Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about working with ScaleLodge – calendar syncing, domain ownership, or Stripe payments? We have answers.
Subscription & Pricing
What exactly does the flat monthly fee cover?
Our flat monthly fee is comprehensive and covers all the operational overhead of running a premium website. It includes:
- Premium High-Speed Hosting: Built on specialized servers optimized for ultra-fast load times.
- Security & Maintenance: Automated daily backups, active malware scanning, SSL certificate, and software updates.
- Ongoing Support: Domain renewal configuration, iCal synchronization upkeep, and requested content adjustments.
- Weekly/Unlimited Updates: Price modifications, photo swaps, text changes, or promotional updates.
Is there really a $0 setup fee? How do you make money?
Are there any hidden fees or contract commitments?
No hidden fees – ever. No setup cost, no surprise charges, just one flat monthly fee. We do ask for a 12-month commitment, because we build your entire website upfront at no cost to you and the plan covers that build plus everything after. After year one, you can cancel anytime.
What happens to my website if I decide to cancel my subscription?
We operate on a subscription model with a minimum 1-year commitment from your first payment. After your first year, you’re free to cancel anytime with no penalties or buyout fees.
If you decide to end your subscription, you’ll receive:
✓ All your content (text, descriptions, property information)
✓ All your images and media files
✓ Your booking data and guest information
What stays with us:
✓ The website code and technical infrastructure
✓ The design and customizations we built
This keeps our costs predictable and allows us to maintain your site securely during your subscription. Your content and data are always yours to take.
Do you charge any commissions or transaction percentages on bookings?
Calendar, Syncs & Tech Stack
How do you prevent double-bookings?
We establish highly reliable 2-way synchronization feeds. For standard installations, we map out secure, real-time iCal feeds. As soon as a guest pays and completes their direct reservation on your website, your website locks the calendar and pushes the update to block your Airbnb and VRBO calendars within 1 hour. If you receive a booking on Airbnb, the iCal feed syncs backwards and blocks out availability on your website calendar automatically. No manual intervention required.
Can I keep my existing domain name? Who owns it?
Can we display my existing Airbnb reviews on the website?
Onboarding & Design Roadmap
What do you need from me to start building?
How long does the entire website build take?
Our standard design, build, and integration process takes around 20 days. We divide the timeline into structured milestones: we deliver your initial home page design wireframes during Week 1, refine copy and gallery displays during Week 2, test active direct-payment processing runs during Week 3, and launch your live direct-booking machine by Day 20.
Can I set up custom pricing rules, minimum stay requirements, and special discounts?
Yes, absolutely. We fully customize your calendar’s backend pricing and stay rules to match your booking strategy. This includes:
- Custom Rates & Minimum Stays: Configure seasonal price increases, higher weekend rates, or custom holiday premiums alongside flexible minimum stay lengths (e.g., 3-night minimum in summer, 2-night in winter).
- Rule-Based Discounts: We adjust prices and minimum stays. You can also add discounts for specific periods or days, such as automated consecutive-day markdowns (e.g., 10% off for 7+ nights)