I have seen costs vary widely from contractor to contractor and you want to go in with all eyes wide open. 

I've been keeping my eye on San Antonio a bit as it seems it's going through a correction and potential for cash flow may be increasing.

i am confident i can manage the relatively small amount of requests, and have heard some good things about apps and software that are a "one stop shop" for landlords that allow payment, leases, and repair requests. i have one out of state rental property with a plethora of options for handymen and contractors around. i have been paying a property management company 8% plus all of their inflated costs of repairs and fees and with insurance going up it has really opened my eyes to my margins not as healthy as i would like.do you have a certain product you have used or use or would recommend?

Pro Tip: Airbnb provides a level of protection if you end up with a "problem" tenant.

Akron is not LL friendly, they were the first in NE Ohio to pass a rental registration ordinance (in the 90s), in 2021 added source of income as a protected class - so you can no longer rule out S8 applicants, and passed STR registration last October (and nearly a year later still haven't been able to enact anything).  

My hope is to share what I’ve learned, continue growing, and connect with others on similar paths.This journey has been nothing short of eye-opening.

You might want to consider Columbus OH - evictions are quick and won't take 12 months and we have good landlord protection laws.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/4.

It can get what I call wear stains where people sit or lay their heads so that coating will keep that at bay.Start keeping an eye on Craigslist, FB marketplace and OfferUP for good used furniture. 

An LLC does not provide much legal protection, it acts as a legal firewall to separate assets.