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March 25, 2025 34 mins

Would You Quit Your 9-to-5 to Build a Short-Term Rental Empire?

Payton Cummings did exactly that—leaving behind a steady paycheck to scale a thriving 17-property short-term rental business! In this episode, she shares her journey from corporate consulting to full-time entrepreneurship, the mindset shifts that made it possible, and how community and strategy helped her think bigger.

If you're dreaming of turning your side hustle into a sustainable business, this episode is packed with real insights and actionable advice you won’t want to miss!


Things we discussed in this episode:


  • Peyton's transition from a W2 management consulting job to full-time short-term rental entrepreneurship
  • The importance of joining entrepreneurial communities like STR Secrets for networking and mindset growth
  • Financial planning and considerations before leaving a steady job, including healthcare and income sustainability
  • Building and scaling a short-term rental business from 3 personal properties to 17 co-hosted properties
  • The challenges of delegating guest communication and learning to trust a virtual assistant team
  • Strategies for local networking, including joining BNI groups and connecting with local developers and investors
  • The value of investing time in personal mindset development and strategic business planning
  • Real estate professional tax status and potential tax benefits for full-time real estate entrepreneurs
  • Maintaining personal relationships and friendships while growing a business, especially as an entrepreneur
  • The process of automating guest communications while still maintaining quality customer service and oversight


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Get in touch with Payton:


Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/payton.young.7

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/staymodernproperties/

Website - https://staymodernproperties.com/



#SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #EntrepreneurLife #STRBusiness #SideHustleSuccess

#PropertyManagement #BusinessGrowth #WomenInBusiness #DigitalNomadLife



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SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!

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