STR Channel Mix Calculator

Diversifying channels optimizes fees and bookings.

Annual revenue

Airbnb %

VRBO %

Direct %

Total channel fees

$3,840

Effective fee rate

0.03%

Net revenue after fees

$116,160

How the math works

Total fees = sum(channel × revenue × fee rate).

$120k × (60% × 3% + 25% × 5% + 15% × 1%) = $120k × 3.2% = $3,810 total fees.

How to Use

Enter annual revenue.
Enter Airbnb % with 3% host fee.
Enter VRBO % with 5% host fee.
Enter direct % with 1% fee.
Read blended fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Platform fees?

Airbnb: 3% host service fee. 14% guest service fee (sometimes paid by host). VRBO: 5% commission + payment fee. Direct: 0-3% payment processor + marketing cost. Each has different total cost structure.

Channel strategy?

Airbnb: 50-70% of bookings for most STRs. VRBO: 10-25% (family travelers, longer stays). Direct: 10-30% goal (highest margin). Work hard to build direct traffic through website, repeat guests, email.

Risk diversification?

Airbnb account suspension can destroy revenue overnight. Multi-channel hedges this risk. VRBO more restrained but different audience. Direct bookings build your brand. Target 40/30/30 mix for mature operators.

How often should I rerun this?

Rerun this calculator whenever inputs change materially — new rent roll data, rate moves, loan balance updates, or quarterly operating data. For active deals, monthly refresh is typical. For stabilized assets under monitoring, quarterly is fine. Treat the output as a decision tool, not a one-time answer — market conditions evolve and so should your analysis.