Opening a second location is a major step for any rental business. Whether you rent tools, bikes, AV equipment, or party supplies, adding a rental location can help you reach more people, grow your brand, and increase revenue. But expanding also brings new decisions and systems to consider.
Today, with better tools and more flexible business models available, running a multi-location rental store is more achievable than ever. This guide walks you through the steps for adding a rental location successfully, with real-world examples and guidance on how Booqable supports this process.
Why open a second rental business location?
Reach a new audience
A second location helps you access renters in a different area. For example, a bike rental shop in Helsinki might open in Espoo to serve locals and tourists who don’t want to travel far to rent. Being closer to your customers often increases convenience and trust. If you’re focused on growing a multi-location rental store, it’s important to think beyond a single neighborhood. The more accessible your items are, the more people you can reach—especially in cities or tourist hubs.
Make better use of inventory
Running two or more locations allows you to move equipment to where it’s needed most. A tool rental business might notice that cement mixers are regularly booked out in one area while sitting unused in another. With location-based inventory tracking, you can adjust stock to match local demand and get the most out of your equipment.
Adding a rental location also helps avoid over-purchasing. You can distribute items across your multi-location rental store network based on seasonality or popularity.
Offer pickup and delivery flexibility
A second location gives customers more choice. An AV rental company that operates in two cities can offer pickup closer to event venues or deliver equipment from the location nearest to the client. These flexible options are especially important when running a multi-location rental store with customers spread across regions.
Start your rental business for just $27/month
Put your toes in the water and test the demand in your area with a rental website for just $27/month.
Make sure you’re ready to expand
Before adding a rental location, ask whether your existing business is stable and performing well. Do you have reliable processes in place? Is your team ready to take on the extra coordination that comes with a second site?
If your current setup still feels messy, it’s a good idea to focus on refining systems before growing into a multi-location rental store model.
Choose the right type of location
There is no single way to open your next location. Depending on your goals, budget, and customer base, you can choose from a few common paths:
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Buy an existing business location: Purchasing a competitor or independent rental outlet can be a faster way of adding a rental location in a new market.
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Lease a new shopfront: Leasing gives you full control of a branded space and works well if your multi-location rental store requires in-person customer service.
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Partner with another business: Some rental stores team up with local shops or service centers to serve as pickup and return points, reducing setup costs.
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Set up a locker location: For industries like bike or gear rentals, self-service lockers can act as a second location with no staff needed.
An event rental business might lease a warehouse outside the city and work with venues to offer pickup points in more central areas. This is a smart way of adding a rental location without taking on the full cost of another shop.
How Booqable helps you manage multiple locations
Booqable has built tools to support businesses with multiple locations. Whether you’re running two storefronts or five pickup hubs, the system gives you tools to keep everything organized.
Inventory assignment per location
Every product in your catalog can be linked to a specific site. When customers browse online, they’ll only see the items available at their chosen location. This is key for keeping your multi-location rental store accurate and frustration-free.
Location selection during booking
Customers can select their preferred pickup or delivery location directly from the date picker during checkout. This makes adding a rental location to your business feel natural for both your team and your customers.
Export reports by location
You can generate performance reports that show what’s popular at each site. These insights help you restock or move items across locations based on demand. For a multi-location rental store, this data is essential for managing busy seasons and reducing downtime for underused gear.
Team visibility and clarity
With Booqable, your team can easily see where every item is located, which orders are scheduled for pickup at each site, and which products are currently in demand. When adding a rental location, this central dashboard becomes the backbone of day-to-day coordination.
Start with building your rental website
Every new rental business starts with a website to get their first bookings.
Examples across industries
Tool rentals in city regions
A tool rental company in Rotterdam expanded into The Hague to reach a growing market of contractors and DIY customers. With Booqable, they assigned equipment to each location and adjusted inventory after tracking demand in each city. Their transition to a multi-location rental store helped serve both areas more efficiently.
Party rentals across cities
A Manchester-based party rental business added a small Liverpool pickup site to reduce travel time for customers. Using Booqable reports, they identified when to stock up ahead of wedding season. This data-driven approach made adding a rental location low-risk and highly effective.
Bike rentals for tourists
A Lisbon bike rental shop installed lockers in Cascais. Tourists could reserve bikes online, pick them up with a code, and return them without staff present. This expansion into a multi-location rental store model helped them grow without opening a full storefront.
Final thoughts
Adding a rental location can open new markets, increase inventory usage, and improve the customer experience. While the idea of expanding may feel overwhelming at first, having the right systems in place can make it a manageable step in your growth.
Whether you’re leasing a new space or installing a locker, Booqable gives you the visibility and tools to run a successful multi-location rental store. With features for inventory tracking, customer location selection, and performance reporting, you’ll be set up to make smarter decisions and grow sustainably.
To learn more about setting up locations in Booqable, visit our guide for how to set up locations and rent products out between two different stores and reduce the downtime or your inventory. This not only serves more customers but also increases the return you see from each item.
