How to Apply for Airbnb Services (Chef, Photographer, Trainer)
The application process is more selective than Stays or Experiences — here's what to prepare, what they evaluate, and how to set yourself up for approval and bookings.
Airbnb Services is the platform's curated marketplace for vetted professionals — private chefs, photographers, massage therapists, personal trainers, hair stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and caterers. As of 2026, it's live in 260 cities across 10 service categories, with providers averaging 10+ years of professional experience.
The key word is curated. Unlike Stays, where almost anyone with a space can list, Services requires Airbnb to verify your credentials, review your portfolio, and confirm you meet professional standards. This selectivity is what gives the marketplace its value — guests trust that Service providers are legitimate professionals, not hobbyists.
Here's how to prepare a strong application and what to expect through the process. For a broader overview of how the Services track works, see our Services explainer.
Step 1: Check Eligibility
Before you start the application, confirm two things:
Your city is supported. Services is currently in 260 cities. Airbnb is expanding the list with each product release — the May 2026 Summer Release is expected to add more markets. If your city isn't available yet, you can register interest on Airbnb's site to be notified when it opens.
Your service category is listed. The current 10 categories: private chefs, photography, massage and spa, personal training, hair styling, makeup artistry, nail services, prepared meals, catering, and specialty services. If your skill doesn't fit neatly into one of these, check whether Airbnb's "specialty services" category covers it — or consider whether the Experiences track is a better fit for what you offer.
Step 2: Gather Your Credentials
Have these ready before you start the application — the process is smoother when you can upload everything in one session:
Professional licenses and certifications. Food handler's permit or ServSafe for chefs. State massage therapy license. Cosmetology license for hair and makeup. Personal training certification (ACE, NASM, or equivalent). Whatever your jurisdiction and category require — gather digital copies (photos or scans).
Liability insurance documentation. A certificate of insurance (COI) showing your general liability and/or professional liability coverage. If you don't currently carry insurance, get quotes before applying — it's often required and always recommended. Costs vary by profession but typically run $200–$800/year for basic coverage.
Government-issued ID. For identity verification. Standard Airbnb requirement across all hosting tracks.
Portfolio photos. 8–12 high-quality images showing your work. Chefs: beautifully plated dishes, table settings, you cooking. Photographers: your best client shots across different styles. Massage/spa: your setup, products, ambiance. Trainers: you working with clients, your equipment. These photos are your storefront — invest the time to curate them.
Professional references or existing reviews. If you have existing client testimonials on Google, Yelp, or your personal website, be ready to reference them. Don't fabricate reviews for your Airbnb listing — but your track record on other platforms demonstrates credibility to Airbnb's review team.
Step 3: Complete the Application
Navigate to Airbnb's Services hosting section and work through the submission form. Here's what you'll fill out and what makes each section strong:
Your professional background. Be specific and concrete. "15 years as a private chef, trained at the Culinary Institute, cooked for 200+ private events" is compelling. "I love cooking and have been doing it for a while" is not. Numbers, credentials, and scope of experience matter here.
Service description. What exactly will the guest receive? Duration, what's included (ingredients, equipment, products, travel to their location), and what the experience feels like. Write from the guest's perspective: "I arrive at your rental with all ingredients and equipment, prepare a multi-course meal in your kitchen while you relax, serve plated courses over 2–3 hours, and leave the kitchen spotless."
Pricing. Research what comparable professionals charge in your market — both on Airbnb and off-platform. Many entry-level Services start under $50 as an accessible on-ramp, but established providers charge $150–$500+ depending on the service and duration. Price for value, not just time — a 2-hour private dinner includes sourcing, prep, cooking, serving, and cleanup, which is easily 5+ hours of total work.
Availability. Set a schedule you can maintain consistently. Like Experiences, the algorithm rewards regular availability over sporadic scheduling. Block dates you're unavailable rather than leaving the calendar sparse.
Service area. Define how far you're willing to travel from your base location. If you serve guests at their rental, specify the radius — most providers cap at 15–30 miles to keep travel costs reasonable.
Step 4: The Vetting Process
After submission, Airbnb's team reviews your application. The vetting process for Services is more rigorous than Stays or Experiences because guests are inviting you into their temporary home for a one-on-one service.
Identity verification. Government ID check and, in many markets, a background screening.
Credential verification. They check that your licenses are valid and current. If your food handler's permit is expired, renew it before applying.
Portfolio review. Your photos are evaluated for quality, professionalism, and authenticity. Stock photos or heavily filtered images are flagged. Show your real work.
Professional experience assessment. The average Service host has 10+ years of experience. If you're earlier in your career, strengthen your application with certifications, client volume, or a track record on other platforms.
Timeline. Review can take 1–4 weeks depending on your market and the completeness of your application. Having all documents ready at submission speeds this up significantly.
Step 5: Build Your Listing for Bookings
Once approved, your listing goes live. But approval doesn't guarantee bookings — your listing needs to convert browsers into clients. Here's what matters most:
Your profile photo. Professional headshot or a photo of you working — not a selfie, not a logo. Guests are hiring a person. They want to see who's coming to their door.
Cover photo for each service. The most visually compelling image of your work. For chefs: a beautifully plated dish. For photographers: your best client shot. For massage: your professional setup. This image determines your click-through rate from search results.
Multiple service tiers. If your craft supports it, offer 2–3 tiers: a basic option (entry price point), a standard option (your core offering), and a premium option (extended or elevated experience). This gives guests choices and increases average booking value.
Respond to every inquiry immediately. Airbnb tracks response time and rate across all hosting tracks. Fast responses improve your search ranking and demonstrate professionalism — which is the entire brand promise of Services.
Step 6: Your First 5 Bookings
Just like with Stays and Experiences, your first reviews define your trajectory. Treat your first 5 clients as auditions for every future booking.
Communicate proactively. Message the guest before arrival to confirm details, dietary restrictions (for chefs), style preferences (for photographers), pressure preferences (for massage), or fitness goals (for trainers). This pre-service communication builds trust and ensures you deliver exactly what they want.
Exceed expectations. A small extra gesture — an amuse-bouche course the guest didn't expect, a bonus edited photo, a follow-up stretching guide — turns a good review into a great one. The cost is minimal; the review impact is significant.
Follow up with a review request. After the service, send a thank-you message and mention that reviews help new providers get discovered. Be genuine and brief — don't script it.
Ask for feedback privately. In addition to the public review, ask each guest what could have been better. This is your quality control loop. Adjust your process based on patterns — not single data points.
The Services marketplace is still early — 260 cities and growing. Being among the first approved providers in your city and category means less competition, higher visibility, and the chance to establish yourself as the go-to professional before the market fills up.
Prepare your credentials, submit a complete application, deliver exceptional work from booking one, and let the platform's 2 billion+ guest arrivals find you.
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BNB Setup is an independent resource and is not owned, operated, or endorsed by Airbnb, Inc. This post contains referral links — if you sign up through our links, we may earn a referral reward at no cost to you. All information is believed accurate as of the publication date but is subject to change by Airbnb. This is not financial, legal, or tax advice.