We were lucky to catch up with Taylor Labno recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I come from a background in customer service and sales and got into the short-term rental space shortly after getting licensed as a Realtor. Over the last four years, I’ve been fully focused on learning the ins and outs of real estate—especially vacation rentals.

At one point, I had a property listed for sale and noticed a ton of small things the property manager could’ve done to improve both the guest experience and the property’s value. I brought up the ideas, but they weren’t open to feedback. That moment kind of lit the fire. Instead of pushing uphill, Arthur (my business partner) and I decided to create our own company—Paradise Coast Rentals.

We built it to close the gap we kept seeing between real estate agents, vacation rental managers, and the actual experience for owners and guests. Whether it’s a Realtor looking for the perfect investment property for a client, an owner wanting a trustworthy team to manage their home, or guests just wanting to make core memories—we’re focused on creating a smooth, connected, and genuinely great experience for everyone involved.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Taylor Labno, and while most people know me through my work in real estate and vacation rental management, my journey has always been rooted in service—both to clients and to my community.

I started in customer service and sales, which taught me early on how to listen, how to problem-solve, and how to build relationships. When I got my real estate license, I naturally gravitated toward short-term rentals because I saw it as a space where hospitality and investment intersected. Over the last four years, I’ve poured myself into learning every angle of the industry—from helping investors find the right property, to guest experience, to the backend systems that make it all run smoothly.

But my drive really kicked in after listing a home that I knew could perform better with just a few thoughtful changes. The property manager at the time wasn’t open to feedback, and I realized: if no one’s willing to be the bridge between the real estate side and the rental side, then I’ll build that bridge myself. That’s when my business partner Arthur and I created Paradise Coast Rentals. Our focus is on transparency, strategic guidance, and building a better experience—for Realtors, owners, and guests alike.

Outside of my day-to-day business, I’m deeply involved in the real estate and housing community. I’ve served on multiple boards and committees, including:

Women’s Council of Realtors – Emerald Coast, where I’ve held various leadership roles

Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR) committees, including Government Affairs and Education

Local panels focused on homeownership, short-term rental operations, growing generational wealth through real estate and community impact

I also regularly speak on panels, sharing what I’ve learned with fellow Realtors, new investors, and even high school students stepping into financial independence for the first time. One of the things I’m most passionate about right now is advocating for homeowners’ rights—especially in areas like zoning, short-term rental restrictions, and the rising tension between local governments and property owners. It’s an issue that affects real people, and I feel a strong responsibility to use my voice and my experience to push for balance and fairness.

I think what sets me apart isn’t just my knowledge of real estate or vacation rentals—it’s that I genuinely care. Whether someone is handing me the keys to their biggest investment, or trusting me to speak up at a policy meeting on their behalf, I take that seriously. At the end of the day, I’m here to make the experience better—more informed, more intentional, and more connected for everyone involved.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Back in June 2020, right in the thick of COVID, I was living in California and working as one of the top managers at a company I’d poured myself into. We were scheduled for what I thought was just a routine HR call. I remember seeing who was on it—some of the top performers in the company—so I figured it was about promotions or new responsibilities.

But that call blindsided us. One by one, we were all let go.

I remember sitting there in disbelief. Everything around me was still shut down. You couldn’t go anywhere in California without carrying a form stating whether you were going to the grocery store, to work, or to the doctor. As a single mom, in that moment, I just broke down. My very first thought wasn’t about my title or the job—it was, “How am I going to feed my kid?”

But I didn’t sit in that moment for long. I got on LinkedIn within hours and called a woman I had met through networking who wrote resumes. I told her, “I know I’m supposed to take time to grieve this, but I don’t have time—I need to work.”

I signed up for DoorDash. Shipt. Whatever I could find to keep the lights on. I was barely making ends meet, but I kept moving. Within a few weeks, sales companies around the country started reaching out. I packed my bags and traveled to Oklahoma in July of 2020—yes, in the middle of a pandemic—with nothing but hustle and hope.

Eventually, I made my way to Florida. My mom’s best friend lived here and invited me to visit. She said, “Come enjoy the beach, clear your head.” At the time, Florida felt like the only place in the country that wasn’t fully shut down. So I did. And even though I was burned out, broke, and 35 years old with no job and a child relying on me, something in me shifted. I realized that this could be the new start I desperately needed.

While I was here, I picked up another front-line job. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was something. Then I watched my parents go through the process of buying a home, and I saw how their Realtor handled the transaction. That lit something in me. I had the background. I had the sales and service skills. Honestly, I knew I could do it better. So I got licensed, and I dove headfirst into real estate.

But the scariest pivot came much later—at the start of 2024—when I walked away from a steady paycheck, a salaried position with commission, and stepped fully into building a business. I gave up the comfort of a W-2 and committed to creating something from scratch. No safety net. No backup plan. Just belief in what I was building and a business plan I had written on faith and fumes.

There were times I opened the fridge and wondered what I was going to put in it. Times I mapped out every drive to the dollar to make sure I had enough gas to last the week. But you’d be amazed how your best ideas show up when you’re running on nothing but faith and pressure. That’s how Paradise Coast Rentals was born—out of desperation, clarity, and purpose.

Now, I co-own a thriving vacation rental management company. I get to work alongside my business partner Arthur, who trusted me when all I had was a vision. I get to serve owners, guests, and agents across the Gulf Coast. And I get to speak on panels and serve on committees, advocating for homeowners’ rights—because that’s where my heart is when I’m not building this business.

There’s no doubt in my mind: I’m here because of my faith, my grit, and because when everything fell apart, I chose to build.

Sometimes you have to lose everything to realize what you’re truly capable of.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m a single mom—have been since my son was a year and a half old—so pivoting isn’t new to me. It’s kind of my superpower. Building a business is terrifying, but I’ve learned to do it scared. When you’re completely obsessed with an idea and it keeps you up at night, that’s when you know you’re onto something. For me, it was all about fixing broken systems and making things more efficient. That passion came from working alongside someone who unknowingly became one of my greatest mentors.

Last year, I was consulting and trying to run a company. The truth? I failed. Hard. I won’t name him, but I call him “McGuyver”—a guy who can figure out anything, has seen the worst in people, but still leads with kindness and humility. He gave me some brutally honest feedback: I had great ideas, but no real follow-through. My operations were a mess, and that meant I was failing owners and guests, even though I thought I was helping. It was a gut punch.

Eventually, I stepped away and took a VP role at a different company. From the outside, it looked great. But inside, every conversation was about raising rates and squeezing owners—not serving people. It wasn’t aligned with my values, and I knew I had to walk away. I had nothing lined up. The real estate market had stalled, and my bank account was in the red.

That’s when Arthur stepped in. He’d been working on his own projects and asked me to consult. I shared my business plan, and he believed in it. From that moment on, we sprinted. We launched Paradise Coast Rentals at the end of January, and since then it’s been seven days a week, 20-hour days, lots of sweat (and a lot of showers), but I wouldn’t change a thing.

With over 18 years of experience leading, coaching, and managing sales and retail teams, I knew building the right team was critical. We’ve had to let a few people go early on, but the ones who’ve stayed and grinded it out with us have been the heartbeat of our growth.

It’s not been easy—but it’s been real, and it’s been worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Taylorindestin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradisecoastrentals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572244997819
• Other: Rental site:
  https://paradisecoast.rentals/

Image Credits

Colton Brooks