How to Start an Airbnb with no Money - Whome Property Management (2024)

Want to learn how to start an Airbnb with no money? The truth of the matter is that this is actually a lot easier than it may seem. Below, we are going to break down how anybody can make money on this platform with little-to-no investment required.

For starters, it’s important that you know that many people who are currently making money off Airbnb don’t actually own property. Of course, it is still a lot easier to maximize your potential for profit if you already have the extra vacant space sitting around.

How to Start an Airbnb with no Money - Whome Property Management (1)Airbnb Isn’t Just For Property Owners

One of the most common misconceptions on the platform is that you need to own property in order to make money on Airbnb. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many people on this platform have discovered Airbnb property management software and various other strategies for making money on the platform without owning property. However, of course, owning property is the best way to ensure your potential for profit.

The Airbnb Platform is Much More than it May Seem

Many people who use Airbnb are not even actually on the platform because they are property owners. As we just mentioned, some of the most experienced people making money off of the platform don’t even actually own any property at all. On this page, we will break down ways that both property owners and those who don’t own property can make money on Airbnb without money to invest.

5 Ways to Start an Airbnb With No Money

As mentioned, there are many ways for both property owners and non-property owners to open an Airbnb account and start making money. Now that we have covered some basic information on the platform, let’s go ahead and start looking at precise ideas as to how you can make money on Airbnb with no money.

How to Start an Airbnb with no Money - Whome Property Management (2)1. Becoming a Property Manager

Property managers are some of the highest-earning people on the Airbnb platform. Although many property managers own property themselves, this isn’t required. Property managers typically have a website that attracts property owners looking to save time on the tedious tasks that are required.

Locally-based Airbnb property management companies like Whome in Portugal really stand out as great examples of this service. These sorts of companies handle all tedious tasks such as maintenance, helping you set income goals, cleaning, concierge and key service, and much more.

2. Using Your Own Vacant Property

Do you have a vacant property that you want to rent out on Airbnb? Then you are already way ahead of the ball game! With vacant property, all you need to do is create a profile and start marketing away.

Of course, this can be a lot easier than it sounds with Airbnb tools. If you want to start renting out your vacant property without investing any money, simply clean up the area, take nice pictures, plan out the Airbnb host checklist and get your listing up on Airbnb.

How to Start an Airbnb with no Money - Whome Property Management (3)3. Take Initiative on Open Rentals in your Area

Next time you are driving around your neighborhood and notice that there are open rental signs posted, think of this as a business opportunity. You can also make a little bit of money with rentals like this.

Simply approach the owner of the property and ask them if they are interested in listing the property on Airbnb. Odds are likely that they might be, but simply not willing to invest the extra time. It is possible that you can start an Airbnb with no money in this fashion and start getting some extra income.

4. Become an Affiliate

Airbnb has an affiliate program which offers money to people who bring others on to the platform. Refer your friends and family over to Airbnb and help make an account and their first booking. If they pass the word that you were the one who brought them to the platform, you get a nice commission in return.

Many affiliates that make money in this program will send out a personalized affiliate link to a large audience of people. This can be done safely and legally by having your own following, for example. Just don’t be the person who spams your link on social media!

5. Offer Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb Experiences is perhaps the easiest way to start an Airbnb account without money and soon start racking in profit. Airbnb experiences are local premium tours and experiences that are done in cities around the world.

They can include trips to sites, one-of-a-kind experiences, and so on. If you know of activities in your area that people might be willing to book on arrival, you can set up an Airbnb Experience for it free of charge and start marketing away.

Want to earn money with your property on Airbnb?

As we have explored on this page, anyone can easily learn how to start an Airbnb with no money. The biggest hurdle is either owning property or be willing to work for others who do own property. If you have property, it is generally a lot easier to make money on the platform.

If you currently own property and are hoping to make money on Airbnb without endlessly investing tons of more cash into the property, getting an Airbnb property manager is generally the best idea. Whome, for example, offers full management services for only a fraction of the money that you receive from the property.

How to Start an Airbnb with no Money - Whome Property Management (2024)

FAQs

How do I start an Airbnb business with no money? ›

Offer Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb Experiences is perhaps the easiest way to start an Airbnb account without money and soon start racking in profit. Airbnb experiences are local premium tours and experiences that are done in cities around the world. They can include trips to sites, one-of-a-kind experiences, and so on.

How to become financially independent with Airbnb without owning property? ›

Top 10 Ways to Start Making Money on Airbnb without Owning a Property
  1. Take the Airbnb Rental Arbitrage Route. ...
  2. Become a Short-term Rental Property Manager. ...
  3. Become a Co-host to an Airbnb host. ...
  4. Join a Vacation Rental Franchise. ...
  5. Become an Airbnb Consultant. ...
  6. Start an Airbnb Cleaning Service. ...
  7. Host an Airbnb Experience.

Can I manage an Airbnb without owning property? ›

Sublease an Airbnb.

As noted above, if your landlord and the law allows, you can always lease a place long-term and then re-list it on Airbnb for short-term stays. Also known as rental arbitrage, this lets you get into hosting without needing the cash to own property, just the cost of a security deposit.

How do Airbnb management companies work? ›

Many Airbnb property management companies charge a flat fee for a set of services. No matter how many nights the rental is booked, the fee does not change. However, in addition to the fixed monthly fee, these companies will also charge you for additional services, such as maintenance, marketing, and check-in.

How much money do I need to start my own Airbnb? ›

An Airbnb costs, on average, $6k to start — assuming you already own the property. Putting everything together, Airbnb costs include: Cleaning and maintenance (e.g., supplies, cleaner fees) Amenities (e.g., purchasing workspace items)

How do I start a small Airbnb? ›

Follow these steps to start an Airbnb business:
  1. Consider and research locations. ...
  2. Take a look at other sites nearby. ...
  3. Budget appropriately and know your investing options. ...
  4. Make a business plan and purchase property. ...
  5. Determine your property management strategy. ...
  6. Create a name. ...
  7. Create an LLC. ...
  8. Know who you're marketing to.
Jul 10, 2023

How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month? ›

What Is the Average Airbnb Host Salary by State
StateAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
California$37,509$3,125
North Carolina$37,432$3,119
Massachusetts$37,405$3,117
Oklahoma$37,372$3,114
46 more rows

How do I start passive income on Airbnb? ›

The best way to earn passive income with Airbnb is to automate as much as possible. The less direct involvement you have in being a vacation rental owner, the better. You can automate cleaning, maintenance, guest check-in and outs, payments, and more. Automation also allows you to scale your Airbnb business.

Can a non profit run an Airbnb? ›

Since Airbnb waives fees for Social Impact experiences, 100% of the proceeds are paid directly to the nonprofit through this payout method. If your organization requires a fiscal sponsor, please be sure the fiscal sponsor completes this process. Submit your experience and wait for the approval notification.

How many Airbnbs do you need to make a living? ›

To become a full-time Airbnb entrepreneur, you'll almost certainly need to grow beyond offering just one property for rent. It may take three or even 10 rentals, depending on how often you can rent out your properties and for how much, to become financially secure. Growing your property portfolio is not easy.

How do I protect myself as an Airbnb owner? ›

Consider liability and insurance options

Airbnb's host protection insurance offers coverage for a variety of scenarios, including: Guests who damage your home, belongings, furniture, or vehicles. Unexpected cleaning fees due to a guest.

Is it hard to run an Airbnb? ›

Starting an Airbnb business isn't as simple as taking some pictures of your property and listing them on Airbnb. The process takes significant effort and time, requiring you to do deep research into the Airbnb market, navigate complex regulations and taxes, and prepare your property with care to attract guests.

How many hours does it take to manage an Airbnb? ›

Depending on the type of vacation rental you are running, you could be looking at spending 2-3 hours a day managing your property and between 5-8 hours on days where you have a change-over of guests. What takes so long, you ask? Here are some things that are likely to eat away the hours in your day…

What does a property manager do in Airbnb? ›

Maintain a calendar of reservations to prevent double-bookings and view upcoming rentals. Clean rentals, restock necessities, and explain house rules to new guests. Answer guest questions and meet with guests to exchange keys at the beginning of stays. Perform routine and emergency maintenance on properties.

How much do Airbnb co-hosts make? ›

Airbnb Co-Host Fee

On average, Airbnb co-hosts charge 10-20% of the nightly rate without cleaning the rental property. So, for example, if you co-host an Airbnb that earns $30,000 per year, you can expect to earn roughly $3,000-$6,000.

Can anyone run an Airbnb? ›

While almost anyone can become an Airbnb host, there are still a series of requirements and expectations that should be followed to maintain a high standard.

How much do I need to start an Airbnb arbitrage? ›

Lower initial investment

One of the biggest plus points for rental arbitrage is the low start-up costs. As we said before, you can get started in rental arbitrage with just $5,000. It's a pretty safe bet that you can find an apartment to rent for $2,000 per month. To this, add in a 50% rent deposit of $1,000.

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