How to Make Money Online in Kenya With Airbnb

Introduction

Ever wondered what Airbnb is? Better still ever wondered how to make money online in Kenya with Airbnb? Well, don’t fret because this is the right place to get all the information regarding Airbnb business in Kenya. We’ll give an introduction to Airbnb then proceed to show you how to start an airbnb business in Kenya. We’ll also show you how to start a airbnb business without money.

For starters, Airbnb is like any other. However it only deals with renting out space in form of homes and houses to people who are on the road, traveling, or just want to party and have fun. Its been a growing business in Kenya that has not reached its full potential, a taste of the great opportunities that await those who grab it as soon as possible.

Some platforms provide Airbnb services in Kenya, like the official Airbnb site. Travelers in need of Airbnb in Kenya and maybe in Nairobi or any other major town contact the owner of the house and make a booking. Depending on the owner of the house, they all come in different terms and conditions that they have to stick to.

In return, the traveler gets the best lodging experience they needed. Airbnb service providers can decide to rent a whole house, a basement, a spare bedroom, or a guest room. Any room in the house that is not in use can be turned into an online money generating system and it does pay. It pays good!

The average pay for an Airbnb business owner stands at $924 per month while the median pay sits at $440. Imagine what that would do to an Airbnb Nairobi business owner. Some can bring in over $10,000 a month and as luck would have it, some have less than $200. If you have an idle house or an idle room in your house, then you should definitely get into the airbnb business in Kenya.

If you’ve been wondering how to start airbnb in Kenya, this article is for you. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to make money on airbnb. We’ll even show you how to make money with Airbnb experiences!

How to Start an Airbnb Business in Kenya (All You Should Know)

Stats have shown that Airbnb can be a super profitable business. So, if you’ve been wondering how to make money on airbnb, stop wondering and use the information in this article to start. Already they have more than 4 million hosts over 5.6 million listings. That’s a lot, but, the total number of stays recorded to date surpass 800 million! Its popularity continues to grow more and more as people keep discovering its advantages.

To start an Airbnb business in Kenya, what you need is a rental space. It can be a whole house or just sections of your house. Follow the following steps to become listed in Airbnb:

1. Log into the Airbnb site and you will see the section ‘Host’.
2. Click on the Host Your Home button then on the next page click on the Get Started button.
3. You will be asked to create an account with them. Create an account and acre to the terms and policies then continue.
4. You will be directed to a page where you pick the kind of space you want to rent out. Pick the space.
5. You will be asked to provide an address then you will be asked for the pricing and you will be done.

When researching how to start airbnb in Kenya and how to make money on airbnb, it can seem like a difficult thing to do. But it’s not. The major advantage is that you get insured with Airbnb sites that can pay up to 1 million dollars as a Host Guarantee. You also get to choose the price for renting your house which is another major advantage.

How to Make Money With Airbnb: 5 Unique Ways

When wondering how to start an airbnb business in Kenya, most people get stuck after realizing that they have no property to rent. Owning a rental space is a not must when it comes to owning an Airbnb business in Kenya and everywhere else. A quick search into ‘Airbnb Nairobi’ gives you several places you can rent from as low as $20. In this part, we will focus on how you can earn with Airbnb with or without owning a rental space.

1. Hostings

Okay, this is the most known way to get money online with Airbnb in Kenya or anywhere else. What you need to do is to have your own rental space that is free and you wouldn’t mind renting out to some strangers. Now that you have your account with Airbnb Kenya, or probably your website, take good pictures of the place and post it. They will be listed on the Airbnb site for people looking for your services in your area.

Given that it’s an online business, it all operates according to your terms of service and according to your schedule. You can choose to rent on weekends alone or on weekdays alone and charging different daytime and nighttime prices. You can also choose the length of time you will rent out your space. A month, a fortnight, or a week, all according to your terms.

You also get to choose how much time you get to spend, as a part-time business that will run itself or as a full-time business. Some people actually give a drop-off place where guests can pick and leave keys to their rental place. You just need to maintain the place have it looking as good as possible to draw in more people.

2. How to Make Money With Airbnb Experiences

Making money with Airbnb Experiences is a great way to earn especially if you do not have a rental space. Airbnb experience deals with you leading the guests around your area, showing them the fun and the bad things and what they can do. Every traveler is looking for adventure and who better to show it other than people who have lived in the area?

It gets advantageous for those who own places that are exciting, possibly a ranch or near landmarks that you can show the travelers around. However, there is no limit to this because the more creative you can get to sourcing out exciting things that the travelers can do, then the more you earn.

Another Airbnb experience involves showing people places online or sharing your idea with them regarding the things they can do. There is no limit to the Airbnb experience you can provide. Just keep in mind that there is a fee of 20% charged on the Airbnb experience.

3. Managing Airbnb

Not many people can be able to have a hand on approach to their Airbnb businesses and this creates an opportunity for Airbnb specialists to make some more money. The best thing about this is that you do not need to own a rental space. You only need an Airbnb experience on how you can make the businesses plow in more money. Managers who have experience in Airbnb business in Kenya are in high demand.

This has been a growing case in several areas. In Kenya, you find that most of those who give their rental spaces for hire are abroad and they need a person who will manage their houses making sure they have been kept cleanly and neatly maintained.

Managing an Airbnb business is not a business that will consume most of your time. On average, you will most likely spend an average amount of 2-3 hours a day managing and per month you can up to $1500 and the least amount of $750 for a full-time manager and for a part-time you can earn up to $850 and a minimum of $250 a month.

4. Airbnb Associate

Another airbnb business in Kenya that you can engage in is being an airbnb associate. This is a fun way of killing two birds with one stone. An Airbnb associate is someone tasked with promoting Airbnb and content posted on the Airbnb site through their blogs or whatever online audience they may have. This makes it great for people to earn twice fold through one stream of income.

Anyone with a great online presence and possibly building an online presence can do this. The main Airbnb page tasks the associates with sharing links to their audience, sharing widgets, and landing pages among several other things. They can also share tips and informative materials about Airbnb or travel-related information.

Their pay can be rated as average when it comes to an associate. For every content posted, the associate gets to earn a 30% when a guest books rents for space through the content they posted. Also, an Airbnb experience booked through the associate earns the associate 25% of the fee paid. They are paid twice a month, the 10th and 20th of every month.

5. Airbnb Arbitrage

This is a very effective way of earning from Airbnb Nairobi. This allows you to own a housing/ rental space without actually owning it and you can go through the hosting criteria earlier talked about as the first way to earn through Airbnb.

What you have to do is search for a property you feel like would give you an advantage and leas it. After having leased the property, you own it and use it as your rental space on Airbnb. You get the advantage of owning a house and renting in therefore giving you much more money than most of the other ways named above. The lease arrangements should at least be long-term, allowing you to get back the money you spent on leasing it and getting some more on top. Its helpful conducting research before getting an apartment leased to you because it might backfire on you.

How to Make Money With Airbnb: Important Considerations

The number of services surrounding Airbnb that anyone can get into to get money online while in Kenya are numerous. This doesn’t mean that it’s going to be any easier because it’s going to take some time and effort to establish yourself. But in the end, it will be worth it whether you are looking for some side hustle or a full-fledged business on Airbnb.

However, you must understand how everything works. Every business has its own risk and opportunities and therefore coming up with a plan is as vital as ever. We’ve shown you how to start an airbnb business in Kenya whether or not you have property to rent. Before we get into the kind of service you can offer, here are a few more things you should consider:

1. Estimate you’re earning. There is no need to walk into this unsure of what you expect from it. Having a goal is vital for you to understand how you should conduct your Airbnb business and when you should increase your efforts. Include your rental income and Airbnb charges
2. Understand your expenses and income. This will further help you know whether you are dealing at a loss or a profit. This will help you decide on the price that you set for your rental space or whatever service you choose to offer on Airbnb.
3. Know your competitors. Every business exists in a surrounding with competitors and other businesses that help them flourish. Know what your competitors do and how they price themselves which will give you a better idea of what needs to be done. You can then source a non-existent idea and make it work in the area that will set you apart from the rest.
4. Design your working strategy. Now you know about the costs that you will incur, the laws surrounding leasing and renting spaces in the area and you have researched about your competitors. You already are on the winning end. If you have a unique service to top it off then it’s an added advantage. Now design your winnings strategy. How you will start and how you will develop your business in a competitive market. This is all to give you an advantage over everyone else.

How to Make Money Using Airbnb: Your Options

1. Guided Tours

Most people in search of how to start an Airbnb business in Kenya don’t realize they can do so without being involved in any way with property. Provided that most people in need of Airbnb services are people on the road, traveling, or sightseeing, you can earn extra bucks by offering a guided tour. Simultaneously, you can partner with other tour guiding services with discounts and this can be an extra way of earning on Airbnb.

2. Renting Cars, Motorbikes or Bicycles

Most probably if the guests have come to view the local area. You could rent out cars, motorbikes, or bicycles for them to use while going around the local areas. While it has many hosts earn an extra income, it also saves the time for the guests to search for other car renting or motorbike and bicycle renting services. A win-win.

3. Event Tickets

Offering event tickets is a great way to attract travelers who have coke around your area to have fun. Get the best tickets to the best events and this will attract customers to book their stays with you. It saves them the hustle of looking for the best events in town and trying to get a ticket.

4. Special Decorations

It’s something else when it comes to celebrating special occasions. Not only do most people travel, but they have to make sure that the special occasion is well prepared. This service saves travelers the hustle of having to prepare it themselves and in return, you get a social media shout out drawing in more customers to you.

5. Meals

Yea, you can offer meals as an added service. Most Airbnbs don’t include this in their plan and adding it, even if it’s including the cost of the meals in your experience would be a great boost to the Airbnb business. Remember, these services are the small details that will make you stand out from your competitors.

6. Additional Cleanings

For most travelers, including you on vacation, washing clothes and keeping the house tidy is a big letdown that might just kill the mood of the party. Offer additional cleaning services like doing laundry and cleaning their houses. You may get some extra tips while saving the visitors more time for them to focus on the fun or occasion they came to celebrate.

7. Pick-Ups

As a means to make your guest feel more comfortable, this service can help them save in the hustle of getting a cab that will drive them to your place. Potentially they may also get lost along the way. It’s another great way to boost your earnings.

FAQs on How to Make Money With Airbnb in Kenya

Does Airbnb Work in Kenya?

The answer is yes, Airbnb does work in Kenya. Plus, as shown above, getting your house listed on the Airbnb site is not as hard as most people make it out to be. It’s easy and comes free. Already there are several Airbnb Nairobi services like Kilimani, Lavington, Syokimau among other places. Try your luck today.

How to Pay Airbnb With Mpesa

If you’ve been wondering how to pay airbnb with Mpesa, then I’m sorry to inform you that at the moment, Airbnb Mpesa is only a dream. Airbnb doesn’t accept Mpesa payments. The only way you can pay airbnb with Mpesa is by using M-Pesa to deposit money into the payment options that Airbnb accepts. Airbnb accepts the following payment methods: Paypal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Visa and Mastercard.

How To Start an Airbnb Business in Kenya

As we have seen above, starting an airbnb business in Kenya is easy. Normally, getting started with Airbnb requires you to have a rental place, that you either own or you have leased and can rent it out to people. Alternatively, you can have some Airbnb services that you specialize in. You then create an account with Airbnb and get your listing. Visitors visiting your region will see the listing and they might pick your services. It’s easy, but you have to work hard to get your listings up.

If you already know how to get started then the only option left is figuring out how to do it right. It was already highlighted before but just in case you missed it, you can follow these steps:

1. Come up with a business plan that will create the direction to where you as heading
2. Determine the amount you need to charge by factoring in the expenses and the price you intend to use.
3. Learn about your competitors and know how you can make your services much more unique.
4. Devise a strategy that will be sure to make you a winner in the growing market.
5. Have a clear idea of how much you expect to make from the business and work towards it.

Airbnb Kenya Regulations

Every region has regulations that will determine how Airbnb works in the area. In Kenya, according to the KCBTN website, the laws say this:

1. Airbnb will only be given to those who are living in the same place they want to rent out.
2. At least one member should be able to communicate English
3. The number of rooms that can be spared for tourists can range between one to six.
4. Department of Tourism officials determine if the house has enough or all required facilities before allowing for the Airbnb service to be offered. This will be done after the owner notified the department that they are ready for inspection.
5. Licenses are valid for one year and renewal requests are submitted 3 months before their expiry.
6. Authorized ministry officials may drop in and inspect the units at any given time without prior notification.

How Much Tax Do You Pay for Airbnb in Kenya?

Airbnb deducts a commission from any fee paid to the hosts with listings on their site. This tax is automatically deducted. However, Airbnb hosts in Kenya also have to undergo a 16% VAT tax according to new government regulations.

Top 3 Airbnb Competitors in Kenya

1. Vrbo- this is the greatest competitor given that it has over a million different listings that are catchy. It is catching up on Airbnb in Kenya.
2. com- this is a big competitor with its biggest letdown being its reputation. Most people think that it only works for hotel booking but the site also has several private properties listed.
3. com- it works with Kayak, a service that allows travelers to search for the best prices for their vacation. Tripping.com has several nice listing rentals and private properties that visitors can enjoy.

Airbnb Kenya: How to register for airbnb in Kenya

Registering for your Airbnb to be listed involves creating an account with the site. They will require your email and home address and then you will list your property. Pretty easy.

Is Airbnb Business in Kenya profitable?

Yes, it is. In as much as you won’t find international tourists easily, local tourists are present who rent houses for close to a whole month. Some do it for hosting parties too, but it’s all dependent on your terms and conditions.

How Do I Pay for Airbnb in Kenya?

Multiple payment options can be linked to Airbnb services in Kenya. You could choose any option, from M-Pesa to bank and wire transfer, Paypal, and Credit and debit cards.

How Does Airbnb Kenya Take Payment?

Airbnb accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, Google Pay, and Airbnb credits as means of payment.

Is Airbnb Profitable in Kenya?

Airbnb can be profitable in Kenya, depending on a couple of factors. For starters, the property that you are leasing out matters. With some houses, you don’t have to do any marketing because people just want to be there. In addition, making money with Airbnb is dependent on your location. If it’s in a city such as Nairobi or Mombasa, then you’ll make much more profit. Finally, your Airbnb skills and effort make a difference. The more aggressive and strategic you are in marketing your Airbnb property, the more profit you will make.

Can I Pay Cash For Airbnb?

No, you can’t. According to the terms of service, any offline or cash payments made violates the regulations posed by Airbnb. They only accept online payment methods.

Can I Make Money on Airbnb in Kenya?

Yes, you can. Airbnb Kenya is operational, which means that just like other property owners around the world can make money off Airbnb, so can you. Moreover, you can make money off Airbnb even if you don’t have any property, using the methods that we have discussed above.

Final Take on How to Make Money With Airbnb in Kenya

Getting your own Airbnb listing on the site is not a problem. It’s all dependent on the easiness of compliance with the rules and regulations provided by the region. Simultaneously, you do not need to own a property to make some money from Airbnb, you just need to be creative enough. The limit to how much you can make is dependent on your capability of handling multiple Airbnb services and businesses. Learn that art and it could provide you with a nice pay.