A bit of spare time and a spare room. That’s all you need to get started boosting your income as a host on Airbnb.
Whether you want to become an entrepreneur and work for yourself or you already have a full-time job and just hope to make extra money in your free time, you can find what you’re looking for on Airbnb.
You get to choose when and how often you host. For example, you can share a spare room in your apartment, host your whole home the next time you’re out of town, or create a listing for a vacation house, if you have one.
Airbnb makes it simple to earn extra money by putting your extra space to work for you. You can literally make $900 fast in a few days just by becoming a host.
Getting started as an Airbnb host
The online process to create a listing is pretty quick and easy—you write descriptions of your space, upload photos, and mark dates your space is available to travelers. And it’s always free to create a listing.
First things first: Click here to head to Airbnb and select the Sign Up option in the top right corner of the homepage. You’ll be directed to a form prompting you to fill in the most general criteria of your place.
Once you create your account or log in, you will be prompted through a series of basic questions such as:
Step 1: Basic Questions
- Kind of place you have
- How many guests your place can accommodate
- How many beds/bathrooms
- Location of your place
- Amenities offered
Step 2: Set The Scene
- Post Photos, short description, title
Step 3: Get Ready For Guests
- Booking settings, calendar, price
Your earnings
So just how much could you make hosting on Airbnb? This one side hustle of becoming an Airbnb host actually pays well. And you find out what hosts in your area are making, and start imagining the possibilities. Besides saving for travel, Airbnb hosts use their extra income to pay off student loans, upgrade their home, and pursue their passions.
Airbnb makes the payment process simple, too. Guests are charged when a reservation is made, and funds are typically released to hosts 24 hours after check-in. How you’re paid is up to you: You can set up direct deposit, PayPal, or a number of other options.
Host support
Once you’re a host, Airbnb has all kinds of cool tools to help you feel comfortable and confident welcoming guests so you can continue making passive income. You can find hosting tips on the Airbnb blog and get your questions answered by experienced, successful hosts in the Community Center. Nervous about the safety of your home and belongings when you’re away?
Airbnb’s got your back: In the rare event an accident happens, your property is covered up to a million dollars when you host—it’s peace of mind for you at no extra charge. And as for the folks staying at your place, everyone who travels on Airbnb needs to submit a profile photo and confirmed phone number and email address. For extra assurance, you can also require your guests to submit a government-issued ID.
Hometown pride
Hosting on Airbnb can also help you show off what makes your city great. Nothing’s more frustrating than meeting a visitor on the last day of their trip and hearing that they only saw the tourist haunts.
When you welcome travelers from around the world as a host on Airbnb, you get to introduce them to all that makes your neighborhood great—and drive more business to your favorite local mom-and-pop shops. While nothing is as good as free money, becoming an Airbnb host does have it’s benefits.
So, what do you say? Do you want to become an Airbnb host?
