Startup budget payback.

Worked example

Furniture $9,000, appliances and tech $2,500, linens and supplies $1,200 and setup $1,300 make a startup budget of $14,000.00. At $180 a night, 70% occupancy and a 15.5% host fee you book 21.3 nights a month and keep $180 x 0.845 = $152.10 of each. Revenue after the fee less $2,000 of monthly costs leaves $1,238.46 a month ($14,861.55 a year). Payback is $14,000.00 / $1,238.46 = 11.3 months, a first-year return of 106.15%. To pay it back in 12 months you would need 20.8 booked nights a month.

How it works

Monthly net = booked nights x rate x (1 - host fee) - monthly costs. Booked nights = occupancy x 30.42. Payback months = startup budget / monthly net, and first-year return = net x 12 / startup budget. If monthly net is zero or negative there is no payback and the tool says so.

This treats the startup budget as a cost to recover from operating profit, ignoring the resale value of furniture, income tax, a ramp-up period for reviews and any financing cost. A slow first few months will push the payback date out, so test a lower occupancy as well as the one you hope for.

Sources and basis: Airbnb Help Centre, Airbnb service fees (opened 2026-10-08), says that under the split-fee structure most hosts pay a 3% host service fee and guests pay 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal, and that under the single-fee structure most hosts pay 15.5%, with the fee taken as a percentage of the nightly price plus any fees the host charges. Fees change and vary by listing, so enter the figure from your own host account. Every cost, rate and occupancy figure is yours; no furnishing cost or market rate is assumed.

Local short-term rental licensing, zoning and tax rules vary, so check your municipality. This is arithmetic on the numbers you enter, not tax or legal advice.

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FAQ

How much does it cost to furnish an Airbnb?

It depends on the size, style and quality of the property. Enter your own budget for furniture, appliances, linens and setup; this tool assumes no figure.

How long does it take an Airbnb to pay back its startup costs?

Startup budget divided by monthly net. The example takes 11.3 months. Lower occupancy or higher monthly costs lengthen it quickly.

What if monthly net is negative?

Then there is no payback at those numbers. The tool shows no payback period; raise the rate or occupancy, or cut costs, until net is positive.

Does this include taxes or financing?

No. It is operating arithmetic only. Speak to a qualified adviser about tax and loan costs.