The extranet is Booking.com's control panel for hosts. It's where you set prices, open and close dates, reply to guests, check reviews and pay Booking.com its commission. If you list a home on Booking.com, you'll spend a lot of time in it. Here's what matters.
What could your home earn?
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Key takeaways
- The extranet is where Booking.com hosts manage prices, dates, guests and money.
- There's no sign-up fee. Booking.com charges commission, often around 15%.
- Promotional programmes add to your commission.
- If you list on Airbnb as well, keep your calendars in sync.
- Booking.com invoices commission monthly, so keep on top of the Finance tab.
Contents
What does the Booking.com extranet do?
- Rates and availability: set prices, minimum stays and which dates are open.
- Reservations: see upcoming and past bookings, and guests' details.
- Inbox: message guests and read messages from Booking.com.
- Property page: photos, description, facilities and house rules.
- Finance: invoices, commission and payouts.
- Guest reviews: read and reply to reviews.
Booking.com also has a phone app, called Pulse, for handling messages and bookings on the go.
How much does Booking.com charge?
Booking.com charges a commission on each booking, rather than a sign-up fee. Its own partner page says there are no sign-up fees or subscription costs, and that the commission percentage is shown at the "Agreement" step when you register. At the end of each month, Booking.com sends an invoice for the commission owed.
Wise's guide for hosts says that for most standard properties, the base commission rate sits right around 15%, though it varies. Your exact rate is in your agreement, and in the extranet's Finance tab.
What pushes the commission up?
Wise notes that opting into promotional programmes, such as Visibility Booster or the Preferred Partner Programme, adds an additional percentage on top of your base commission rate. It also explains that commission is charged on the total the guest pays, so extra charges like cleaning fees increase the commissionable amount.
These programmes can bring more bookings, but check whether the extra bookings are worth the extra commission.
How do Booking.com and Airbnb fees compare?
Booking.com says it doesn't add anything to the guest's price: the price you set is the price we display. Airbnb has now moved to a similar model in the UK, charging hosts a single fee of around 15.5%. Hostfully explains that Airbnb now charges most hosts a single host-only service fee of 15.5%. The two platforms now cost roughly the same, so the real question is which one brings more guests to your home. Read Airbnb fees for hosts in the UK.
Where do hosts go wrong?
- Double bookings. If you list on both Airbnb and Booking.com, your calendars must stay in sync. A double booking can mean a cancellation penalty and a guest with nowhere to stay.
- Forgetting the commission invoice. Booking.com invoices monthly, and unpaid invoices can lead to your listing being closed.
- Not setting house rules. Booking.com guests book instantly, so rules on parties, pets and check-in times need to be clear before anyone books.
- Ignoring reviews. A calm, helpful reply to a poor review shows future guests you care.
- Pricing the same every night. A Saturday in August and a Tuesday in February shouldn't cost the same.
Should you list on Booking.com at all?
For many Brighton homes, yes. Booking.com reaches business travellers and guests who would never search on Airbnb, which can fill quieter weeks. It's also more work: two calendars, two inboxes and two sets of reviews to manage.
If this all sounds like hard work
It is. Pricing every night, answering guests at midnight, chasing cleaners and keeping up with fee changes is a job in itself. That job is what we do, for 12% + VAT of what each booking earns. If your home doesn't earn, neither do we.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Booking.com extranet?
The control panel where hosts manage prices, calendars, reservations, messages, reviews and money.
Does Booking.com charge a sign-up fee?
No. Booking.com's partner page says there are no sign-up fees or subscription costs.
How much commission does Booking.com take?
For most standard properties, the base rate is around 15%. Your exact rate is in your agreement.
Is commission charged on the cleaning fee?
Yes. Commission is charged on the total the guest pays, including extra charges like cleaning.
Can I list on Airbnb and Booking.com together?
Yes, but keep your calendars in sync to avoid double bookings.
Related guides
Sources
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax or insurance advice. Market figures are averages as of the date shown above and change every month. Speak to a qualified professional before you act on anything here.