Channel manager only or full management? What each does, what they charge and who pays each expense
The channel manager works remotely: listings, pricing and messages, for 8-12 %. Full management also puts someone on the ground (keys, cleaning, breakdowns, traveller registration) for 15-25 %. A table of what each does, what the owner pays, what the guest pays and what the manager pays.
Reviewed on 22 September 2026 · By the team at Torremolinos Gestión Vacacional, more than ten years managing holiday rentals · Markdown version · Versión en español
Short answer: they are two different services, not two prices for the same one. The channel manager (or "online co-hosting") handles listings, pricing and messages remotely, for 8-12 % of what you receive, and you take care of everything physical: keys, cleaning, breakdowns, traveller registration. Full management does all of that and also has someone on the ground, for 15-25 % depending on the manager and what is included. In both models, the cleaning is paid by the guest and whatever belongs to the flat (consumables, bed linen, appliances, repairs) is paid by the owner. If you live nearby and have time, the channel manager works; if you live far away or do not want your phone ringing in August, full management.
Table: who does what
| Task | I do it myself | Channel manager (8-12 %) | Full management (15-25 %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence and paperwork with the Junta | You | Sometimes, at extra cost | Included (we do it free) |
| Listings on Booking, Airbnb, Vrbo… | You | Manager | Manager |
| Pricing and calendar | You | Manager | Manager |
| 24-hour guest messages | You | Manager | Manager |
| Key handover and late check-ins | You | You | Manager |
| Cleaning and bed linen | You (or you hire) | You | Manager coordinates; the guest pays |
| Traveller registration (SES.Hospedajes) | You | Depending on the contract, often you | Manager |
| Breakdowns and repairs | You | You | Manager handles; materials at cost |
| Neighbours, association, inspections | You | You | Manager |
| Reviews and complaints | You | Manager | Manager |
| Monthly statement and summary for the tax office | You | Depending on the contract | Manager |
What never changes hands: the legal responsibility is yours (the home is registered in your name) and you collect the booking money from the platforms, if the manager works with the listings in your name, which is what we recommend (Who should be the holder of the listing?).
Table: who pays each expense
| Expense | Paid by… | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Platform commission (Booking ≈ 15 %, Airbnb 15.5 %) | Owner | Deducted before you are paid |
| Manager's commission | Owner | Always ask on what base: gross or net after the platform (What commission does a manager charge?) |
| Check-out cleaning | Guest, as a supplement on the booking | The manager collects it and pays the team; check that the supplement covers the cost |
| Utilities (electricity, water, internet) | Owner | Deductible expense in proportion to the rented days |
| IBI, waste charge, association fees, insurance | Owner | In Torremolinos the waste charge for a tourist home is around €500 (Waste charge) |
| Repairs and materials | Owner | At cost, with the supplier's invoice; the manager should not add a margin |
| Consumables (paper, soap, welcome kit), bed linen and towels, appliances and replacements | Owner | It is the norm in full management: they belong to the flat, like the furniture. The manager buys them and deducts them on the statement, at cost |
| Listing photos | Depends on the manager | Some charge for them (€120-250), others include them. Ask whether you keep the photos if you change manager. We take them free at the start and, if we stop managing the flat, we give them to you |
| Damage caused by a guest | Guest (deposit, claim to the platform, insurance) | What if they wreck it? |
When is the channel manager worth it?
- You live less than 20 minutes away and can go over on a Sunday in August.
- You have someone to clean and someone to hand over keys (or an electronic lock).
- You do not mind answering a message at two in the morning, because the channel manager usually covers business hours and passes anything urgent to you.
- You want to learn the business before delegating it entirely. Many start this way and move to full management after the first summer.
When is full management worth it?
- You live far away or outside Spain.
- You do not want to deal with the association, the Local Police or the air-conditioning technician.
- You have more than one flat.
- You prefer a single contact who answers for everything, with a monthly statement.
The three questions that separate one offer from another
- Who is on the ground? If the answer is "a collaborator" or "you", it is channel management even if it is called full.
- What happens on a Saturday at 11 pm if the guest cannot get in? Whoever answers with a name and a phone number is full management.
- Who pays consumables, bed linen and replacements, and whose are the photos? The norm is that the owner pays the first at cost and that the photos stay with you; it has to be in the contract (What should the contract with a manager include?).
And compare with doing it yourself, with numbers: Manager or do it myself?.