How can I enable payment for hosts on my Webflow marketplace, similar to Airbnb, using the CMS feature?

To enable host payments on your Webflow-based marketplace (like Airbnb) using the CMS, you'll need to integrate external tools because Webflow’s native CMS does not support full marketplace or payment functionality. Here's how to structure it.

1. Understand Webflow CMS Limitations

• Webflow CMS is designed for managing dynamic content (e.g., listings, profiles), not for managing user accounts or processing payments between users.
• You’ll need to integrate third-party tools (e.g., Memberstack, Stripe Connect, and Make/Zapier) to handle payments, user authentication, and host management.

2. Set Up Your Webflow CMS for Listings

• Create a CMS Collection called something like “Listings.”
• Fields could include: Title, Description, Photos, Price per Night, Host (Reference field).
• Create another CMS Collection for “Hosts” — include fields for Name, Email, Stripe Account ID.

3. Add User Accounts and Host Signups

• Use a tool like Memberstack or Outseta to allow hosts to create accounts and log in.
• After signup, use Make.com or Zapier to connect the host’s Memberstack profile to the “Hosts” CMS collection in Webflow.

4. Connect Stripe for Payouts

• Use Stripe Connect to manage multi-party payments:
• Hosts create a Stripe Express account via your onboarding form.
• You (the platform) act as the primary Stripe account that routes payments.
• Store the Stripe Account ID in the Hosts CMS collection field or in your external database (Firebase, Airtable, etc.).

5. Automate Booking and Payments

• Use a custom booking form with fields like listing ID, user info, and booking dates.
• On form submission, trigger Make.com or Zapier to:
• Record the booking in an external database (e.g., Airtable or Xano).
• Trigger a Stripe payment, splitting earnings between your platform and the host using the Stripe Connect "Transfers" or "Destination Charges" feature.

6. Optional: Display Payouts to Hosts

• Use a tool like Jetboost or Wized to give logged-in hosts access to a dynamic dashboard with their earnings, bookings, and payout statuses.
• Connect this to a backend like Xano or Firebase, synced with your Webflow CMS.

Summary

You can’t enable host payments using Webflow CMS alone, but by combining Webflow CMS for listings, Memberstack for user accounts, and Stripe Connect for host payouts, you can create an Airbnb-style marketplace. Use automation tools like Make or Zapier to connect everything behind the scenes.