What Thanks For Visiting does

Thanks For Visiting (TFV), founded in 2012 by Sarah Karakaian and Annette Grant and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a privately held, bootstrapped education and coaching business serving short-term rental (STR) and Airbnb hosts. The company operates a multi-tier product ecosystem anchored by the free Hosting Handbook digital guide, the group-based Hosting Business Mastery program (six sessions over six months with Kajabi portal access and an exclusive Facebook community), and the premium 6-month Strategic Host intensive coaching program priced at $9,997 one-time or six monthly installments of $1,897. Supporting offerings include seasonal waitlist bootcamps (Priced & Profitable, Get More Bookings), a Pro Host Toolkit of SOPs and templates, Direct Booking Training, and a weekly podcast distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The technology stack is intentionally light and integration-led rather than proprietary. Course delivery runs on Kajabi, email marketing on Kit (formerly ConvertKit), and the curriculum embeds workflows for PriceLabs (pricing) and Breezeway (property management/cleaning). The only proprietary software component is the Spark AI Dashboard, described as a custom-trained revenue copilot that surfaces performance gaps and pricing recommendations; it is bundled with Strategic Host enrollment rather than sold as a standalone product. There are no patents, no proprietary algorithms beyond the 10 Grand Plan audit methodology, and no mobile applications.

The business model combines freemium top-of-funnel content (blog, podcast, free checklists and calculators) with two paid coaching tiers and a high-touch inside-sales motion for the premium tier. Customers are individual SMB STR hosts segmented into beginners, intermediate operators, co-hosts/portfolio managers, and serious high-revenue operators ($50K+ annual revenue per property). GTM is hybrid: product-led growth via content for acquisition, and sales-led via 30-minute clarity calls and live enrollment events for premium conversion. Disclosed scale signals (1,000+ audited STR businesses, $5M+ in member-managed revenue, $1.9M in collective monthly member bookings) reflect host-side outcomes rather than TFV revenue, which is not disclosed. The company employs 1–10 people and has no institutional funding.

Name

Thanks For Visiting

Legal name

Thanks For Visiting, LLC

Website

https://thanksforvisiting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thanks For Visiting is a bootstrapped education and coaching platform that serves individual short-term rental and Airbnb hosts through paid coaching programs, free digital guides, and a podcast, anchored by founders Sarah Karakaian and Annette Grant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Short-Term Rental Coaching & Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

New-Listing Onboarding, Setup & Launch Services (THAMAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Hosting & Guest Communications Management (THAMAKAC), Co-Hosting & On-the-Ground Host Support (THAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Short-term rental education
• Airbnb host coaching
• Vacation rental training
• STR pricing optimization
• Hosting business mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs & Coaching: The company generates revenue primarily through paid educational programs and coaching. Programs include the Hosting Handbook (free entry-level), Hosting Business Mastery (group coaching via Kajabi portal with monthly coaching calls, Facebook group access, and lifetime portal access), and the premium Strategic Host 6-month intensive coaching program. Revenue is generated through one-time program fees and recurring membership subscriptions for ongoing group coaching access.
2. Digital Content & Resources: Free educational content including blog posts, podcast episodes, YouTube content, and downloadable checklists (Airbnb Essentials Checklist, Pet-Friendly Checklist, Room-by-Room Pricing Calculator) drive audience growth and brand authority. While individually free, these resources feed the top of the funnel for paid program conversion.
3. Premium Coaching Programs: Strategic Host is a 6-month intensive coaching program priced at $9,997 pay-in-full or 6 x $1,897 installments. Includes 1:1 strategist pairing, the 10 Grand Plan revenue audit, Weekly Pricing Clinics, Business Clinics, Pro Host Toolkit, Spark AI Dashboard, and Direct Booking Training. Bonuses include 1:1 strategy sessions with founders and pricing tear-downs offered during limited-time enrollment windows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Thanks For Visiting sells education, coaching programs and tools to individual short-term rental and Airbnb hosts. Its core paid offerings are the 6-month Strategic Host intensive coaching program (1:1 strategist support, 10 Grand Plan revenue audit, weekly pricing clinics) and the 6-month Hosting Business Mastery group coaching program, both delivered through a Kajabi learning portal. The company also offers a free Hosting Handbook, seasonal bootcamps (Priced & Profitable, Get More Bookings), a podcast, and supporting tools including the Spark AI Dashboard, Pro Host Toolkit and free downloadable checklists and calculators.

Product overview

Thanks For Visiting is an educational content and coaching platform for short-term rental (STR) hosts, operating as a multi-product ecosystem. The core offerings include two paid coaching programs—Strategic Host (a 6-month intensive with 1:1 coaching) and Hosting Business Mastery (a 6-month group coaching program)—along with the Hosting Handbook digital guide and seasonal bootcamps (Priced & Profitable, Get More Bookings). These programs are supported by free resources including checklists (Airbnb Essentials, Pet Friendly), calculators (Room-by-Room Pricing), and a weekly podcast. Strategic Host includes proprietary tools such as the Spark AI Dashboard, 10 Grand Plan audit, Pro Host Toolkit, and Direct Booking Training. The platform is built on Kajabi for course delivery and integrates with PriceLabs for pricing and Breezeway for property management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Host A six-month intensive coaching program for serious STR operators ($50K+ annual revenue per property) priced at $9,997 pay-in-full or $1,897 x 6 monthly installments. Includes 1:1 strategist pairing, 10 Grand Plan revenue audit, Weekly Pricing Clinics, Business Clinics, Pro Host Toolkit, Spark AI Dashboard (pay-in-full only) and Direct Booking Training. Designed for individual STR host-owners ready to operate their hosting business with real numbers, systems and accountability.
• Hosting Business Mastery Six group coaching sessions over six months including Hot Seats, Accountability calls, Coaching Office Hours and Know Your Numbers sessions. Includes exclusive Facebook Group access (6 months) and lifetime Kajabi portal access to written materials and video/audio lessons. VIP/Platinum auto-renewal subscription is offered after the initial six months.
• Hosting Handbook A free, comprehensive play-by-play digital guide for quickly, confidently, and efficiently launching a first income-generating short-term rental. Covers pricing for pets, folding towels, purchasing properties, guest communication, listing optimization and operational procedures for new STR hosts.
• Priced & Profitable Bootcamp A seasonal bootcamp focused on maximizing bookings, optimizing pricing, and increasing revenue and occupancy for STR hosts. Waitlisters receive first access and early pricing before public opening.
• Get More Bookings Bootcamp A seasonal bootcamp designed to help STR hosts fill empty weeknight calendars and convert effort into revenue. Waitlisters receive first access and early pricing before public opening.
• Thanks For Visiting Podcast A weekly podcast sharing hosting and hospitality secrets for short-term rental success, featuring industry leaders and practical tips. Distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• Airbnb Essentials Checklist A free room-by-room checklist for furnishing and stocking a short-term rental, with curated shopping links to recommended products.
• Room-by-Room Pricing Calculator A free calculator that estimates exactly how much furnishing each room will cost with just a few clicks.
• Pet Friendly Checklist A free checklist for setting up a pet-friendly short-term rental property for success.
• Strategic Host Clarity Call A private 30-minute strategy session with the TFV team to audit pricing, occupancy, and revenue opportunities and assess fit for the Strategic Host coaching program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosts add an average of $10K+ per property in recoverable revenue within first 90 days of Strategic Host program enrollment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Kit (formerly ConvertKit)Technology or IntegrationKit is used as the email marketing platform for the weekly newsletter and promotional email campaigns. The newsletter signup link (thanks-for-visiting.kit.com/2ccd0d6f21) is hosted on the Kit platform.
• SpotifyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast distribution partner. The Thanks For Visiting podcast is available on Spotify as a primary listening platform alongside Apple Podcasts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BiggerPockets: BiggerPockets is the largest real estate investing education and community platform in the U.S., offering podcasts, forums, books, and paid tools/memberships. While its scope is broader than short-term rentals, it is the closest scaled analog to Thanks For Visiting's content-plus-community-plus-monetized-membership model and increasingly covers STR strategy.
• Airbnb Hosting Academy (Airbnb-hosted education): Airbnb operates its own host onboarding and education resources (Host Academy, Resource Center) as part of the platform. It does not sell coaching at the $9,997 tier, but it competes with TFV at the top of the funnel and shapes baseline host expectations.

Others

• Breezeway: Breezeway is a property operations and cleaning-coordination SaaS platform for vacation rental managers and is recommended by Thanks For Visiting for turnovers. It is an ecosystem/adjacent player rather than a direct education competitor.
• PriceLabs: PriceLabs is a dynamic pricing SaaS tool widely used by STR hosts and directly referenced in Thanks For Visiting's curriculum. It is an ecosystem partner and adjacent (not direct competitor), but increasingly bundles educational content that overlaps with TFV's pricing clinics.

Direct peers

• Million Dollar Hosts: Million Dollar Hosts is an STR education and community brand focused on helping hosts reach $1M+ in portfolio value, offering courses, masterminds, and live events. Same buyer (aspiring professional STR operator), same coaching-plus-content model, similar premium positioning.
• STR Pro University: STR Pro University is an online education and coaching platform specifically for short-term rental investors and hosts, offering courses on acquisition, furnishing, and pricing. Directly competitive in the STR host education category with overlapping curriculum and target persona.
• Alex Himot / Short Term Rental Coaching: Alex Himot runs one of the most prominent individual STR coaching brands, serving hosts and co-hosts with courses, masterminds, and consulting. Directly comparable to Thanks For Visiting's Strategic Host and Hosting Business Mastery programs — same customer (SMB STR operator), same high-ticket coaching format.
• Elevated Hosts (formerly Elevate by Design): Elevated Hosts is an STR education and design brand teaching hosts how to design, market, and scale short-term rentals through courses and coaching. Comparable in audience (intermediate-to-serious STR operators) and content-led approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdAqMyNIw-0gRDH-2Rpe89Q
• Instagraminstagram.com/thanksforvisiting_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thanks-for-visiting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thanks For Visiting