Best POS Systems For Rental Businesses

Get Started With Square Appointments

Total Rating	4.8
Pricing4.8
Ease Of Use5.0
Features4.8
Customer Service4.5
User Reviews4.7

Pricing Range

$0-$69/month

Contract Length

Month-to-month

Equipment Cost

$0-$799

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

Free and low-cost plans available
Free online booking features
Affordable rental integrations for niche rental businesses
Affordable POS hardware

Cons

Must use Square payment processor
Occasional fund holds
No intuitive way to enable multi-day bookings

Why We Picked Square For A Low-Cost Option

Square Appointment free contract builder with template settings. (Source: Square)

We like that Square is one of the best free POS systems and can work as a standalone rental POS software for smaller businesses. You can use Square to accept deposits, book rental appointments online, build contracts and waivers, manage your inventory, and send invoices for free. Low-cost paid plans offer more advanced features like automated cancellation fees and resource management.

Square also integrates with affordable rental apps for niche businesses like sports equipment and room or campsite rentals.

Pricing

Square Appointments Plans	Price	When To Use
Free	$0/month	You are a single user with basic booking needs
Plus	$29/month	You have multiple locations and multiple staff appointments
Premium	$69/month	You want added permissions and advanced reporting

Payment processing rates are 2.5%-2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions, 2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions, and 2.9%-3.3% + $0.30 for online invoice payments.

Note: All POS systems require a payment processor to accept payments. You will be charged payment processing fees no matter which rental POS software you choose.

POS hardware, which you need to accept cards in person, costs between $59 (Square contactless card reader) and $1,959 (the full Square Retail Register kit). There are many options in between and no-interest financing is available on all hardware.

Learn More: Read our Square POS hardware guide for more on the hardware Square offers.

Rental POS Features

Square’s free built-in features include:

Free website builder for customers to fill out inquiry forms, self-book item reservations, schedule a consultation, and purchase retail items
Online booking calendar to manage rental appointments
Rental contract builder and digital signature capture
Accept deposits and charge late fees with a card on file
Automated text and email reminder notifications for their reservation
Social media and Google Business Profile integrations to advertise and sell on other platforms

Paid Square features include more advanced inventory management, multi-location management, resource management to ensure items aren’t double-booked, custom contract fields, and more business reports.

Rental-specific apps such as Checkfront allow accommodation rental businesses to:

Create dynamically priced rental packages based on the season, holiday, group size, and rental length
Cross-sell rentals with tours and activities
Confirm rentals through email or text (great for venue/lodging rental businesses)
Manage more resources with a more specialized rental management calendar
Give customers the option to check themselves in
Promote on platforms like GetYourGuide

Square Is Best For

Single-location businesses looking for free software
Small event and wedding supply rental businesses
Small clothing rental businesses
Affordable accommodation rental integrations

Clover POS: Best For Renting Out Items By The Hour

Clover POS

Get Started With Clover POS

Total Rating	4.3
Pricing4.0
Ease Of Use4.8
Features4.5
Customer Service4.4
User Reviews4.1

Pricing Range

$0 - $84.95/month

Contract Length

3 years

Equipment Cost

$199-$1,799

Pros

Affordable rental item timer app
Handheld and countertop POS hardware
Very customizable
Custom payment processing rates

Cons

High upfront cost
Rental app does not include online bookings
Some Clover providers offer bad contracts

Why We Picked Clover POS For Renting Out Items By The Hour

Create new order on Clover Rent Item app. (Source: PayPlaxe)

We like that Clover offers a low-cost rental item management app that allows business owners to rent out bicycles, shared spaces such as game tables, or sports equipment by day, hour, and minute. Businesses can create predetermined rental periods or pre-authorize a card and charge it when customers return the items or leave the shared space.

More: Read our Clover POS pricing guide for information on how Clover hardware and payment processing are connected.

Pricing

Clover software pricing ranges from $14.95/month (the Clover Essentials plan) to $69.90/month (the Clover Register plan). The Rental Item app costs $1.99/month.

Your Clover POS hardware and payment processing rates depend on your Clover merchant services provider. For an idea of hardware pricing, these options are listed on Clover.com:

Clover Go: $49 for contactless card reader
Clover Flex: $599 for handheld POS system
Clover Mini: $799 for compact countertop POS
Clover Station: $1,699-$1,799 for full register setup

Expert Tip: We recommend choosing one of our best Clover merchant services providers to get a transparent merchant agreement and payment processing terms.

Rental POS Features

To manage rentals, you need the Rent Item app by PayPlaxe, which includes these features:

Import Clover inventory items as eligible rental items
Add items to a new rental order
Rent out items by the minute, hour, and day
Accept refundable deposits and prepayments
Collect customer information and add it to a customer database
Track stock count
Connect with other PayPlaxe apps, including the age verification app if you want to create minimum rental ages

Note: The Rent Item app does not allow for online reservation booking or predetermined rental periods.

Clover Is Best For

Sports equipment rental shops
Shared space rentals for game tables, sports courts, and office spaces
Bicycle and scooter rentals

Shopify POS: Best For Online Rental Reservations

Shopify POS

Get Started With Shopify POS

Total Rating	4.3
Pricing4.0
Ease Of Use4.9
Features4.4
Customer Service4.8
User Reviews4.4

Pricing Range

$29 - $299/month

Contract Length

Month-to-month

Equipment Cost

$0-$459+

Pros

Lots of rental integrations
Excellent shipping and return features
Beautiful eCommerce site builder
Affordable POS hardware

Cons

Many apps cost extra
Must use Shopify payment processor to avoid transaction fees
No offline functionality

Why We Picked Shopify For Online Rental Reservations

Shopify example online car rental shop with IzyRent integration. (Source: Shopify)

We like that Shopify offers one of the best POS systems with eCommerce features such as online rental reservations and in-store rental choices for local delivery and shipping. Shopify offers excellent inventory and asset management, plus great shipping and return tools to monitor online rental shipping status. There are several rental-specific software integrations for niche businesses like vacation rentals, bike rental and repairs, and clothing rental businesses.

Pricing

Shopify POS Plans	Price	When To Use
Basic	$39/month ($29/month billed annually)	If you have a growing eCommerce business with occasional in-person sales
Shopify	$105/month ($79/month billed annually)	If you want additional reporting and reduced payment processing fees
Advanced	$399/month ($299/month billed annually)	If you want advanced reporting and additional discounts on processing fees
Shopify Plus	$2,000+/month	If your high-volume or large business needs an enterprise-level solution

All of Shopify’s software pricing plans include an eCommerce store builder and the Shopify POS Lite app:

Rental-specific Shopify apps cost $0-$99/month.

Payment processing rates are 2.4%-2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions and 2.5%-2.9% + $0.30 for online transactions.

POS hardware ranges from $49 (Shopify card reader) to $459 (Shopify register kit).

Rental POS Features

We recommend an app such as IzyRent, which integrates well with a professional-looking Shopify website and offers a $0 and $25/month plan. The app includes:

Clothing, lodging accommodation, rent for fixed period, and rent by the hour onling booking solutions
Item or location rental availability date filter
Add-on choices like vehicle insurance or a bike helmet
Rent and purchasing options
Set item delivery and return dates
Create terms and conditions contracts, waivers, shipping and return policies, and care instructions
In-store pickup availability
Manually create rental item or room reservations at the POS for walk-in customers
Track rental and supply inventory

Shopify Is Best For

Online and in-store clothing, electronic, and equipment rentals
Vacation and accommodation rental bookings
Online car and bike rental reservations
Online reservations for by-the-hour rental items and spaces

Lightspeed Retail: Best For Multi-Purpose Businesses

Lightspeed Retail

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail

Total Rating	4.1
Pricing3.7
Ease Of Use4.4
Features4.3
Customer Service4.1
User Reviews4.0

Pricing Range

$109-$239/month ($89-$289/month billed annually)

Contract Length

Monthly, annual, and custom

Equipment Cost

$199-$329

Pros

Optional rental shop software integrations
Built-in appointment/reservation scheduling
Built-in rental item management for no added fee
Work order management for repairs

Cons

Expensive for smaller businesses
Must use in-house payment processor
Early termination fee

Why We Chose Lightspeed Retail For Multi-Purpose Businesses

Lightspeed Retail Bike Rent Manager software integration. (Source: Lightspeed)

We like Lightspeed Retail for multi-purpose businesses because the software offers great inventory management and easily syncs together retail, rental, and repair sales types. Lightspeed's built-in features allow you to rent by the hour or for a predetermined amount of time and manage work orders for repairs. For features like online reservations, holistic rental status views, and rental item delivery management, you will need one of Lightspeed's well-developed software integrations.

Related: Compare Lightspeed to our other best retail inventory management systems.

Pricing

Lightspeed Retail Plans	Price	When To Use
Basic Plan	$109/month ($89/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail business looking for strong inventory management and a customizable POS interface
Core Plan	$179/month ($149/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for eCommerce and accounting features
Plus Plan	$289/month ($339/month billed annually)	For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for a strong loyalty program and advanced business reporting

Rental-specific Lightspeed integrations range from $39-$167/month.

Lightspeed payment processing fees are 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person orders and 2.9% + $0.30 for online orders.

Lightspeed offers a $79 card reader, a $299 handheld POS terminal, a $169 iPad stand, and a $319 iPad.

Rental POS Features

Lightspeed’s built-in rental features include:

Physical rental item management
Work order management for repairs
Quote-to-invoice system
Holds and layaways for in-store pickup
Deposit and partial payment acceptance

Lightspeed integrations such as Booxi, Hubtiger, and Bike.rent Manager allow businesses to:

Monitor the status of all rental items (reserved, checkout out, checked in, in repair, etc.)
Accept rental item and appointment bookings online
Send automated repair job updates
Rent items by the day, hour, and minute
Create and send online waivers
Upsell rentals with activities, insurance, etc.

Related: Compare Lightspeed with the rest of our best POS systems for bookstores.

Lightspeed Retail Is Best For

Built-in rental sales and inventory management
Equipment and vehicle rentals and repair shops
Clothing, bookstore, hardware, and event supply stores that rent and sell
Rental businesses that also need to schedule appointments

Retail POS Review Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing POS providers since 2012. Our writers have tested over 100 different point of sale systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate POS providers.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Pricing 40%

Features 30%

Ease Of Use 15%

Customer Service 10%

User Reviews 5%

When comparing different POS software systems, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the depth of niche features offered, the price of hardware, and any associated payment processing fees. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points. The POS vendors we pick share qualities such as widespread availability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at niche features, such as check-splitting, inventory management, eCommerce, loyalty programs, gift cards, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

80+

Vendors evaluated

65+

Attributes assessed per vendor

20+

Features weighed

30+

Combined years of experience

What Is A POS System For Rental Businesses?

A POS system for rental businesses is software that, combined with a card reader and other POS hardware such as an iPad or tablet, allows you to take payments, manage rental inventory, and schedule item or venue bookings. You also need a payment processor to move digital customer payments into your business bank account.

Learn More: Read up on what payment processing is and how it relates to your business.

Important Features For Rental POS Software

Your POS system should have these key features.

Strong Inventory Management

The best point of sale systems for inventory management will either have built-in advanced inventory management or an upgrade that’s not overly expensive. The ability to track a wide variety of products and keep tabs on what’s in stock in real time is crucial in most rental establishments.

Scheduling Functions

Rental agreements are, by nature, time-sensitive. It’s a little tedious for a potential renter to have to call you, then you look in your rental bookings, call them back, and try to work out a rental time, all the while trying to track what will be available and when.

Instead, find a POS that shows you (as well as customers) when a certain piece of equipment or a location is available. Include a calendar online so that customers already have an idea of when they can rent.

Since your POS should also have real-time inventory/scheduling updates, your booking availability should update as soon as your inventory levels or expected location occupancy changes.

Reservation Time Tracking

If you rent out a boat for six hours and don’t track whether six hours have passed, then you won’t know if you’re supposed to collect overdue fines. If you don’t enforce your rental periods, customers could take advantage of you.

A POS system that tracks rental time from the minute a customer checks out takes out the extra step it takes to write down (or worse, try to remember) when a piece of equipment leaves your facility and when it comes back.

ID Verification

If you rent out equipment that requires some level of skill, such as tools, or if a customer has to be a certain age to rent something out, which is the case for many car rental places, you’ll need to check and store your customer’s ID beforehand.

Even if you don’t have those specific kinds of rental businesses, you should know exactly who you’re renting out to. It’s also important that the person who signs the rental agreement is the same person who returns your rental products.

Many POS systems allow you to scan an individual’s ID, driver’s license, or passport.

Pre-Authorizations

You wouldn’t want to loan something out to someone without knowing if they can pay for it. If you have a POS system that pre-authorizes a buyer’s payment method, you won’t have to worry about collecting your dues later on.

Rental Deposits

Many rental businesses charge a down payment or a deposit on high-ticket rentals. Your POS system should allow you to charge either a refundable deposit or a deposit that can be used as partial payment later on.

Card-On-File

If a piece of lighting equipment is broken or someone shatters a window in your rental property, you are within your rights to charge the renter (as long as you included it in a signed rental agreement, of course).

Storing a customer’s card information guarantees you will be able to collect payment for damages, even if a renter will not acknowledge their mistake.

Website Integration

People want to trust the business they’re renting from. The easiest way to build that trust is to build a reputable website. Ideally, customers should also be able to complete bookings and checkout online with an added eCommerce functionality.

Some POS systems, including Square For Retail and Shopify, come with eCommerce functionalities, depending on your payment plan. Other systems, such as Lightspeed Retail and Clover, integrate with most eCommerce website builders.

Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs are an excellent way to retain your customer base, especially if they are likely to use your rental services often.

Automated Billing

If a renter takes something out for an unspecified amount of time, or they decide to add on an extra day, hour, etc., to their rental period, an automated billing system will allow you to automatically bill for that extra time.

Mobility

Most modern POS systems can run on an iPad or tablet. Some providers have even built smartphone apps to increase mobile transaction capabilities.

Rental business owners will find mobile POS systems very useful, as they can take payment on-location, at events, or just around their store.

How To Choose A POS System For Your Rental Business

To choose a POS system:

Decide How To Charge For Rentals: You can charge for your rental items or spaces (lodging, office space, etc.) in a rental window for hours or days. Or, you can rent out by the hour/day.
Consider Scheduling Needs: If customers can schedule rentals ahead of time, you can manually create bookings during customer calls or meetings, or allow customers to self-book online.
Make A Budget: Figure out how much you can spend on POS software per month and how much you plan to spend on one-time hardware purchases.
Decide Must-Have Software Features: Look for software that matches how you’ll charge for rentals and the time of scheduling you need.
Sign Up For Free Trials: Once you’ve narrowed down your options based on price and features, sign up for free trials or software demos to get a sense of how the software would work for your business.
Sign A Contract & Purchase Hardware: Read through your contract for any undisclosed fees, early termination requirements, and hardware warranty requirements. Then, purchase your hardware and get ready to sell.

Related: If you’re not sure what your POS budget should be, read our post on POS system costs.

Key Takeaways

A POS system for your rental business requires niche features like deposits, time tracking, and rental item scheduling online and in person.

Square stands out as a low-cost option, while Shopify is an affordable and powerful POS for online rentals. Lightspeed Retail offers the most expansive retail and rental item management, especially if paired with a rental-specific software integration.

FAQs: Best POS Systems For Rental Businesses

What is the best car rental software?

Lightspeed and Shopify are the best car rental POS software. Both have vehicle rental management software integrations and built-in payment processors to accept payments in-store and online.

What is the best POS system for construction equipment rental companies?

The best POS system for construction equipment rentals is Lightspeed Retail or EZRentOut. Both offer B2B and B2C customer management, excellent inventory management, and service order issuing for tools and machines that require repairs.

What is the best party rental software?

The best party rental software is EZRentOut because you can send party supply catalogs to potential customers, create party rental packages, monitor supply delivery, and monitor the condition of your rental inventory over time.

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Nicolette Kier

Expert Contributor

Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

View Nicolette Kier's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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1. Square Appointments

❮ ❯

Best low-cost option
$0-$69+/month/location
Monthly contracts, no termination fee

2. Clover POS

❮ ❯

Best for renting out items by the hour
$14.95-$69.90+/month
Custom contracts

3. Shopify POS

❮ ❯

Best for online rental reservations
$29-$399+/month
Monthly/annual contracts, no termination fee

4. Lightspeed Retail

❮ ❯

Best for multi-purpose businesses
$109-$289+/month
Monthly/custom contracts, early termination fee