This forum is dedicated to connecting hosts with other hosts. Sign up to get the latest updates and news just for AirBnb hosts! Note that we are not affiliated with Airbnb - we are just passionate hosts!
I’m looking into developing a new C2C rental marketplace. I’d like to gather thoughts / suggestions from hosts to develop this platform that would put more money into hosts’ and guests’ pockets.
The idea is to develop a marketplace that is similar to Airbnb/Booking, but the guest would book directly from the host. The platform would offer all the basic features: map with discovery filters, booking page, calendar management, etc. The platform would not offer any support directly to guests. This responsibility would fall upon the host.
Another feature would be to allow existing direct-booking website to be listed on the discovery page. Since the platform would not gain any money from booking, hosts of the website are free to offer guests any method of payment/booking they’d like.
To summarize:
Site would effectively be a direct booking marketplace, with tools to setup a basic page for those without a direct booking site.
hosts pay a small monthly fee to list their unit on the marketplace
guest payments can happen on or off site, with 0 commission. Payments on-site would be through Stripe. Payments would go directly from guest to host and host gets 100% of funds minus stripe transaction fees.
I’m curious to know what you guys think about this idea. I’m happy to answer any questions.
would you use a platform like this?
would you pay $10-$20 / month to list your STR on this platform?
are there any advanced features you would expect before using a platform like this?
There is also a mailing list signup page if you’d like to be updated on development progress: https://chato-signup.pages.dev/
I guess you didn’t do much research before coming up with what you seem to think is a novel idea. Sites like this already exist and don’t generate many bookings.
Stripe is a payment processor. So they would be responsible for processing method of payment, refunds, tax, etc, and distributing to guests bank account. Stripe should handle international cards as well. I believe stripe fees are roughly 3-4 percent for credit card.
How would hosts outside the United States receive payment. Currently hosts just get Airbnb payments deposited into their (non-American) existing bank accounts. No set-up, no sign-up
Looks like using Stripe would cost me $4.44 on a $40/night room rental, whereas through Airbnb the service fee is $1.20.
Normally the research phase of an idea would start with researching whether you’ve come up with an idea that has already been done before asking potential users if they would use such a service.
If I had the idea to open a bicycle rental business, don’t you think it would make more sense to find out if there are already 10 bicycle rental businesses in my town or none, and how successful they are, before asking potential customers if they would be interested in a bicycle rental shop?
How would hosts outside the United States receive payment. Currently hosts just get Airbnb payments deposited into their (non-American) existing bank accounts. No set-up, no sign-up
This would be possible with Stripe integration, it supports cross-border payouts. Just to clarify, stripe is mostly a backend integration and would not require any separate account or setup.
Looks like using Stripe would cost me $4.44 on a $40/night room rental, whereas through Airbnb the service fee is $1.20.
while technically true, airnbnb also has significant guest fees (~14-15%). If you were to use a no commission platform and charge the same rate, the guest would pay less. You could also raise your rate by 15%, the guest pays the same as they would on airbnb, and you pocket the difference.
Also, not sure how you got that stripe fee. $4.44 does not seem correct.
