BNB Mastery is an Airbnb e-learning platform by James Svetec, offering three distinct courses: BNB Mastery Program, BNB Inner Circle, and BNB Hosting Accelerator. These courses provide in-depth insights into Airbnb property management, short-term rental investing, and Airbnb hosting, respectively. The modules for each program are beginner-friendly and organized well. But they give the best value to people who’ve already started their own Airbnb business or short term rental business.
Given Svetec’s reputation as one of Airbnb’s top 1% performers and a co-author of Airbnb for Dummies, the courses claim to teach invaluable strategies responsible for over $5 million in annual bookings. BNB Mastery Program, in particular, promises to help you make a full-time income managing other people’s properties on Airbnb. And BNB Inner Circle guarantees that you’ll get a minimum of $30,000 increase in equity and cash flow in less than a year.
In this BNB Mastery review, we’ll dissect each online course in the platform and delve into James Svetec’s claims, so you can decide if BNB Mastery is your best option to enter the burgeoning $78.43 billion property management market. We’ll also look into James Svetec’s background, unpack the downsides to managing other peoples property, and enumerate Airbnb course alternatives. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced real estate investor, read on to find out if BNB Mastery could be the stepping stone to your financial independence.
BNB Mastery Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
Experienced and Reputable Instructor: James Svetec is an experienced Airbnb host; he’s one of the platform’s top 1% performers and also a co-author of Airbnb for Dummies, a book with valuable insights about building an Airbnb business.
Structured, Easy-to-Understand Content: The course provides a step-by-step guide, complete with scripts and tools, making it a comprehensive resource for both beginners and experts in real estate.
Mentorship and Community Support: Students testify to BNB Mastery’s robust community and mentorship program, which are crucial for success in managing peoples property on Airbnb.
Low-Cost Startup: You don’t need to own or rent properties to start, so it’s a viable starting point if you want to get into real estate or short term rentals.
Location-Independent: The strategies taught in the BNB Mastery Program allow you to manage multiple properties remotely, offering flexibility that’s rarely seen in traditional real estate investing.
Cons
Small Community: With just over 700 students enrolled, the community size lags behind competitors like Robuilt Host Camp, which has at least 2,000 members in their mentorship program.
Expensive: The upfront costs for the BNB Mastery Program and Inner Circle are pretty steep, so if you’re not committed when enrolling, it’s just going to be a waste of money.
Free Alternatives Available: Websites like LearnBNB (also by James Svetec) offer free information about running a profitable Airbnb business and similar topics.
Not Entirely Passive: Contrary to their promise of passive income, managing Airbnbs through the strategies taught requires considerable time and effort. You’ll eventually get to a semi-passive or passive state, but the early stages of your business will be almost like a full-time job.
Lack of External Reviews: While there are numerous video testimonials on BNB Mastery’s official site, there are almost no reviews from independent external sources.
Reputation
James Svetec is a reputable real estate expert and has worked with industry legends like Robert Kiyosaki. His BNB Mastery Program is also one of the best Airbnb property management courses out there. However, the main platform, BNB Mastery, isn’t BBB-accredited.
Refund Policy
BNB Mastery Program has a 14-day money-back guarantee but the refund policies for BNB Inner Circle and BNB Hosting Accelerator are undisclosed.
Community
There is a BNB Mastery community called the BNB Mastery Community, which is a private Facebook group for students enrolled in the BNB Mastery Program.
Website
The internet address for BNB Mastery Program is bnbmastery.com.
Phone Number
The phone number for BNB Mastery Program is (747) 225-2371.
Unpacking Each BNB Course Inside BNB Mastery
1. BNB Mastery Program
BNB Mastery Program is a 6-week online course that teaches you how to establish an Airbnb property management business. You don’t need to become a property owner, nor do you need to rent or furnish any property. Instead, you work as a property manager, taking care of marketing, maintenance, and tenant interactions for other property owners.
The program helps you earn a full-time income by managing other people’s Airbnbs. It also promises to teach you automation and outsourcing to make your business semi-passive, with field-tested strategies responsible for over $5 million in annual bookings. Furthermore, the BNB Mastery Program is a lifetime membership, so you have access to future updates and market trends. Their teachings are also applicable wherever you live, so you can still become successful even if you don’t live in a major city or popular tourist destination.
The US property management market is on the rise, with a valuation of $78.43 billion in 2023 and a forecast to reach $95.13 billion by 2028, according to Mordor Intelligence. This program is a great entry point into this lucrative industry. What makes Airbnb property management so great compared to traditional real estate investing is the higher profitability because of variable nightly rates and more frequent turnovers. So, some real estate investors are more open to investing in short-term over long-term rentals, and therefore, make great clients.
This business model is different from rental arbitrage because you don’t need to lease or own property, which cuts down initial investments and financial risks. While rental arbitrage involves renting a property to sublet it on platforms like Airbnb, here, you’re simply providing vacation rental management services to existing property owners. And unlike traditional rental property models, you’re not bound by location. You can manage properties remotely, even if Airbnb doesn’t operate in your city.
How Much Does BNB Mastery Program Cost?
BNB Mastery Program costs $1,997 with an option for 5 installments of $597 if you want to spread out the financial commitment. The course also has a 14-day 100% money-back guarantee. The high price point was a common concern among the course’s enrollees, according to the website’s video testimonials. However, all of them agree that the value justifies the cost.
What’s Inside BNB Mastery Program?
BNB Mastery Program Curriculum
Week 1 is all about the fundamentals of Airbnb property management. Here are the 6 modules for this week:
This week is all about mindset. Here are the 4 modules:
Week 3 of the BNB Mastery Program zeroes in on client conversion. These are the modules:
In week 4, you’ll focus on client attraction and creating a reliable pipeline of new property owners, so you’re consistently generating high-quality appointments.
Week 5 is about becoming an Airbnb host that outperforms the competition. You’ll learn how to maximize your management fees, boost listing performance, and ensure your guests are satisfied.
In Week 6, you’ll pivot your role from an active business operator to a business owner, where you’ll only focus on high-leverage activities by automating and outsourcing daily tasks.
Week 7 serves as a bonus week that dives deep into lucrative niches, offers additional revenue streams like interior design, and gifts you over $1,500 in exclusive discounts.
BNB Mastery Program Reviews
BNB Mastery Program reviews online are mostly positive, with the official website brimming with 54 video testimonials lauding the program’s comprehensiveness and structure. The program’s students come from diverse backgrounds—like nurses, Starbucks workers, and experienced real estate investors—and they all testify that the program is actionable and complete with the necessary tools to launch an Airbnb property management business. Some students, like David Herrera and Cees Hofman, report tangible results, such as improved earnings from existing rentals and gaining new clients.
On the other hand, discussions on Reddit caution against the program, branding it as a “money trap” and arguing that real-world experience is a better teacher. There’s also skepticism revolving around why anyone would let a stranger manage their Airbnb, which is the very premise of the course. Note that the Reddit comments regarding BNB Mastery Program aren’t from actual students.
You can make an average of $50,000 per year with the BNB Mastery Program. However, most Airbnb property managers charge a commission on the property’s rental income for their services, so your earnings are based on how many properties you manage and their rental value. Commission rates range from 5% to 25%, depending on your services and experience.
2. BNB Inner Circle
BNB Inner Circle is an elite training program for serious investors in the short term rental industry. Designed by James Svetec and Riley Oickle, this course combines pre-recorded lectures with private mentorship to walk you through investing in a short term rental property. James helps members identify lucrative vacation rentals to invest in, while Riley specializes in acquisition and property management.
The benefits of following a short term rental course are gaining a competitive edge and scaling your business effectively. In a market expected to reach $19.39 billion in revenue in 2023 according to Statista, knowing the ins and outs of running a short term rental business is critical for long-term success. BNB Inner Circle helps you stay ahead by offering hands-on coaching that covers everything from market analysis to property management. They even guarantee results, promising at least a $30,000 increase in equity and cash flow within a year, which is backed by numerous testimonials.
How Much Does BNB Inner Circle Cost?
BNB Inner Circle costs are undisclosed and determined on a case-by-case basis following a 45-minute strategy call with their team. In the call, the Inner Circle team will evaluate your profit potential, find out if you’re fit to work with their investment model, and audit your current investment strategies.
What’s Inside BNB Inner Circle?
Inside BNB Inner Circle, you’ll get access to a pre-recorded course and hands-on coaching from James and Riley, who’ll teach you their 3-step STR investing process:
BNB Inner Circle Reviews
BNB Inner Circle reviews are largely positive, but all the video testimonials for this program can only be found on the official website. Most students highlight the accessibility of the mentors and the course’s tools (like the Target Occupancy Tracker for optimizing your property’s pricing) as the most valuable features of the program. They also praise the private Inner Circle community and frequent coaching calls.
In some testimonials, students talk about their wins. For instance, one student acquired 4 short-term rentals after joining the program. Another was able to reach $500,000 worth of bookings. However, most enrollees who’ve achieved results are experienced real estate investors, longtime Airbnb hosts, or existing property owners. The verdict is still out for beginners who joined the program, like Mark and Carrie Rauch, who don’t even own a property yet. All in all, BNB Inner Circle can help you grow your Airbnb business if you’re engaged in the program. You have to be proactive in following their strategies, otherwise, you’re only wasting money.
While nothing compared to BNB Inner Circle’s social proof so far, there is a Better Business Bureau complaint about high-pressure sales tactics and refund requests that weren’t met. This complaint ended up being resolved.
3. BNB Hosting Accelerator
BNB Hosting Accelerator is a 4-week Airbnb course that teaches you how to become a top-performing Airbnb host by maximizing your property’s profitability and guest satisfaction. You’ll learn how to attract potential guests, dominate your market, and run a successful vacation rental business.
This course is backed by proven strategies tested across 100+ global listings and has been adopted by hosts in over 31 countries, generating over 5,000 satisfied guests. James Svetec partnered with his co-author, Symon He, to create this program.
According to BNB Hosting Accelerator, the best Airbnb hosting business success roadmap includes:
How Much Does Hosting Accelerator Cost?
Hosting Accelerator costs $497, but discounts sometimes reduce the price to as low as $72. Some people purchase this course and resell it online for cheaper. While it’s tempting to consider third-party websites offering the course at steeply discounted prices–even as low as $24–these sites aren’t only questionable but purchasing from them is unethical.
What’s Inside BNB Hosting Accelerator?
Inside BNB Hosting Accelerator, you’ll find James Svetec and Symon He’s methodical approach to Airbnb that has undergone years of rigorous testing and refinement. The course offers many similar bonuses to the BNB Mastery Program, such as checklists, messaging templates, and photography guidelines.
BNB Hosting Accelerator Content and Schedule
BNB Hosting Accelerator Reviews
BNB Hosting Accelerator reviews are practically nonexistent online compared to the platform’s other two courses: BNB Mastery Program and BNB Inner Circle. This is the least popular course among the three. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the course is a bad investment, it does limit its credibility, especially if you depend on peer reviews to gauge a course’s effectiveness.
Who Is the Founder of BNB Mastery?
James Svetec is the founder of BNB Mastery and co-author of Airbnb for Dummies. He’s a self-made entrepreneur with a rocky but resilient journey that started from running lemonade stands in his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario, to generating $250,000 in his first 2 years at a student painting business in Ottawa.
James is now an Airbnb expert, joining the ranks of real estate influencers like Robert Kiyosaki, with whom he has collaborated on short term rental investments. His expertise has been showcased on various real estate media platforms, including Toronto’s #1 Real Estate Podcast and the Property Profits Real Estate Podcast.
Riley Oickle is James’s partner in BNB Inner Circle. He’s a real estate expert with a background in deal sourcing, renovations, and property management, with over 70 properties in his portfolio. He has built multiple successful contracting businesses from the ground up, and he also works as an active mentor within BNB Inner Circle.
Symon He is a real estate entrepreneur, instructor, and James’s partner in BNB Hosting Accelerator. He has taught over 600,000 students globally across platforms like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Entrepreneur.com.
Symon is based in Los Angeles, California, and he’s also a licensed real estate broker and consultant who previously held roles like Head of Marketing Analytics at Panda Restaurant Group. He has dual degrees in computer engineering and economics from UC Irvine and an MBA from Stanford University. Airbnb for Dummies is a comprehensive Airbnb hosting guide that Symon co-authored with James. The book is a roadmap for hosts to optimize listings, perfect pricing, and enhance guest experiences.
James Svetec’s Airbnb Journey
James Svetec’s Airbnb journey started when his watch business, Pursuit Watches, failed and left him $20,000 in debt and unemployed. Despite this, he bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. After spending 3 months there, he started another crowdfunding campaign to sell his watch store’s remaining stock. This campaign raised CAD 26,653, well beyond his initial $3,000 goal, which salvaged his finances.
However, it was his pivot to the service-based Airbnb model in 2017 that became his turning point. In just 12 months, he was managing 40 properties in Toronto, several of which ranked in the top 1% among 14,000 listings. This made him an expert in the field, and when people started seeking his advice, he decided to return to coaching, which led to the launch of the BNB Mastery Program.
James Svetec’s Claims
This is James Svetec’s main claim for the BNB Mastery Program. And, yes, you can make a full-time income managing other people’s properties on Airbnb. According to KeyData, the short-term rental industry had a 21.6% increase in revenue per available room and a 16% annual jump in demand for short-term rentals in 2023. So, there’s still significant money to be made managing vacation rental properties for other people.
To achieve financial independence on Airbnb, start by controlling properties without necessarily owning them, which can be done with this business model. Focus on high-demand areas and once you’ve established a portfolio, automate your operations to free up time and scale your business.
James Svetec claims that the BNB Mastery Program is “the world’s best training on how to get started managing other peoples property on Airbnb without buying, renting, or furnishing any properties.” This is ultimately going to be subjective, but it is one of the most popular Airbnb property management courses out there.
However, there aren’t a lot of these courses to begin with. Most Airbnb courses teach Airbnb arbitrage or hosting. There are official property management courses (with certifications), like the Certified Apartment Management Course by the National Apartment Association (NAA) or Penn Foster’s Property Management Certificate Course, but they’re more general and don’t go in-depth into building a property management business around Airbnb. There are also co-hosting courses, like Bailey Kramer’s Airbnb CoHosting Mini-Course, but they’re not as structured or have the same amount of support that’s in the BNB Mastery Program.
BNB Inner Circle promises at least $30,000 in additional equity and cash flow within a year. Given that the short-term rental market is strong and growing, with an occupancy increase of 17.6% this year, the claim seems feasible for those committed to applying the strategies taught.
Issues with James Svetec's Main Claim: What Are the Downsides to Managing Other People’s Properties on Airbnb?
The downsides to managing other people’s properties on Airbnb include the lack of a set routine and the high demands of the role. Property management isn’t a set-and-forget operation. Tenant issues can be unpredictable and demanding, sometimes requiring immediate attention. You’ll also need to be familiar with local rental laws and implement effective lead-generation strategies to attract new clients. So, while you can make a full-time income with Airbnb property management, it’s not passive income. And, if you’re managing only a few properties, it’s difficult to create a consistent flow of money.
There are other ways to make money on Airbnb without owning property that don’t have the problems that come with Airbnb property management. Rental arbitrage is the most popular one, because you at least get 100% of the rental income, whereas in property management, you only get a percentage.
What Are the Characteristics of a Good BNB Masterclass?
The characteristics of a good BNB masterclass are structure, specialty, and authority. A compelling course teaches a proven, step-by-step system, ideally by a creator who’s already successful in running a profitable Airbnb business. It should also be tailored to specific needs.
For instance, Rob Abasolo’s Robuilt Host Camp specializes in using small spaces, making it an ideal Airbnb course for people with limited property. Moreover, a reputable online course should also offer community support and mentorship, like the BNB Mastery Program, to help students seek expert advice.
BNB Mastery Program Alternatives
What Is My #1 Recommendation To Make Money Online In 2024?
Local lead generation is my #1 recommendation to make money online in 2024. Despite the appeal of Airbnb property management detailed in James Svetec’s BNB Mastery Program, some challenges make this business model less than ideal. Yes, you can make a full-time income while working remotely as an Airbnb property manager. But you’re ultimately tied to the unpredictable challenges of tenant management, maintenance issues, and fluctuating rental rates. Your revenue here is also commission-based, which has its upsides, but it can make cash flow inconsistent.
When it comes to startup costs, local lead generation requires only $500 to construct and rank a site, which can then yield profits ranging from $750 to $2,000 monthly for years. In comparison, an Airbnb property demands a substantial down payment for a home or apartment (roughly $26,000). With Airbnb hosts making $924 per month on average, your ROI will take months to just break even. With local lead generation, you're looking at a significantly higher return on investment, reduced risk, and no tenant and maintenance-related nightmares that arise with short-term rental properties. Local lead generation works with digital real estate, and you're simply generating high-quality leads for local businesses and essentially helping them make money.
Unlike Airbnb property management or short-term rental investing that require you to focus on high-demand areas for profitability, local lead gen can be implemented almost anywhere and scaled more seamlessly. You can also generate a more consistent and passive income by building trust with search engines and building high-converting websites. If you want to dive into a less risky, more manageable venture, check out this comprehensive lead gen coaching program.