--- title: The Bold Business Move That DOUBLED His STR Business Overnight - with Eric Lewis description: Scaling a short-term rental business with Eric Lewis, the founder and owner of Nashville Stays image: https://str.legal/hubfs/Nashville-Stays-Showcase-AIRBNB-7.webp --- [Skip to main content](https://str.legal/smartstay-show/eric-lewis#main) [![FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2](https://str.legal/hs-fs/hubfs/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png?width=300&height=82&name=FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png) ![FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2](https://str.legal/hs-fs/hubfs/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png?width=300&height=82&name=FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png) ![FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2](https://str.legal/hs-fs/hubfs/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png?width=300&height=82&name=FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png) ![FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2](https://str.legal/hs-fs/hubfs/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png?width=300&height=82&name=FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-2.png)](https://str.legal) - [Podcast](https://str.legal/smartstay-show) - [Contact Us](https://str.legal/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Podcast](https://str.legal/smartstay-show) - [Contact Us](https://str.legal/contact) - Search - [Get Started](https://str.legal/get-started) [Get Started](https://str.legal/get-started) Search [SmartStay Show](https://str.legal/smartstay-show) # The Bold Business Move That DOUBLED His STR Business Overnight - with Eric Lewis ![Rory Gill](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/52a7403c0c5152799543ceb531cdb16d) Oct 24, 2024 7:00:00 AM   Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving deep into the world of scaling a short-term rental business. I'm really excited to introduce our guest, Eric Lewis, the founder and owner of Nashville Stays. Eric’s story is one that’s sure to inspire anyone in the vacation rental industry. He started with just one property and grew his portfolio by leaps and bounds, eventually making the bold move to acquire an entire rental management company. In this episode, we’ll explore how Eric built his business in the highly competitive Nashville market, the challenges he faced while scaling, and the strategies he used to maintain a high standard of service for both guests and homeowners. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your own rental business, you won’t want to miss Eric’s insights and practical advice. Let’s jump in!" Things we discussed in this episode: - Scaling a short-term rental business beyond a single property - Eric Lewis' journey from managing one property to acquiring a multi-property company - The strategic benefits of acquiring another short-term rental management company - The process of networking and identifying potential acquisition targets - Navigating the legal and structural aspects of the acquisition deal - Strategies for retaining and building loyalty with the acquired clients/homeowners - Eric's transition from a side hustle to a full-time short-term rental entrepreneur - The importance of continuous education and peer support in building confidence - Challenges of balancing a full-time job with running a growing short-term rental business - Eric's plans for solidifying processes, building a strong team, and focusing on future acquisitions Get in touch with Eric: - Website - [https://nashvillestays.com/](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFZid1FMeFNvZE9JYnltZ19XT0Vzb1V3WEVQd3xBQ3Jtc0tuOHpKdlhqSENrTndMOGJNMFdQcEJtMjIyUGZNOExuZVU5UUVTcHJ2MEVLc3ppRk1XcDZjSWpnN0d4SzBrUEQzWDdVR3I1NzhIZHp6Zl82X08xbVVsWmktb2x0TlR4d3ZhMEZ3cWNCN0VfNkJSZzRyOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fnashvillestays.com%2F&v=QaCCgfPRMbY) - Email - eric@nashvillestays.com - Instagram - [ ![](https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/watch/social_media/instagram_1x.png) / nashvillestays  ](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHFJZUdyNGhvc1BYZGpNTWtKWW1fcWQzeW5Td3xBQ3Jtc0tuRDZjMU5iMjVDSjkzUEZNVXN5UXhFb0ZPemtZWTJ5b1dHeEU0SlpuOEVtMVJSTWYtVjJWa3FhMnFBczJCeWg3cUFteDhmMnB4dzF1YnVPMHhReFdXMTl6bUM5d25oSWdMQXZLeGcxM2JXdndGbzZadw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fnashvillestays%2F&v=QaCCgfPRMbY) - Linkedin - [ ![](https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/watch/social_media/linkedin_1x.png) / eric-lewis-cpa-07638749](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFhDdllQc0FoY1RDM1NEOFB3bFVHSVl1UnN5UXxBQ3Jtc0ttYy1wdWVnRTV1ZjZWUGNHNjNIdEZqZE1Gc0JzZFFhRW82dnNWS3FpM3h4dXVkdG1QN3N6SnV0MFFjcEZUWnU4MjVfTWpEM3Z3V1o0M2dJY0NkQmVXUGFFRzBILW1CYzhrZWhhRFU0TjRmX3VZZU1KQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Feric-lewis-cpa-07638749%2F&v=QaCCgfPRMbY) ➢ Subscribe: [  ![](https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/watch/yt_favicon_ringo2.png) / @smartstayshow  ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hSZeHoPAwF2bcEib0RCvg) - [0:00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=0s) Scaling a Short-Term Rental Business - [0:00:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=16s) Eric Lewis' Journey - [0:00:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=30s) Leveraging Expertise to Grow - [0:00:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=46s) Acquiring Another Company - [0:02:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=138s) Nashville vs. Northeast Markets - [0:03:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=198s) Eric's Start in Short-Term Rentals - [0:05:31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=331s) The Acquisition Process - [0:09:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=563s) Legal and Structural Aspects - [0:11:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=695s) Protecting Acquired Relationships - [0:13:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=822s) Seller Protections in the Deal - [0:15:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=940s) Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship - [0:22:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=1347s) Financing the Acquisition  - [0:26:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=1574s) Gaining Fiancée's Support - [0:31:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=1869s) Balancing Job and Business - [0:34:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaCCgfPRMbY&t=2096s) Future Plans for Nashville Stays **Tags:** ### Related Articles ### Comments ![SmartStay Coaching (transparent background).png-3](https://str.legal/hubfs/SmartStay%20Coaching%20(transparent%20background).png-3.avif) ### Short-Term Rental Counsel + Coaching Welcome to the SmartStay Show, where profit meets strategy for short-term rental hosts. Hosted by STR.Legal Attorney Rory Gill and 30-time Airbnb Superhost Jason Muth, this podcast is your go-to resource for mastering the world of vacation rentals on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Each episode is packed with actionable tips and real-life strategies designed to help you maximize your income while safeguarding your property. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your existing listings, the SmartStay Show covers everything from pricing optimization and guest communication to legal compliance and automation tools. With expert advice from seasoned hosts and industry insiders, we provide the playbook for turning your rental into a top-performing asset. What sets us apart is our focus on owners of small but mighty portfolios. 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