22 Unique Rental Business Ideas (Or Things To Rent For Yourself!)
Make money with these unique rental business ideas. Or, use this list to learn interesting things to rent for yourself!
This list of rental business ideas will blow your mind. 🤯
We recently learned you could rent out your private swimming pool. Cool, huh? We were so intrigued we set out to find other unusual things for rent. The more we discovered, the more our jaws dropped. From trucks to caskets, we compiled a list of rental business ideas that covers everything from the strange to the mundane. Not only are people using these services, but people are making bank by renting theirs out. You’ll never be able to guess what made the list! In fact, you might have a lucrative rental business already at your fingertips!
22 unusual rental business ideas (or things to rent out for yourself):
1. Create a rental business by loaning your yard out to dog owners.
Make extra money renting your own yard to others! Sniffspot claims you can earn up to $3,000 a month in passive income by renting out your yard as a private dog park! The dogs are all required to be vaccinated and Sniffspot provides $2 million of liability insurance and $5,000 of damage protection. You won’t have to pick up after renters either as owners are required to do the poop-scooping. 🐶💰
Want a private dog park all for your pup? Now you can have it! Thanks to Sniffspot, you can rent a private fenced yard from one of your neighbors. It costs just $5 – $15 an hour per dog. Liability coverage is included and both yards and pets are vetted for safety. Never worry about unruly dogs at the public park again!
2. It can be lucrative to rent out your home’s swimming pool or other usable spaces.
Have an unused pool? Rent it out to make extra money. You can make thousands thanks to Swimply. This company has helped swimming pool owners rent to over a million guests in the last 3 years. They provide hosts up to $2 million dollars in liability insurance and $10,000 in property damage coverage. They even can supply you with an outdoor restroom for guests!
In addition to pools, Swimply is beginning to expand to include hot tubs, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, private gyms, and other unique, rentable spaces. With affordable prices, wide availability, and safety protocols, it is no wonder the company is growing. If you have any of these usable spaces, consider renting them out to make extra money!
Skip the community pool and rent someone’s pool instead! Private swimming is no longer a luxury thanks to Swimply, the Airbnb of swimming pools. Rent for an hour or an afternoon. Most pools we’ve seen on the site are going for just $25 – $60 an hour. If you go with a group you can split the cost! Don’t forget to check out other Swimply spaces including tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts.
3. Farmers and homesteaders can start a rental business by renting out their chickens.
Are you a farmer or homesteader with chickens? Start a rental business by joining up with Rent The Chicken. You’re guaranteed a 50-mile wide radius of potential customers. If you’d like to join the program to make some extra money, contact Rent The Chicken to find out how! 🐔🍳
Have you ever dreamt of owning a chicken coop but were afraid about the upkeep? Rent The Chicken will let you rent a chicken coop and chickens for a short period instead. Enjoy the fresh eggs and learning experience without the commitment!
4. Rent out your wardrobe as a side hustle.
Make extra money renting out YOUR designer clothes. 👗👠 List them on Wardrobe to keep 70% of the rental fee or on Style Lend and keep 80%.
Fashion goes out of style fast. Why waste money on high-end clothing when you can rent the clothes instead? Rent the Runway, Nuuly, Wardrobe and Style Lend were made just for this reason. These sites let you rent fashionable clothes via subscription or on a one-time basis from people just like you. Want to bring a Coach purse to a weekend event? For under $30, you can! 👜
There are services for jewelry too! If you get sick of jewelry styles fast, Rocksbox is your solution. For $21 a shipment, you can rent three pieces and wear them until you are done with them. Purchase any items you want to keep or ship the items back for free!
5. Make extra money by becoming a professional bridesmaid.
Do you have what it takes to be a professional bridesmaid? Why not get paid for it? Bridesmaidforhire.com has hired over 150+ bridesmaids and you can be next! Go undercover as a friend of the bride and be there to help her big day go off without a hitch!
If you’d rather start your own bridesmaid business, Bridesmaid For Hire has a course on how to get started! 💍
Need a bridesmaid who won’t let you down on your big day? You can hire a professional one who will make sure your wedding day goes as smoothly as possible. Nobody ever needs to know she was a hired hand! From grabbing your change of clothes to listening to you vent, a rented bridesmaid will be the long-lost friend you never knew you had.
6. Start an easy rental business by loaning your yard out to gardeners.
Land is a hot commodity! Join YardYum or Shared Earth to rent your space and make money off your extra land. It’s a super easy way to make passive income! 🥕👩🌾
If you love to garden but don’t have a yard, you can use YardYum or Shared Earth to rent gardening space. You can also check with your local park district to see if you have a community garden.
7. Have old baby gear? Loan it out to parents in need.
Babies outgrow their belongings faster than you can say, “1, 2, 3” and replacing items can be costly. This is where companies like BabyQuip and Rents4Baby come into play. Join with one of these companies to rent out your old baby items. Rents4Baby says their partners make an average of $700 per month while BabyQuip reports their providers make a whopping $1,000 per month on average.
Tired of spending money on items that your baby is outgrowing? We hear you! Use one of the companies above to rent the items you only need for a short period of time. One benefit of using rental companies is that if you need to travel with your baby, you can leave the big items behind and borrow them instead! 🙌
8. Have knowledge or friendship to share? Rent yourself out to make extra cash!
Make extra money sharing your local knowledge with others or by getting hired to be a stand-in grandma. The best part of this rental business is that you don’t have any overhead. All you need is yourself!
*Note that the Rent A Grandma app is no longer available, however, you still sign up on their website.
Sometimes you just need a little support. Whether you want to rent a caring grandma, a new friend, or even a wingman, there is a service for you!
9. Rent out your land as a private camping site.
Make a side income off your extra land when you sign up to be a private camping site with Home Camper. The company has been around for a decade and operates in 42 countries. You can rent out a bare pitch or your outdoor accommodations like a treehouse or yurt. Should you experience any hiccups, Home Camper provides insurance for damages and bodily injury.
Going camping? Home Camper can hook you up with one of 58,000 private camping rentals. From backyards to gardens to vacant land, you can rent a space that fits your needs! For affordable camping and outdoor adventure gear, check out Outdoors Geek or Arrive Outdoors.
10. Rent your storage or parking spaces.
Have extra space to rent out? You can make thousands a year in passive income renting out your parking or storage space. Spacer hosts make up to $450 a month and Neighbor and Stache hosts make even more! Did we mention liability coverage is included?!
We aren’t the only ones talking about this savvy business strategy. Major publications have featured all three of these companies. Neighbor has caught the attention of Business Insider and Fortune Magazine. Meanwhile, Spacer has been mentioned by the likes of Financial Times and, like Stache, The New York Times. If you’re looking to make passive income, visit these companies to find out what the buzz is all about!
Are standard storage centers above your price range? Is city parking too expensive? We hear you! Luckily, websites like Neighbor, Stache, SpotHero, and Spacer are offering you an alternative. These companies let you rent out your neighbor’s extra storage space or parking space for WAY cheaper – sometimes between 50% – 80% less! If you need to store your old belongings or even your boat, these sites can make it easier on your wallet!
11. Have an expensive camera or audio equipment? Rent it for extra cash.
Camera, lighting, and audio equipment all cost a pretty penny. The high prices are too much for many people. Both amateurs and professionals have started looking for alternative solutions and you may be able to help! Start a rental business renting out your equipment to artists in need. Two major sites you can work with are called KitSplit and ShareGrid. List your gear to start collecting that cash!
In need of high-end video, camera, or audio equipment for a project? If it doesn’t make sense for you to buy, borrow your gear from sites like KitSplit, ShareGrid, or BorrowLenses.
12. Start a side hustle renting goats… yes, goats.
Credit: Rent A Goat
Did you know that people hire goats to clear their land? If you own a goat, you can launch your own goat-grazing business! It’s easy. Just sign up to become a Goats On The Go affiliate. In addition to goat grazing, this company can also help you launch a Mobile Barnyard where you can tour your area providing farm-positive education.
Save money by clearing your land by hiring a herd of goats to do it! This rental service may sound strange, but customers are giving it rave reviews. Goats use no pesticide, can work through rough terrain, and naturally fertilize your lawn. Californians are loving Rent A Goat and other states love Goats On The Go.
13. Rent your kitchen space for extra dough.
Do you own or run a commercial or commissary kitchen? You can turn it into a lucrative rental business. There are tons of caterers, bakers, and chefs in need of a clean kitchen. To get started, list your kitchen on The Kitchen Door and watch the dough roll in!
Calling all food professionals! Have you been running your catering or home-baking business out of your home? Take your small business to the next level by renting a commercial kitchen. The Kitchen Door is a website that will match you with a commercial or commissary kitchen in your area. You’ll keep overhead costs down by avoiding the cost of utilities, expensive equipment, and underutilized space.
14. Start a truck rental business via Fetch.
So many people need to rent a truck to haul larger items and they are turning to Fetch to rent their vehicle. Pickup truck owners who use Fetch can rake in $19,000 a year by renting out their truck. A large cargo van or box truck can make even more!
All vehicles rented on their site are covered by Fetch’s liability and physical damage protection plan. Visit Fetch today to rent out your vehicle or even start a rental business by renting out a fleet.
Moving and need a truck? Rent from Fetch. They have affordable pricing and contactless rentals. Reserve and drop off 24/7. Visit their website to find a guaranteed rental near you!
15. Rent out your RV or camper using RVShare.
Have a camper or RV that you aren’t using? Consider joining up with RVShare. They say you can make up $22,000 and $60,000 a year renting out your RV. Some families are looking for a camper to drive but others just want to use one for glamping. If you have an RV you’re willing to loan out, this is one rental business that can be very lucrative.
Interested in renting an RV for your next trip? Both Lina and Erica from Hip2Save have rented from this company and they had a great time! Check out this post about their adventures!
16. Loan a company your car for advertising space.
One way to make some passive income is to have your car professionally wrapped. This rental idea is especially great for rideshare and delivery drivers.There are several companies that work with major brands who want to advertise on the side of your car. You can make money just by driving your normal commute.
See our top picks of car wrapping companies to use. Many of these companies pay for the car wrap installation and removal so you won’t have any damage to your car.
17. Start a rental business loaning out your boat or jet ski.
Not everyone can afford to own a boat but many people are willing to rent one for the day. Boatsetter is a site that was made specifically for this reason. Some boat owners are making thousands of dollars a month renting out their water vehicles. This site even provides you with liability insurance, just in case. List your boat with Boatsetter today!
Psst…if you own a jet ski or kayak, you can list it on sites like GetMyBoat. However, the site does not provide insurance so you’ll have to secure that on your own.
Want to rent a boat for a short period of time? Skip renting from a tourist business and rent directly from the boat owner instead. Boatsetter has a ton of affordable rentals.
18. Rent out your car on Turo for extra cash.
Yes, it’s true. People rent out their vehicles to make extra money. One of the major sites to use for renting out your car is Turo. The company states the average person renting out 1 vehicle makes an annual income of $10,516. That figure goes up the more cars you have to lend.
If the idea of loaning someone your vehicle makes you nervous, rest assured that Turo provides 24/7 support and up to $750,000 in liability insurance. All renters are pre-screened. Register with them today to start your rental business.
Do you need to rent a car for a trip? Check out Turo’s affordable options and don’t forget to read our post about ways to save on car rentals. If you need to rent a car very quickly, check out the similar platform GetAround.
19. Loaning out your motorcycle is a possible side hustle idea.
Motorcycle owners are collecting an average of $150 per rental when using sites like Riders-Share. This site has been featured in major publications like Forbes, Motorcyclist, and the LA Times. The company ensures that every rider is insured, safe, and licensed!
Riders-Share does have some strict guidelines regarding insurance, cancellations, and roadside assistance. If you want to list your bike, read the fine print carefully.
Interested in renting someone’s motorcycle for the day? Right now, you can score 20% off your first ride at Riders-Share – no promo code needed! Want to gift someone a ride? The site also sells gift cards!
20. Join AirBNB or VRBO to rent your home to travelers.
People are making bank renting out their homes on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. The great thing about these sites is that they are well-known, so they help you bring traffic to your listing.
Airbnb allows you to rent out your entire home or even just a room. You can also list exterior dwellings like treehouses and yurts on there. Hosts are covered by up to $3 million in damage protection and $1 million in liability. There is also a 24/7 help line should you need assistance. Head over to Airbnb to see an estimate of what you can make in your area.
VRBO is also a very popular and user-friendly site. They also offer 24/7 support and have measures in place to protect your privacy and security. VRBO does offer liability and damage protection though you may need some additional coverage. Visit their website to get an estimate of what you can make in your area.
These sites do charge hosts fees so make sure you understand the fine print before deciding which platform to use!
Are you a traveler wanting to book a rental home for vacation? Check out both VRBO and Airbnb. Don’t forget to read our post on how to score a cheap rental and our post on the Hip2Save team’s favorite Airbnb houses.
21. Have a workspace that’s not being used? Rent it to professionals.
Make extra money by renting out your office, meeting room, or desk. It’s free to list your workspace on Deskpass. This company is highly rated and operates in over 184 cities. A similar platform is called Liquid Space and it is available to individuals, teams, or businesses. This could be quite profitable. In today’s world, many people work remotely and could occasionally use a quiet place to work!
Do you or your team need a workspace for the day? Head on over to Deskpass or Liquid Space to see if you can rent one nearby.
22. Loan your money to small businesses or real estate developers.
Have extra cash that you want to invest long term? Avoid the heavy fees of traditional investment firms. Fundrise helps people with all experience levels invest in private and commercial real estate. They were even recently given a 5-star rating from NerdWallet. Their platform is easy to use and open to all investors. You can start with a minimum investment amount too! If you’re okay with a long-term investment, visit Fundrise today to get started.
If you’re more interested in investing in small businesses, give Mainvest a try. You can start with an investment of as little as $100. Just keep in mind that a business could go belly up!
Do you need to rent an item for yourself? Here are a few strange things you can rent that weren’t listed above:
- Rent-A-Christmas – Leave the decorating to someone else. You can rent the tree, decorations, and even the setup.
- Rent paparazzi – If you’re all dressed up and want to really feel like a million bucks, rent paparazzi to capture your big moment.
- Rent a flash-mob – Want to propose to someone or promote an event? Book a flash mob to get the message across in style!
- Rent a casket – Some funeral homes rent out caskets for memorials & then use something more economical for the burial. Ask your local funeral home about your options.
- Rent a pooper scooper – Grossed out by dog waste? Skip the hassle and hire DoodyCalls to pick it up for you.
- Rent luggage – Are you traveling but don’t have any luggage to use? Rent it!
- Rent a wedding cake – Save money with a faux cake that looks fancy. Use the fake cake for your pictures and then cut up a more economical cake for your guests. Both FunCakes and Mary’s Cake Design can rent you one.
- Rent solar panels – Interested in solar energy but worried about the upfront costs of equipment and installation? Try Sunrun. Plans start at 0% down.
- Rent tires – We don’t recommend renting tires if you don’t have to, but if you’re in a pinch, companies like Tire Agent or Rent A Wheel can loan you some wheels for as little as $0 down.
Find out more easy ways to make extra money!
I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer but, I would be very careful about renting out your pool, yard etc. You MUST call your insurance company and change your policy. A child drowned in a rented out pool in NJ and the lawsuit is going to be a doozy for the homeowner. Swimply only covers certain things. The insurance company is probably dropping them because they did not declare they were running a business. Same with renting out your yard, court or car.
I’m so very sorry to hear about this. ❤️ Thank you for the warning.
Thanks for sharing this post! Renting a grandma is my favorite 😅
You’re so welcome! I’m loving that one too!! 🥰
The grandma app is no longer in the App Store ;( ;( it was the first link I tried!!! Lol
Bummer! We’re seeing that as well. It does look like you can still sign up on their site through the link above. Hoping this might help! ❤️
This was very interesting, especially the rent a bridesmaid lol. I have participated in enough weddings where the bride would have preferred that vs the drama that came with the actual bridesmaids
Not that some people wouldn’t use the rent luggage service, but a trip to your local goodwill can often be a place for cheaper luggage. I can’t imagine renting😳
Thanks for the helpful tip! 🙌 Good to know!
It depends where you live. In my area there is nothing cheap or worth it at the goodwill. Everything is trashed or broken. The only thing you are sure to walk out of there with is a sinus infection. They usually send out the good stuff to be auctioned off at their website and it never hits the store floors. I live in a very big city though and it’s HCL.
You can also rent a “professional cuddler ”. There is no sex or anything sexual involved and in fact it’s not allowed. I know someone who did it in medical school. Graduated with way less debt then most.
I would avoid renting out your pool. It’s not worth it, people can not be trusted. My neighbor’s in-laws are being sued by someone who rented theirs for one single hour, but renters brought a friend’s child who slipped and bruised a knee. A tiny scrape is costing them $1.7 mil when you add lawyers, court fees, insurance fees PLUS having to pay for and look for new insurance companies because their previous one cancelled all the policies they had with them. All the medical care the child needed was a bandaid, but his parents wanted him taken by ambulance to the hospital. They saw money signs when they heard the pool was rented and not owned by their friend. The most infuriating part of this was that the neighbors across the street were having a bbq. There was at least 9 physicians, 5 PA’s, 2 police officers, 8 firefighters, 2 CCRN, 3 regular nurses, who ALL rushed over when they heard the screaming and arrived before the ambulance. Everybody was dumbfounded by the parents request for the ambulance ride, who claimed on the 911 call it was a drowning. The only one who knew what was up was the law student. Google it and you find the full story.
The pool owners were also elderly immigrants in their 70’s who thought they were covered with their policies. They are going to have to sale the house to settle everything with the greedy parents.
That story makes me so sad for the homeowners.
Those poor people. This was definitely a scam. Most people do not rent for only an hour. The homeowners should sue them for filing a malicious lawsuit.
Those are professional scammers and predators. What is wrong with people? Go to Nextdoor and that’s all you see, scammers, crimes and missing pets.
Rent the runway has horrendous reviews.
Thanks for your feedback on that. I do find some great testimonials on their site when clicking through that link and scrolling to the very bottom. Hoping that might be helpful. 💞
I love the Rent the Runway! Just wish I had more exciting events to attend to use RTR more often than I do.
Ya, I don’t know about this. 90% of this I would not rent out or participate.
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts on these ideas, siena95!
We use swimply all summer! I hope scammers don’t ruin it for us.
Awesome! Glad to know that you have used Swimply often! I hope you continue to have success with it! 🙌 ❤️