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You Don’t Need a Big Team to Scale Big

Want to scale and optimize revenue, instead of adding more properties?

In the world of short-term rentals, growth is often measured by one thing: property count. More units mean more revenue, right?


Not always.


Without the right systems and revenue strategy in place, adding more properties often results in increased workload, higher costs, and narrower margins. You end up managing chaos instead of building a business.


Real scaling comes from increasing revenue per property, not just increasing your portfolio size.


Here’s how smart operators are maximizing earnings without adding stress.


Step One: Get More from What You Already Have

Before you chase that next onboarding deal, stop and assess your current inventory. Ask yourself:

  • Are your prices optimized for every season, event, and weekend?

  • Is your occupancy where it should be in both high and low seasons?

  • Are your operating costs under control?

You might already be sitting on untapped revenue.


Tools to optimize what you have:

  • Dynamic pricing software like Wheelhouse, Beyond, or PriceLabs

  • Data dashboards from tools like AirDNA, Key Data, or your PMS

  • Rules around minimum stays, gap nights, and booking windows


Action to take now:

Run a unit-by-unit profitability review. Identify your most profitable listings and what makes them stand out, better location, better reviews, better photos? Then apply those same principles across your portfolio.


Step Two: Add Revenue Without Adding Properties

Growth doesn’t have to mean more listings. Some of the highest-earning operators increase revenue by offering extras that make guests happier and generate more income.


Here are four high-leverage revenue streams:


Mid-Stay Upsells

  • Offer cleanings, fresh linens, or flexible check-in/out times

  • Guests love it. You charge €20–€50 per upsell, which can add hundreds per month per unit

Partner Offers and Affiliate Revenue

  • Connect guests with local experiences, food delivery, luggage storage, or car rentals

  • You earn a commission on every booking

In-Stay Purchases

  • Add snacks, drinks, or toiletries to your units and sell via QR codes

  • Use tools like Duve or YourWelcome to streamline this

Premium Add-ons

  • Pet fees, dedicated parking, desk upgrades, baby gear

  • Small charges with high value, especially for longer stays or families


These aren’t gimmicks. They’re meaningful, brand-aligned ways to grow revenue.

Still figuring out which revenue streams make sense for your portfolio?


Step Three: Start Thinking Like a Hotelier

Hotels don’t just count rooms. They optimize them. The key metric? RevPAR, Revenue per Available Room.

STR operators should be tracking a similar set of metrics:

  • Occupancy rate: Are your nights being booked consistently?

  • Average Daily Rate (ADR): Are you pricing to match demand?

  • Revenue per Available Night (RevPAN): What’s your actual earning potential per night your unit is on the market?


Action step:

Benchmark your metrics across your listings. Spot the outliers, both high and low performers, and investigate why they differ. Then act on it. Whether it’s better copywriting, pricing, or amenities, repeat what works.


Scaling Without the Headaches

Real growth in STR isn’t about hitting 100 properties. It’s about building a revenue engine, one that runs smoothly, scales efficiently, and earns more per door.


Ask yourself:

  • Would I rather manage 30 high-performing units that generate real profit?

  • Or juggle 100 units with low yield, high stress, and tight margins?


The answer should be clear.


Optimize before you expand. Profit before property count.

Because the STR businesses that win in today’s market aren’t the biggest. They’re the smartest. Want a revenue-first roadmap for your next growth phase?


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