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Rules • Experience host

Business licensing for services and experiences

This information page can help you, whether you're a host or co-host, get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your services and experiences on Airbnb.

Please understand that this information page is general, not comprehensive, and is not legal advice. These pages are intended to give you an idea of the types of rules that may apply to your services and experiences and to help you understand some of the things to consider in relation to your services and experiences.

Different countries, states, and cities have different licensing requirements and rules and it's your responsibility as a host or co-host to make sure you comply with local laws and regulations. These pages are not intended to be an explanation of the specific rules that apply in your jurisdiction, or your particular situation, nor are these pages a substitute to seeking legal advice. If you're unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your services and experiences, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*

What are the general business license and registration requirements?

In certain jurisdictions, hosts of Airbnb Services and Experiences may be required to register their services and experiences as a business with the local government and/or at the national or federal/regional level. In jurisdictions with business licensing requirements, failure to register could result in fines, penalties, and/or the disruption of the services and experiences until proper registration is completed.

Based on certain factors, such as the type of service you provide, how often you host your services and experiences, whether you'll be conducting your services and experiences for profit or whether you'll be conducting your services and experiences under only your own legal name, your services and experiences may or may not be classified as a business in your jurisdiction. In other jurisdictions, the site or location of the services and experiences may be used to determine what type of license or permit is required.

You're responsible for checking whether your activity may be considered to be a business activity, and if so, for ensuring that you comply with local rules that regulate businesses (which may include business registration and/or licensing requirements) before starting to provide your services and experiences.

In certain jurisdictions, you may also need to obtain specific permits and/or licenses in order to conduct regulated activities that are part of the services and experiences. These permits and/or licenses may be required by a local licensing department and/or a federal/national licensing department.

What are the services and experiences-specific permit, license, or registration requirements?

Depending on the category of business you use to host your services and experiences, as well as the activities involved and the services you provide, you may be required to register your services and experiences or obtain special permits or licenses.

It’s a good idea to check with local representatives, and consult with a local lawyer and/or tax professional to make sure you’ve satisfied all filing, registration, licensing, and permitting requirements before hosting your first services and experiences.

Location: You may also be required to register your services and experiences or obtain special permits or licenses for services and experiences involving sporting activities, those which are held in parks, forests, protected areas, or in your home and some commercial buildings. There may also be insurance requirements (see below).

Employees: If you plan to hire employees as part of your business, it’s a good idea to consider (among other things) the obligations and other legal requirements set by the relevant government agency for your jurisdiction. This may include things such as statutory contributions, workplace health and safety and work permits for foreign workers. Some hosts may be required to obtain certain registrations or permits. This can be a complicated area, and it may be a good idea to reach out to a lawyer or your local representative to understand the rules that may apply to you.

Tax and accounting: It’s a good idea to ensure that you understand what tax and accounting rules may apply and comply with any payment or record keeping requirements. Note that you may be required to obtain a (unique) tax number if you register a business. You may be able to deduct your expenses from income taxes, so it’s a good idea to keep receipts of the costs of running your services and experiences. Taxes can be complicated, and you may want to take time to understand the rules as they apply to you and your particular situation, and seek advice from a tax professional for more details.

Are there additional laws that apply to me as a result of my hosting services and experiences?

Other rules might apply to your services or experiences, depending on the activity/activities involved. Our other posts on Tours and travel-related services and experiences, Transportation, Food, and Alcohol cover some of the typical activities, but are not exhaustive, and it’s your responsibility to comply with the rules that apply to you and your services and experiences.

In most jurisdictions, consumer protections laws require you to truthfully describe your services and experiences in your listing page so guests can make informed decisions before booking. In most cases, the law requires that in explaining and promoting your services and experiences to guests, the information you provide meets the following criteria:

  • Is accurate and not misleading
  • Correctly and completely describes the main characteristics of your services and experiences, what is included, and any special terms and conditions
  • Includes specifically those services that you actually intend to provide, with dates or times treated as commitments
  • Is accurate to your advertised services and experiences price, with no surprise additional fees or costs to be covered by guests

Please note that some jurisdictions may have additional consumer laws. For more information, we encourage you to consult a lawyer to find out what rules apply to your services and experiences.

*Please note that Airbnb has no control over the conduct of hosts and co-hosts and disclaims all liability. Failure of hosts or co-hosts to satisfy their responsibilities may result in suspension of activity or removal from the Airbnb platform.

Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).

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