Skip to content

Episode 57: How to Run a Successful Airbnb Business in Northwest Arkansas

About the Show:

Here at I am Northwest Arkansas, we come in contact with a lot of interesting people in the Ozarks. Every day there is a new review or email encouraging us to keep sharing the great information that we are pushing out on the blog and podcast.  Today’s guest is no exception. Shawn Morris sent me an email sharing some great ideas for a potential business here in Northwest Arkansas and I decided to sit down with him for coffee. 

It turns out that Shawn and his wife Ragan cut their teeth running Airbnb out of their first home in South Fayetteville.  Once we heard the whole story and how they have learned from their mistakes and have totally turned their first property into a legitimate side hustle we wanted to share this with our audience.  

In this episode, Shawn and Ragan discuss how they got started with Airbnb, and some of their own experiences using the Airbnb service in other locations like NYC and Austin, TX.  They walk us through the steps they took to get their home ready for the public and why they eventually saw the need to buy another property so that they could turn their first home into a temporary rental cash cow. Well, they are not going to retire anytime soon but they are having a ton of fun and learning a lot through the process.  

If you’ve ever thought about renting out your place or purchasing a rental property to make it available on Airbnb this episode is for you!  

Also, Shawn and Ragan share some of the challenges that you could face when renting out your home through Airbnb. Nothing is ever perfect but when you hear some of the problems they faced and what was done to overcome them it might just reassure you. 

If this podcast episode resonates with you please let us know by commenting below or by dropping us an email. We appreciate each and every listener of this podcast. 

 All of this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas.

Important Links and Mentions on the Show*

Email Shawn Morris

Ragan Hood-Morris on Instagram

Website for Speak Up Fayetteville Discussion on Short Term Rentals

Website for Beyond Pricing – Software that Shawn mentioned to help him with pricing

Website for Airbnb Fayetteville Listings

Website for Smokey Hill Retreat – Airbnb Listing that we are familiar with here at the Podcast. Book here and tell them you heard about it first here.

This episode is sponsored by*

Signature Bank of Arkansas “Community Banking at its Best!”

Try Canva For Free Today!

Northwest Arkansas Council – “Life Works Here!”

*Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.

Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:

Thank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. 

Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas

Mentioned in this episode:

Signature Bank Commercial 2023 – GH

Signature Bank of Arkansas “Community Banking at its Best!”

Spread the Ozark love