Bee Setups vs. Buying Furniture Yourself – A Cost & Convenience Breakdown

Furnishing an Airbnb can be an overwhelming and expensive process. As a host, you might be wondering: Should I hire a service like Bee Setups, or should I buy and install the furniture myself? In this breakdown, we’ll compare costs, time investment, convenience, and long-term profitability to help you make the best decision for your short-term rental (STR) investment.

1. The Cost Breakdown: Is DIY Really Cheaper?

Many hosts assume that furnishing an Airbnb on their own will save money, but the real costs go beyond just the furniture. Here’s how Bee Setups compares to a DIY approach in a sample 3 bedroom home:

Expense Category	Bee Setups	DIY (Buying & Setting Up Yourself)
Furniture Costs	$15K-$20K (wholesale pricing & bulk discounts)	$15K-$25K (retail pricing, no bulk discounts)
Design Fee	Starting at $995	Varies (hiring an interior designer could cost $2K-$10K+)
Delivery & Assembly	Included	Expect $70 - $300 per item, depending on the contractor. Estimate: $3-$8k.
Travel (Flights or Driving)	Included	Flights: $300 - $800 round trip. Drive Time $100 - $200+. Plus indirect time away from work
Lost Revenue (Delays in Setup)	None – fast, professional setup	$3K-$5K in lost revenue (longer setup time delayed Airbnb listing)
Total Estimated Cost	$15K-$25K+ (all-inclusive, ready-to-rent Airbnb)	$18K-$35K+ (when factoring in extra labor, travel, and time delays)

Key Takeaway: Bee Setups often ends up being more cost-effective due to wholesale furniture pricing, professional discounts, and eliminating costly delays in getting your Airbnb up and running.

2. Time & Effort: How Much Work Are You Willing to Do?

Furnishing an Airbnb isn’t just about shopping for furniture—it’s a logistical challenge. Here’s what’s involved in a DIY approach:

• Sourcing Furniture: Visiting stores or searching online for hours, ensuring everything matches and fits.

• Coordinating Deliveries: Managing multiple vendors, tracking shipments, and handling delays.

• Furniture Assembly & Setup: Building beds, sofas, tables, and installing wall art—can take days or weeks.

• Returns & Exchanges: Dealing with damaged items, wrong sizes, or missing pieces.

• Interior Design Planning: Making sure everything fits, looks cohesive, and appeals to guests.

What Bee Setups Does for You

• Handles everything from design to full installation in a short time.

• Sources furniture at wholesale prices, ensuring a professional, cohesive look.

• Saves you weeks of time, so you can start making money faster.

📌 Key Takeaway: Bee Setups eliminates the hassle and frustration of a DIY Airbnb setup, allowing you to focus on running your business instead of assembling furniture.

3. Quality & Guest Experience: DIY vs. Professional Setup

Your Airbnb’s design directly impacts occupancy rates and guest satisfaction. Here’s how DIY compares to a professionally curated setup:

Category	Bee Setups	DIY
Design Aesthetic	Professionally curated, guest-optimized layouts	Inconsistent, depends on personal design skills
Furniture Quality	High-quality, durable, and rental-friendly	Varies, risk of picking less durable items
Speed of Setup	Fully furnished quickly	Can take weeks (or months)
Guest Reviews Impact	Higher due to professional staging & decor	Lower if furniture isn’t cohesive or well-placed

📌 Key Takeaway: A professionally staged and designed Airbnb attracts more bookings, higher nightly rates, and better guest reviews. DIY setups often look pieced together and may not perform as well in competitive markets.

4. Profitability & ROI: The Real Financial Impact

Furnishing your Airbnb the right way from the start can significantly affect your long-term revenue and occupancy rates. Here’s the difference between hiring Bee Setups and a DIY approach:

Factor	Bee Setups	DIY
Time to Start Earning	Immediate (ready in days)	Delayed (setup takes weeks)
Lost Revenue from Delays	$0	$3K-$5K+ (each month delayed)
Occupancy Rate Impact	Higher (optimized design attracts guests)	Uncertain (depends on DIY skills)
Long-Term ROI	Higher (premium look & feel)	Lower (if setup isn’t professional)

📌 Key Takeaway: Faster setup = faster revenue. A professionally designed Airbnb stands out in listings, attracts better guests, and commands higher nightly rates.

Final Verdict: Bee Setups Wins on Cost, Convenience & Profitability

Decision Factor	Bee Setups 🏆	DIY
Total Cost	$15K-$25K (wholesale pricing, full service)	$18K-$35K (retail pricing, extra labor)
Time & Effort	Minimal – done in days	Weeks of work & coordination
Revenue Impact	Higher occupancy & rates	Risk of lower guest appeal
Scalability	Easy to expand Airbnb portfolio	Too time-consuming to scale

📌 Bottom Line: If you want a professionally furnished, guest-ready Airbnb with zero hassle, Bee Setups is the better investment. The upfront cost is often lower than a DIY approach, and the faster turnaround time means you start earning sooner.

🚀 Want a stress-free, high-ROI Airbnb setup? 

Book a free consultation with Bee Setups today and start maximizing your rental income!