10 tips on self-service rental companies that are easy to start

The rental market offers many opportunities for entrepreneurs to start and grow their business. What distinguishes a rental business is its versatility, where you can operate in almost any field.

Whether you already run a business or are thinking of starting one, here are 10 ideas for a self-service rental – plus two more at the end: courts and rooms, and lending for free.

Saunas and trailers come first below: both can rent out all year, and you can start with just one.

Sauna rental – warmth and relaxation

Offer a unique experience with mobile or stationary saunas. It is perfect for relaxation and health. Place the sauna by a lake or the sea, ideally where you can drive right up to it – a bathing jetty is a definite plus. A mobile sauna also lets you deliver it to customers while keeping a fixed spot as your base. The customer starts the sauna and enjoys it while you do other things.

Booking system for sauna rental · Bastuflotten: a floating sauna on Lake Vänern that runs without staff

Trailer rental – practical and in demand

Trailers are useful for transporting larger items. A trailer rental service can be a valuable resource for businesses and individuals alike, and with a digital booking system that enables unmanned rentals, the process becomes smooth.

Booking system for trailer rental · Närsläp at ICA Höganäs

Kayak rental – steady demand all summer

With an increasing demand for outdoor activities, kayak and canoe rentals are a great choice. Digital solutions for rental companies like Rentalbuddy make it easy to manage bookings and equipment, giving your customers the freedom to explore the water on their own.

Booking system for kayak and canoe rental · Paddelkompaniet: self-service kayak rental at two campsites

SUP rental – training and recreation

SUP is a fun activity that attracts fitness enthusiasts and adventurers. Offer customers a chance to explore local waterways in a unique way with an efficient booking system for rental companies.

If you run a gym, why not add SUP training to your membership offer – and rent out the boards self-service when you’re not using them yourself.

Side Cut Sports: unmanned SUP rental at Schwarzsee · Kajup: a mobile self-service kayak and SUP station

Canoe rental – ideal for family outings

Canoes are perfect for family outings and nature experiences. Start a canoe rental business and use technology to streamline your rental business.

Booking system for kayak and canoe rental · Immeln Canoe Center: canoe and kayak rental with Rentalbuddy

Boat rental – popular with tourists

Boat rental is ideal for fishing, sightseeing and water sports. It is a sought-after service among tourists and locals, and with a booking system from Rentalbuddy you can make the rental unmanned, but you can also offer guided tours and courses.

Booking system for boat rental · BlekingeSurf: boat rental in the Blekinge archipelago · Hanö Dyk & Ribcharter: events and guided tours

Cottage rental – cozy and sought after

A cottage you rent out yourself works like any other self-service rental: guests book and pay online, and the key waits in an Igloohome Keybox 3 by the door, opened with the code from their booking – no meeting at the gate with a key. You save the trips and the payment handling, and guests can arrive whenever it suits them. Also listed on Airbnb or Booking.com? Rentalbuddy doesn’t sync calendars with them, so take each cottage’s bookings in one system only.

Rentalbuddy’s booking system

Apartment rental – let guests check in and out themselves

A guest apartment, or a housing association’s guest room, can be let the same way: the key in a key box by the door, a new code for every booking, and payment taken when guests book – or no payment at all, if members borrow it for free. Nobody has to hand over keys, which is often the hardest part to organise.

Bike rental – eco-friendly and popular

Bicycle rental is popular in cities and tourist areas. It is an environmentally friendly option that gives customers the freedom to explore the surroundings. With a booking system for rental companies, you can easily manage your bike fleet.

Ski rental – a circular economy

NMB Rent by No More Boots ran a self-service ski rental at Kläppen Ski Resort in Sweden: skiers chose skis on their phone and unlocked them from racks by the slopes.

How NMB Rent set up a self-service ski rack at Kläppen

Courts, club houses and rooms

Rent out padel or tennis courts, club houses and meeting rooms by the hour. Every booking gets its own code for the padlock on the gate, or for the key box that holds the room key. Questions about courts and rooms

Lending for free – clubs and municipalities

Clubs and municipalities lend gear for free the same way: Hudiksvall Municipality lends sorting bins to event organisers, who collect them from a container with their own code. Lending for free needs no Stripe account. How Hudiksvall lends sorting bins for events

Summary

Whichever you choose, you need the same four things: something people near you already pay to use, a place you’re allowed to keep it, one digital lock per item or door, and a Stripe account to take payments. How to start, step by step · What could it earn?

Advantages of an unmanned rental business

1. Cost efficiency: reduced personnel costs, as much of the business is automated.

2. Availability: bookings and inquiries 24/7 without staff available at all times.

3. Scalability: easier to expand to more locations without a lot more staff.

4. Efficiency: automated processes cut the time needed for both administration and customer management.

5. Better customer experience: customers book and manage their bookings when it suits them best.

6. Fewer errors: automation reduces the risk of human error in the booking process.

7. Data and analysis: easy collection of data to understand customer behaviour and improve your services.

8. Flexibility for owners: the owner does not need to be physically present to manage every aspect of the business.

9. Simple upkeep and monitoring: the technology enables digital support and management of rental units.

10. Increased security: digital locks give every booking its own code, so no keys go astray.