How I’d Start a Holiday Rental in Bansko

When someone owns an apartment in Bansko and decides to offer it as a short-term rental, the first thought is often:

“I’ll put it on Airbnb and Booking and get started.”

I completely understand why it looks that simple.

But a good start actually begins a little earlier.

Before the photographs.
Before the first nightly rate.
And definitely before the first booking.

For me, the most important thing is to put the foundations in place calmly and with a clear idea from the beginning.

First, I would look at the apartment as a guest

When I prepare a place for guests, I try for a moment to forget that I already know the apartment.

I walk in and ask the questions someone seeing it for the first time would ask.

Where will they put their suitcase?

Is there enough space for clothes?

Is the bed comfortable?

Does the kitchen have what they genuinely need?

Will it be obvious how everything works?

How will they feel when they open the door?

Sometimes you do not need major changes.

A lamp in the right place.
A few more hangers.
A better-organised kitchen.
One small detail that makes the space feel warmer.

Those things often matter far more than expensive decoration.

Then comes the presentation

You can have a wonderful apartment.

But if the photographs and listing do not present it properly, a guest has no way of knowing that.

For me, a good listing should be honest, attractive and clear.

I do not like descriptions that promise more than a place can deliver.

I would rather a guest know before booking where they are coming, what they will find and why this particular apartment may be right for them.

The photographs, title and copy should all tell the same story.

Then I organise the processes

This is the part guests almost never see.

But it is what determines whether everything runs smoothly.

How will bookings come in?

How will the calendar be managed?

Who will answer guests?

How will check-in work?

Who will prepare the apartment?

What happens if someone has a question in the evening or a problem comes up?

When those things are decided in advance, the work becomes much easier.

When they are not, even a simple booking can create unnecessary stress.

Registration, ESTI and the tax framework

Before the first booking there is another, less visible but important part — the administration.

For a holiday property to operate properly, the applicable steps for categorisation or registration under Bulgaria’s Tourism Act, registration and reporting through ESTI — the national tourism information system — and the appropriate tax framework for the owner all need to be clarified.

Depending on who carries out the activity and how it is structured, taxation may involve patent tax, taxation under the Personal Income Tax Act, or corporate tax where a company operates the business. Using foreign online platforms can also create specific VAT obligations.

This is often the part that feels most complicated at first. Once the steps are separated and put in the right order, it becomes far more manageable.

My role is to help organise the practical process and the day-to-day work with ESTI, so you know what comes next and what needs to be done regularly. The exact tax, accounting and legal treatment should always be confirmed with the appropriate professional for your individual circumstances.

And then comes the first booking

It always feels special.

Suddenly, the apartment you have been preparing has a real guest.

Someone has chosen your place for their few days in Bansko.

That is when the real work begins.

But if the foundations are in place, the first booking should not feel frightening.

It should feel like the beginning.

You do not have to do everything yourself

Some owners want to hand over the full management of their property.

Others want to manage the apartment themselves but would like someone to help them start properly.

Both are completely valid choices.

What matters to me is that you understand what you are doing and why.

That is why I created a service for owners who want to start from the beginning and gradually reach the point where they can continue with confidence on their own.

Not simply to have a live listing.

But to have a process that works.