Where the Extra Costs Hide.
What does the percentage apply to?
Our fee is a percentage of gross booking revenue — the total amount the guest pays for the stay. Ask every manager you compare to define their base the same way: some quote a rate on revenue after platform fees or keep cleaning income separate, so the same advertised rate can pay out very differently.
What costs extra?
Maintenance markups, inspection fees, guest supply restocking, linen programs, technology fees. Each one can be fair — but you need to see them all before you can compare two managers.
Who pays when something goes wrong?
Guest damage, broken appliances, hurricane preparation. Know who files the insurance claim, who pays for the repair up front, and how fast the home is back on the booking calendar.
Owners compare fee percentages because percentages are easy to compare. But the fee is a share of the revenue — and the manager controls the revenue too. A manager who charges a low fee but books your home at discounted nightly rates costs you far more than a manager who charges a fair fee and keeps your rates strong.
This is where design changes the math. Our model raises what the home earns — through renovation, professional design, and photography that make guests choose your home at full price. When the revenue is higher, the fee conversation looks completely different.
On a call, we quote our fee for your exact home, together with what we would change and what we believe the home can earn. That way you compare your final profit — not percentages.
Ask any manager you interview — including us — these questions before signing. The answers matter more than the advertised rate.
What is a typical vacation rental management fee in Orlando?
Full-service management in Orlando is usually a percentage of rental revenue. The range is wide because what is included varies a lot between companies. Two agreements with the same rate can differ by thousands of dollars a year once the extra fees are added up. Always compare the full cost and the projected profit — never the percentage alone.
Why do some managers charge a lower percentage?
Because the percentage only means something next to what a home actually earns. For example, a 3% difference in a management fee is $3,000 per $100,000 earned. However, if the cheaper manager earns less revenue, the loss of potential earnings can be substantially higher. Our current portfolio earns 2X more than the market average, verified by KeyData. In addition, most low-fee managers make the bulk of their income on flat fees and markups, so there is little incentive to maximize revenue. Also consider the cost of managing a team that operates to 5-star standards is much more expensive than 2-3-star operations. Every management company will tell you they can deliver top results, but the most important factor is whether they can prove it with data.
Are cheap managers actually cheaper?
Rarely. A manager who discounts your nightly rate to fill the calendar easily costs you more than their low fee saves. What matters is the money that lands in your account at the end of the year — and the condition your home is in when it gets there.
What should be included in full-service management?
Listing and pricing management, guest communication, cleaning coordination, routine inspections, maintenance coordination, licensing and tax compliance, and HOA compliance. If any of these cost extra, add them to your comparison.
Does design really change the fee math?
Yes — design changes the revenue the fee applies to. A professionally designed home earns higher nightly rates and books more nights. That raises your profit far more than one or two percentage points of fee ever will.