In the area, we determined that the it would be a good mid term rental and started marketing it as a furnished rental especially with some of the construction and events going on throughout the year.

You'll need to compare apples to apples. 40k seems like a low number to design, furnish and amenitize a competitive short term rental projected to do $100k. 

There's a great site called Furnished Finders.Hope this helps!! 

.), Designing and Furnishing (amenities, design, theme, linens, etc), and operating (Insurance, Property management or self-management, Tech & Tools, Cleaners & handy people, etc)All of these could be covered depending on who you work with that can cover each topic. 

There's a website called Furnished Finder that traveling nurses use a lot, it is also for anyone looking to relocate or who needs an interim solution.

Most anything less requires unit to be furnished.

I posted on Furnished Finder to try to get some weekly renters, but no luck there. 

Are you too busy to get a furnishing checklist (BiggerPockets has one, and there are many) and get everything set up?

Property already owned, we used cash for renovation and furnishing.

I have a furnished 3BR 2 BA house in Raleigh NC that I'm renting MTR as a whole house.