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Zenstays

Transparent Management Fees for Short-Term Rentals

We believe property management should be a partnership, not a shakedown. Our transparent pricing structure ensures you only pay us for the revenue we actually generate for you — never for the operational costs of running your home.

Our Pricing Model

15% Flat Fee Only on accommodation revenue
0% Markup on maintenance
$0 setup or onboarding fees

How You Save

Most property managers charge 20% to 25% on gross revenue — including cleaning fees, pet fees, and other pass-through costs. We charge only 15%, and only on the nightly rate itself.

With our model, pass-through fees go exactly where they belong: to the vendors doing the work and to your bottom line.

The Management Fee Savings Calculator

Move the sliders to see exactly how much you save with ZenStays vs a traditional manager.

Monthly Gross Revenue: $12,000 (adjustable $4,000–$40,000)
Monthly Pass-Through Fees (Cleaning, Pet, Pool Heat): $1,500 (adjustable $500–$4,000)

Traditional Manager (20% on Gross Revenue)

  • Fee Calculated On: Gross Revenue ($12,000)
  • Their Management Fee: $2,400

ZenStays Model (15% on Accommodation Revenue Only)

  • Fee Calculated On: Nightly Rate Only ($10,500)
  • Our Management Fee: $1,575

By switching to ZenStays, you save $825 every month — that's $9,900 back in your pocket every year.

The "Gross Revenue" Trap

The dirty little secret of the short-term rental industry is the "Gross Revenue" model. Most property managers charge their 20% to 25% management fee on the total gross amount the guest pays. This means they are taking a cut of your cleaning fees, your pet fees, and even the fees collected to heat your pool.

Why should your manager get a 20% commission on a pet fee or cleaning fee? They shouldn't. At ZenStays, we only charge our 15% fee on the Accommodation Revenue (the actual nightly rate). All pass-through costs go exactly where they belong: to the vendors doing the work and to your bottom line.

The "Maintenance Markup" Trap

Another hidden industry secret? The vendor markup. When a toilet breaks or lightbulbs need restocking, many traditional property managers will coordinate the repair — and then secretly add a 10% to 20% premium on top of the plumber's invoice or the supply receipt before passing it to you.

At ZenStays, we believe you shouldn't be taxed twice for the same problem. Coordinating repairs, managing vendors, and ordering supplies are baked into your 15% management fee. You pay exactly what the vendor charges, down to the penny. We never upsell, and we never charge a premium for doing our job.

What's Included in Your 15% Fee

We don't nickel-and-dime. When we say our fee covers management, we mean it. We don't upcharge for basic services.

  • 24/7 Guest Communication — Round-the-clock rapid response to all guest messages
  • Dynamic Pricing Optimization — Daily rate adjustments across all booking platforms
  • Vendor Dispatch & Coordination — Full deep bench protocol — repairs handled same day
  • Marketing & Listing Management — SEO-optimized listings across Airbnb, VRBO, Hopper & Direct
  • Restocking Coordination — Automated inventory tracking and supply management

What You'll Never Pay Extra For

  • Zero markup on maintenance invoices — you pay exactly what the vendor charges
  • Zero onboarding or setup fees
  • Zero cleaning or pet fee commissions — 100% of pass-through fees go straight to your pocket
  • Zero supply or inventory markups — restocking coordinated at actual cost

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are there any upfront fees to join ZenStays?: No. We do not charge onboarding or setup fees. We only make money when your property is successfully booked and generating revenue.
  • Do you mark up maintenance invoices?: Never. If a plumber charges $150 to fix a leak, that exact $150 invoice is passed through to your statement. We coordinate the repair for free as part of our management service.
  • Does the 15% fee cover all your services?: Yes. This fee covers full-scale, turnkey management and includes all services listed above. This includes daily dynamic pricing optimization to maximize your revenue, algorithm-friendly listing management across platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, professional guest communication 24/7, and all vendor coordination. We don't upcharge for essential management services.
  • Will you ever calculate your management fee on anything other than accommodation revenue?: Absolutely not. We strictly calculate our 15% fee only on the base accommodation revenue (the nightly rate). Cleaning fees, pet fees, pool heating fees, and any other guest charges are considered operational or pass-through revenue. They go toward the actual cost of running the home. We never have, and never will, take a percentage of those fees.

Let's run the exact numbers on your property. Request a free financial audit and see how much your current manager is quietly taking from your bottom line.