@Stephanie
Hi Stephanie, thanks for starting this thread. I don't know that even you appreciate how important this thread can be to a host.
I made a comment to Stephen in another post the other day about the importance of setting a proper accounting package in place before arriving at a listing amount.
Too many of us hosts are simply guided by those other listings around them and their reaction is...."Well if those guys can make a profit, so can I"! Nothing could be further from the truth.
You can always adapt your accounting suite to suit your individual circumstances but you must have a framework somewhere to start from.
I have used something similar to this since 2015 but I picked this up from Ben I think it was.....another host here on the CC who put it into a more useable form than the Excel sheet I was using some time back and I started adapting it to my individual situation.
I am enclosing the blank screenshot Stephanie, and I recommend every host download this screenshot by right clicking the image and saving it as a picture file! If you do that you will then be able to open this file in 'Paint' or another picture processing program and put your own figures into it......
![Profit statement A.png Profit statement A.png](https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/38233iDAF684FF45FA27D3/image-size/large/is-moderation-mode/true?v=v2&px=999)
with this template you can make an accurate assessment as whether you are going to make money or lose money, and you can set your listing amount appropriately.
I have used this a number of times on hosts in my area and a few of them were supprised to learn they were actually making a loss. Longer stays were nearer the break even point but one night stays were costing them money.
After doing all the sums, this is how I arrived at my listing amount and actually make a reasonable profit out of hosting.........
![Profit statement.png Profit statement.png](https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/38234i8D1B88103BAAE2CC/image-size/large/is-moderation-mode/true?v=v2&px=999)
Now of course this is not totally accurate because the cleaning fee is only applicable as a $10 unit to one night stays. Thereafter its value is deminished by the length of the stay'. However, that does not have a large impact on these figures.
Sorry to be such a bore Stephanie but this is an important topic that you have raised and I felt the need to contribute to it!
Cheers.....Rob