Booking system for independent cottage owner with Stripe — HolsUK

Connecting Stripe is done within the HolsUK dashboard: you authorise HolsUK to create payments on your Stripe account using a secure OAuth flow. Once connected you can accept GBP card payments, set instant payment capture for full bookings or pre-authorise cards for security deposits. Stripe supports major UK debit and credit cards and you can configure refund workflows back to the card. HolsUK handles the booking-to-payment mapping so you see which Stripe transaction relates to which booking in the revenue reports. If you already have a Stripe account in your business name, you’ll keep payouts going to your bank as usual and HolsUK only processes the booking commission on completion.

Yes. HolsUK provides two-way calendar sync with Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo using the channels’ standard calendar/API connections where available, and iCal for smaller channels or manual imports like Pitchup or Cool Camping. When a guest books via an OTA, the HolsUK calendar updates and blocks the dates, and conversely when you take a direct booking the OTA calendars are updated. We recommend setting minimum night rules and turnaround buffers in HolsUK so those rules propagate. For complex setups — multi-unit cottages or staggered cleaning windows — a short audit of existing rules prevents conflicts before you switch on live sync.

HolsUK operates on a commission-only model: you pay a fee on confirmed bookings rather than a fixed monthly subscription. This suits many independent owners who have seasonal income and prefer costs that scale with occupancy. You should review the commission rate and how it applies to direct versus OTA bookings when you sign up. HolsUK does not add Stripe transaction fees — those are charged by Stripe and will appear on your Stripe statement; platform commission appears separately in your HolsUK account statements for reconciliation.

Cleaner management in HolsUK lets you create cleaners, assign them to properties and define standard turnover tasks. When a booking checks out, HolsUK creates the job and sends notification to the assigned cleaner with arrival windows and any special instructions. Cleaners confirm completion in the app; only then does the system mark the property as ready and send arrival instructions to incoming guests. If a clean is late, you can reassign or extend the buffer window; the system logs delays for later review. The aim is to reduce phone calls and ensure check-in codes aren’t released until the place is ready.

Yes. HolsUK provides an embeddable booking widget and a hosted booking page. You can add availability and a booking button to your existing WordPress, Squarespace or static site so guests can pay via Stripe without leaving your site. The hosted page is useful if you don’t want to manage plugin updates; the widget is useful if you prefer full control over site design. Both options pass bookings into the same HolsUK dashboard for central management.

HolsUK consolidates booking revenues, platform commissions and direct Stripe transactions into exportable CSVs and monthly summaries so your accountant can reconcile income. OTA payouts still come from OTAs, but HolsUK links those bookings to the right dates and amounts in reporting. Payouts from Stripe go to your connected bank account according to your Stripe payout schedule. For VAT-registered hosts or those with self-catering business structures, HolsUK provides the granular booking-level data needed for accurate VAT returns and profit calculations, but you should always check with your accountant for tax treatment specific to your situation.