How much does an Airbnb Co Host make?

Last updated on August 17th, 2021 by P. Duckworth / Host FAQs / Leave a Comment

What is an Airbnb co host and what do they do?

So, how much does an Airbnb co host make? It’s a common question, yet a quick Google search leads you down a rabbit hole with no definitive answers. Therefore it’s time I answer this question once and for all!

Airbnb co host earnings will vary between 10-20% per booking. There is no ‘set amount’, but the consensus shows this range is fair. So for example, if you co host an Airbnb that earns $30,000 per year, you’ll earn roughly $3,000-$6,000.

The types of duties you perform will determine your potential earnings. So it’s up to you as a co host, to enter into an agreement with the primary host for a fair price. Below, I will give you a sample Airbnb co host agreement template.

There is plenty to think about out, so let’s take a look at the important questions.

How much does an Airbnb co host make?

How much does a co host make?

The real answer? It depends. I know that’s not the answer you want, but there honestly is no set amount. There are so many variables. From my research 20% sounds like the average figure.

Some hosts may receive a flat fee each week or month, that both parties agree upon. The graphic above will help give you a general indication of how much you can earn as a co host.

How much you’ll earn as an Airbnb co host hinges entirely on your duties. Will you be handling everything, including the cleaning? Perhaps you’ll only be responding to guests and leaving reviews?

In other words, the more you do, the more you will earn. So therefore, I think the best thing to do next is look at some duties of a co host.

And finally, being a co host is one of the best ways to make money without owning an Airbnb.

How do Airbnb Co Hosts get paid?

It used to be easy for a co host to get paid, but Airbnb has made things harder with some recent changes.

Back in the day, Airbnb allowed you to split payments with co hosts, but gone are those days (to the disgust of hosts!). While things are now a little trickier, there are some good workarounds.

Let’s look at some ways that Airbnb co hosts get paid.

How do Airbnb co hosts get paid

#1 – Bank Transfer

You could do things the old fashion way and do a simple bank transfer. This would be the most common way for a co host to get paid and it’s reliable. The only issue is it may take 1-2 business days to receive a payment. If this is not a problem, then it would be my recommended payment method.

  • Most popular method. Well trusted and no fees
  • Slow. Can take up to 1-2 business days

#2 – PayPal

Another great option is PayPal and the benefit here is that payments are instant. Just be aware that you will have to pay fees with every payment you make, however these are minimal. Again, it is a trusted payment method and well known.

  • Payments are instant. A well trusted brand around the world
  • PayPal charge you fees. Also, not everybody has an account

#3 – Payment Apps

There are plenty of great apps out there that allow you to send and receive money, similar to PayPal. Popular ones that I have seen co hosts use include Cash.app, Zeller and Veller. You can do it via your mobile phone, or use their website. One negative is most people are unlikely to have accounts, as they are not well known brands. They will also charge fees.

  • Instant payments. Can transfer money from your mobile phone
  • Added fees. Not many people will have accounts. Less trusted.

#4 – Hosting Services

Using a hosting service is a fantastic way to pay an Airbnb co host. Some good examples include Lodgify, Whome.pt and GuestReady. It’s a secure way of putting co hosts together with Airbnb owners. You can also make payment transfers, but drawback is it’s more costly than the other options.

  • Trusted, secure and a good reputation
  • Fees are more expensive than other options

What does an Airbnb Co Host do?

An Airbnb co host will perform many responsibilities. It may be as simple as meeting guests at the front door, or it may be handling the entire booking process.

Below are some of the main responsibilities that you may be expected to perform.

Common Responsibilities:

  • Handling reservations
  • Communicating with guests
  • Cleaning your property
  • Updating your calendar & prices
  • Coordinating laundry & cleaning
  • Rectifying any maintenance issues
  • Restock essential supplies
  • Welcoming guests in person
  • Verifying identify of guests
  • Extra guest services (airport transfer, etc)
  • Reviewing guests
  • Listing your space
Co Host Duties in Detail
As you can see, the duties of an Airbnb co host can vary greatly. Let’s take a look at some of those in some more detail.

#1 Dealing with guests

Your main responsibility will be dealing with guests. Usually that means communicating with guests before, during and after their stay.

Duckworth phone

I recommend checking out my Airbnb message templates to assist you with this.

In other words, your duty will be to coordinate the arrival time and check in details for each guest. Some co hosts will meet the guests in person on arrival, but this is optional.

Another task is likely to be dealing with any issues a guest may have during their stay. For example, a guest may have locked themselves out, or broken something, and so on.

#2 – Getting the space ready

Guests will expect a clean and tidy space upon their arrival. As a co host, it’ll be your responsibility to coordinate the cleaning of the Airbnb property.

Airbnb cleaner duck

Now you may clean the property yourself, or a cleaning service may maintain it for you. However, it’s your responsibility to ensure the cleaning is of a high standard. My Airbnb cleaning checklist may be a good starting point.

Another part of your duties is to stock the property full of essential amenities. You must provide bare essentials such as toilet paper, towels and soap for guests. I explain in detail in my article on Airbnb amenities explained.

Also, sometimes things will go wrong. You’ll need to deal with maintenance workers such as plumbers, electricians and so on.

Earlier I asked the question how much does an Airbnb co host make? Well, co hosts that do the cleaning themselves make a lot more money!

#3 – Maintain the listing

Maintaining the listing is another key role of a co host. The most basic role is leaving Airbnb reviews for guests.

Getting 5 star reviews is very important and you must ensure those great reviews keep rolling in.

Other roles may include writing catchy Airbnb titles for the listing or creating professional photos. In other words, little jobs that will make the listing look snazzy and bring in new guests.

Keeping tabs on the right price and updating the calendar often is also a role of an Airbnb co host.

Sample Airbnb Co Host agreement

It’s important to have an Airbnb co host agreement in place, so I want to give you a sample. Both parties need to cover themselves, so I urge to have a contract in place protecting yourself.

This area is something I recommend you see a lawyer about. You could easily download a sample Airbnb co host agreement online, but will it truly cover you?

When creating your agreement, look to include the following things:

  • Clearly define the co hosts duties
  • Earning fees (eg. 20% per booking)
  • State the payment method (eg. bank transfer)
  • Extra charges (eg. call out fees)
  • Liabilities & miscellaneous items

This is just a rough guide to get you started. You’ll find some great samples at BnbSpecialist.com and some good discussion here.

Remember, Airbnb is a very niche area, so many lawyers may be unfamiliar with Airbnb laws. Also, rules and regulations change greatly from area to area. For this reason, it makes it hard for me to give you good advice.

If a friend or family member is your co host, it’s unlikely you’ll need an Airbnb co host agreement. However, if you are a landlord and have a hosting service manage your property, get a contract in place!

There is a good guide on this topic at Airbnb.com that you should familiarise yourself with too.

How do I become a co host on Airbnb?

Becoming a co host on Airbnb is a simple process. The owner of the Airbnb can add you to the account in a couple of east steps.

How to add an Airbnb co host:

  1. Click on Listings

    Once in your Airbnb hosting dashboard, there will be a link to Listings in the top menu. Click on that.

  2. Select your listing

    This will take you to a page with all your Airbnb listings. Select the one you wish to add a co host to.

  3. Find the Co Host page

    Next, from here, click on Co Host on the sub menu near the top. It should be the second last item on the menu.

  4. Add your new Co Host

    From within this page you can add your new host. Simply click the Invite A Friend button and they will receive a prompt to join your team.

How do I add a co host (example):

How to add an Airbnb co host

How to find an Airbnb co host?

There are two ways that I suggest when people ask me how to find an Airbnb co host?

First, I recommend asking a friend or family member to do your co hosting. The main reason is you know you will be able to trust them, plus it is often a much cheaper option. The drawback though, however, is that they are often inexperienced.

The second option is to use an online hosting service. For example, the awesome website cohostmarket.com is a great place to start.

With a service like Co Host Market, you can easily find Airbnb co hosts in your area in a matter of seconds. Simply enter your city into the search field, and they will provide you with a list of hosts in your area.

The beauty is that you’ll be able to see at a glance what each host is like. Data such as their average star rating and estimated price will help you choose a suitable co host. Take a look at the screen shot below for an example.

Example of cohostmarket.com service

Summary

If you’re thinking of becoming an Airbnb co host, I hope this article has been informative for you.

To sum up, you should expect to earn between 10-20% per booking. That includes simple duties such as responding to guests and leaving reviews.

The more duties you do, the more you can expect to make. For example, you will earn more if you’re doing all the cleaning and replacing amenities. More again if you are covering maintenance, or doing laundry, etc.

Listing yourself on a service like Co Host Market will help you get your name out there. If your price is right and you have great reviews, an Airbnb host will happily use your services.

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