Airbnb Cleaning Business (2026): STR Clients, Rates + Automation

Why Airbnb Cleaning Is the Best Commercial Account for Small Cleaning Businesses

Short-term rental cleaning checks every box that makes a commercial account worth pursuing.

• Recurring revenue without a long-term contract — every checkout is a job
• Higher ticket than standard residential ($150–$400 per turnover vs $100–$180 for a regular clean)
• Property managers are desperate for reliable cleaners — supply is genuinely thin in most markets
• Same crew, same property every time — efficient routing and a predictable schedule
• One property manager with 5 listings = 5 recurring clients from a single relationship

STR cleaning is also defensible. Once a property manager finds a reliable cleaner, they rarely switch. Your competition is mostly residential cleaners who don't understand the turnover model.

How Airbnb Turnover Cleaning Is Different From Regular House Cleaning

Most cleaners lose their first STR account because they treat it like a residential clean. Four things are fundamentally different:

• Speed matters more than thoroughness — guests check in same day. The 11am–3pm window is typical. You cannot reschedule.
• Restocking is part of the job — toiletries, towels, coffee, paper products. If it's not restocked, the host gets a 1-star review. Price it in from day one.
• Photo documentation is expected — property managers want proof of condition before every check-in. Before and after photos solve disputes automatically.
• Communication is everything — the manager needs to know the moment the clean is done and the property is guest-ready. Don't make them ask.

How to Price Airbnb Turnover Cleans

Don't price by the hour — price by the property. Flat rate protects your margin when the previous guests were messy. If you quote hourly and a family of 6 spent a week trashing a 3BR, you eat the extra time.

Base flat rate formula by bedroom count:

• Studio / 1BR: $85–$130
• 2BR: $130–$180
• 3BR: $180–$250
• 4BR+: $250–$400+

Add-Ons to Always Charge For

These are not optional line items — they're margin protection. Every one of these should be on your rate card before you send a proposal.

• Restocking supplies (toiletries, coffee, paper products): $15–$30 per clean
• Same-day / emergency turnover with less than 4 hours notice: +25% or $30–$50 flat
• Deep clean between long-term stays: 2x base rate
• On-site laundry per load: $20–$40
• Post-party clean: 2–3x base rate
• Before / after photo report: included in base or $15 add-on

Never quote hourly to a property manager. They'll hold you to it when the last guests trashed the place. Flat rate or walk away.

4 Ways to Find Airbnb Property Managers Who Need Cleaners

1. Airbnb Host Facebook Groups

Every major city has one. Join, don't spam. Answer questions helpfully for two weeks, then post: "We specialize in STR turnovers in [City] — same-day availability, before and after photos after every clean, automated checkout scheduling. DM if you need a reliable crew." The response will surprise you.

2. Direct Airbnb and VRBO Search

Search your city on Airbnb. Filter for Superhosts with 10 or more reviews — these hosts have volume and are serious operators. Find their contact info via the listing or a quick Google search of their property name. Email them directly with your rate card.

3. Property Management Companies

Local property managers who manage vacation rentals are worth 5–20 recurring properties from a single relationship. Search "[city] vacation rental management company" and cold email the operations contact directly.

4. Your Existing Residential Clients

Ask every current client: "Do you or anyone you know own a rental property or Airbnb?" A warm referral to a property manager is worth more than 20 cold emails. Most cleaning businesses already have the connection — they just never ask.

What to Include in Your STR Cleaning Proposal

Property managers see dozens of cleaner pitches. Three things they care about: reliability, speed, and proof the clean is done. Your proposal needs to address all three in the first paragraph.

Copy-paste template:

"We specialize in short-term rental turnovers in [City]. Flat-rate pricing by bedroom, same-day availability, before and after photos after every clean, and automatic job completion notifications so you never have to chase us down. We work with [X] properties in [neighborhood] and can take on new clients starting [date]."

Then attach your rate card. Don't make them ask for pricing — it signals you're not serious about STR work.

How to Automate STR Scheduling So Checkout Triggers the Clean

This is the part that separates your business from every other cleaner pitching the same property manager. Most cleaners require the manager to call or text to schedule each turnover. That's friction — and property managers managing 5–20 properties don't have time for it.

Here's the automated workflow:

• Property manager shares the checkout calendar (or books a recurring schedule in ServiceHub)
• Each checkout date auto-creates a job assigned to your team lead for that property
• Team lead gets a reminder the morning of checkout day
• Team arrives, completes the pre-clean checklist and takes before photos
• Clean is completed, after photos taken, job marked complete
• Property manager gets automatic notification: "[Property] is guest-ready as of 2:14pm — photos attached"
• Review request sent to property manager after their third clean

Property managers managing 5–20 properties are fielding calls and messages all day. A cleaner who sends photo proof automatically — without being asked — is worth three times the price of one who requires follow-up.

Keep Reading

See exact 2026 rate benchmarks in our Airbnb turnover pricing guide.

Get the room-by-room checklist in our Airbnb cleaning checklist.

Learn how to structure recurring billing for STR accounts in our cleaning subscription plans guide.

See how team lead accountability reduces cancellations in our Know Who's Coming guide for cleaning businesses.