---
title: Trust Accounting
description: Discover Barefoot’s fully integrated trust accounting software—built for short-term rentals and now supporting mid-term, corporate, and timeshare models. With over 25 years of experience and 5 million transactions processed annually, we deliver scalable, compliant financial tools for property managers.
image: https://www.barefoot.com/hubfs/Z%20(3)-1.png
---

# Trust Accounting You Can Rely On—

# Built for Short-Term Rentals and Beyond

Barefoot was founded on the accounting needs of short-term rental managers. Today, our fully integrated trust accounting platform supports mid-term, corporate, and timeshare models—so you can grow confidently, without switching systems.

[![See Barefoot For Yourself](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/209661/interactive-191302834969.png) ](https://www.barefoot.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL2TBjd3kznv3UrQloykldUS3XBLYcjOrhZuydqpDpH9U3ddFsWutZVcfA48pBUXZw7Jgb%2FhzZz%2BJU1bruef8ToejKFWUwYtcHTY8a0kXCkTdu5RbdjmrUL%2BMa3d7SY%2BBhaKz4p0M6IcpQNBQ7rTzrOTIgxyFc2S79keYmNl4BYbY5yX6EC1F9BX6z3Uw%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=191302834969&portalId=209661&hsLang=en)

## True Trust Accounting for Every Rental Model

From nightly vacation stays to monthly corporate housing and fractional ownership, Barefoot delivers a complete trust accounting solution that adapts to your business—rooted in decades of short-term rental expertise.

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## A Trust Accounting Platform That Handles Volume—and Complexity

Each year, Barefoot processes approximately 350,000 reservations, resulting in over 5 million financial transactions through our accounting system. That kind of scale isn’t just a statistic—it’s a reflection of the platform’s ability to handle high-volume, multi-layered operations with reliability and precision.Whether you manage short-term rentals, extended stays, corporate housing, or timeshare programs, Barefoot is built to support your growth—without sacrificing speed, accuracy, or control.

![Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (2)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(2).png?width=200&height=200&name=Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(2).png "Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (2)")

![Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (3)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(3).png?width=200&height=200&name=Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(3).png "Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (3)")

![Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (4)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(4).png?width=200&height=200&name=Copy%20of%20E-sign%2c%20store%2c%20access%E2%80%94all%20in%20Barefoot%20(4).png "Copy of E-sign, store, access—all in Barefoot (4)")

## Key Trust Accounting Capabilities

What’s Included with Barefoot Accounting:

- ### Full Trust Accounting
  
  Compliant, fund-based accounting that separates operation and escrow accounting.
- ### Integrated Owner Statements
  
  Generate clear, customizable statements with real-time data access.
- ### Security Deposit Management 
  
  Track guest deposits accurately across multiple stays and lengths.
- ### 1099 Reporting
  
  Easily generate and distribute year-end tax forms for vendors and owners.

- ### Vendor & Bill Pay
  
  Manage service providers, automate payments, and record expenses.
- ### Multi-Bank Support
  
  handle funds across multiple trust accounts with confidence.
- ### Chart of Accounts
  
  Tailor your accounting setup to your organizational needs.
- ### Automated Audit Trails
  
  Every transaction is time-stamped, traceable, and linked to its source- ensuring transparency and compliance across all financial activities.

## Barefoot Is There For You

![Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px).png?width=1300&height=788&name=Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px).png "Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px)")

### Accounting Built In

While other platforms may rely on third-party accounting tools or added in later, Barefoot’s trust accounting has embedded throughout our system from the beginning. Every reservation, owner transaction, and payment flows directly into your financials—no duplicate entry, no surprises.

### Scalable for Growing Portfolios

Barefoot supports property managers operating across markets and rental models. Whether you manage 50 properties or 5,000+, our trust accounting platform provides the flexibility to handle complex owner structures, dynamic workflows, and multi-office operations.

![Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px) (1)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px)%20(1).png?width=1300&height=788&name=Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px)%20(1).png "Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px) (1)")

![Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px) (2)](https://www.barefoot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px)%20(2).png?width=1300&height=788&name=Add%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20body%20text%20(1300%20x%20788%20px)%20(2).png "Add a little bit of body text (1300 x 788 px) (2)")

### Supported by Real People

### with Real Experience

When you're managing trust accounting, mistakes aren’t an option. That’s why Barefoot pairs powerful tools with an experienced support team who understands the stakes. Our client success specialists and accounting professionals aren’t just software experts—they’ve worked in your shoes.

From setup to reconciliation, you’ll have access to knowledgeable, responsive support that’s tailored to your business model—whether that’s short-term vacation homes, corporate stays, or timeshare programs.

## Features/FAQs

What is Trust Accounting?

Simply put, trust accounting means that you are managing other people's money, so you are entrusted hold money against future services rendered.

Trust accounting also means that money paid in is fully allocated to be paid out, whether to your operating account (commissions and fees), to the owner, to other vendors (taxes, cleaners, insurance partners, etc) and sometimes to guests and other agents (non- exclusive bookings or third party wholesalers).

Trust accounting is critical to any successful vacation rental management company.

How do we ensure a successful accounting transition during implementation?

When new clients are onboarded, we go through a rigorous documentation, testing and implementation process. Each client will  so that they have insight into where money is including understanding owner/property accounts, advanced payments, vendor payables, and taxes. We build out a complete payable system that includes payments by checks and ACH. Reports in Barefoot will help you understand your liability, revenue pace, and reconciliation.

Our accounting support team audits during the implementation process and evaluates each client’s unique situation and provides recommendations from getting from no or existing trust accounting to Barefoot trust accounting. Once you’re actively using the system we provide as much guidance as you need to make sure that your trust accounting is working for you.

When considering software, remember that trust accounting is the most important aspect of any solution.

What Trust Accounting Functionality Do You Include?

- Full rental and property management accounting, trust accounting, owner account, and travel agent accounting
- Managing group bookings including discounts, split payments and group communication
- Upsell of services and packages with POS charges, for internal and externally owned providers, like resort fees, tee times, and equipment rentals.
- Tenant/guest charges, activity and POS charges, work order charges, and miscellaneous service charges
- Full property management that includes being able to pay bills on the owner’s behalf (like taxes, cable and HMO fees) and manage and bill inventory (like filters and labor).
- Variable agent commission structures
- Combined or split owner balances for syndicated ownership
- Management of multiple offices in state and additional states with or without different ownership per office
- Reports including bank reconciliation, balance sheets, journal and income statements.
- Tax calculations for state and local taxes
- End of Year IRS reporting
- Direct deposit (ACH), eChecks, credit card interface and check writing

## Ready to Simplify Your Trust Accounting?

Whether you're managing short-term vacation homes, monthly corporate leases, or timeshare intervals, Barefoot delivers the accounting backbone to support your growth—and your peace of mind.

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