
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In this episode of STR Like the Best, I sit down with John from Topkey—a financial operating system built specifically for property managers—to talk about the “unsexy” but absolutely essential side of running a short-term rental business: cash flow, expense tracking, and financial controls.
We cover why cash (not revenue) is the single source of truth in your business, how to capture every reimbursable dollar without adding admin headaches, and how to keep your favorite rewards credit cards in play while still integrating all your spend into one clean system.
John shares his journey from investment banking to Starwood Hotels, HotelTonight, and Airbnb, and how those experiences shaped Topkey’s mission to simplify the messy financial workflows in STRs. We also swap stories on leaving banking, building businesses with our spouses, and why the why behind your business matters just as much as the tools you use.
Whether you’re managing 5 units or 50, this episode will show you how to run tighter books, free up headspace, and ultimately build a business that supports the life you want.
LEARN MY STR INVESTING & STRATEGIES 🔥 https://strlikethebest.com/wealthpod
Apply to work with Michael: https://strlikethebest.com/applypod
Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchangbnb
By Michael Chang5
6060 ratings
In this episode of STR Like the Best, I sit down with John from Topkey—a financial operating system built specifically for property managers—to talk about the “unsexy” but absolutely essential side of running a short-term rental business: cash flow, expense tracking, and financial controls.
We cover why cash (not revenue) is the single source of truth in your business, how to capture every reimbursable dollar without adding admin headaches, and how to keep your favorite rewards credit cards in play while still integrating all your spend into one clean system.
John shares his journey from investment banking to Starwood Hotels, HotelTonight, and Airbnb, and how those experiences shaped Topkey’s mission to simplify the messy financial workflows in STRs. We also swap stories on leaving banking, building businesses with our spouses, and why the why behind your business matters just as much as the tools you use.
Whether you’re managing 5 units or 50, this episode will show you how to run tighter books, free up headspace, and ultimately build a business that supports the life you want.
LEARN MY STR INVESTING & STRATEGIES 🔥 https://strlikethebest.com/wealthpod
Apply to work with Michael: https://strlikethebest.com/applypod
Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchangbnb

16,777 Listeners

426 Listeners

8,988 Listeners

9,192 Listeners

1,830 Listeners

129 Listeners

1,623 Listeners

453 Listeners

902 Listeners

20,139 Listeners

980 Listeners

26 Listeners

839 Listeners

789 Listeners

58 Listeners