How to Start An Airbnb Business

In this episode, I chat with Ryan Hearnden, founder of a thriving Airbnb management company based on the Gold Coast. From working as a roofer to managing over 35 listings and enjoying (almost) work-from-anywhere freedom, Ryan shares his unfiltered journey into short-term rental success. We explore what it takes to start an Airbnb management business, the growing pains, unexpected lessons, and the systems that helped him scale.

Key Topics:

• How to launch and scale an Airbnb management company from scratch
• The biggest hurdles and how to overcome them
• What separates good listings from bad ones
• Guest experience upgrades that boost reviews and profits
• The power of pricing strategy and owner education

Timestamped Highlights:

[00:00] — Introduction to Ryan’s journey: from plumbing to property management

[01:30] — The "aha" moment: managing his own rental better than professionals

[03:10] — Landing the first client and learning the power of being authentic

[05:00] — From one to 35 listings: rapid scaling with consistent service

[07:00] — What's next: rental arbitrage, and how to pitch it

[08:30] — How to stop owners from just doing it themselves

[09:45] — Defining good vs bad listings (hint: plumbing matters)

[11:00] — The value of learning through trial and error

[13:00] — Building a business that runs without you

[14:30] — Ideas for improving guest experience & reviews

[16:00] — Increasing per-booking revenue with upsells

[17:45] — The art of charging for early/late check-ins

[18:45] — Reaping the rewards: Sushi, Bali, and new listings

[21:20] — Is the Gold Coast oversaturated with short-term rentals?

[23:00] — Attention to detail: the queen sheet on a king bed story

[24:45] — Pricing strategy and dealing with owner expectations

[27:00] — Appraisals: truth vs selling the dream

[28:30] — The power of reviews: how one 5-star writeup changed everything

[29:45] — Educating guests to leave better reviews

Connect with Ryan:

Instagram: @goldcoastaccom

Website: www.airbnbmanagementgoldcoast.com.au