Stop losing money on Airbnb Co-Host projects.
Send your first 3 contracts for free. A vague agreement can cost you thousands in unpaid commissions and hours of uncompensated manual labor. If you do not define 'Gross Revenue' correctly, you will end up fighting over cleaning fees while your profit evaporates.
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Statement of Work
Ref: 2026-001 • Standard Business Template
Overview
The Co-Host shall act as an independent contractor to manage the daily operations of the short-term rental property, serving as the primary point of contact for guests and platform administrators. This agreement stipulates that the Co-Host is responsible for maintaining the listing's reputation through proactive communication and administrative diligence, yet it clarifies that the Co-Host does not hold an ownership interest in the real property. All financial transactions, including the collection of guest fees and payment of taxes, remain the primary responsibility of the Owner, with the Co-Host receiving a specified percentage of gross booking revenue as compensation for services rendered.
To protect the Co-Host from legal and financial exposure, the Owner agrees to maintain comprehensive short-term rental insurance and shall indemnify and hold the Co-Host harmless from any claims arising from property defects, guest injuries, or violations of local zoning ordinances. The Co-Host's liability is strictly limited to instances of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of management duties. Furthermore, this contract establishes that the Co-Host is not a real estate broker or property manager in a traditional sense, but rather a digital and operational consultant facilitating the use of hospitality platforms.
Platform Liability and Account Bans
If an owner's account is suspended due to their own negligence or property issues, your entire income stream can disappear without a clause protecting your setup fees or notice period.
Third-Party Chargebacks
Guests may dispute credit card charges months after a stay, and without a contract, owners might try to claw back commissions already paid to you for those bookings.
Maintenance Scope Creep
Property owners often mistake a co-host for a handyman, expecting you to perform physical repairs or meet contractors without additional hourly compensation.
What is a Airbnb Co-Host contract?
An Airbnb Co-Host contract template is a specialized agreement between a property owner and a manager. It defines the scope of work, including guest communication and turnover management, while protecting the co-host's commission. It is essential for clarifying liability, payment terms for cleaning fees, and notice periods for termination.
Built from real freelance projects
This template is based on real-world scenarios across freelance projects where unclear scope, missing payment terms, and revision creep led to lost revenue. It is designed to protect your time, define expectations, and ensure you get paid.
Why Airbnb Co-Hosts need a clear contract
Airbnb co-hosting is a high-stakes role where you manage both a multi-million dollar real estate asset and a guest's travel experience. Unlike general consulting, this job involves 24/7 availability and the management of physical property. Without a written contract, the line between professional management and becoming a free personal concierge for the owner becomes blurred. You need to formalize who is liable for guest damage, who pays for software subscriptions like PriceLabs or Guesty, and how to handle emergency repairs at 3 AM. A solid agreement protects your recurring income from sudden termination and ensures you are not held financially responsible for platform-wide algorithm shifts or property-related issues beyond your control. It sets the professional standard required to scale a management business without burnout.
Real-world scenario
You spend sixty hours optimizing a listing, setting up automated messaging in Hostaway, and hiring a reliable cleaning crew for a new client. For three months, the property is a success and you earn your 20 percent commission. Suddenly, the owner decides their sibling can manage the messages and they terminate your access to the Airbnb account without notice. Because you did not have a termination clause requiring thirty days of notice, you lose your income for all upcoming peak-season bookings you worked hard to secure. Additionally, the owner refuses to pay your final commission check, claiming your percentage should not have included the cleaning fees. You are left with no legal recourse to recover the $3,000 in earned commissions and the uncompensated time spent on the initial setup. This scenario is common for co-hosts who rely on verbal agreements or platform-default settings rather than a dedicated professional contract.
🛡️ What this contract covers:
- ✓Phase 1: Account setup, listing optimization with SEO-driven descriptions, and professional photography coordination for the property profile.
- ✓Phase 2: Full-service guest lifecycle management, including inquiry response, booking vetting, and 24/7 on-call guest support.
- ✓Phase 3: Operational oversight including turnover cleaning scheduling, restocking of essentials, and submission of monthly performance and revenue reports.
Best practices for Airbnb Co-Hosts
Establish an Expense Float
Require owners to provide a pre-funded 'restocking fund' so you are never using your own money to buy guest essentials like coffee or toiletries.
Set Approval Thresholds
Include a clause that allows you to authorize emergency repairs up to a specific amount, such as $300, without waiting for owner approval.
Clarify Software Ownership
Explicitly state that the owner is responsible for the monthly costs of third-party tools like channel managers or noise monitoring sensors.
Legal Disclaimer: MicroFreelanceHub is a software workflow tool, not a law firm. The templates and information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the co-host handle property maintenance costs?
No, the co-host coordinates repairs, but all financial responsibility for maintenance, utilities, and emergency repairs remains with the property owner.
How is the co-host's commission protected if a guest cancels?
The co-host's commission is typically applied to the non-refundable portion of any cancellation fees collected by the owner, ensuring compensation for administrative work performed.