Understanding Who Initially Pays Vrbo Commission
Because Vrbo commission is charged to a credit card on file with Vrbo, Hospitable needs to know who that credit card belongs to so any necessary reimbursements or expenses can be reflected correctly on owner statements.
When you connect a new Vrbo Partner channel, Hospitable will ask you to confirm who owns the credit card used by Vrbo for commission charges when you begin reviewing your monthly statements.
To confirm the card owner:
Go to Your Business → Statements.
Review the list of newly connected Vrbo Partner channels.
Select who owns the credit card on file with Vrbo.
Click Confirm.
Statements page asking the user to identify who owns the credit card used by Vrbo for commission charges
Understanding when Vrbo commission compensation transactions are created
The person who pays the commission is not always the same as the person who receives the reservation payouts.
Vrbo charges their commission to the credit card on file in your Vrbo account. If the credit card on file in the Vrbo account belongs to someone different than the party that receives the reservation payout, a transaction is automatically created to handle the difference.
Who receives the reservation payout? | Who pays the Vrbo commission? | Vrbo commission compensation transaction created? | Transaction type | Transaction amount |
Manager | Owner | Yes | Reimbursement | 100% of the Vrbo commission on the reservation |
Manager | Manager | No | - | - |
Owner | Manager | Yes | Expense | 100% of the Vrbo commission on the reservation |
Owner | Owner | No | - | - |
The Vrbo commission compensation transaction will be named Vrbo commission compensation for [reservation code].
How Hospitable Handles Commission Reimbursements
Because Vrbo commission is not deducted from the reservation payout, Hospitable automatically creates transactions when reimbursements or charges are required between the property manager and owner.
These transactions ensure owner statements accurately reflect the commission responsibility defined by your agreement.
Editing or Deleting an Auto-Created Commission Transaction
You can edit auto-created Vrbo commission transactions just like any other transaction — for example, to adjust the amount, change the category, or update the description.
Keep in mind how Hospitable keeps these transactions in sync with the reservation:
If the reservation changes in any way (date change, price change, cancellation, alteration, etc.), Hospitable re-evaluates the commission and updates the existing transaction to match.
If you've deleted the auto-created transaction and the reservation later changes, Hospitable will create a new one in its place.
This means edits to the amount or other auto-calculated fields will be overwritten the next time the underlying reservation is updated.
Annual Fee Plans
Hosts using Vrbo's Annual Fee model are handled differently.
Hospitable does not automatically account for annual subscription fees on reservation financials or owner statements. Only pay-per-booking commission is accounted for automatically. If you want to pass an annual fee through to an owner, create a one-time transaction for the fee.
Create an Annual Fee Transaction
When your annual fee is charged by Vrbo, create a one-time transaction to reflect it on the property.
Go to Your Business → Transactions → Add Transaction → Property Transaction.
Select the property.
Enter the annual fee amount.
Enter the date Vrbo charged the fee.
Select the appropriate transaction category.
Click Save.
Property transaction form used to record a Vrbo annual subscription fee
Choosing the Correct Transaction Category
Reimbursement
Use Reimbursement when:
The owner's card was charged by Vrbo.
You are reimbursing the owner.
This creates a credit on the owner's next statement.
Host Service Fees
Use Host Service Fees when:
Your card was charged by Vrbo.
The owner is responsible for the fee according to your agreement.
This charges the owner on their next statement.
Record the Fee Without Charging the Owner
If you want to track the annual fee for reporting purposes without affecting owner statements:
Create the transaction.
Disable Charge owner on statement before saving.
The fee will be recorded as an expense but will not appear on the owner's statement or affect owner payouts.
Disabling "Charge owner on statement" records the fee for your records only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this change what Vrbo charges me?
No. Vrbo charges the credit card on file in your Vrbo account according to your agreement with Vrbo.
Why am I being asked who owns the credit card?
Hospitable uses this information to determine whether Vrbo commission compensation transactions are needed on owner statements.
What happens if the owner paid the commission but I receive the reservation payouts?
Hospitable automatically creates a reimbursement transaction so the owner is repaid. Your reservation commission agreement is then responsible for determining how much the owner is owed for the reservation as a whole.
What happens if I paid the commission but the owner receives the reservation payouts?
Hospitable automatically creates a transaction charging the owner for the Vrbo commission. You'll be reimbursed in full for the commission, then your reservation commission agreement determines how much you're owed for the reservation as a whole.
Does Hospitable automatically account for annual subscription fees?
No. Only pay-per-booking commission is accounted for automatically. Annual subscription fees must be recorded manually if you want them reflected on owner statements.
Can I record the annual fee without charging the owner?
Yes. Create the transaction and disable Charge owner on statement before saving. The fee will be recorded as an expense without affecting owner statements or payouts.
Can I edit the commission transactions Hospitable creates automatically?
Yes, but the changes are not permanent. If the underlying reservation is updated, Hospitable will update the auto-created transaction to match, overwriting your edits. If the transaction has been deleted, Hospitable will create a new one.