How the Numbers Break Down

The calculator uses Airbnb's standard split-fee model: 3% host fee on the booking subtotal (nightly rate + cleaning fee), and a 15% guest service fee on the same subtotal. This is the rate structure for most residential listings with flexible or moderate cancellation policies.

The guest fee is added on top of your listed rate at checkout — meaning guests always pay more than what they see in search results. This gap contributes to booking abandonment and makes your property appear more expensive relative to direct-booked alternatives.

Why Direct Booking Changes Everything

When a guest books directly with you, the booking subtotal is the booking total. No service fees appended at checkout. No host fee deducted before your payout. The number you negotiate is the number that lands in your account.

This creates three compounding benefits:

• You earn more per booking — immediately and obviously
• Guests pay less — making your property more price-competitive vs. platform alternatives
• Conversion improves — guests who reach your direct listing know what they're paying upfront, with no checkout surprise

The Path to Direct Bookings

BypassStay is a registry for hosts who want to offer direct booking. It's free to list. There's no commission per booking. Guests who specifically want to avoid platform fees can find your property and reach you directly.

Most hosts start by listing on BypassStay while continuing to use platforms — then gradually shift the balance as their direct booking rate grows. The economics make the path self-reinforcing: every direct booking adds margin, which can be reinvested in the guest experience, which drives more direct repeat bookings.