How to Make Money as an Airbnb Host (Beginner’s Guide)

Saving money on make money airbnb host does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.

Key Takeaways

• How to Make Money as an Airbnb Host (Beginner’s Guide) Renting out space in your home can be a fun and lucrative gig.
• Hosting can help you pay off debt, save for that awesome vacation you've always wanted, or even provide a full-time income.
• Learn how to be an Airbnb host here.

How to Make Money as an Airbnb Host (Beginner’s Guide)

Renting out space in your home can be a fun and lucrative gig. Hosting can help you pay off debt, save for that awesome vacation you've always wanted, or even provide a full-time income. Learn how to be an Airbnb host here.

Written by Megan Robinson, CMC® Last Updated: April 2, 2025 Reviewed by Jeff Proctor

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Perhaps you saw a headline on the news that had some eye popping numbers (like CNBC’s recent feature on one man who made $360,000 in 4 years as an Airbnb host).[1]

Or maybe it was the painful conversation you had to sit through as your friend bragged about how they made $600 from their Airbnb this past weekend.

In either case, your curiosity is peeked and you can’t help but wonder, could you too make money as an Airbnb host?

Well, as luck would have it, the vast majority of you can.

Be it listing a single bedroom in your home, or putting the whole house up for grabs while you’re out of town, the short-term rental market has quickly become an affordable alternative to more traditional lodging choices (like costly hotels).

A relatively passive earnings opportunity, Airbnb provides a platform for you to make money from unused living spaces.

Money that can help you pay off debt, go toward a vacation, or even replace your current full-time income.

Whatever your reason for wanting to get started, our comprehensive Airbnb hosting guide will introduce you to the necessary rules and requirements for listing with Airbnb, and lays out helpful tips for maximizing your earnings.

Things to Consider Before Getting Started

Before you jump all-in and decide to become an Airbnb host, it’s key to look at the short-term rental regulations in your area, and familiarize yourself with any local laws that may require certain protections for you and your guests.

1. Check the local laws

If you really want to do things by the book, the first thing you should do is check the local laws on short-term rentals in your area.

Some cities may require you to obtain a business license or special permit.

Airbnb provides some useful information on its site regarding responsible hosting and what regulations may apply in your city.

2. Decide how much money you want to make with Airbnb

Source: Airbnb

Ah, the fun part.

Why do you want to host with Airbnb? What is your goal?

Do you want to make enough money to cover your rent or mortgage, or are you just looking for a little extra spending money? Maybe you’re saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or just need some extra cash on the side to supplement your muffin and coffee addiction.

Setting goals for your money is key for the next step in the process: research. Whatever number you decide on , be it $5,000 for that vacation, or $1,500 to cover your mortgage , will help you determine how numerous days a month you need to rent your place in order to meet your goal.

Related: 40 Ways to Make $100 Fast When You Need Money

3. See what other local listings are priced at

Learning how to be a excellent Airbnb host is a little like learning how to run a business. And just like with any business, you should do a little research up front.

Take a look around the Airbnb website to check the going rate for similar rentals in your area (i.e. same number of bathrooms, bedrooms, location, etc.). Determine the average prices for weekdays and weekends.

Source: Airbnb

The nice thing about Airbnb is that you have the full freedom to choose when you rent out your space, and there’s no long-term commitment. Start by renting your place out just one time to get your feet wet.

Once you have a feel for how much you can expect to earn per rental, you can calculate how numerous nights per month you’ll need to make your place available to meet the income goal you set in Step 2.

4. Talk to your landlord

If you don’t own the place where you live, then you’ll need to ask your landlord’s permission before profiting from having strangers stay at your place. You’re more likely to get the okay if you rent from an individual rather than a large apartment complex.

Most leasing companies will not allow short-term rentals.

Furthermore, you’ll want to be prepared before you speak with whoever it is you need to get permission from. Make sure you’ve done your research, and be sure to convey to your landlord what’s in it for them.

Will you split the profit? Will the split be even or skewed?

Have some projections drawn up and be ready to discuss how much you think you can both realistically make. Your landlord is much more likely to agree if you can convince them the benefits are worth the risk.

5. Talk to your neighbors

Ultimately, your neighbors don’t really have a say in the matter if you own your own house (unless you’re part of an HOA, in which case you’ll definitely need to check the HOA rules and chat with your neighbors).

Either way, you can avoid a excellent deal of frustration by being up front with them about your plans.

Neighbors can put a stop to your dreams of hosting with Airbnb quickly if you or your guests behave disrespectfully. Better to get it out of the way up front to avoid potential roadblocks in the future.

Again, have a plan when you approach your neighbors and/or HOA. Let them know how frequently you plan to host guests, how you’ll screen potential candidates, and ask them if they have any special requests (i.e. quiet after 9 PM, maximum number of vehicles, where guests will park, etc.).

Related: A Detailed Guide to Renting Out Your Space

6. Keep insurance and taxes in mind

These are two necessary evils.

Fortunately, Airbnb has a Host Protection Insurance policy that provides liability coverage for up to $1 million for claims of bodily injury or third party property damage. This protects you from being sued by a guest who suffers some type of loss during their stay.

However, Airbnb’s policy does not protect your property; and neither will your regular homeowner’s policy.

That’s because homeowner’s policies have what’s called a “business activity” exclusion, which means your policy can deny any claim related to a business activity. What does that mean for your Airbnb business?

It means you’ll likely need to purchase a separate liability insurance policy to cover your assets.

Whether or not you need to collect occupancy taxes from your guests depends on where you live. Some locations have a collect and remit feature that automatically adds the occupancy taxes to your listing, so you don’t have to do a thing. However, if you do need to collect taxes separately, Airbnb makes it simple to do so by adding a special offer to your listing.

Tips for Maximizing Your Earnings as an Airbnb Host

If you decide to list your home (or unused room) with Airbnb, awesome.

Now it’s time to get your game face on and focus on the prize.

1. Decide what kind of host you want to be

In terms of making money, there are three main kinds of Airbnb hosts. Those who are looking for (1) ways to make money relatively quickly (2) a steady second income, or (3) want to launch a full-time Airbnb business.

Your Airbnb hustle can change and grow over time. We recommend easing into it at first, one visit at a time until you get a feeling for what it’s like to be an Airbnb host and whether or not it’s a good fit for you.

Another thing to consider is how hands-on you’ll want to be with it. Are you going to greet every visitor upon arrival or avoid human interaction at all cost (not recommended)? The more personal you make the experience, the more you can expect to earn.

This isn’t to say you won’t make money as a complete introvert, but personalizing a guest’s experience can go a long way in making them feel welcome (and more likely to open their wallet).

2. Choose your target market

Be realistic about who you want to attract and who you’re likely to attract. What kind of guests do you want to attract?

If you’re renting a room in the house where you live, then maybe you’d prefer families or couples. But if you’re renting an independent unit (apartment, room in a detache

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check make money airbnb host against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.