Airbnb Co-Hosts: Roles Responsibilities and Costs – A Complete Guide

Managing an Airbnb property can be both rewarding and demanding. For hosts who are in need of additional assistance with the day-to-day responsibilities, enlisting a co-host can be an effective solution. This complete guide explores the fees, responsbilities, and considerations for when it might make sense to look for a co-host, and strong learning points for both hosts and aspiring co-hosts.

1. What specifically does an Airbnb Co-Host do?

An Airbnb co-host is an individual, who is selected by the primary host (generally the property owner), to help in the management of the various parts of the rental property. This could include anything from guest communications, photography or cleaning. This paired arrangement is beneficial as it allows the hosts to hand out the tasks, the work gets done efficiently, and everyone is happy (including the guests.) This is a fairly common arrangement as most property owners who have managed their own traditional rental properties in the past quickly learn that Airbnb hosting is a very different animal.

2. What Are The Responsibilities for a Co-Host?

The duties of a co-host vary and are generally custom tailored to the needs of the homeowner. Some usual tasks are:

Listing Management:

• Create the Airbnb listing with an attractive description and professional-quality photos.
• Use the calendar to correctly reflect availability and manage pricing as needed.
• Determine the best smart technology for the property.
• Assist in property registration where needed to comply with local regulations.

Guest Communication:

• Answer incoming questions and guest inquiries right away.
• Handle guest check in and check out process.
• Accompany local recommendations and handle any guest experience issues as needed.

Property Maintenance:

• Manage cleaning process and ensure property has to be kept in a good state.
• Restock necessary items and coordinate repairs as needed.

Review Management:

• Ask guests to leave a review after their stay.
• Maintaining a positive online presence by responding to feedback.

Key Benefits of Hiring a Co-Host:

• Time Management: Where property owners generally are committed full-time to other work, an Airbnb property can be run effectively only when one or multiple people are focused on it 25+ hrs per week. Competition is higher than ever before, a few days with your eye off of the ball can tank your bookings if you're not careful.
• Enhanced Guest Experience: Co-hosts can help provide a special touch and which can help make guests more satisfied. This in return will result in good reviews and visitors. They can help do deep dives into your competiton to determine what your property needs to become "First Guest Ready."
• Local Expertise: A co-host, who loves the area, can tell the guests so much about it, such as where to eat and what to do. This type of expertise can be huge for marketing the listing. The majority of guests aren't coming to stay in your property but to stay in your property as they go to a specific event or tourist attraction in the area.
  

3. How to Structure a Co-Host Agreement

A clearly written agreement is vital between the host and co-host. This should include:

• Roles and Responsibilities: 
• Write down the particular responsibilites that each person is going to be in charge of. Who is going to manage resolution center requests? What about hotel occupancy taxes? Who recieves payouts go? Who is the true owner of the listing?
• Compensation:
• Payment structure depending on the model, either a percentage of earnings or a flat fee. I would strongly advise a percentage of earnings. It keeps the Co-Host's financial incentive aligned precisely with where you want it - the overall revenue of the property.
• Duration and Termination: 
• State the contract length, along with termination conditions and requirements.
  

4. How Much Does Airbnb Take From Hosts?

Airbnb hosts are charged a service fee on each reservation that is booked on the platform to help cover costs and services, including the provision of 24/7 customer service. The two main types of fee structures available are as follows:

1. Split-Fee Structure: The most widely used option where the service fee is divided between the host and the guest.

• Host Service Fee: 3%
• This is calculated from the booking total minus Airbnb fees and taxes. The booking total is the sum of the nightly rate and any additional fees (e.g., cleaning or pet fees) included. The fee is processed automatically by the platform.
• Guest Service Fee: ~14.2%
• Generally, guests pay a service fee of under 14.2% of the total value of the booking. This amount is affected by the length of stay and the region. In the case of foreign currency bookings the guest service fee can go up to 16.5% of the booking subtotal.

2. Host-Only Fee Structure: A situation where only the host shoulders the entire service fee and the guests are not imposed one.

• Host Service Fee: The amount is within the 14% to 16% of the booking subtotal. This format is deemed compulsory for traditional accommodation places like hotels and serviced apartments, and hosts who use property management systems to interface with Airbnb unless the majority of their listings are located within the USA, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan, or Uruguay.

5. How to Add a Co-Host on Airbnb

1. Log in to Your Airbnb Account

• First, you need to sign in to your account on the Airbnb website or the mobile application.

2. Go to Your Listings

• On the site: Go to your profile picture located at the upper-right corner and then click on "Listings" from the dropdown menu.
• On the app: Press "Profile" and then scroll to "Listings."

  3. Select a Listing

• You have to pick the specific apartment you wish to add a co-host.

4. Access Co-Host Settings

• On the listing page, Click on "Co-Hosts" in the menu (may also be under "Manage Listing").
• Alternatively, look for an option like "Invite a Co-Host" in the settings.

5. Invite a Co-Host

• Type in the email address of the person that you are inviting as a co-host.
• (optional) Write a personal message to explain their role or expectations.

6. Send the Invitation

• Click "Send Invite" to send the invitation by an email to the co-host.

7. Await Acceptance

• Look for the Email with the invitation that the person you have invited would receive. Once they accept, they will be formally added as a co-host for that listing.

 6. How Much Does a Co-Host Charge?

There are two business models which Co-Hosts use most frequently:

1. Percentage of Booking Revenue

• This is the most common structure. Generally, co-hosts average about 15%-20% of the property revenue. For example, if the place gets $1,000 from a booking, then the co-host gets $150-$200.

2. Flat Fee per Booking

• This is a fixed amount paid for each booking regardless of the booking price.Combination of Fees: Some arrangements have a flat fee and a percent of the earnings especially if the co-host is in charge of many activities.

Variables Affecting Co-Host Fees:

Co-host fees can be influenced by several factors, including but not limited to:

• Scope of Duties:
• More duties will generally demand greater pay. Generally the more hands off you are looking to be the higher the cost.
• Property Size and Type:
• Larger, more opulent homes can be a tougher challenge hence the increase in prices.
• Local rule:
• The co-host may charge differently according to the market price of the area that is; urban rates are generally higher than rural.
• Experience Level:
• Being well-versed in the area co-hosts may be higher in fees; plus, they might save time on research and be able to drive additional revenue.

7. Where Do I Find a Co-Host?

There are a few tried and true ways to find your perfect Co-Host:

1. Ask Friends or Family

• Trusted Connections: Start by reaching out to people you already know and trust. They might be willing to help manage your listing as well, especially if they live nearby.
• Cost Savings: Often, friends or family members may agree to co-host for little or no cost. We see numerous clients who work with us for 6-12 months and then have a family member be able to step in once they have a strong foundation to continue to build from.

2. Post in Local Community Groups on Social Media

• Facebook Groups: Search for local Airbnb host or short-term rental groups. These are often great places to find experienced co-hosts familiar with your area. A few include the Airbnb Host Community, Airbnb Superhosts, and Airbnb Masterminds group.
• Nextdoor: Use neighborhood apps like Nextdoor to connect with people who live nearby and may be interested in co-hosting.

3. Airbnb Co-Host Marketplace

• Availability: In some regions, Airbnb has a new Co-Host marketplace where hosts can connect with experienced co-hosts.
• How to Access: Log into Airbnb, go to the Help Center, and search for "Find a Co-Host" to see if this feature is available in your area.

4. Professional Property Management Services

• Companies: Many property management companies offer co-hosting services. They can take over tasks such as guest communication, cleaning, and even dynamic pricing.
• Research: Look for local companies specializing in short-term rental management. Ask them to provide example listings for your review prior to moving forward.

5. Networking with Other Hosts

• Local Events: Attend Airbnb host meetups or events in your area to connect with experienced co-hosts or get referrals. Events like the VRMA International or Skift Short-Term Rental Summit are fantastic.
• Online Forums: Join Airbnb forums (such as Airbnb Community Center or Reddit’s r/Airbnb) to ask for recommendations.

8. What Is The Difference Between a Co-Host and Property Manager?

One of the most confusing things about our industry are that these terms are thrown around interchangably a lot. At the end of the day, the agreement you have determines the responsibilities you are contracting and the actual title of the company or individual doesn't make much of a difference. However, I will list the general services differences below:

1. Airbnb Property Managers typically help manage multiple platforms (Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com) while Co-Hosts will only manage Airbnb.
2. Airbnb Property Managers typically handle all aspects of cleaning, maintenance and emergency repairs. Co-Hosts will generally share these responbilities with their clients.
3. Airbnb Co-Hosts provide more transparancy and visibility in their management operations. Generally Airbnb Property Managers own their clients listings and thus "lock them in" by having them need to completley restart if they decide to leave.

The Bottom Line

Airbnb co-hosting can be a win-win situation for both hosts and co-hosts. By clearly spelling out duties, compensation, and other terms, both sides can work together in guest accommodation and property management.