It's easy to get your vacation rental set up in Stessa. Use the Airbnb file importer to quickly populate your income and expense ledger, then use Stessa's short-term rental categories to track performance and stay organized for tax time.
Set Up Your Short-Term Rental in 4 Steps
Step 1: Import Airbnb Transactions
Log in to your Airbnb account and go to your Transaction History.
Set your date range, then click Download CSV on the Paid Out line.
In Stessa, go to your Transactions page and click Import to upload the file.
Tips:
Airbnb reports two line items per stay: gross income (Money In) and the host fee (Money Out). Together they equal your net income.
If you've also connected a bank account in Stessa, check for duplicates and delete them as needed. Use Bulk Edits to manage duplicates efficiently.
Step 2: Set Up the Unit as a Short-Term Rental
Go to your Property details page.
Select + Add new unit, or if the unit already exists, click the three dots next to it.
Set the unit as Short-term Rental.
Enter your average nightly rate and expected occupancy for the year.
Stessa calculates your expected monthly income automatically.
Step 3: Set Pro Forma Operating Expenses
Go to your Dashboard.
Find the Monthly Expenses card, click the three dots, and select Edit All Pro Forma.
Enter your expected monthly expenses in the Pro Forma column.
This baseline helps you compare projected vs. actual expenses.
Step 4: Connect Bank and Credit Card Accounts
Link any accounts you use to receive STR income (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) or pay STR-related expenses:
Go to the Connected Accounts page.
Click + Add Bank.
Stessa will automatically import and categorize transactions from these accounts.
Key Categories for STR Owners
When categorizing transactions for your STR property, use these categories to track activity accurately:
Transaction Type | Recommended Category |
Rental income | Income > Short Term Rents |
Taxes collected from guests | Transfers > Taxes to Remit (positive) |
Taxes paid out from collections | Transfers > Taxes to Remit (negative) |
Taxes paid out from your own funds | Taxes > Short Term Occupancy Taxes |
Guest refunds or discounts | Admin & Other > Discounts & Refunds |
Platform & listing fees | Management Fees > Booking & Platform Fees |
Cleaning services | Repairs & Maintenance > Cleaning |
Linens, snacks, toiletries, etc. | Repairs & Maintenance > Linens, Soaps & Other... |
New furniture, appliances, TVs, etc. | Capital Expenses > New Furniture & Equipment |
Renovation or remodeling costs | Capital Expenses > Remodeling |