What each platform charges hosts (October 2026)
Fees changed a lot this year. Airbnb moved most hosts to a single host-paid fee, and Vrbo has announced a new flat commission that starts October 29, 2026. Here is what each platform takes, as published by the platform or reported from its announcements.
| Platform | What the host pays | Stays it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | 15.5% of the booking subtotal for most hosts, taken from your payout. The older 3% host / guest-fee split is being phased out. | Nightly and weekend stays |
| Vrbo | Pay-per-booking hosts have paid about 8% (5% commission plus 3% payment processing). A flat 12% commission applies from October 29, 2026. | Whole homes, families and groups |
| Booking.com | A commission set per property in your partner agreement. Around 15% is commonly reported for US properties; check your own contract. | Travelers who already book hotels there |
| Furnished Finder | $199 a year per property, no booking commission. | Stays of 30 days or longer, mostly traveling healthcare workers |
| Hipcamp | 15% commission for private landowners. | Campsites, RV spots and glamping on rural land |
| Houfy | No booking commission. A one-time $5.99 verification fee, with optional paid plans at $7.99 or $11.99 per listing per month. | Repeat guests and direct booking |
Platform guides
Step-by-step setup notes for each platform, from opening an account to your first reviews.
Airbnb
Account setup, listing copy, pricing, Superhost and AirCover, and how the 15.5% host fee changes the way you set your nightly rate.
Vrbo
Setup, fees before and after the October 29, 2026 commission change, and how Vrbo differs from Airbnb for whole-home stays.
Booking.com
Listing a vacation home on a platform built around hotels, and how its commission and invoicing work.
Furnished Finder
Furnished stays of a month or longer for traveling nurses and other medical staff, for a flat yearly listing fee.
Hipcamp
Tent sites, RV spots and glamping for owners with rural acreage in the Ouachita foothills. Check zoning before you list.
Houfy
A commission-free listing site for hosts who want to take bookings directly and build a list of returning guests.
Estimate a property's revenue
Pick a property type, size, amenities and an occupancy level to get a rough annual figure. Treat the result as a starting point for your own research.
How much could you earn?
Enter your property details for an estimated annual revenue based on Hot Springs market patterns.
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This is a rough illustration built on general assumptions, not a forecast or data for any specific property. Real results depend on location, licensing, pricing, platform fees and how the rental is run. Net assumes you self-manage; a full-service manager leaves closer to 30% of gross. Hot Springs has no new short-term rental licenses available in residential zones, so confirm a property can be licensed before you buy.
For comparison, third-party trackers that scrape Airbnb and Vrbo listings put typical Hot Springs occupancy in the mid-40s percent for 2026, with average nightly rates around $250 to $270. Their numbers vary by method, and the average is pulled up by large lake homes.
Shopping for a property
Before you fall for a listing, check whether that address can get a short-term rental license at all. The city stopped issuing new licenses in residential zones in July 2025, and a license does not transfer with a sale just because the seller ran a rental there.
- Search current Hot Springs and Garland County listings at Real Hot Springs.
- Look up the zoning and the city's map layer of licensed rentals on the City of Hot Springs GIS map.
- Call Planning and Development at 501-321-6905 to confirm what a specific address qualifies for before you make an offer.
When visitors come
Demand follows the calendar of a few big draws. Price your busy dates early and check them against these events.
- Oaklawn live racing runs November 27, 2026 through May 1, 2027, the earliest opening in the track's history. The Arkansas Derby is April 10, 2027.
- Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, the 35th edition, runs October 9 to 17, 2026.
- Summer on the lakes. Lake Hamilton and Lake Ouachita bring families and boaters, and booking data from third-party trackers shows May and June among the busiest months.
- Winter is the slowest stretch for most hosts, even with racing under way, so expect lower occupancy in December and January.
Your first listing, step by step
- Confirm you can get a licenseCheck the zoning first. New licenses in residential zones are closed; non-residential zones, Historic Property Registry homes and condos recorded before January 18, 2022 are still accepted.
- Apply to the city and register for taxesGet the annual short-term rental business license from Planning and Development, and register the property with the Advertising and Promotion Commission.
- Set up the house for the occupancy you're licensed forThe city caps overnight guests at two per bedroom plus two. Furnish for that number, with off-street parking to match.
- Arrange a local managerThe city requires someone on call who can be on site within 60 minutes. If you live out of town, line this person up before your first booking.
- Photograph it wellShoot in daylight, show every bedroom and bathroom, and include the views or outdoor space guests are paying for.
- Write an honest listingDescribe what the place is like to stay in, list the real amenities, and mention anything a guest should know, like stairs or a steep driveway.
- Price with the fees in mindAirbnb's 15.5% and Vrbo's new 12% come out of your payout, so build them into your rate. Tools like PriceLabs and Wheelhouse adjust prices for event dates and seasons.
- Sync your calendarsIf you list on more than one platform, use a channel manager or calendar sync so you don't get double-booked.
- Line up cleaningFind a dependable turnover cleaner and a backup. Get quotes locally, since rates depend on the home's size and laundry.
- Review after the first monthLook at which dates booked and which didn't, read what guests said, and adjust pricing and the listing.
Hot Springs short-term rental rules
These are the main City of Hot Springs requirements as published by the city. Confirm the details for your address before you buy or book guests.
A license is required
Anyone renting a property for 30 consecutive days or less needs a Short-Term Residential Rental Business License. It is good for the calendar year and is due each January 1, with a fee that scales with the size of the property.
Residential zones are capped
Residential zones (RR, RS and RN-1 through RN-6) share a cap of 400 licenses. As of July 1, 2025, no new residential-zone licenses are available and there is no waitlist.
Some properties are exempt from the cap
Non-residential zones (C-TR, CN, CMU, CG, CBD, IL, IH and IMU), Historic Property Registry properties and condos recorded before January 18, 2022 can still apply.
Operating rules
Overnight occupancy is limited to two per bedroom plus two. You need off-street parking and a local manager who can reach the property within 60 minutes.
Taxes
For stays of 29 nights or shorter, Airbnb collects Arkansas's 6.5% gross receipts tax, the 2% state tourism tax, local sales tax and Hot Springs' 3% Advertising and Promotion tax. Vrbo also remits the A&P tax. You still file the city's lodging tax form every month by the 20th, even with nothing to report, and pay the 3% yourself on bookings taken off those platforms.
Hot Springs Village is separate
Hot Springs Village is a private community outside city limits with its own Property Owners Association rules for rentals. Read the current HSVPOA Residential Rules and Regulations before buying there.
Read the full ordinance in the Hot Springs code of ordinances, or see our regulations guide.
Ask a question
Setting up a first listing, planning a stay, or looking at a property to buy? Send us a note and we'll point you to the right place.