GearUpPlenty of photographers and videographers own gear that sits unused between shoots. Renting it out can pay for the gear and then some, and many rental shops in the Philippines started exactly that way. Here is how to go from a shelf of equipment to a real rental business.
Start with gear people actually rent
The best first items are ones that are in steady demand and easy to check on return: popular mirrorless bodies, versatile zoom lenses, gimbals, wireless microphones, lights and small drones. Look at what creators around you are shooting with and what they keep asking to borrow.
Start small. A handful of reliable items you know well is better than a big catalogue you cannot maintain. Buy spares of the small things that go missing most: batteries, chargers and memory cards.
Register your business
To operate properly in the Philippines, sole proprietors typically register a business name with the DTI, get a barangay clearance and a mayor's or business permit from their city or municipality, and register with the BIR to issue receipts and file taxes. Requirements differ by LGU, so check with your city hall before you start.
Being registered also makes you easier to trust. Production companies and brands often need official receipts.
Write down your rental terms
Clear terms prevent most arguments. Before your first rental, decide and write down:
- Rates
- Hourly, daily and weekly prices, minimum durations and package prices.
- Deposits
- How much per item, and how and when it is returned.
- Late returns
- Your grace period and the late fee after it.
- Damage and loss
- How you assess damage and what each component costs to replace.
Verify renters
Ask for a valid ID before handing over expensive gear, and keep a record of every renter's history. A renter who has returned gear on time five times is a different risk from someone you have never met.
Track every component
Most losses in a rental business are small: a battery here, a cable there. Track each item at component level, check it out at pickup and check it back in at return. Our guide on protecting your rental gear from loss and damage goes deeper.
Price it to pay for itself
Your rates need to cover the gear, its repairs and the time you spend on each rental. See how to price your rental gear for a simple way to work it out.
Get found by renters
Social media brings in your first renters, but a listing where people are already searching does more. On GearUp, your shop gets a public page in the marketplace and on the shop map, with online booking requests, a live availability calendar and payments through GCash, Maya, QR Ph and cards. See why rental shop owners choose GearUp, or create a free account to set up your shop.