STR Direct Booking Website ROI Calculator

Direct bookings save 14–18% in OTA host + guest fees but require marketing investment.

Website setup cost

Monthly tooling

Annual marketing

Annual direct revenue

OTA fee rate %

Processing fee %

Annual net savings

$1,380

Payback

7 mo

5-year net

$6,100

How the math works

Savings = OTA fees avoided − processing − tooling − marketing.

$30k × 16% = $4,800 − $900 − $1,020 − $1,500 = $1,380/yr net savings. Payback ~7 months.

How to Use

Enter website setup cost.
Enter monthly tooling.
Enter annual marketing.
Enter annual direct revenue.
Enter ota fee rate %.
Enter processing fee %.
Read annual net savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Build vs use OwnerRez/Hostfully?

DIY (Squarespace + booking widget): $300–800 setup + $30–50/mo. Hostfully Direct Booking: $200–800 setup + $50–200/mo + 2.9% payment processing. Lodgify: $14–55/mo + 2.9% processing. OwnerRez: $40–80/mo + processing. Marketing: SEO + Google Ads + email = 3–10% of direct booking revenue typical. Repeat guest discount (5–15%) drives direct booking conversion. Most successful at 3+ properties or strong destination market.

How does this fit STR underwriting?

Short-term rental investors stack this calculator with AirDNA market data, channel mix analysis, seasonal pricing, and HOA/regulatory review. Net contribution after PM, cleaning, supplies, utilities, taxes, insurance and platform fees should be the underwriting target — gross revenue alone is misleading. Always validate with at least 12 months of comp performance.

Airbnb vs VRBO vs Booking economics?

Airbnb: 3% host fee + 14% guest fee, strong urban demand, cancellation policies host-controlled. VRBO: 8% per booking, family/group oriented, longer stays. Booking.com: 15% commission, instant book required, more international. Direct booking: 0% but requires marketing investment. Most STRs use 2–3 channels for 15–30% lift.

Regulatory risk?

STR regulation is fragmenting fast: outright bans (NYC, Honolulu certain zones), licensing caps (SF, Boston, Santa Monica), occupancy taxes (most cities now), HOA bans (private). Always verify zoning, licensing, and HOA rules before underwriting. Insurance and liability waiver also critical. Owner-occupied vs investor STR rules differ materially in many jurisdictions.