every decision we make is made with your revenue and property health as the priority.
Over 90% 5-star reviews across all managed properties. We hold ourselves to the same standard we'd want as guests.
We never set-and-forget. Listings are continuously tested, optimized, and improved based on performance data.
No setup fees. No long-term contracts. Free discovery call.
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