Money, pricing, and tax articles
Working notes on the jobs this site builds tools for. Each article answers one question a host actually asks. Where a checklist or template already exists for the job, the article points at it.
How to Set Up a Dedicated Vacation Rental Bank Account
Open a separate checking account, bring your ID and an EIN or SSN, and route every payout through it. 5 steps to a cleaner Schedule E.
How Minimum Stays Affect Occupancy and Revenue
In one worked month, a 2-night minimum books 67% occupancy and nets $2,450. A 4-night minimum books 50% and nets $1,890. Run the same math on your rates.
Discount Math for Vacation Rentals: What a Discount Costs
A $20 per night discount on a 3 night stay cuts the host payout by about $58 and drops the effective nightly rate from about $183 to $164 after fees.
How to Structure and Calculate a Co Host Revenue Split
Co host revenue splits commonly run 10-25% of gross or 20-40% of net, tied to scope. A worked booking shows the math and what to put in the agreement.
Flat Cleaning Fee Versus Per Stay Cleaning Cost
A $95 flat fee overcharges a $48 one night turnover and undercharges a $130 nine night clean. A worked table shows when a tiered fee fits better.
How to Build a Capex Reserve Fund for a Vacation Rental
Move 5% to 10% of gross booking revenue into a capex reserve fund each month, so a big vacation rental repair never has to raid operating cash.
A Seasonal Pricing Calendar You Can Set in an Afternoon
Split the year into peak, event, shoulder and low, put one multiplier and one minimum stay on each, and review the result for fifteen minutes a week.
GST/HST on Short-Term Rentals in Canada: The 30,000 Dollar Test
When a Canadian host must register for GST/HST, how the four-quarter test works, what the 30-night rule exempts, and what registering early gets you.
Minimum Stay Rules and the Orphan Night Problem
Set a minimum stay by season, allow one-night stays only on stranded nights, and stop a Friday-only check-in rule from emptying your midweek calendar.
How to Price a Vacation Rental From Your Own Costs
Build the floor from fixed and per-stay costs, set the base from five comparable listings, and know the difference between ADR, occupancy and RevPAR.
How Platforms Remit Lodging Tax on a Host's Behalf
Airbnb and Vrbo often collect lodging tax from the guest and send it straight to the government. What that covers, which taxes stay on you, and where to check.
What Is a Gap Night and How to Fix It
A gap night is a single open night stranded between bookings. Fix it with a one night price, gap-aware minimum stay rules, or block it for maintenance.
What Records to Keep for a Vacation Rental Business
The five records to keep for a vacation rental: bookings, receipts, tax forms, guest messages, and permits. Most need 3 to 7 years on file for the IRS.