Remote rental admin for small landlords

Individual landlords with a few units, owners of small multifamily buildings, and people who inherited or rent out a second home.

A monthly flat fee per property or per unit, or a small monthly retainer. Some providers add one-off charges for catch-up bookkeeping or year-end summaries for the owner's tax preparer.

• Careful with numbers and records
• Comfortable with spreadsheets or bookkeeping software
• Clear written communication
• Trustworthy with financial and personal information

• Some states require a real estate or property management license if you collect rent or act on an owner's behalf, so check your state's real estate commission before offering rent collection
• Handling other people's money: use separate accounts and check whether you need a fidelity bond or crime insurance
• Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance and general liability insurance are worth checking
• Keep tenant and owner data secure, and check state rules on privacy and record retention
• Bookkeeping is not tax advice, so refer clients to a CPA for tax questions

Startup costs are typically around $300 to $2,000, depending on your software and insurance. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $500 to $3,500, depending on how many landlords you serve and the services you offer.

Check your state's real estate commission, since some states require a real estate or property management license if you collect rent or act on an owner's behalf. Also check how to hold other people's money, bonds, insurance, and data privacy and record retention rules.

Useful skills include care with numbers and records, comfort with spreadsheets or bookkeeping software, clear written communication, and trustworthiness with financial information. Estimates suggest at least about 6 hours a week. Refer clients to a CPA for tax questions.