Understanding Airbnb Management Fees in Brisbane

If you're considering professional Airbnb management in Brisbane, understanding the fee structure is crucial to calculating your net returns. Unlike traditional long-term property management, short-term rental management involves significantly more work—and the fees reflect that.

What Do Airbnb Management Companies Charge?

In Brisbane, most professional Airbnb management companies charge between 12% and 25% of booking revenue. At 5 Star Hosts, we charge 12.5% + GST, which is at the lower end of the market—but we don't compromise on quality.

What's Included in Our 12.5% Fee?

Our management fee covers everything you need to run a successful short-term rental:

• Listing optimisation with professional photography and compelling copy
• Dynamic pricing to maximise occupancy and revenue
• 24/7 guest communication and booking management
• Cleaning and linen coordination (charged separately to guests)
• Maintenance coordination and emergency response
• Monthly financial reporting with transparent breakdowns
• Review management to protect and enhance your property's reputation

What's Not Included?

It's important to understand what's not covered by the management fee:

• Platform fees: Airbnb and Booking.com typically charge 15% of the booking amount. This is deducted by the platforms before revenue reaches you.
• Cleaning fees: By default, guests pay cleaning fees directly. This doesn't come out of your revenue.
• Maintenance costs: Any repairs or maintenance (approved by you first).
• Utilities and consumables: Electricity, water, WiFi, and guest amenities.

How to Calculate Your Net Income

Let's work through an example. Imagine your property generates $5,000 in gross bookings for the month:

1. Gross booking revenue: $5,000
2. Platform fee (15%): -$750
3. Revenue after platform fee: $4,250
4. Management fee (12.5% + GST = 13.75%): -$584
5. Monthly net income: $3,666

This doesn't include maintenance or utilities, which vary by property. However, cleaning is paid by guests, so it's not deducted.

Is Professional Management Worth It?

Many owners ask: "Can I just manage it myself and save the fee?"

The answer depends on your time, expertise, and how much you value peace of mind. Self-managing means:

• Responding to guest messages 24/7 (including 2am emergencies)
• Coordinating cleaners after every checkout
• Manually adjusting pricing based on demand
• Handling maintenance requests and trade coordination
• Dealing with difficult guests and reviews

For most owners, the time saved and revenue optimisation delivered by professional management more than pays for itself.

Why Our Fee is Competitive

At 12.5% + GST, we're one of the most affordable premium Airbnb management companies in Brisbane. We keep our fees low by:

• Operating efficiently with in-house systems
• Keeping a selective portfolio (quality over quantity)
• Not outsourcing core functions like cleaning and communication

Get an Instant Estimate

Want to see what you'd earn after all fees? Use our instant earnings estimator to calculate your net income based on your property's location, size, and features.

Final Thoughts

Airbnb management fees in Brisbane vary, but transparency is key. Always ask what's included, what's not, and how the company justifies their fee. At 5 Star Hosts, we believe in simple, honest pricing with no hidden surprises.

If you'd like to discuss your property and see if professional management makes sense, get in touch for a free consultation.