Rental rates, deposits & packages

Getting rental rates right decides whether hiring is profitable. Configure them under Restaurant & Appointments → Equipment Rentals.

Rates by period

Each rentable item carries hourly, daily and weekly rates. Longer periods should not be simple multiples — a week at seven times the daily rate will rarely be taken, and the item is earning either way.

Set a minimum hire period for items where preparation and turnaround cost more than a short hire earns.

Deposits

Set a deposit per item, sized against replacement cost rather than the hire rate. The deposit is what makes the item come back; it should be uncomfortable to abandon.

Packages

Rental packages bundle several items at a set price for a common job — a full kit rather than a list of parts. Packages are easier to quote, easier for the customer to understand, and usually carry better margin than the same items hired separately.

Availability

Each item has a quantity, and a hire commits it for its period. The reservation calendar shows what is committed when, so a booking taken today for next month cannot be double-sold in between.

Consumables

Items consumed rather than returned — fuel, blades, tape — should be sold rather than hired. Attaching them to the rental at the counter captures the revenue that otherwise walks out unrecorded.

Pricing against utilisation

Review rates against the utilisation report. An item hired constantly is under-priced or worth buying more of; one that never moves is a candidate for a lower rate or for sale.

Publishing

The public rental catalogue shows what is available with rates so customers can see and book without phoning.

Note: your business can rename menu items (Settings → POS Configuration → Menu Labels), so the names in your menu may differ from those shown here.