What should a short-term rental management fee include?

Start with the whole offer

A management percentage is a useful starting point, but it cannot tell you whether two proposals provide the same service. Before comparing the numbers, find out who will manage the listings, answer guests, organise changeovers, replenish essentials and follow up when something goes wrong.

For a first-time owner, the useful question is: what work will this take off my hands, what will I still pay for, and how will I know what is happening? A clear proposal should answer all three.

Check what the percentage is calculated on

Ask the manager to explain the calculation in plain language and show an example. Which accommodation income is included? How are channel charges, cleaning fees, refunds and cancellations treated? Are the quoted fees inclusive or exclusive of GST? The agreement and the reporting should tell the same story.

Booking-platform fees are a separate consideration. Airbnb, for example, charges its own service fee and explains how to find it in a reservation's earnings breakdown. Check the current charges for the channels you intend to use. Simply adding two advertised percentages can be misleading when they apply to different amounts.

Source: Airbnb Help Centre — Airbnb service fees

What Staywright includes at 20% + GST

Staywright's standard management fee is 20% + GST. The service brings together the work involved in presenting the property, managing bookings and looking after the stay:

• Listings and bookings: listing management, pricing and availability, with the property-management platform and channel manager included. Staywright does not add a separate fee for each connected listing channel; the channels' own charges remain separate.
• Guests and changeovers: guest communication, coordination of cleaning and linen, and coordination of routine property issues.
• The welcome: the agreed everyday toiletries, kitchen basics and consumables, together with a welcome card and chocolates.
• Owner visibility: portal access, reporting and a clear point of contact for the property.

Separate the service from the property's expenses

Coordinating a cleaner is different from paying the cleaning bill. The same distinction applies to laundry, linen hire or replacement, repairs and utilities. These are property costs that need to be budgeted for alongside management.

Substantial furnishing, sourcing, assembly and styling projects are also separately scoped. A management fee should not leave either party guessing about whether a new sofa, an electrician's visit or a major refresh is included. Ask for a simple schedule of included services, separately charged work and owner-funded expenses.

Understand onboarding and listing control

Staywright's standard onboarding is $600 + GST when the listings are held through Staywright's accounts. Assisted onboarding is $1,000 + GST when you want the listings held through your own accounts and need help with setup and access.

This is a decision about control and administration as well as price. Ask whose account holds each listing, what access you receive and how an eventual handover would work. Platform rules differ, so account arrangements should be explained before the listings go live.

Compare a real month, not just a headline

Ask each prospective manager to walk through the same example month, including management, platform charges, changeovers, consumables and any agreed extras. Include your own operating costs when assessing the result. A busy calendar alone does not show what you retain.

Then consider the practical service: how recommendations are explained, how issues are handled and whether the guest standard suits your property. The right offer should make both the responsibilities and the costs understandable. If you are considering Staywright, we can talk through your property and set out the proposed service before you decide.