HostGPO vs Bee Setups: What’s the Difference for Furnishing Your Airbnb or STR Portfolio?

When it comes to furnishing a short-term rental (STR) property, two names often come up: HostGPO and Bee Setups. While both are used by Airbnb operators and real estate investors, they solve different problems.

• HostGPO is a group purchasing platform, giving hosts discounted access to retail vendors.

• Bee Setups is a full turnkey furnishing and design service — handling everything from design to white-glove delivery, assembly, and staging.

The key question is: which one fits your needs? Let’s break down HostGPO vs Bee Setups so you can make the right decision for your STR business.

Quick Answer

• Choose HostGPO if: You want discounts on furniture and prefer DIY design, ordering, and setup.

• Choose Bee Setups if: You want a done-for-you turnkey service that saves time, avoids mistakes, and delivers guest-ready properties in 3–6+ weeks with data backed ROI-First STR Design.

HostGPO Overview

What It Is:

• A group purchasing organization (GPO) for hosts.

• Members get access to discounts from major retailers (e.g., West Elm, Wayfair, Pottery Barn).

How It Works:

• You pay an annual membership fee.

• You shop for your furniture, apply HostGPO discounts, and manage logistics.

  
  

Strengths:

• Discounts on brand-name items.

• Good fit for DIY hosts who want full control.

• Membership may pay for itself if you purchase a lot of furniture.

Weaknesses:

• No design support.

• No logistics, shipping, or assembly help.

• No STR-specific durability guidance.

• Time-intensive for investors with multiple properties.

Bee Setups Overview

What It Is:

• A turnkey furnishing and design company serving investors nationwide.

• Handles design, sourcing, delivery, assembly, and staging.

How It Works:

• Choose a package (Standard, Essentials, Premium, or Luxury).

• Bee Setups creates a custom design proposal with revisions.

• You approve the invoice.

• Bee Setups procures, delivers, assembles, and stages everything.

Strengths:

• End-to-end service (no lifting a finger).

• ROI-First STR Design — every choice optimized for ADR, occupancy, and guest experience.

• Speed: 3–6+ weeks vs the 2–3+ months DIY often takes.

• Scalability: Can furnish entire portfolios at once.

• Financing available for design fees and furniture. Sometimes no out of pocket.

Weaknesses:

• Higher upfront cost than DIY.

• Less hands-on shopping for those who want control over every purchase.

Cost Breakdown: HostGPO vs Bee Setups

💡 Quick Fact: Bee Setups clients typically spend $18,400–$30,000 on furnishings per property, with projects completed in 3–6+ weeks and delivering an average 22% ROI lift compared to DIY setups.

Pros & Cons Side-by-Side

HostGPO Pros

• Discounts on popular brands.

• Lower upfront service cost.

• Ideal for hands-on hosts.

HostGPO Cons

• No design support.

• No delivery, assembly, or staging.

• Time-consuming for investors with multiple units.

• Aesthetic may not be optimized for STR guest turnover

Bee Setups Pros

• Full-service turnkey solution.

• ROI-First STR Design for performance.

• Faster speed to market.

• One-stop-shop (no juggling contractors or suppliers).

• Scales easily with multiple properties.

Bee Setups Cons

• Higher upfront design fee.

• Less control for DIY hosts who enjoy shopping for furniture.

When to Choose Each

• Choose HostGPO if:

  • You own 1–2 properties.

  • You enjoy DIY design and have significant time

  • You want brand discounts and don’t mind managing setup.

  
  

• Choose Bee Setups if:

  
  

  • You’re an investor scaling multiple properties.

  • You want speed to market (earning revenue faster).

  • You value ROI-driven design and guest-ready durability.

  • You don’t want the stress of managing vendors, deliveries, and assembly.

Case Study: Investor Using Both HostGPO and Bee Setups

• Scenario: Investor owned 10 STR properties.

• Approach: Tried using HostGPO for 2 units, then Bee Setups for 8.

• HostGPO Result: Saved ~15% on furniture purchases but spent 10 weeks managing orders, shipments, and assembly. Properties launched late and ADR lagged compared to comps.

• Bee Setups Result: Portfolio scaled with 8 properties furnished in 6 weeks. Consistent design created higher CTR and ADR, leading to an estimated $150k in extra revenue in year one.

  
  

FAQs

Q1: Is HostGPO the same as Bee Setups?

No. HostGPO is a discount membership; Bee Setups is a turnkey furnishing service.

Q2: Can I use both HostGPO and Bee Setups?

Yes, but they serve different purposes. HostGPO gives discounts; Bee Setups handles everything end-to-end.

Q3: Which is faster for setup?

Bee Setups. Most projects finish in 3–6+ weeks, while HostGPO requires you to manage orders, often extending to 2–3 months.

Q4: Which is better for scaling multiple units?

Bee Setups. Turnkey service removes the logistical burden of furnishing many properties.

Q5: Does Bee Setups cost more than HostGPO?

Upfront, yes. But Bee Setups often pays for itself through faster revenue generation, higher ADR, time savings, and fewer replacement costs.

Final Thoughts

HostGPO vs Bee Setups comes down to what you need:

• HostGPO = Discounts for DIY hosts.

• Bee Setups = Done-for-you turnkey furnishing with ROI-focused design.

If you’re a small host with time to manage logistics & assembly, HostGPO may work for you. If you’re scaling, value speed, or want expert design built for STR success, Bee Setups is the better choice.

👉 Ready to maximize ROI with a turnkey furnishing partner? Book a consult today.