MasterHost vs HostStarter: What Does the 8% Fee Actually Exclude?

Short version: MasterHost advertises management from 8% in Chicago and from 10% in most other markets, with 12% and 15% tiers above that. The 8-10% tier is a listing-and-messaging product. Housekeeping management, restocking and maintenance coordination sit in the higher tiers. Once you add the work back in, the cheap tier usually costs more than a single full-service fee, not less.

What does MasterHost include at each tier?

MasterHost began in Canada in 2014 and now operates in 23 countries and 15 US states. Their published structure is a tiered percentage on month-to-month terms. The base tier covers guest communication, cleaning coordination, pricing strategy and listing optimisation. The top tier adds interior design and professional photography.

The word doing the heavy lifting is “coordination”. Coordinating a cleaner and employing a cleaning operation are different products at different costs.

How do the tiers compare to a single full-service fee?

What does the difference cost on a real listing?

Take a listing earning $45,000 a year.

• MasterHost at 10%: $4,500 in fees. But if restocking and maintenance coordination are not included, you are either doing that work or paying someone. Budget $150-250 a month for a coordinator or your own time at 4-6 hours a month.
• HostStarter at 12.5% + $99/mo: $5,625 + $1,188 = $6,813, with turnover, restocking and maintenance coordination inside the fee.

The gap is about $2,300 a year. If the work you now have to absorb costs more than roughly $190 a month, the 10% tier is more expensive. For most owners who do not live near the property, it does.

If MasterHost’s higher tiers genuinely include everything, compare 15% against 12.5% + $99 instead – and at $45,000 revenue that is $6,750 versus $6,813, which is a rounding error. Compare the scope, not the headline.

Is a lower percentage ever the right choice?

Yes, in two situations. If you live near the property and already have a cleaner you trust, you are buying pricing and messaging only, and a base tier is a sensible purchase. And if your listing earns under about $25,000 a year, a percentage-only fee beats any structure with a fixed monthly component, because the fixed part does not scale down.

We would rather tell you that than pretend 12.5% + $99 wins every scenario. It does not.

What should you ask before signing with anyone?

1. Is the fee on gross booking revenue or net after platform and cleaning fees? Ask for a sample monthly statement.
2. Which tier includes turnover management, restocking and maintenance coordination – in writing?
3. Who keeps the guest-paid cleaning fee, and who pays when a turnover runs long?
4. Does the listing stay in my Airbnb account, so my review history stays with me if I leave?
5. What is the notice period, and is there an early termination fee?

Question 4 is the one owners forget and regret. If a manager moves the listing to their account, the reviews and search ranking you built stay with them.

How do Airbnb management fees compare?

Advertised starting rates as published by each company in August 2026. Starting rates often apply to the entry service tier, so check what is included before comparing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Airbnb management cost?

Full-service Airbnb management typically runs 15% to 25% of rental revenue. Advertised 8% to 10% tiers are usually half-service, leaving cleaning, restocking and maintenance to the owner. HostStarter charges 12.5% of revenue plus a $99 per month software fee, with no setup fee and no long-term contract.

Is a 10% Airbnb management fee actually cheaper?

Often no. A 10% fee that excludes housekeeping coordination, restocking and maintenance is not cheaper than a 15% fee that includes them, because you still pay for that work separately or do it yourself. Compare all-in cost per year, not the headline percentage.

Do I keep my Airbnb listing and my reviews?

With HostStarter the listing stays in your own account and payouts arrive directly from Airbnb, so your review history and search ranking stay with you if you leave. Some managers move the listing onto their account, which means the reviews you built stay with them.

Is there a long-term contract?

HostStarter is month-to-month with no cancellation penalty and no setup or onboarding fee. Several national managers require annual agreements with early-termination fees, and at least one charges a separate onboarding fee, so read the exit clause before signing.

What is the difference between full-service and half-service management?

Full-service covers listing and pricing plus housekeeping, restocking, maintenance coordination and guest support. Half-service usually covers only the listing, pricing and messaging. The fee gap between the two is mostly explained by which one you are actually buying.

Next steps

• Find a short-term rental to buy - we screen properties for STR viability before you make an offer.
• Full-service Airbnb management - what is included at 12.5% + $99/mo.