How to Make Money on Airbnb Without Owning Property

Each year, many people around the world join the vacation rental industry. However, not all are property owners. Read on to find out how to get into the vacation rental industry and start making money with Airbnb without owning property.

Key Takeaways

• Learn 10 different ways to start making money with Airbnb without owning property.
• Enter the vacation rental industry even without owning property or having high upfront capital.
• Airbnb rental arbitrage can be a great option to enter the industry without owning property.
• Since Airbnb launched its Co-Host Network, it has become easier for co-hosts to find clients.

As of 2026, the average annual income for an Airbnb Host in the United States is $37,956 a year for one property. Yet, there are a number of other ways to earn on Airbnb without being a homeowner yourself or a real estate investor.

From being a co-host to becoming a vacation rental consultant, we’ve compiled the top 10 ideas on how to make money with Airbnb without acquiring a property.

How Can I Start Making Money With Airbnb?

Start making money with Airbnb in at least 10 different ways. These include rental arbitrage, managing or co-hosting short-term rentals, or joining a vacation rental franchise if you have more capital.

You can also build service-based businesses such as Airbnb consulting, cleaning services, photography, or vacation rental marketing. Alternatively, host Airbnb Experiences or offer Services.

Top 10 Ways to Start Making Money on Airbnb without Owning a Property

1. Start with the Airbnb rental arbitrage model

Airbnb rental arbitrage is when you rent a property with the sole purpose of subletting it on vacation rental sites. For this business model to work, the money that you generate must be more than your rent and other business-related expenses.

You should obtain permission from the landlord before you attempt to rent out your rented accommodation. The point is that both parties agree. If they do, rental arbitrage can be a great option to enter the industry. The tenant who violates the agreement runs the risk of being evicted.

What are the pros and cons of Airbnb arbitrage?

Pros:

• You do not need a lot of capital as you can start without owning a property.
• You can leave 100% of your income to yourself which is not the case with other strategies, outside of serviced accommodation. For example, as a property manager, you can only count on a certain percentage of the income earned by the property owner.

Cons:

• Many cities are introducing local laws and regulations against subletting, which can make it harder to find a location.
• It could be challenging to find a landlord who will agree to sublet their property on Airbnb.

How much can you earn with Airbnb arbitrage?

How much you will be able to earn using the rental arbitrage strategy will depend on the location and the size of your property portfolio. If you do this right, you can generate up to three times more than the sum of your expenses. The key is to search for a property that can make profits of at least $2k per month after all expenses.

According to AirDNA’s data, markets that can earn the highest rental arbitrage premium are Charleston (SC), Salinas (CA), North Port (FL), Providence (RI), and Portland (ME). Airbnb rental arbitrage can still be profitable in 2026, but keep in mind that shrinking margins mean success now depends heavily on the market and careful financial planning.

2. Become a short-term rental property manager

Becoming a property manager is one of the most straightforward ways to make a profit on Airbnb without investing in a vacation rental. The career of a property/Airbnb rental manager also offers flexible working hours while still being a full-time job. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Managing the needs of property owners
• Confirming bookings
• Communicating with guests
• Supervising the check-in process
• Marketing
• Creating digital brochures and other marketing materials
• Property inspections
• Organizing cleaning and maintenance tasks.

To become a short-term rental manager, you will first need to understand the legal requirements of your state. For example, some states will require a real estate broker’s license and/or a property manager’s license, while other states might not require any qualification whatsoever. Certainly, it will help you to set yourself apart from your competition.

What are the pros and cons of becoming a short-term rental manager?

Pros:

• Your working hours will be more flexible.
• You do not need a property to get started with property management.

Cons:

• You might need to further your education which can be expensive.
• Managing multiple rentals for other hosts can be a challenging task.

How much can you make as a short-term rental manager?

As of 2026, the average annual pay for a Vacation Rental Manager in the United States is $56,985. This represents a significant increase compared to the data from December 2022 where the average pay was $43,168.

3. Become a co-host to an Airbnb host

Co-hosts perform similar duties to short-term rental managers. The major difference is that they will act more like an assistant to a host than a manager. If you are still new to this industry, co-hosting is a good place to start. With co-hosting, your main tasks will include:

• Communicating with guests
• Supervising the check-in and checkout process
• Property inspections
• Organizing cleaning and maintenance tasks
• Restocking necessary items
• Writing reviews for guests.

Since Airbnb launched its Co-Host Network, it has become easier for co-hosts to find clients. Co-hosts on the network are local hosts who provide management support to Airbnb owners.

To be approved for the Airbnb Co-Host Network, you must meet certain requirements, such as having an active listing as a host or full-access co-host, having hosted at least 10 stays (or 3 stays totaling 100+ nights) within the past 12 months, and maintaining an overall Co-Host rating of 4.8 or above.

What are the pros and cons of becoming a co-host?

Pros:

• Your working hours will be more flexible.
• You usually do not need a license to become a co-host.

Cons:

• It is less profitable than being an Airbnb host.
• The income will fluctuate.

How much can you make as a co-host?

Co-hosts earn about 10-20% per booking. For example, if you co-host an Airbnb that earns $30,000 per year, you can expect to earn roughly $3,000-$6,000. If you take on extra duties and essentially take care of the entire process, you could earn as much as 25% per booking.

4. Join a vacation rental franchise

If you do not want to start from scratch, another way to make money on Airbnb is to join a vacation rental franchise. In exchange for paying a fee, local property managers can get a special license from an existing franchise owner to use their resources and sell services under their brand name.

What are the pros and cons of getting a vacation rental franchise?

Pros:

• With this business model, you get access to processes that have been tried and tested.
• The territory in which you will be operating will be defined and protected.
• You will get training and ongoing support.

Cons:

• You will not have total control over everything as you will have to follow branding guidelines established by the franchisor.
• You will need to pay an initial fee to join a franchise program.
• This business model calls for significant commitment as you will need to sign a contract for a set period of years.

How much can you make by getting a franchise?

The income will depend on the franchise program that you choose to join. There are various franchise companies and they require different fees. Depending on which vacation rental franchise program you decide to join, you can expect to pay anything from $55,000 to $100,000.

So, when choosing a program, you should be confident in the brand and consider whether the affiliation will bring enough profit to cover the costs.

5. Become an Airbnb consultant

If you already have some experience in managing Airbnb rentals and would like to help other entrepreneurs grow, you can consider becoming an Airbnb consultant. In addition to being experienced in running short-term rentals, you will need to have marketing skills to build your personal brand.

As an Airbnb consultant, you will help hosts to maximize their bookings, improve their ranking, and possibly to buy and sell short-term rentals. You will also need to identify a specific niche – this is the secret of the most successful consultants.

What are the pros and cons of becoming an Airbnb consultant?

Pros:

• Your startup costs will be minimal.
• You can position yourself as an expert.

Cons:

• You need to have prior experience as an Airbnb host.
• You need to be self-motivated.

Consider using vacation rental management software like iGMS to streamline your consulting services. iGMS offers powerful tools for managing multiple Airbnb accounts, automating guest communication, and optimizing pricing strategies.

By leveraging iGMS, you can enhance your consulting business and provide even more value to your clients.

How much can you make as an Airbnb consultant?

On average, the salary for an Airbnb Consultant is $187,000 per year in the United States. Pay typically depends on seniority, and consultants with over 15 years of experience can earn as much as $257,000 per year.

6. Start an Airbnb cleaning service

Starting a cleaning service for Airbnb business can be a profitable business as it is typically the first task that hosts will outsource. This means that you will have no shortage of work.

To become an Airbnb cleaning service owner, you will first need to do your research. It’s important to find out if your state has any requirements, such as insurance and licensing, and what the standard cleaning costs are. Make sure to factor in expenses as well, such as cleaning products, equipment, labor, and marketing.

What are the pros and cons of starting an Airbnb cleaning service?

Pros:

• There is no shortage of work as many hosts usually hire external companies to help with cleaning.
• The startup costs are lower than for acquiring a vacation rental franchise.

Cons:

• You will need to do your own marketing.
• You will need to find a reliable team to create a fully-fledged cleaning business.

How much can you make as an owner of an Airbnb cleaning service?

The average hourly rte for an Airbnb cleaner in the US is about $20.76. Per month, cleaners can earn anything between $1,450 and $6,300. The profit that an owner of a cleaning service can make will depend on the cleaning prices and the number of properties cleaned per month.

7. Host an Airbnb Experience or offer Airbnb Services

You can make money on Airbnb without renting out any property. Airbnb Experiences is a platform launched by Airbnb, independent from accommodation.

By joining the program, you can offer a wide range of activities that guests can book during their stays, such as a traditional guided tour, cooking class, or art class. If you have a specific hobby or a program, it can be an excellent alternative to hosting stays.

Then you can offer Services such as catering, hair styling, massage, personal training, photography, chefs, spa treatments, and more. Airbnb Services is a marketplace feature that allows users to book professional, on-demand services. If you're a vetted professional, you can come to an Airbnb rental or host services off-site.

What are the pros and cons of becoming an Airbnb Experiences host?

Pros:

• You can generate money while you share your hobby, passion or profession.
• You can offer Services and Experiences as add-ons to accommodation.

Cons:

• Depending on the type of Experience/Service you offer, you might need to apply for a business license or obtain certifications.
• You need to be an expert in the service that you offer.

How much can you make as an Airbnb Experiences host?

You can earn from $20 to $99 or more per guest on average with Airbnb Experiences, depending on the Experience. Service providers also set prices themselves, which can range from $30 to $250 per guest on average, but often they set higher minimum orders for groups.

8. Become a professional Airbnb photographer

Becoming an Airbnb photographer who takes interior photos for listings is another creative way to earn your bread and butter with Airbnb. To pursue this avenue, there are two options. You can become a freelance marketplace listing photographer and get listed by Airbnb or advertise your services using other platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Instagram.

What are the pros and cons of becoming an Airbnb photographer?

Pros:

• It offers flexible working hours.
• You might have more opportunities to travel and discover new places.

Cons:

• The equipment can be expensive.
• You will have to market your services.

How much can you make as an Airbnb photographer?

According to a Glassdoor breakdown, an Airbnb photographer’s hourly rate can range from $28 to $52. They can earn about $78,000 per year on average.

9. Become an Airbnb copywriter

Offering copywriting services is another way to generate profit without renting out an Airbnb property. Copywriting services are becoming more popular among Airbnb hosts. Similarly to becoming an Airbnb photographer, you can advertise your services on online platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.

As an Airbnb copywriter, you will be responsible for writing catchy titles, engaging property descriptions, and possibly even house rules or reviews for guests.

What are the pros and cons of becoming an Airbnb copywriter?

Pros:

• It offers flexible working hours.
• It requires little upfront investment.

Cons:

• You need to be self-motivated.
• You will need to market yourself.

How much can you make as an Airbnb copywriter?

According to online data, an Airbnb copywriter earns about $76,123 per year on average. Note that this role may include more types of writing than just Airbnb descriptions.

10. Learn the craft of vacation rental marketing

To be ahead of the competition, it’s necessary for hosts to market properties. It’s getting even more crucial if they generate direct bookings and need to attract potential travelers to their website.

As hosts have a lot on their plate, they usually look for external help to set up and implement a viable marketing strategy to promote their rentals. If you already have marketing skills and are eager to enter the industry, it’s an excellent avenue for you to apply them.

However, if you are not proficient in marketing but enthusiastic to get your foot in the door, you can start with social media. Once you’ve mastered this, you can move on to other marketing areas too.

All in all, vacation rental marketers provide the following services:

• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Content creation
• Blog posting
• SEO
• Lead generation
• Website design

What are the pros and cons of becoming a vacation rental marketer?

Pros:

• You will have minimal overhead costs.
• You can easily operate it from home.

Cons:

• You need to have the necessary technical skills.
• You will need a reliable team to help you.

How much can you make as a vacation rental marketer?

As a marketer, how much you earn depends on the role. For instance, social media managers earn an average of $64,120, while the highest recorded earnings are $101,000.

Which method is right for you?

Airbnb rental arbitrage is a great entry point for aspiring STR investors who do not have the budget to buy their first rental property. You can also provide services to Airbnb owners by becoming a property manager or co-host, an Airbnb consultant, or by running a cleaning company.

If you want more flexibility, you can become an Airbnb photographer, copywriter, or vacation rental marketer. If you have a larger budget to invest upfront, you can join an established vacation rental franchise. Lastly, if you have specialized skills or want to offer add-ons, you can apply to host Airbnb Experiences or provide Airbnb Services.

Ultimately, the way you make money with Airbnb depends on your budget, skills, experience, and long-term goals.

Final Thoughts

In many cases, you don’t even need to rent out or manage a property to make money and achieve success as an Airbnb professional even if you don’t have any prior experience. Some of these strategies are more challenging than others and require more financial investment, but with hard work and commitment, you can make a decent living.

To prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed, it is a smart idea to invest in vacation rental software, like iGMS, to automate tasks.

About the Author
Olga Vasylieva is the Content and Social Media Team Lead at iGMS. Olga is on a mission to help hosts and property managers grow their businesses and deliver an excellent guest experience. She is a travel enthusiast and is inspired by life in all its aspects.