Business Strategy & Operations Guides

Running a successful vacation rental business requires more than just a great property - it requires smart systems, strategic decisions, and the right tools. These guides walk you through the critical business aspects of vacation rental management, from selecting the right property management software and understanding channel manager partnerships to mastering pricing strategies, accounting methods, and compliance requirements. Whether you're just starting out or scaling to manage dozens of properties, you'll find actionable advice to help you build a more profitable and efficient vacation rental operation.

Maximizing Revenue with Optional Surcharges

Optional surcharges are a powerful strategy that vacation rental owners and managers can use to increase revenue while maintaining competitive nightly rates. In this guide, we will share the value of optional surcharges, how they fit into a larger pricing strategy, and how to easily put them to work for your vacation rental business inside of OwnerRez.

The Power of Dynamic Pricing Strategies in Vacation Rentals

Discover how dynamic pricing strategies transform vacation rental revenue, adjusting for demand and market trends. Isn't it time your rental earned more?

Maximizing Revenue with Discounts

Discounts are one of the most powerful tools available to vacation rental owners and managers, but they are often misunderstood and underutilized. In this guide, we’ll walk through why discounts matter, how they fit into a larger pricing strategy, and how to deploy different types of discounts to maximize revenue.

Why Airbnb Isn't Enough

Airbnb can be an excellent distribution partner and a strong source of demand, but building an entire business around a single platform comes with tradeoffs. In this guide, we will explain why relying solely on Airbnb is not enough, the risks of relying on a single listing channel, and how expanding to multiple platforms and investing in direct bookings can help build a more stable, flexible vacation rental business.

What to Look for in a Property Management System (PMS)?

Choosing a property management system is one of the most important decisions a vacation rental owner or property manager will make. In this guide, we’ll walk through some of the most important features to look for and questions to ask when choosing a vacation rental property management software (PMS).

Third-Party or “Middle” Channel Managers in the Vacation Rental Industry

This guide explains what third-party channel managers are, how they work, and the pros and cons to consider when deciding whether they are the right fit for your business.

How to Write a Rental Agreement

A well-written short-term rental agreement is one of the most powerful tools a vacation rental operator can add to their business. It not only protects the property itself but also builds trust with the guest by clearly laying out expectations and rules right from the beginning. In this guide, we will discuss why rental agreements are essential, break down the most important clauses to include in a short-term rental agreement, and show how OwnerRez makes adding rental agreements a seamless process.

Why Use a Property Management System (PMS)?

In this guide, you’ll see the many benefits that come with using a property management system (PMS) and how OwnerRez can help take your business to the next level through eight core features.

Why Self Manage?

Self-management is not about doing everything yourself. It is about choosing how you want your business to run, deciding what you want to stay involved in, and letting the right tools and the right people handle the rest. With OwnerRez at the center of your operations, you can run your self-managed vacation rental business at an elite level while shaping it to fit your life.

How to Grow Your Vacation Rental Business

In this guide, you’ll see how three unique vacation rental businesses grew with OwnerRez at the core of their operations. They generously share what worked, what didn’t, and the systems that helped them manage more properties, while still providing an excellent guest experience.

What Does Vrbo Elite Mean?

Learn what Vrbo Elite status means for vacation rental hosts and managers, why it matters for your business, and how OwnerRez continues to deliver a powerful connection with Vrbo.

How to Adjust Your Pricing for Airbnb’s New Fee Structure

Effective October 27th, 2025, all hosts using property management or channel management software have been automatically transitioned to what Airbnb calls the “Single Fee” structure. In this guide, we'll explain what changed, how it will affect your business, and how OwnerRez can help you quickly adjust your pricing to account for this policy change.

What Does Airbnb Preferred+ Mean?

Learn what Airbnb Preferred Plus status means for vacation rental hosts and managers, why it matters for your business, and how OwnerRez continues to deliver an elite connection with Airbnb.

Your guide to optimizing your vacation rental for Vrbo

Optimize your Vrbo listing with our comprehensive guide. Learn to enhance visibility, set competitive rates, and build lasting guest relationships.

Cash vs Accrual Based Accounting for Your Short-Term Rental Business

Choosing your accounting method might not sound as exciting as optimizing your photos or adjusting your nightly rates, but it can have just as big an impact on your business. The way you recognize income and expenses determines how accurate your books are, how smoothly tax season goes, and how clearly you can see whether your rental business is truly profitable.

How to Handle Rental Agreements and Extra Fees Outside of Airbnb

Charging extra fees like security deposits and requiring rental agreements for Airbnb bookings might seem overwhelming at first, but with the right information and tools, it can be a simple and effective process.

A Complete Guide to Navigating PCI Compliance for Your Short-Term Vacation Rental Business

Learn what PCI compliance means for short-term vacation rentals, why it matters, and how to protect guest payment data without hiring a consultant or getting lost in technical jargon.

Optimize Your Vacation Rental Website for Accessibility: Reach More Guests and Stay Compliant

In this guide, we'll walk through why accessibility matters, how to check if your current website is accessible, and what steps you can take to improve.

How to Optimize Your Rental Business with ChatGPT

Whether you manage one property or fifty, writing content can take hours. ChatGPT is a free tool that helps you write faster, stay consistent, and sound professional across your listings, website, and marketing content.

Designing a Great Pet Policy for Your Vacation Rental

Is your rental losing out on pet owners? Find out how to update your house rules with a pet policy that attracts more bookings while ensuring property safety.

How Your Cancellation Policy Can Affect Bookings

Learn how your cancellation policy impacts your property's views, clicks, conversation rates, and overall net income. A few small tweaks could make a big difference for your vacation rental business.

Your Guide to Unlocking Airbnb’s ‘Rare Find’ Status

Ever wondered what makes a 'Rare Find' status on Airbnb? Dive into the secrets of achieving this status and how it boosts your Airbnb listing's appeal.

Exploring Vrbo Payment Options for Renters & Property Owners

Vrbo offers diverse payment options, like credit cards, and PayPal, for both renters and owners. OwnerRez software can further streamline these transactions.

Guide to Understanding Vrbo's Service Fees for Vacation Rentals

An explanation of Vrbo's fees for vacation rental hosts, including commission fees and payment processing fees, compared with Airbnb for pricing strategies.

The Rental Platform Guide: Finding Alternatives to Airbnb

Boost your rental income with this guide to Airbnb alternatives. Learn diverse booking strategies and simplify property management with OwnerRez.

Listing Your Short-term Rental on Google Vacation Rentals

Discover how Google Vacation Rentals can elevate your rental business by increasing property visibility and bookings. Don't miss this opportunity!

Vacation Rental Marketing Guide: Owner Marketing Strategy

Learn several effective digital marketing strategies for your vacation rental business and how to implement them with the help of our OwnerRez software.

A How-To Guide for Starting Your Vacation Rental Business

Learn the steps to starting a vacation rental business, such as market research, property management, acquisition, preparation, marketing, and a business plan.

Entrepreneur's Guide to Airbnb Rental Arbitrage

Dive into Airbnb rental arbitrage to unlock a profitable hosting opportunity, even without property ownership. Discover the essentials for success.

Guide To Optimizing Your Vacation Rental with Blackout Dates

Discover the art of balancing blackout dates with high-demand periods to maximize your vacation rental's earnings and maintain high standards.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term Vacation Rental Strategies

Vacation rental property owners can choose between short-term rentals, offering higher returns but variable demand, and long-term rentals for consistent income.

Choosing a Merchant of Record for Your Short-Term Rental

We provide guidance to help you make an informed decision when choosing the best MOR. Our expertise also aids you in other aspects of vacation rental management.

A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Vacation Rental Blog

A beginner's guide to creating a vacation rental blog, emphasizing the importance of organic traffic and providing steps for creating engaging content.

Guide to Creating Effective House Rules for Vacation Rentals

Learn effective house rules for vacation rentals to ensure guest comfort and safety while maintaining a balance between hospitality and policy enforcement.

Navigating Airbnb's Extenuating Circumstances Policy

Master Airbnb's Extenuating Circumstances Policy for natural disasters and more. Consider cancellation procedures, safeguarding tips, and resilience strategies.

Expert Advice for Managing Vrbo Cancellations and Refunds

Navigate Vrbo cancellations and refunds with expert strategies for crafting clear policies, handling refunds, and boosting overall guest satisfaction.

How to Handle a Vacation Rental Chargeback

Chargebacks are costly and time-consuming for vacation rental businesses and should be handled properly if they do occur in order to prevent chargebacks.

A Complete Guide to Airbnb's Service Fees and Host Earnings

Explore Airbnb's service fees, host earnings, fee structures, premium services, and effective strategies to optimize your short term rental income.

Your Guide to Listing Sites For a Short-Term Rental Property

Discover the key differences between listing your short-term rental on Airbnb or VRBO in our guide to help property owners streamline their rental business.

A Complete Guide to Vacation Rental Management Fees

The Right Insurance for Your Short-Term Rental Property

A Comprehensive Guide To Short-Term Rental Insurance Coverage