Saving the Airbnb commission means nothing if acquiring the direct booking costs more.
Website, booking engine, payments, ads, discounts, SEO and your time all cost money. The question is not whether direct booking sounds better, but when it actually improves profit.
Gatavia calculates the real gain per direct booking, maximum CAC, first-year payback volume and cumulative impact over 1, 3 and 5 years.
Your current business
Economics of a direct booking
Cost of maintaining direct booking
Target to test
With these numbers, it does not pay yet
At a 20% target, fixed direct-booking costs still exceed the savings generated. You need more volume, lower costs or higher booking value.
How much direct business do you need before it becomes a business case?
We keep total bookings constant and simulate moving a share from OTA to direct. Year one includes setup; recurring years do not.
The threshold most calculators ignore: how much can you afford to pay for a direct booking?
Direct bookings are not free. If paid acquisition is required, there is a CAC threshold above which the OTA becomes economically better again.
We compare OTA variable net with direct-booking variable net after discount, payment fees, variable costs and acquisition. Then we add website, booking engine, CRM, fixed marketing and the value of your time. Year-one break-even includes setup; later years use recurring costs only.
We do not assume direct is automatically better. If discounts, CAC or fixed costs are too high, the calculator will say so.
When does a direct-booking website actually pay?
The threshold depends on booking value, avoided OTA fees, guest discount, payment costs, CAC and fixed direct-channel costs.
Direct booking profitability FAQ
Does a direct booking always make more money?
No. Discounts, payment costs, advertising, technology and time can reduce or eliminate the saving.
How many direct bookings do I need to pay back a website?
It depends on the real saving per booking and first-year fixed costs. The calculator estimates that threshold.
What is maximum CAC?
It is the highest average acquisition cost you can pay before losing the advantage over an OTA.
Why do repeat guests matter?
They usually reduce the average acquisition cost of the direct channel.
Should I discount direct bookings?
Not automatically. Discounts can improve conversion but reduce the saving.
Does this replace Gatavia Check?
No. This calculator analyses the direct channel; Gatavia Check analyses the full property.