Leverage Is the Only Way to Scale, But Most STR Operators Do It Wrong - With Sean Rakidzich | S02E36

When short-term rental operators hit 30–50 units, most stall — or burn out. Why? Because they never learn to truly leverage people, systems, or strategy. In this episode, Sean Rakidzich, Founder of Million Dollar Renter & Host of Airbnb Automated, shares the brutal lessons he learned scaling an STR business past 100 units and the hidden risks most operators don’t see coming until it’s too late.

With nearly 300,000 subscribers on YouTube and a career consulting for REITs and major operators, Sean breaks down how to scale profitably — not just aggressively.

What you’ll learn:

• Why most STR businesses collapse under their own weight after 30 units

• How to use leverage the right way — from staffing to systems to strategy

• What “scale gravity” and “inertia” mean — and why they kill your margins

• How to spot the real bottlenecks in your business before they stall your growth

• The lessons Sean learned losing over $500,000 on a bad portfolio

• When (and how) to go from operator to CEO in your business

• Why design, structure, and delegation matter more than ever post-COVID
  

Whether you're just getting started or managing dozens of properties, this episode will challenge your assumptions — and give you the roadmap to scale without breaking your business.