How to Create a Shopify Rental Business?

Did you know that a successful rental business on Shopify can see profit margins as high as 50%?

With the ability to integrate a booking system, it’s easier than you might think to set up rentals for products or services.

And the best part is—you can do it all using a free app!

In this blog, you will read how to add a booking feature to your Shopify store, transforming your business into a profitable rental service.

Why Is a Shopify Rental Business Important?

The rental business model has experienced substantial growth in recent years, by the increasing demand for shared economies and more affordable options for consumers.

Whether you’re renting out cars, event equipment, vacation properties, or even digital assets, rental businesses have become a go-to solution for customers who don’t want to invest on a product.

For business owners, the rental model offers the opportunity for recurring revenue without having to constantly find new buyers.

What Types of Rental Businesses can you start on Shopify?

The advantage of Shopify’s rental booking apps is that they can be adapted to a variety of industries. Here’s who can benefit from using a rental app:

• Clothing Rental
• Equipment and Tool Rental 
• Furniture Rental
• Vehicle Rental
• Party & Event Supplies Rental
• Sports and Outdoor Gear Rental
• Tech Gadget Rentals
• Luxury Goods Rental
• Medical Equipment Rental
• Baby Gear Rental

If your business relies on booking and time slots, a Shopify rental business app is an invaluable tool.

What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Shopify Rental Business App?

Before choosing an app to manage bookings for your rental business, there are a few important factors to consider:

1. Calendar Integration: Ensure the app supports a calendar system that’s easy to use, allowing customers to choose rental dates and times.
2. Custom Fields: The ability to add custom fields, like collecting a driver's license or additional information for security and safety, is a must for certain rental businesses.
3. Time Slot Flexibility: Look for an app that offers customizable time slots, so you can adjust booking durations to match your business needs.
4. Pricing Options: Some rental apps offer free versions, while others may have premium features. Make sure to choose one that fits your budget but doesn’t compromise on essential functionalities.
5. Blackout Days and Lead Time: These features are important for managing holidays or unexpected downtime, so make sure the app supports them.

Read along to see how you can use the Bookeasy app to start a rental business

Step 1: Setting Up Your Rental Business on Shopify

The first thing you’ll need to do is get your Shopify store ready to offer rentals. 

For this example, we’ll create a motorbike rental store called "Speedy Bike Rentals."

Adding Your Products

After setting up your store, start by adding your rental products. 

For my store, I’ve added different motorbikes with images, prices, and descriptions. This will form the basis of your rental offerings.

Step 2: Integrating a Rental Booking System on Shopify

To allow customers to book rentals, you’ll need a booking system that integrates easily with your Shopify store.

For this there’s a free app for Shopify that does just that—Bookeasy

Installing the Bookeasy App

To install the app, head over to the Shopify App Store and search for “Bookeasy.” 

This app offers a calendar-based booking system, making it perfect for rental businesses. 

It’s also free for all Shopify users.

Once installed, you’ll need to set up your booking preferences.

Step 3: Customizing Your Shopify Booking System

Now that you’ve installed the Bookeasy app, it’s time to customize it for your rental business.

Adding Rental Products to the Calendar

Now, I’ll be adding the Ducati bike rental to my calendar. 

• Start by naming the appointment - “Ducati Bike Rentals”
• Move on to setting the rental duration. 
• For this example, I’ll set the rental duration to 8 hours, but you can choose any time frame that suits your business.

Time Slot Flexibility

Next, I’ll give customers the option to choose their rental time slots. 

I’ll set the time slot interval to 1 hour, giving customers the flexibility to choose their preferred rental time.

Appointment Lead Time

The appointment lead time is crucial because it defines how soon a customer must book before renting. 

I’m setting a lead time of 2 days for my bike rental business, meaning customers must book their rental at least 48 hours in advance.

Booking Availability

I will enable bookings for the next 30 days, but this can be easily modified to suit your rental requirements.

Step 4: Managing Availability and Blackout Days for Your Shopify Rental Business

Managing your store’s availability is important for a smooth customer experience. You can easily set up working hours to reflect when you’ll be available to hand out your rental products. This ensures customers can only book during your operational hours.

Adding Blackout Days

If you have holidays or days when you won’t be operating, Bookeasy allows you to set blackout days. 

This ensures customers won’t be able to book on days when you’re unavailable.

Step 5: Collecting Customer Information for Your Shopify Rental Business

A key feature of Bookeasy is the ability to collect additional information from your customers. 

For example, here I am adding a section to gather the customer’s driver's license number. This is essential for my rental business for safety reasons.

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Step 6: Finalizing Your Shopify Rental Booking System

Once everything is set up, simply hit Save and your rental booking system will be live!

Testing the Booking Process

• The customer clicks on “Book Your Time” 

• A calendar will pop up with available time slots. 
• Customers select a day and time that suits them.

• They then enter the driver’s license number.

• They then click on “Confirm” to book schedule the calendar

And just like that, your rental business is ready to go!

Conclusion

Setting up a rental business on Shopify is simple with the right tools. 

Whether you’re offering motorbikes, beauty services, or anything else that requires a booking, the Bookeasy app makes it incredibly easy to add a calendar-based booking system to your Shopify store.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the rental business model, and how does it work on Shopify?
The rental business model allows customers to temporarily use products or services for a fee. 

On Shopify, this is managed by integrating a booking system like Bookeasy, where customers can reserve items for specific time slots and pay for the rental online.

2. What types of businesses can benefit from a Shopify rental app?

Shopify rental apps can be used by a variety of businesses, including those renting out clothing, equipment, vehicles, event supplies, sports gear, and even digital assets.

3. Do I need a special Shopify plan to start a rental business?

No, you don’t need a special Shopify plan. 

Most rental businesses can be set up with Shopify's basic plans, but you will need to install an app like Bookeasy to manage bookings and rentals.

4. Can I offer different pricing tiers for my rental products?
Yes, with an app like Bookeasy you can allow flexible pricing based on rental duration, time of day, or even peak periods. 

5. How can I manage inventory and availability for my rental business?
Rental apps on Shopify come with features to manage inventory, ensuring that items are available only during specific time slots and preventing overbooking. 

They often include options to set availability windows and block out dates for maintenance or holidays.