Flat-fee co-hosting or 18% full-service? How Airbnb owners pick the right management model, from a Seattle team running both since 2014.
By the StayLocal team · November 2026 · 4 min read
- Co-hosting: you keep the listing and pay your own vendors. $425/mo flat.
- Full-service: we run everything and pay you monthly. 18% of room revenue.
- Full-service is available in Seattle and Tacoma. Co-hosting in all markets.
Most owners we talk to ask the same first question: do I need a manager, or just help? The honest answer depends on how much of the work you want to own. Here is how we explain the two models.
Co-hosting: you keep the listing, we run the guest side
With co-hosting, the listing stays in your Airbnb account and your payouts land in your bank. We join as a co-host and plug the property into our systems.
What we handle:
- 24/7 guest messaging and reviews
- Pricing and calendar management
- Turnover scheduling and cleaner coordination
- Flagging maintenance issues the moment guests report them
What you handle: paying your own cleaners and vendors, in real time. You choose who fixes what and what it costs.
Price: $425 a month for the first unit, $100 a month for each added unit on the same property. A flat fee means our cost does not climb in your best month.
Best for: owners who already have a cleaner they trust, owners with several units on one lot, and anyone who wants control of vendor spend. See Seattle co-hosting for details.
Full-service: hands off, start to finish
With full-service management, we run everything. We create and operate the listing, collect guest payments, and pay you monthly with a full owner statement.
What changes from co-hosting:
- We source, schedule and pay cleaners and vendors
- Urgent repairs get handled same day, without waiting on your approval chain
- Linens, supplies and restocking run through our program
- You get statements and an owner portal instead of a to-do list
Price: 18% of room revenue, after platform fees and taxes. No fee on the cleaning fee. Full-service is available in Seattle and Tacoma.
Best for: owners who live elsewhere, second-home owners, and investors who want the property to run without them.
Three questions to decide
- Do you want to approve every repair? If yes, co-hosting.
- Do you have a reliable cleaner already? If yes, co-hosting usually costs less.
- Do you want to never think about the property between statements? Full-service.
Neither model is better on paper. The right one is the one you will still be happy with in month six. More answers on our FAQ & Onboarding page.
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