Have A question?
Check out our FAQ section, where you’ll find answers to common questions about using our services or solutions.
What is included in your service?
Our management package includes Online Advertising, Revenue Management, Guest Communication, Administration Management, Homeowner Interface, and Onsite Management (upon request). For more information on these services, visit Management.
Do you provide your services in my destination?
Under the Management section, you can see in which countries the Direct Booker service is available. If our service is available in your country, Contact us for more details about the terms of collaboration.
What is the price of your service?
The service fee depends on the property specifics, location, scope of services, and whether the Onsite Management is included. Service fee includes Property Management costs, and if the listing is being run on Direct Booker’s behalf (generally yes), it includes the fee of booking channels and their associated costs, as well as the manipulative costs of charging reservations. For more details Contact us.
Do you charge any fixed fees?
No. Direct Booker charges only the agreed Service fee as a percentage of the realized reservations’ total amount.
If I decide to work with you, can I collaborate with other agencies as well?
Yes. You can manage your calendar’s availability, and we do not claim a Service fee for your or other agency reservations. Through the largest online booking channels, our goal is to Earn more for you while you Work less.
How do I inform you about my reservations?
When you sign the contract with us, you will receive login details in our software for your Homeowner Interface. Homeowner Interface allows you to add your own reservations, edit availability on the calendar, have our reservations overview with its details, and all other active functionalities of the software.
How do you inform me about reservations and news?
All news about reservations are automatically sent via email and are also automatically recorded in your Homeowner Interface.
Who charges the reservations?
We are generally doing the payment of the reservations or the sales channel, depending on the sales channel policy. In that case, we pay you your corresponding net amount per individual reservation, which means that you issue an invoice to us, and not to the guest. If you were to charge for reservations, you would be notified.
What are the payment dynamics to the Homeowner account?
Payment to the Homeowner is done regularly on a weekly basis upon receipt of money.
Who will set and manage the rates?
You will define starting rates together with your assigned Account Manager based on mutual experience and all available information. With your complete control and information, defined starting rates and booking conditions further on are being controlled by Direct Booker (both automatically and manually). Direct Booker will never make any modifications against your rules.
How long does the contract last?
The contract is being signed for one year, and it is automatically extended if both sides agree.
Can you guarantee the results?
No. We guarantee a high-quality online presentation and recognizable management of your property, which guarantees competitiveness, especially if you indulge in the market, given that all our information is based solely by current market trends.
Furthermore, we guarantee full commitment to your accommodation units, because in addition to our service being charged from achieved results, our business model has been growing for years mainly by the recommendation of satisfied renters.
Do you offer a “master lease” model?
The business model of paying the guaranteed amount or so-called “master lease” model is not (usually) provided by Direct Booker. Our business model is a revenue share model based on achieved results, i.e., realized reservations.
Do you offer a ‘turn-key’ model?
Yes, depending on the location and our local partner. ‘Turn-key’ model implies the Homeowner’s requirement for the “full service”, meaning that the Homeowner does not have further concern regarding the property management. Our ‘online’ service is always included in the collaboration, while the Onsite service that includes cleaning, maintenance, and check-in depends on the local partner.
What happens with existing property listings?
If the property is already being advertised on major booking channels, we will take over those listings by keeping (if good) all existing reviews, and in case of contract termination, we will give them back to you. Once we take over those listings, we will standardize them to our booking conditions in the agreement with you. You can keep your private booking channels.
Can I manage some of the listings on major booking channels?
Generally, we claim the right on all major booking channels to achieve maximum competitiveness for your property. The property must have a high-quality identical online presentation on all major booking channels in real-time, with the same booking conditions and identical selling price at a given time, depending on each traveler’s search requirements. If the homeowner managed one of such booking channels, the entire Direct Booker sales strategy would lose meaning, and we would not be able to do the job for which you hired us.
Who pays the fee of booking channels?
If the listings on booking channels are advertised (and usually they are) on Direct Booker’s behalf, we pay the booking channels commission fee. Depending on the market i.e., local and/or national regulations, listings can be advertised on the Homeowners behalf, in which case the owner will pay a booking channels commission fee.
What happens if I have my own website?
Generally, we leave your website’s management to you, but upon request, we can discuss taking over managing your website as well.
We offer Homeowners the possibility of connecting their website with our software to automate rates and availability and the possibility to generate their direct reservations, which, together with reservations from other sales channels, can automatically synchronize both in our software homeowners website.
Do you provide a website design service?
We do not, but we can give local recommendations.
Do you participate in the conceptual design, furnishing of the property, and/or real estate selling?
We don’t. Our job is successful short/mid-term & vacation rental booking. During the property’s construction phase, we often participate in consulting based on our professional experience regarding what works well in the market in terms of content, type, rates, and presentation of the property.
What do I need to submit to start working with you?
What are your requirements from me?
We will take care of your property’s competitiveness, and you are expected to be open to market trends to get the most out of your property by using our booking tools.
If you have your own booking channels it is required to regularly update your reservations in your Homeowner interface profile.
How are Best prices guaranteed?
It is not a trick; it is a business model. This is a Vacation Rental website offering properties managed by Property Managers only, and our business model ensures best prices are always at direct-booker.com
How is your Payment Secured?
What does it mean: Direct Communication?
It means we skip the intermediate, extra contact that appears when you don’t book directly with the property manager. Avoiding the communication triangle, between a property manager – booked channel – guest, makes communication more fluent and efficient.
How do you Personally verify properties?
Direct Booker business model is to have local property managers in each location. Property managers verify each property and stand behind advertised details so the travelers can have confidence while booking a property.
What does the Personal approach mean?
What are local suggestions and help?
Having a local professional take care of your needs and at your disposal during your stay is a guarantee that your vacation will be fully utilized.
What are the expectations from me?
What will be my job as a franchisee?
A franchisee operates under the franchisor’s trademark, trade name, and business model in order to provide Direct Booker services. As a Direct Booker franchisee, you will make the acquisition of accommodation units, and afterwards, you will publish and manage acquired listings on all sales channels. You will take over all communication with both guests and homeowners. You will manage payments, control credit cards, regulate tax questions, etc. Furthermore, you will take care of Revenue Management and maximize sales processes for each accommodation unit.
Do I need to open an official company?
Yes. You are starting a company that needs to be registered for the Vacation Rental Management and Booking according to local/national regulations. Registered name is not important as you will perform under the brand name of Direct Booker. Before registering your company we can send you the Franchise Agreement to be reviewed.
Do I need to have office space?
No. It is an “online” business model that can be home based especially towards guests. Regarding the homeowners, although you can make an acquisition and ongoing contacts at the property, online or at the cafe bar, you’ll still be considered more serious in terms of the acquisition and brand perception if you have an office or showroom.
What is the minimum number of people required to start the company?
Although employment is not necessary and it is enough to start as a “one man band”, starting with 2 persons would be ideal.
What is my cost to become a Direct Booker franchisee?
How do I make earnings?
You are charging your management commission of the realized reservations’ total amount.
How do I grow my portfolio of properties?
Direct Booker Know-How, among others, includes standards and procedures regarding property acquisitions. Provided Acquisition Tools will get you interest and inquiries from the Homeowners. Your job is to introduce the Homeowners with Direct Booker business model and finally to sign a contract. Having a big and proven brand behind you makes Property Acquisition much easier. By providing Homeowners with high quality Property Management, the portfolio of properties will also grow through the “word of mouth” recommendations.
Can I take a franchise for a Region or Country?
Yes, all options are available, but it is recommended to start at your own city/location to adjust with the business model and potentially grow if you see the opportunity.
What about available territory in my Region or Country?
It is possible to make an acquisition and do the management at a non occupied territory of your region or country until the new franchisee starts to operate on the previously available territory.
How long does the initial training last?
Education or Franchisee Initial Training can be organized in person in Dubrovnik headquarters or it can be organized online, depending on what both parties agreed on. In person education lasts for maximum up to 5 working days. Online education lasts up to 10 working days, depending on the needs of the Franchisor. There is a possibility of additional education if necessary.
What about marketing?
We are doing worldwide marketing and brand awareness which brings new properties for your management and new reservations both through the brand main website www.direct-booker.com and b2b networking.
You’ll be in charge of local marketing following our standards and procedure in terms of property acquisition. If you decide to have your own website domain “location”.direct-booker.com you’ll be doing marketing for that website as well.
Can I have my own brand parallel with a franchise?
You need to choose between running Your Own Business VS. Buying Franchise. The benefits of buying a franchise can be seen at the franchise section of the site, but if you prefer to run your own business you can rent our technology solely.
Can I be a Property Manager without using technology?
Absolutely yes, but would you be a successful Property Manager absolutely no. Managing vacation rental business manually brings you back to times when technology was not existing meaning you will need to invest an enormous amount of time that can be saved by using the technology, means you run expensive and not optimized business, means you are not reaching maximum potential, means you will lose pace with the competition and finally you’ll lose trust from the Homeowners.
What are the expectations for contract extension?
Franchise business models rely on a franchise partnership meaning both sides benefit from the contract extension. Our expectations in terms of numbers are not specified as our practice is not putting pressure on our franchisees. We rely on the fact that we are providing you with your own business and you’ll do your best to make the most of it. By honoring the contract, following our standards and your time investment contract extension is not a question “if” but “when”.
What are the steps to become a Direct Booker franchisee?
Check out our FAQ section, where you’ll find answers to common questions about using our services or solutions.
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