Fees & commission
Track platform service fees and commission accurately in your books.
Kenya Plans to Collect Its 2% Tourism Levy at Source
Kenyan short-term rental operators must register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority. A 2% tourism levy deducted by the platforms was due by mid-2026 and had not started by September 2026.
How does Kenya's 2% tourism levy affect my rental? →
Airbnb Says 15%. Your Books Say 18.4%.
Headline commission is not what you pay. A breakdown of what each booking channel actually costs once service fees and taxes are out, and how to see your own number.
What does each booking channel really cost me? →
Is a Direct Booking Actually Worth More? Run the Numbers
A direct booking does not save you the channel's whole commission. A worked example of what each side really costs, the largest discount you can offer before you lose money, and when direct is worth less.
Is a direct booking really worth more than an Airbnb one? →
How to Calculate and Record Your Management Fee
Two managers can both charge 20% and pay the same owner different amounts. The difference is the base the fee is charged on. Here is how to choose it, and how Airflow applies it on every owner statement.
How do I calculate and record my management fee? →
The Plan Has a Price. What Did Last Month Actually Cost?
What running an Airflow account costs in a quiet month and a busy one, which work uses automated tasks and which is free, and where to read your own number in the portal.
What does an Airflow account really cost each month? →
Quote in Their Currency, Bank in Yours
Quote a guest in their currency and keep your books in yours. How Airflow locks the exchange rate, tracks the balance owed, and keeps Xero reconciled.
Can I quote guests in their currency and bank in mine? →
Who Collects the Money on a Booking.com Stay?
Airbnb collects from the guest and remits. Booking.com usually does not. Why that hides money you are owed, and how to track what each channel collects.
Who collects the money on a Booking.com stay? →
How to Track OTA Commissions as Expenses (Airbnb, Booking.com & VRBO)
How to track Airbnb, Booking.com and VRBO commission in your accounting as a proper expense, why netting it out costs you, and how to automate the split.
How do I track Airbnb and Booking.com commission as an expense? →
Why None of Your OTA Payouts Match Your Invoices
Airbnb, Booking.com and VRBO each net fees and commission differently, so OTA payouts rarely match your invoices. Here is why, and how to reconcile cleanly.
Why don't my channel payouts match my invoices? →
VAT for Short-Term Rentals: When to Register & How to Handle OTA VAT
VAT for short-term rentals explained: when registration becomes compulsory, why holiday lets are standard-rated, and how to handle VAT on OTA commission.
When must a short-term rental register for VAT? →
Booking.com Accounting: Why Your Payouts Never Match (and How to Fix It)
Booking.com payout reconciliation explained: the commission-invoice model, VAT on commission, fortnightly payouts, and how to make your bank deposits match your books.
Why don't my Booking.com payouts match? →
VRBO vs Airbnb Fees for Hosts: What Each One Takes in 2026
Airbnb takes 15.5% from most hosts. VRBO takes about 8% from the host and charges the guest 6–15% on top. A side-by-side table, a worked $1,000 booking, and what the difference means for your books.
What do VRBO and Airbnb each take from a host? →
Airbnb Payouts Don't Match Your Invoices — Here's Why
The guest paid €1,200. After Airbnb's ~15% host-only fee and a currency conversion, your bank received £867. Your Xero invoice says something else entirely. Here's what's happening — and how to fix it.
Why don't my Airbnb payouts match my invoices? →
Multi-Currency Bookings Are Breaking Your Spreadsheet
EUR bookings, GBP payouts, USD reporting, KES bank deposits. If you're managing multi-currency bookings in a spreadsheet, something is already wrong. Here's why — and how to fix it.
How do I manage bookings in several currencies? →