Loading...
Loading...
Category: Getting Started
By: Megan O'Connor
Reply by Ryan Tanaka:
I started with a spare room and here's the honest truth: **Pros of shared space:** - Zero startup cost (you're already paying rent/mortgage) - Higher profit margins (most of your revenue is pure profit) - Great way to learn hosting basics without financial risk - Personal interaction can lead to better reviews **Cons of shared space:** - You live with strangers. It gets old fast. - Check-in/checkout coordination affects your daily life - No noise, no guests after hours, no flexibility — you're always "on" - Income is limited ($40-80/night typically) - Some guests are uncomfortable in shared spaces **My recommendation:** If you have the savings for a separate apartment, go entire home. The income potential is 3-5x higher, you have complete separation from your personal life, and you can scale the model (you can't scale "spare rooms in my house"). The spare room is perfect if you have no startup capital and want to test hosting with zero risk. But it's a stepping stone, not a destination.
Reply by Maria Gonzales:
Started with a spare room for 6 months, saved up earnings, then got my first entire-home listing. The spare room was invaluable as a learning experience — I made all my beginner mistakes with minimal financial risk. But I would NOT do a shared space long-term. Having strangers in your home is exhausting. I couldn't relax in my own house. Every noise was "is the guest OK?" Every mess was "did the guest do that?" Use the spare room to learn, save, and build your review history. Then graduate to entire home as soon as financially possible.