30% profit, break-even in 1 year: Is leasing property for Airbnb India’s next big side hustle? Hyderabad man reveals

Renting or leasing a property to run an Airbnb is often seen as the next big side hustle. But, what is the reality in India? Check out what a host said.

In today's world, everyone talks about the importance of a side hustle. One such popular idea on the internet is to run an Airbnb on a lease model. It suggests that anyone can run a business with Airbnb in India by renting or leasing a property from an owner for a fixed monthly amount and then listing and operating it on the Airbnb platform, earning the difference between the rental income and the costs. But is it even that easy or practical in India?

Running Airbnb on lease-model in India

Answering the question, a man from Hyderabad shared his experience. Abhishek Mourya who claims to be an Airbnb host and a consultant at a 9-to-5, warned against the lease model.

Taking to Instagram, Mourya shared in a now-viral video, “If anyone on the Internet is trying to convince you that you can lease out a bunch of properties and continue an Airbnb business as a side hustle and make a s**t ton of money on the side. They are lying to you. Trust me, I have been in the business for the past three years. I know this industry inside and out. I have only been running this business on my own properties. I have not leased out any if them.”

Initial set up cost vs break-even vs profit

The user continued and explained that he could continue the Airbnb hosting as he was the owner of the properties. He explained, “These are owned by my father. He tends to own a bunch of properties, and I get to use them, furnish them with my own money and run them as an Airbnb business. The math only makes sense when you run it only with this equation because here I am furnishing my own home. So I am not chasing a break-even figure; this is what I invested initially to furnish this house. When will I have my break-even? When will I get profit? I am not paying a fixed rental to anyone because they are my homes. So any money I make in terms of my revenue, most of it is my profit, minus the maid, general consumables and maintenance expenses.”

20-30% profit margin

Mourya said that once you lease a property, you incur high costs. After considering maintenance and other expenses, the profit margin will typically stand at 20-30%. "Depending on the size of the apartment you lease," he added.

He said that breaking even on the furnishing cost will take a minimum of around one year. "After that you will start making profit," he said.

‘Not a side hustle’

"So Airbnb is not a side hustle in India. It is a full-blown hospitality business. Get into it only if you are ready to actually invest your time, money and energy and don't sell out on this idea that this is the next big side hustle thing in India," he concluded.

Reacting to the video, a user wrote in the comments, “Agree with you! I am employee of Airbnb more than 5 years! All Instagram side hustle are crap!”

Another added, “Agreeeeed ! It's sad how many youngsters fall in this trap. It takes atleast 2 years to reach marketing level by that time you've already paid dollars in rent.”

Someone else also commented, “A business with break even at 1 year. Seems like a best business idea as compared to others.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on social media generated content and is intended only for informational and educational purposes. Live Mint couldn't independently verify its claim and doesn't endorse them.

About the Author

Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.

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