Vacation rental in your spare apartment or suite
Rent a basement apartment, in-law suite or garage unit you already have to visitors for short stays.
- $1k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
NAICS 721199 “All other traveler accommodation”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
You furnish a self-contained space at or next to your home, such as a basement apartment, in-law suite or accessory dwelling unit, and rent it by the night to travelers. You list it online, welcome guests and handle turnovers between stays.
Your first three steps
- Check your city or county rules on short-term rentals, and your HOA or lease terms, before spending money
- Furnish the space simply, take bright photos and set a starting nightly rate by comparing nearby listings
- Create your listings on a booking platform, set house rules and a cleaning routine, and invite a few friends for a trial stay and review
Who pays
Vacationing couples and families, visitors to nearby family, and traveling workers who want a home-style stay instead of a hotel.
How it makes money
A nightly rate plus a cleaning fee per stay. Income depends on your location, the seasons and how many nights you are booked each month.
Skills that help
- Friendly, clear communication with guests
- Staying organized with bookings and cleaning schedules
- Taking good photos and writing honest listings
Watch out for
- Many cities and counties require a short-term rental permit or registration, and some limit or ban them in certain zones, so check locally
- Lodging or occupancy taxes may apply, so check with your state, county or city, and the booking platform may collect some of them
- Ask your insurer about short-term rental coverage, as a standard homeowners policy may not cover paying guests
- Zoning rules for accessory dwelling units, plus HOA or lease limits, can block rentals
- Noise, neighbor complaints and sharing a property with strangers
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: vacation rental in your spare apartment or suite
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a vacation rental in a spare unit?
Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on how much furnishing and preparation the space needs. These are estimates, so list what you already own before you budget.
How much can a spare unit vacation rental earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your location, nightly rate and how often the unit is booked. It is an estimate, not a promise, and bookings can vary by season.
What permits and rules should I check before renting short term?
Check whether your city or county requires a short-term rental permit or registration, and whether lodging or occupancy taxes apply. Also check short-term rental insurance with your insurer, plus accessory dwelling unit zoning and any HOA or lease limits.
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Photo: CyprusVillas on Pixabay