How to start an Airbnb property management company in France (2026)

Step 1: choose your model

Three models coexist, with very different constraints:

The more you act in the owner's name and handle their money, the more demanding the legal framework. Many property managers start without collecting rent: the owner keeps the payout account on each platform, and the property manager bills its fees.

Step 2: the Hoguet law and the G card

Law no. 70-9 of January 2, 1970, known as the Hoguet law, regulates real estate brokerage and management on behalf of others. It requires a professional license, issued by the chamber of commerce for three years. The "property management" endorsement (G card) covers rental management on behalf of third parties, including collecting rent.

What brings you under the Hoguet law, according to most analyses:

• collecting rent on the owner's behalf;
• signing contracts in the owner's name, or representing the owner with guests;
• a management agreement that gives you these powers.

Conversely, a property manager limited to physical services billed to the owner is generally considered a service provider. The line is debated, and interpretations vary: have your situation confirmed by your department's CCI before starting.

If you're concerned:

• the financial guarantee is mandatory for the property management endorsement; operating without it is punishable by two years in prison and a €30,000 fine (article 16 of the Hoguet law);
• professional liability insurance is mandatory for each endorsement;
• professional aptitude requirements (a degree or experience) apply to obtain the card.

Step 3: the legal structure

The choice depends on your expected revenue, your social protection and your partners:

• micro-enterprise: light formalities and simple accounting, suited to testing a service business, with a revenue cap;
• EURL or SASU: a single-owner company to separate personal and business assets and prepare for growth;
• SARL or SAS: if you have several partners.

If you're aiming for the G card, check with the CCI and your financial guarantor the conditions they set depending on the legal form. An accountant will help you compare social charges and taxation based on your revenue assumptions.

Step 4: insurance

Beyond professional liability:

• check that the owner's home insurance covers furnished tourist rentals;
• plan coverage for the keys and access codes you hold;
• specify in the agreement who bears what if a guest causes damage, and how the security deposit is used. See Card-hold security deposits.

Step 5: set your prices

Two models dominate:

• a commission on rental revenue, which aligns your interests with the owner's;
• a flat fee per booking or per month, clearer for a low-turnover property.

Cleaning and linen fees are often billed separately, or built into the cleaning fee paid by the guest. The clauses and calculation bases are detailed in our article Property management agreement and commission.

Step 6: check each property before signing

A non-compliant property quickly becomes your problem. Before signing an agreement, check the registration number, the property's status (primary residence or not), the energy rating and the co-ownership bylaws. The full list: France's Le Meur law: what changes in 2026.

Step 7: get equipped from the first property

Spreadsheets and messaging groups hold up to three or four properties, rarely beyond. Management software (a PMS) saves you from rebuilding your organization just as you grow. For a property manager, check that it covers:

• platform sync by API, to avoid double bookings;
• centralized messaging, with scheduled messages and AI replies;
• cleaning: jobs created from the calendar, checklists, photos;
• guest security deposits;
• owner invoicing: commission, expenses, statements;
• team accounts with limited permissions.

Boostinghost was designed for this job: channel manager, guest AI in 26 languages, cleaning with photo proof, security deposits, owner invoicing with tax certificates, contracts and agreements signed online, and Agency Mode to manage your clients' accounts. To find cleaning providers in a new city in France, it connects to Hosterzz for free: see How to find a reliable Airbnb cleaning provider.

Step 8: find your first owners

• Start local: a neighborhood or city you know, so you can step in quickly.
• Show proof: a property managed by you or someone close, with its reviews, occupancy rate and a sample owner statement.
• Offer a trial period with a short agreement and clear commitments.
• Polish the monthly statement: that's the document the owner reads, and it's what drives word of mouth.

What comes next: Growing a property management company from 10 to 30 properties.