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How to Start an RV Rental Business

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Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on May 11, 2022 Updated on May 8, 2024

Investment range

$24,050 - $39,100

Revenue potential

$70,000 - $175,000 p.a.

Time to build

1 – 3 months

Profit potential

$42,000 - $105,000 p.a.

Industry trend

What better way to see the country than in an RV? But a new one can be terribly expensive, which is why the RV rental market has expanded nearly 60% in the last decade, led by industry leaders Cruise America and El Monte. With a bit of an investment, you could start your own RV rental business and help people see the country while making a good living.

But before you hit the road to success, you’ll need some business knowledge. Luckily, this step-by-step guide has all the insights you need to launch a lucrative RV rental business.

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting an RV rental business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

Share Fun – Help people have great vacations
Low Labor – Once the RVs hit the road, there’s not much work to do
Good Money – Make up to $200 per daily rental
High Startup Costs – RVs don’t come cheap
Insurance – RV insurance can be costly

RV rental industry trends

Industry size and growth.

Industry size and past growth – The US RV rental industry is worth $356.2 million in 2022 after expanding 58% in the last decade.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/rv-camper-van-rental-united-states/ ))
Growth forecast – The US RV rental industry is projected to grow 2.1% in 2022.
Number of businesses – In 2021, 177 RV rental businesses were operating in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/rv-camper-van-rental-industry/ ))
Number of people employed – In 2021, the US RV rental industry employed 1,002 people.

Trends and challenges

Trends in the RV rental industry include:

RV rentals are becoming more and more popular among millennials, who represent the fastest growing segment of the market.
Consumers want to rent newer RVs, and the most popular are Winnebagos, particular the Vista and Minnie Winnie models.

Challenges in the RV rental industry include:

Peer-to-peer rental platforms like Outdoorsy, which enable RV owners to rent out their vehicles, are gaining market share.
Insurance costs for RVs, particularly those used as rentals, are rising, cutting into profit margins for RV rental businesses.

Consumer spending

Average consumer spend – The average cost of a vacation in the US is $1,558 per person.(( https://www.bankrate.com/banking/cost-of-vacation/ ))
Potential customer base – According to the RV Industry Association, 72 million Americans plan to take an RV vacation in 2022.(( https://www.rvia.org/news-insights/72-million-americans-plan-go-rving-next-year ))
Class A RV $175 to $275 per night(( https://rvshare.com/rv/info-for-rv-rental-prices-average ))
Class B RV $100 to $200 per night
Class C RV$150 to $200 per night

How much does it cost to start an RV rental business?

Startup costs for an RV rental business range from $24,000 to $40,000 if you start with two RVs. Costs include the down payments on the RVs, a storage space, and a website.

How much can you earn from an RV rental business?

Prices for RV rental range from $100 to $275 per night depending on the class of the RV. These calculations will assume an average rate of $175. Your profit margin after costs of insurance, maintenance, and storage space rent should be about 60%.

In your first year or two, you may have two RVs that are each rented 200 days of the year, bringing in $70,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $42,000 in profit, assuming that 60% margin. At this point, you might add two more RVs and rent them 250 days a year. With annual revenue of $175,000, you’d make a fantastic profit of $105,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for an RV rental business. Your biggest challenges will be:

The startup costs of the RVs
Competing with RV sharing and RV rental businesses

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Step 2: refine your rv rental business concept.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting an RV rental business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research RV rental businesses in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a campervan rental company or an RV rental business that provides an RV park guide.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as class C motorhomes or luxury class A motorhomes.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away.

What? Determine your RV rental services

Your RV rental offerings should cater to a range of customer needs. Consider:

RV Types : Start with a diverse fleet that includes various RV classes (A, B, C) and specialized models like campervans or luxury motorhomes.
Additional Services : Offer value-added services such as RV delivery and pick-up, travel planning assistance, or pre-stocked amenities.

How much should you charge for RV rental?

Prices will depend on the types of RVs you rent and could be up to $275 per night. Even class B and C RVs can go up to $200 per night. After costs of maintenance and insurance, you should aim for a profit margin of about 60%.

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

To identify your target market for an RV rental business, focus on:

Demographics : Key groups include families, retirees, and young couples or groups of friends seeking adventure.
Travel Preferences : Target adventure enthusiasts, event attendees, and seasonal travelers.
Geography : Concentrate on areas with high tourism or near popular destinations like national parks.
Income Levels : Offer a range of RVs to cater to various budgets, from basic to luxury models.
Psychographics : Consider values and lifestyles, such as eco-conscious travelers.
Competitor Analysis : Identify any underserved markets by examining who competitors are targeting.

Where? Choose a location for your RV rental business

Choosing a location for your RV rental business involves considering factors that ensure accessibility, visibility, and convenience for your target market:

Proximity to Tourist Attractions : Situate near popular tourist destinations like national parks, beaches, or campgrounds.
Accessibility : Choose a location easily accessible from major highways or roads, facilitating easy pick-up and drop-off.
Visibility : Opt for a spot with good visibility to attract drive-by customers.
Local Demand : Assess the local demand for RV rentals. Areas with a thriving tourism industry are preferable.
Storage and Space : Ensure the location has ample space for storing and maintaining a fleet of RVs.
Zoning and Regulations : Check local zoning laws and regulations to ensure compliance for operating an RV rental business.
Security : Prioritize a secure location to protect your assets.

Step 3: Brainstorm an RV Rental Business Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better
Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
Including keywords, such as “RVs” or “RV rentals”, boosts SEO
Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Wanderlust RV Rentals” over “Luxury RV Rentals”
A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these.

Find a Domain

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

Executive Summary: Summarize the main points of your business plan, including your goals and the unique value your rental service offers.
Business Overview: Introduce your business, outlining the types of RVs you’ll offer and the geographical areas you plan to operate in.
Product and Services: Detail the RV rental services you’ll provide, such as the size and types of RVs, rental rates, and any additional services like delivery and setup.
Market Analysis: Analyze the demand for RV rentals in your target market, including tourist attractions and camping sites, and identify your potential customer base.
Competitive Analysis: Identify competitors in the RV rental industry, evaluate their rental fleets, pricing, and customer reviews, and explain how your business will stand out.
Sales and Marketing: Describe your strategies for attracting customers, such as online booking platforms, partnerships with travel agencies, and marketing campaigns.
Management Team: Highlight your qualifications and any team members’ experience in the RV rental industry, emphasizing your knowledge of maintenance, customer service, and safety protocols.
Operations Plan: Explain how your business will operate day-to-day, covering topics like RV maintenance, cleaning procedures, reservation management, and safety checks.
Financial Plan: Provide financial projections, including revenue estimates, operating costs, profit margins, and startup expenses, demonstrating the business’s financial feasibility.
Appendix: Include essential documents such as insurance certificates, maintenance records, rental agreements, and any necessary permits or licenses to establish credibility with customers and regulatory authorities.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to RV rental businesses.

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your RV rental business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.

Here are the main options:

Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding an RV rental business.

Step 8: Apply for Licenses/Permits

Starting an RV rental business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits.

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more.

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your RV rental business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Guesty , Wheelbase , or Sirvoy , to manage your bookings, rates, communication, and invoicing.

Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero .
If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

Social Media Engagement: Leverage platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase the adventure and freedom of RV travel; engage with your audience by sharing customer stories and travel tips.
Partnerships with Travel Bloggers: Collaborate with popular travel bloggers or influencers to create content featuring your RVs, reaching a wider audience and building credibility.
Local Event Sponsorship: Sponsor local events such as outdoor festivals, camping expos, or community gatherings to increase brand visibility and attract potential customers.
Referral Programs: Implement a referral program offering discounts or perks to existing customers who refer friends or family, encouraging word-of-mouth marketing.
SEO Optimization for Location-Based Searches: Ensure your online presence is optimized for local search engine queries, helping potential customers find your RV rental business when searching for rentals in your area.
Themed Promotions: Create themed promotions or discounts tied to holidays, seasonal trends, or popular travel destinations to generate interest and boost bookings during specific times.
Exclusive Packages and Add-ons: Differentiate your offerings by providing exclusive packages or add-ons, such as outdoor equipment, discounted campground partnerships, or guided tour options.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or specialized RV forums to build trust and credibility among potential renters.
Email Marketing Campaigns: Develop targeted email campaigns to keep previous customers informed about new offerings, promotions, and seasonal discounts, encouraging repeat business.
Fleet Visibility: Utilize high-traffic areas by strategically parking RVs with branded signage to maximize exposure and attract the attention of potential customers passing by.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your RV rental business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your RV rental business could be:

New, luxury RVs for the classiest of road trips
Sharp campervan rentals to hit the road for less
We have the perfect RV for your vacation budget

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running an RV rental business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in RVs for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections.

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in RVs. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for an RV rental business include:

RV Maintenance People – repair and maintain RVs
General Manager – scheduling, accounting
Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.

Step 13: Start Making Money!

RV rentals are booming, particularly as the pandemic winds down and people want to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. With 72 million people planning RV vacations in 2022, an RV rental business should have no shortage of customers. You could start your own RV rental business, build up a reputation and soon expand to become a national RV empire!

After reading this guide you’ve got the gist of the business side, so it’s time to hit the road with your successful RV rental business.

RV Rental Business FAQs

Yes, an RV business can be very profitable. You just need to make sure that your RVs are well-maintained to avoid issues and to make sure your customers have a great vacation.

Prices will depend on the types of RVs you rent and could be up to $275 per night for a class A RV. Even class B and C RVs can go up to $200 per night. Check market prices to make sure you’re competitive.

To differentiate your RV rental business from competitors, consider offering unique features or services such as specialized RV models, luxury amenities, flexible rental options, exceptional customer service, or value-added extras like camping gear or personalized trip planning assistance.

Develop a regular maintenance schedule for routine checks and address any repairs promptly. Establish relationships with reliable mechanics or maintenance facilities experienced in RV repairs.

Implement a thorough cleaning process between rentals, including disinfecting high-touch areas, laundering linens, and thoroughly cleaning kitchen and bathroom facilities. Regularly inspect and maintain safety features such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and tires.

Consider offering add-ons such as camping equipment rentals, Wi-Fi or entertainment packages, RV delivery and setup services, or customized trip planning assistance.

Starting an RV rental business on the side is possible, but it requires careful planning and management. Consider the time commitment required for managing reservations, maintenance, and customer service alongside other commitments.

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The Wandering RV

How to start an rv rental business & make your rv pay for itself.

Bill Widmer
Updated: June 14, 2023

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Starting an RV rental business is a great way to pay off your camper or even to turn into a full-time business that replaces your job! It just depends on how much work you want to put in.

Whether you want to rent your RV out in order to make the monthly payments to pay it off and save money, or you’re considering buying an entire fleet of RV rentals, this guide has all the tips and steps for you to start a successful RV rental business.

The guide is broken up in three parts:

Answers to common questions about starting an RV rental business
How to actually set up your RV rental business
Tips for growing your new RV rental business & keeping it profitable

Use the table of contents below to jump to the section that most interests you, or keep reading to learn everything you need to know about RV rental businesses!

How much money can you make renting out an rv, where/how do you rent your rv, what are the costs involved in an rv rental business, what kind of rv rentals do well, do you need to register as a business, do i need a special kind of rv insurance, step 1: get an rv, step 2: take pictures & videos, step 3: create your rv listing, step 4: start marketing, 1. form a legal entity, 2. register for taxes, 3. open a business bank account & credit card, 4. keep accurate accounting, 5. obtain required permits & licenses, 6. purchase business insurance, 1. create a beautiful listing, 2. get a booking software, 3. offer delivery services, 4. buy supplies in bulk, 5. use house furnishings, not “rv” parts, 6. maintain, maintain, maintain, 7. find a reliable mechanic, 8. learn to diy, 9. shop around for parts, 10. expand your rv fleet, final thoughts, before you start your own rv rental business.

Before you pull the trigger and list your RV for rent , you probably have a few questions about how this whole thing works. Here are a few common Q&A’s to help you out:

It’s possible to make anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per year as an RV renter!

Of course, how much you make RV renting depends a lot on the type of camper you own, where you live (if it’s a popular spot for sporting events or has great RV parks nearby), and how much work you put into perfecting your listing and rental experience.

Typically, camper vans, small pop-up campers, and vintage campers are the most popular and demanded types of RV rentals. So if you have one of those, you’re already ahead! But if not, that’s OK – there is a wide demand for all kinds of RVs including motorhomes, fifth wheels, and travel trailers.

Check out this RV rental listing calculator to get an estimate of how much you could make!

You can list your RV for rent on any peer-to-peer RV rental company . While there may be more, the big three that people are using right now are:

Each rental site has it’s pros and cons, but luckily, you can list your rig on all three at the same time to maximize bookings! Then, use software to manage them (more on that in the tips section at the end).

Every business has business expenses, and an RV rental business is no exception.

In addition to the cost of your camper, you also have other ongoing expenses, such as:

Vehicle maintenance costs: $500-$1,000 per year
Business start up costs (forming the company): $150-$500 one time
Recreational vehicle insurance: $800-$1,500 per year
Business insurance (general liability coverage): ~$500 per year
Personal liability insurance (option): $150-$300 per year
Supplies (toilet paper, soap, etc.): ~$30 per month
Cleaning costs: $50-$100 per cleaning
Rental fees: Usually ~20% of the total booking fee (so $20 out of every $100)
Interest fees (If you have a loan on your RV): Interest rates vary

This puts us at a grand total of $190-$263 per month, plus $150-$500 one time to set up your business, plus whatever you spend on cleaning costs (which vary depending on how often you rent out your rig). That’s also not including interest rates if you have an RV loan .

As far as small businesses go, these costs are pretty low. Plus, these are all things that you can write off on your taxes which will save you money at the end of the year!

Typically, camper vans, small pop-up campers , and vintage campers are the most popular and demanded types of RV rentals. However, all types of RVs have some demand, so no matter what kind of rig you have, you can do well renting it.

Yes – if you make more than $400 in a year, you’re legally required to register your business and pay taxes. At least, that’s how it is in the United States!

I share more about this in the “staying legal & organized” section.

Yes… sort of. While regular RV insurance will cover your camper, most RV insurance companies like Good Sam and Progressive will NOT cover you in the event of an incident while a renter is driving.

But don’t worry – instead of being sneaky and saying you were driving, you can opt instead to go with Roamly RV insurance . They are the only camper insurance company to officially cover RV rentals. They are also the only insurance company to cover custom van conversions!

* Note: While Roamly is one of the only companies that allow you to rent out your rig, you will still need insurance to cover you during the rental period. Luckily, Outdoorsy, RVShare, etc have rental insurance built into their platform (Roamly powers Outdoorsy’s insurance during the rental period). But if you rent directly to a friend or in a way that’s not through a platform like RVShare or Outdoorsy, you will still need insurance during the rental period.

Lastly, Roamly customers can save on their insurance premiums (up to 35% of their premiums) based on how much they rent out their rig on Outdoorsy with Roamly’s Rent and Save Discount!

How to Set Up Your RV Rental Business

Starting an RV rental business is a bit of a process, but we’ve simplified it into four easy steps for you to follow along with! By the end of this guide, you will have your listing up and running!

The steps are:

Get an RV (If you don’t already have one)
Take Pictures & Videos
Create Your RV Listing
Start Marketing Your Rental (Optional but recommended)

Let’s break it down.

If you’re not already an RV owner, buying a camper is your first step. As I mentioned in the Q&A section, the most popular types of RV rentals are campervans and vintage campers. So, if profit is your goal, this is the best RV class to buy.

It’s best to look for a gently used (<5 years old) camper and, if possible, pay for it in cash. You don’t want interest fees eating up your profits!

Here are some places to look for a used RV:

RV section of Auto Trader
Classifieds

Just be sure to thoroughly inspect the RV to make sure it’s in good mechanical order and is free of any water leaks or damages! Here are some used RV inspection tips from Love Your RV.

After you buy your RV, you need to think about getting proper RV insurance . Unfortunately, the only RV insurance provider that is set up to cover RV renters is Roamly . You may encounter issues if you have any other kind of camper insurance, so be wary of the fine print!

Once you’ve purchased and cleaned up your camper, the next most important step is taking high-quality pictures and videos of your rig. The better your pictures, the higher your chance of keeping your booking schedule full!

Here are some tips for getting the best pictures possible :

Take pictures during golden hour or during a slightly overcast day for the best lighting.
Use lighting indoors to improve indoor photos
Take pictures of different angles to best show off the living space
Get a really good picture of your rig with a drool-worthy background for the cover photo
Consider hiring a photographer if you just can’t get good pictures

Here are some examples of great RV photos:

The more glamorous and dreamy you can make your photos, the better! Be sure to get some in-action lifestyle shots showing off what your customers could experience when they rent from you.

Pictures in hand (or in harddrive, I guess), it’s time to create your RV rental listing!

As for where you list your RV, most RV owners choose Outdoorsy . They have the largest selection and best insurance of all the RV rental companies . That said, you can list on multiple sites for the best chance at keeping your booking schedule full!

Here are three companies you can create an RV rental listing on (click the company name to be taken to the listing page; opens in a new tab):

Outdoorsy ( Read Our Review )
RVezy ( Read Our Review )
RVshare ( Read Our Review )

We also wrote a guide comparing Outdoorsy and RVshare to help you make your decision of where to list your RV rental!

When making your listing, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Keep your title short and interesting. The best RV rental listings are those with a great, eye-catching title. Which of these are you most likely to click on?

I personally gravitate towards the “Ford Transit Luxury Experience” and “Hippy Digs Camper Van 2019” – that latter of which has 41 5-star reviews!

If we look at their listing , we can see some RV rental secrets:

What a good rv rental listing looks like

Specifically, she has a LOT of fairly high-quality photos. They aren’t super high-resolution, but they’re at least taken in good lighting and show a lot of different angles and lifestyle shots.

She also has a great photo of herself with good lighting and a big smile, showing she’s friendly and approachable. Even a detail as small as your profile picture is important!

Don’t skimp on the description. Once someone clicks on your listing, the next thing they see is the description of your rig. So having a friendly, detailed description is important!

If we look at Mylee’s description from the listing above, you can see she has a fun description signaling it can be driven long distances, it’s a great lifestyle, and detailing what the van comes with and that it was hand-made by them.

If you’re not a great writer, it can be a good investment to hire a copywriter to create the listing for you. You can often find them at a fairly affordable price on sites like FreeUp and Fiverr .

Many RV owners stop at step three and cross their fingers. While this can work, it’s a better idea to start sharing your new business with your friends and family!

It’s important to get some initial 5-star reviews , so putting in a little extra effort to get your first few renters will go a long way to creating a business with passive income.

Sharing your listing on social media and emailing your colleagues about it can help kickstart your RV rental business and bring in renters!

6 Steps for Staying Legal & Organized

If you’re serious about renting RVs as a legitimate business, there are some steps you need to follow to make sure you don’t get in trouble by the IRS.

The first thing you need to do once you start making money from your business is choosing a business name and forming a legal entity. If you make anything over $400 , you have to register as a business and start paying taxes.

It’s actually pretty easy to do this, though! Just set up an LLC or a corportation with LegalZoom . They will help you see if your business name is taken and set up your business.

If you don’t mind doing some research and filling out some paperwork, you can also do it yourself. Just do a Google search on how to do it in your state.

Check out Outdoorsy’s guide to choosing a business structure for more info.

In addition to forming a legal entity, you need to register to file taxes. Again, Google how to do this in your state. LegalZoom does have the option to register for you, if you go that route.

In order to keep your business and personal taxes separate, you should also open a business bank account and a business credit card. Expenses like hiring a cleaner, making repairs, marketing, and more can all be written off on your taxes!

Note that I am not a legal professional and this is not legal tax advice. It’s always best to consult a certified accountant for tax advice.

Whether you use a spreadsheet or an accounting software like Quickbooks, you’re going to need to keep accurate accounting. Like I said before, you can write a lot of things off, so proper accounting will help you save on taxes AND keep you legal!

Check out the SBA’s guide to small business accounting for more help.

Depending on the state you’re operating out of, your RV rental business may need special permits and licenses. Refer to the SBA’s guide to see if you need them and learn how to acquire them.

In addition to your RV insurance, your RV rental business will need business insurance. It’s a good idea to get General Liability insurance at the very least. This will cover you in most general situations and gives you a base layer of protection should you get into a legal battle.

More Tips for Running a Profitable RV Rental Business

Now that your RV business is up and running, here are some extra tips to help your business stand out among the competition and keep your profits high!

I’ve said it several times already, but here it is again: You need a stand-out title, description, photos, a video, and even a profile picture! The more you can do to improve your listing, the more renters you will get.

It’s worth hiring a photographer to help you with the photos, and even hiring a copywriter to help you with the title and description, if you’re not great at doing those things yourself. It will make all the difference in your rental business!

If you list your RV for rent on multiple RV rental websites (like Outdoorsy , RVezy , and RVshare ), one problem you may run into is double bookings – that’s where two different people book your rig on the same day on different platforms.

To avoid the headache of blocking out the dates across all three rental websites every time someone books, and to avoid upset customers when you inevitably have to cancel their booking, a booking software can help you manage your bookings across all the sites easily!

Some options include Wheelbase and Sirvoy .

No, I don’t mean giving your clients pizzas to their door (although that might be a cool marketing tactic!). By delivery, I mean delivering the camper right to the campground they are staying at.

If you have a big travel trailer or fifth wheel, this might be a requirement anyway! But even if you don’t, delivering your rig can be helpful and avoid extra risk of the client driving it themselves. It’s not a requirement, but it can help.

Things like toilet paper, paper towels, and soap in your rental all make it a stand-out experience. But if you’re buying these things in regular packages or, worse yet, travel sizes, it’s going to get expensive fast.

Costco is a wonderful thing! Consider getting a membership and buying these supplies in bulk.

Related Reading: Can you rent an RV from Costco?

When shopping for parts and supplies for your RV , you will come across a lot of RV-specific things, like faucets, showerheads, and even recliners .

However, most of those RV specific things are more expensive and no better than their regular household counterparts! So instead of paying more for the same thing, just get regular household stuff.

Except toilet paper. It’s important to have RV-specific toilet paper to avoid ruining your black tank! Always use septic-safe toilet paper.

Maintenance on your rig is crucial to keep it running and profitable. This means oil changes, checking the battery, cleaning everything properly, making sure the seals are leak-free, and more.

Here’s a quick video from RV with Tito on how to do some basic preventative maintenance work on your RV:

RV mechanics can be expensive and backlogged for work. Try to find someone you can rely on and hire them outside of where they work so you can get a better price and faster service.

Making minor repairs and maintenance yourself saves a lot of time and money. RV mechanics can charge $100-$200+ per hour, even to do the most simple tasks. Always look to see if you can do something yourself on your rig before you look to hire that mechanic!

However, unless you’re a trained technician, it’s probably best to leave the electrical and gas systems to the professionals.

RV parts from camper stores can be expensive. Always shop around for RV parts to get the best deal and avoid over-paying. Most RV shops will charge double what you’d pay retail for simple things like water pumps and LP gas detectors.

Check out this guide to finding used RV parts at salvage yards for more money-saving tips!

Finally, if you want to turn this into a true RV rental business rather than a side hobby, expanding your fleet of RVs means you can make more money and even start hiring people to help you run everything!

If you are going to expand your fleet, though, keep in mind that it’s a good idea to have multiple of the same type of rig. This makes maintenance, cleaning, and repairs much easier because you know exactly what needs to be done and how to do it, rather than needing to learn multiple rigs.

Additionally, keep in mind that your location and the type of camper you buy will have a big effect on whether you can keep your rigs booked all the time. If you live in the middle of nowhere where people aren’t interested in going, or if you have a type of camper no one is interested in, you’re going to struggle.

In general, camper vans , small class B RVs , and vintage campers are all going to perform better than travel trailers or giant motorhomes. Small pop up campers also tend to do well, since they can be towed by nearly any vehicle.

Going from an RV owner to an RV rental business owner is a big leap. However, doing so means you get to enjoy being a small business owner and paying off your camper faster.

Better yet, your camper will pay YOU to own it!

This is a great business opportunity for the right person, and as long as you are careful about maintaining your rig and giving it the time it needs to grow, this could be a great small business for you.

Ready to get started? Use the links below to list your RV for rent on all the major RV rental platforms:

List on Outdoorsy
List on RVezy
List on RVshare

RV Extended Warranties in 2024 — Are they worth it? Everything you need to know

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Renting Out Their RV Went From Side Hustle to Full-On Business That's Brought in $25,000 in One Month. Here's How. Four owners explain how their side hustles took off when the RV rental business started booming.

By Jessica Thomas • May 24, 2021

The lure of the great American road trip has never been stronger than in the past year. Wide open roads, thousands of acres of national parks to explore — what more could you ask for from a pandemic-era vacation?

When hordes of people suddenly decided they wanted to road trip last summer, demand for the greatest road trip vehicle of all — the RV — skyrocketed. But not everyone wants to actually own an RV, so platforms for renting them were suddenly the hottest business in town.

A recent owners report from peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace RVshare found that 75% of the owners on its platform reported making more money in 2020 than 2019, and 50% of those owners were able to fully cover the cost of their RV with rental income. The average owner on RVshare brings in $16,000 a year, and more people are jumping on the bandwagon every day: 20% of the owners on RVshare joined in 2020, and 14% purchased an RV in 2020 for the express purpose of renting it out.

Outdoorsy , another peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, hit $1 billion in revenue last year, and it saw a 400% increase in bookings on some holiday weekends in 2020. For some of the owners on its platform, what started as a side hustle has enabled them to quit their full-time job or purchase more RVs to rent out. Below, read how four RV owners from across the U.S. who use Outdoorsy have turned a pandemic into a serious business opportunity.

Answers have been edited and condensed.

Brooke and Rob Lykins

Torrance, California

When did you buy your first RV?

We bought our first RV in 2017. Rob has always looked for adventure and thought an RV road trip would be fun. Brooke heard "RV" and thought dingy, old, brown, dirty. But after conquering a home addition and remodel together, we decided we could make a dingy RV just as beautiful to travel in. Thus, a new adventure began.

When did you start thinking about renting it out?

We had made this old RV so pretty and fun that friends and neighbors asked if they could rent it from us. Rob, being in the insurance industry, was not interested in this without finding a service that could provide short-term rental insurance for it. Brooke kept on bringing up the opportunity to make a little extra money.

When did you realize you could make serious money doing this?

Within a week of listing our RV, we got a rental. Then we got rentals continuously. We were making a consistent $2,500-plus a month on a 25-year-old RV that we had updated and owned free and clear. For us, this meant not going deeper into the debt hole every month and starting to keep our heads above water. It was a big deal. We bought two more newer RVs and renovated them.

After fees, how much money are you bringing in per month? Was it enough to enable you to quit your full-time job, or do you plan on keeping this as a side hustle permanently?

Our business has grown and changed a lot over the past year. In the last few months our income has seemed a little unbelievable. In the last 30 days we've made nearly $25,000 and about $15,000 the month before that. Neither of us have quit our regular jobs yet. We plan to keep this and grow it and see what happens. We currently have five RVs on the platform and before summer will have two more, at least.

Ryan Goodman

Wimberley, Texas

We bought our first RV in December of 2017. It was a 2018 Palomino Puma 32RBFQ. We bought that RV for the purpose of living in it after selling our house in Smithville, Texas. We were at a point in our lives where we needed to decrease our expenses, and our house was our biggest expense. That combined with the realization that we only used half the house, if that, and we liked the idea of moving to a minimalist lifestyle.

Then you bought another RV and started renting it out. When did you realize you could make serious money doing this?

I realized we could make some serious money in May 2020 when we had every weekend booked, netting us nearly $1,000. After a few months, we started wondering how we were going to acquire more RVs. More RVs equals more money.

We got the idea to rent out other people's RVs on their behalf — RV rental consignment. Simply put, we'll take possession, insure and manage the private owner's RV as a rental, and in return, we split the nightly rental amount 50/50. It took a while to get off the ground, and I had a few stumbles in building up my credibility proving this concept for us. Since September of 2020, we've acquired seven consignments that we rent out through our LLC, acquired a commercial auto policy, created a website and have completed nearly 60 rentals, totaling more than 300 nights rented.

This has given me the opportunity to build a business, something I've always wanted to do, create my own hours, and spend literally every day with my son.

Any fun customer stories?

We rented to a man named Cayce Rivers and his wife. They spent eight nights in Big Bend for her birthday. Cayce is a local CEO of a meadery called Meridian Hive here in Austin. We ended up connecting after their rental and stayed in contact for a while. I was at the start of actually running an LLC, and I needed some guidance. Cayce was kind enough to mentor me, and the connection made was incredible for me.

What's a lesson you've learned along the way that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

This isn't really something I learned renting RVs, but my previous job in sales taught me the key to sales is to genuinely, wholeheartedly want the best for your customer, even if that isn't you. When you can look at a potential customer and advise them that you are not the best option or fit for what they are looking for, genuinely caring about their well-being instead of a sale, then you will feel the happiness that comes with helping someone.

Alex Lindamood

Washington, D.C.

I bought my first RV in June 2020. I like the RV lifestyle in that RVs are quite versatile. They can be used for road trips, camping trips, a picnic day at the park, tailgating, hiking trips — so many options.

When did you decide to rent it out?

I first decided that I would start an RV business in September 2019. I was planning my own RV trip, and I realized that the numbers looked very good as a side business were I to take that venture. It has changed my life. I was able to exit my prior career field — I spent 16 years in hotel management and was ready for a change. This made it possible.

How much time does it take per week to run this business?

I have several vehicles in my fleet, but right now I am spending about 20 hours per week on it. As noted, I worked in hotel management my whole career — I am taking care of the same demographic and same customer types I've dealt with throughout my career — it's just that they are renting an RV rather than a hotel room in this case.

What's something you'd tell other RV owners who are interested in doing this?

I caught on pretty quickly with my prior career background, but I will tell you that almost every RV renter is ecstatic about the idea of an RV vacation — but they aren't confident in it. If you want to be successful as an RV owner, you have to be a "coach" with the renter. Help them be 100% confident that they can do this. They need help understanding how to do everything before they go. This is new to them.

Paresh Patel

Austin, Texas

Why did you buy your RV?

I'm cheap! The prospect of committing to another year of expensive Austin rent pushed me towards the idea of getting an RV, getting some land, building a tiny home while living in the RV and pursuing other dreams (furniture-making) somewhere within an hour of Austin.

Why did you decide to rent it out?

My father passed away three months later, so the pursuit of these dreams got put on hold. I went back to domesticated life — I leased an apartment in central Austin and had to figure out what to do with this RV that I had just bought. So I did some searching and found out about the main RV sharing platforms.

What's the time commitment like?

The amount of time really depends on the number of turnovers that occur. I have a small fleet of four vehicles and run this operation solo. Depending on how busy things are, it can be as little as 10 hours a week to as much as 60 hours a week. Having never managed rentals before, I was naively optimistic about how much time things can take. Things often do take longer than I expect as with everything in life, but you develop SOPs and get more efficient with time.

I had an interesting experience helping an awesome couple from New Jersey drive their newly adopted son from Port Aransas back home. This was within the past year, during the pandemic, so this mode of transportation was a good option. I drove from Austin to Port Aransas to deliver the RV to the couple, found my way back to Austin, flew to New Jersey (where I'm originally from and where my mom still lives), picked up the RV, stuffed the RV with my mom's cooking, and then drove back to Austin, where I ate well for about a month before going back to a diet of processed food.

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RV Ownership

Launching Your Successful RV Rental Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking for an easy entrance into entrepreneurship (or your next big business venture), an RV rental business may be just the ticket.

Not only is an RV business easy to start up– provided you have the capital for at least one (preferably a few) pre-owned RVs – but it’s a relatively easy business to scale.

And, not to mention, an RV rental business is a relatively passive source of income , with most of the business consisting of marketing and coordinating the renting itself.

Once your RV rental business is fully established, the business structure allows you to sit back and collect rental payments every time a customer rents one of your RVs.

Learn more about the benefits of RV renting here: Is Renting out Your RV Worth It? What You Should Know | Neighbor Blog .

So, if starting an RV rental business sounds like it could be your next investment, read on to find out everything you need to know to start and run an RV rental business.

How to Start an RV Rental Business

If you’ve started businesses before, you’ll recognize some of the steps below.

However, there are several things you’ll need to do that are unique to launching an RV rental business.

Make sure to pay special attention to these points (like our tips in #3) to make the most of your initial investment and get started off right.

Here’s how to start an RV rental business:

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Step #1: Create Your RV Rental Business Plan

First, let’s start with your business plan.

The major milestones in starting an RV rental business include the following:

Acquiring your RVs
RV maintenance
Communications

If you know how to acquire RVs in a cost-effective way, maintain them long-term, market your listings, and communicate with customers– you’re good to go.

Within your business plan, make sure to include:

How you’re going to acquire your RVs (more on that next)
Your process for preparing those RVs for rent
Your process for maintaining those RVs, specifically a checklist of items to review before and after each rental, as well as annual inspections and key service dates
Marketing channels, as well as any specific notes regarding strategy
Brand positioning , including your target market and ideal customer persona
And capital requirements , both initial startup capital needed as well as estimated recurring expenses and where that capital is coming from

You likely don’t have all of that information now, and that’s alright. That’s where this guide comes in.

Jot each of the above sections down and fill in what you can as you read through this guide. Once you’re done reading, complete any necessary market research you still have to do to fill in the areas only you can complete.

Step #2: Form Your RV Rental Business and Set Up Accounts

Next, let’s officially form your RV rental business and set up all your necessary accounts so that you can operate your business.

This part can be fun, but it can also be a bit of a drag (especially if you’ve started other businesses before). So, let’s roll through it quickly.

Here’s a rundown of all the important to-dos you’ll need to take care of before your business is officially up and running.

Register your business to get your tax ID
Obtain any necessary state and local business licenses and permits (every state is a little different, so check with your state and local municipality to find out what is required)
Purchase liability insurance for your business as well as insurance for each vehicle
Open a business bank account (you’ll use this later to purchase your RVs)
Set up your account software
Design and launch your website

Feel free to lump your website in with other marketing tasks, as you’ll likely take care of it at the same time. However, I’ve included it here because it’s more of a setup task.

Your website won’t attract any customers on its own, and it’s important to understand that.

Many start a new business thinking that once they launch their website, they’re in business, but that’s just the beginning.

With that said, once you have all of this completed, you’re now an RV rental business owner.

However, an RV rental business isn’t officially up and running until you get your first customer– and you do that by marketing (which we’ll talk about in #5).

Save up to $1,200/year on RV storage & parking

Step #3: acquire your rvs.

Now for the most fun order of business: purchasing your RV(s).

How many you purchase is completely up to you. You can technically start an RV rental business with a single RV rental, but if you’re serious about launching a full-scale RV rental business, then you should purchase at least three to five to start.

That includes the main RV sizes , also known as “ motorhome classes ” (Which appear below in order of size– yes, it is A, then C, then B):

Class A : The RV behemoths
Class C : Standard-sized RVs, what you’ve seen in most family road trip-themed movies
Class B : Smaller van-life-esque RVs

In addition to those, it would be smart to invest in at least one travel trailer and pop-up camper as well.

Travel trailers are smaller and include a trailer hitch (as the name implies) so that they can be hooked up to any vehicle and taken long-distance.

A pop-up camper is similar in that it’s a small camper addition, but think of it more as a travel trailer that expands (“pops”) out to include much more space than it initially seemed.

Pop-up campers have become popular in recent years, so you may be missing out by not including one in your inventory.

No matter what you can start with for now is fine. Just keep in mind that the sooner you can offer a greater variety of RVs and trailers, the fewer customers you’ll have to turn away (Note: Some RV renters will be looking for a specific size, while others will be more flexible).

With that said, a few quick notes on purchasing your first RVs:

Should You Purchase Pre-Owned?

If you’re familiar with property investing, think of purchasing RV rentals in the same way: purchase used and at the biggest discount you can get.

Consumers often purchase RVs, only to find that they don’t use their recreational vehicle often enough to justify the ownership costs , so they sell at a discount just to recoup their cost. Because of this, you can find incredible deals on practically unused RVs.

In many cases, an avid RV user will typically only take their RV on one trip per year for a few weeks during summer, meaning a one or two-year-old RV often won’t have many miles or wear-and-tear on it.

With this in mind, it’s easy to score great deals on pre-owned RVs, slashing your initial investment cost.

Learn more about what to look for when buying a used RV: What to Look For When Buying a Used RV .

Is It Better to Buy or Finance an RV?

To pair with the advice to purchase pre-owned above, paying in cash is generally advised when purchasing an RV.

Financing is an option, but you’ll be spending far more money over the life of the RV due to interest, which will really eat into your profits.

As much as you can keep those costs down– by purchasing cash – the better. If you can pair that with purchasing pre-owned, you’ll cut an enormous amount of your initial investment down, allowing you to reach profitability faster.

Step #4: Prepare Your RVs for Renting

Now that you have your RVs, it’s time to prepare them for business.

This includes two main tasks:

Preventative maintenance and a full inspection
And cleaning + furnishing

Let’s break each down individually:

Maintenance + Inspection

The very first thing you’ll want to do is enlist a quality mechanic to complete a comprehensive vehicle inspection of each RV you plan to purchase.

Depending on where you purchased your RV(s), you’ll want to have the inspection conducted pre-purchase.

This is ideal as it ensures you don’t purchase a pre-owned RV with unlisted damages. As a best practice, always request a CarFax report before purchasing, and make sure to take the RV(s) for a test drive.

When you hire a professional to conduct an inspection and perform necessary repairs, you should receive a full list of all items that need to be taken care of later. That way, you stay on top of ongoing maintenance.

One last note : Getting handy with certain basic maintenance tasks can really help reduce your vehicle maintenance costs over time. Changing out lights, doing an oil change, and replacing tires are all things you may opt to do on your own to further cut costs.

Cleaning + Furnishing

Once inspection and maintenance are complete, it’s time to fix up your RV so that you can offer the best experience possible for your renters.

This involves cleaning the entire vehicle inside and out as well as replacing any minor parts with wear-and-tear throughout the vehicle, such as faucet heads, cushion covers, and curtains.

Tip: Don’t purchase RV-specific furnishings, as they’re often sold as specialty items and overpriced. Standard home furnishings used in traditional homes (that aren’t on wheels) are typically compatible with RVs and typically come with a much lower price tag.

Once that is complete, you’ll want to supply your RVs with necessary items such as travel-sized soaps, paper towels, and shampoo. Make sure to keep these items stocked in a centralized location. Pro tip: Only stock up on these toiletries when the RV has officially been rented. Temperature changes may cause some of the items to spoil or burst from heat if left in the RV for long periods of time.

Step #5: List and Market Your RVs for Rent

Now that your business and RVs are all ready to go, the only thing left to do is list them on major rental sites and start marketing.

How you market will mostly depend on your budget. But first things first, you’ll need to get your website up and running.

If you have a low budget, social media and SEO are good low-cost investments to generate rentals. If you have a slightly higher budget, you could hire a contractor to create content for you or post paid ads.

If you have a higher budget, the fastest way to generate rentals is definitely ads. If you’re looking for a quick return on your investment and have the capital for it, investing in Facebook and Google Ads is a good place to start.

Tips for Jumpstart Your RV Rental Advertising

The best way to figure out how to advertise your brand on social is to create a new Facebook account.

Once your account is live, you’ll want to follow a few big RV rental communities (try to keep it at 3 max, you don’t want FB to flag you for spam and temporarily suspend your account)

By following RV rental communities, you’ll send the right signals to Facebook and ensure your business is filed in the “RV rental” bucket. That way, when RV rental companies create ads, you’ll be targeted. But why would I want to see competitor ads?

Imitation isn’t only the sincerest form of flattery. It’s a great marketing tool to leverage. After studying successful ads, you can work to replicate that success.

Another option is to use Facebook Ads Library , which allows you to search for a particular type of ad and view the ads themselves. Just make sure the ads you’re viewing are currently running so that you know they’re more likely to be profitable.

It will then be up to you to iterate and find what works best from there, but that will serve as a great starting point.

Start Your RV Rental Business Right

Ready to start your own RV rental business?

An RV rental business can be highly profitable–especially when compared to many other inventory-based businesses. With an RV rental business, you can money from that one piece of inventory for years (and even sell it once it’s time to replace the RV with something newer, recouping even more of your original cost).

Just make sure to create a detailed business plan and clarify your target market before investing, as we spoke about earlier.

One final thing you’ll need to figure out (especially if you plan to operate from home) is: where you plan to store your RVs. There are several options, from commercial storage to large-sized self-storage units (typically 10’ x 30’ or 10’ x 40’). You can even find outdoor RV storage for large fleets of rental vehicles.

Which you choose is up to you. Just make sure you pick something that offers convenient access so you can grab whichever RV you need fast and at a decent price.

Want to make finding RV storage simple and easy?

Check out Neighbor’s self-storage marketplace , where you can find all of the above storage options from one convenient place, compare choices, and get the storage you need quickly.

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Published on Aug 10, 2023

From dream to reality: How to start your own RV rental business

14 min read

The recreational vehicle (RV) rental market has grown considerably in recent years. COVID-19, remote working culture, and social media have made the holidays on wheels more appealing. However, that's just one part of the picture.

RV rentals allow people to explore and adventure in the outdoors. The sightseeing, nature, and independence mix is perfect for holidaymakers looking for a more unique, off-the-beaten-path experience.

The freedom and versatility that RV rentals offer is unparalleled. However, a well-serviced, modern campervan is expensive for most people. Starting an RV rental business means you can make these special holidays accessible to everyone.

The availability of fuel-efficient vehicles means that campervan vacations are cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to other holidays. Rental models also meet the growing trend toward sharing goods that aren't needed daily. RV rentals could be the way to go if you want to start a business in the travel and tourism industry that brings people joy while offering a more eco-friendly option for their holiday trips.

The global RV rental business market is growing. Worth around $800m in 2021, the RV rental market is projected to surpass well over $1bn dollars over the next few years, thanks to a compound annual growth rate of 7.4%. With nightly rental rates of around $200 or more per campervan, this can be a lucrative business when done right.

Let's look at the essential steps required to start a successful RV rental business.

Create an RV rental business plan

Running a profitable RV rental business starts with a solid plan. You need to understand your market, your competitors, and the overall finances of the niche.

Starting an RV rental business requires a significant investment. A business plan is essential if you want to raise capital or for your business. So make it as deep and well-researched as possible.

Here are some critical parts of an RV rental business plan that you must include.

Market research and competitor analysis

Before you start an RV rental business, you need to do a lot of research. So explore the market and your competitors, and think about seasonality.

Identify your target audience

RV owners and renters have roughly similar demographics. A recent comprehensive study by the RV Industry Association shares some incredible insights into the typical target market for RV rentals.

Here are a few stand-out statistics from the report that can help you identify your target audience.

RV ownership has increased by 60% over the last 20 years

RV owners and renters are split evenly between those over and under 55s

Remote workers are increasingly taking "hush trips," i.e., unauthorized working holidays

Millennials are the most significant growth market

RV deliveries are becoming increasingly popular

Other things to consider are your location. If you live within driving distance of holiday attractions or hotspots, you can target travelers to those areas.

Perform a competitor analysis

Competitor analysis is an excellent source of information. Things that you want to find out include:

What are your competitor's rental fees?

What services do they offer?

How many campervans do they have?

What do they do well, and where are they failing?

What areas do they service?

What are their pickup and collection policies?

Do they deliver RVs?

The answers to all these questions can help you spot underserved market segments and opportunities. Some of your rivals will be big faceless corporations. Others will be RV owners who want to earn money from their RVs. On the other hand, you should aim to find areas where you can offer better value, vehicles, or services to attract customers.

Evaluate seasonality

RV rental businesses are heavily affected by seasonality. Depending on your location, the holiday season could be just a few months long. So, that's something you need to work into your plan.

If you buy a fleet of RVs, you must pay for them each month. So ensure that you can collect enough rent during the high season to come out ahead.

Business planning

An RV rental business requires a significant initial investment. The rise in demand during COVID-19 saw motorhome prices shoot up. While starting an RV rental business is more expensive than in the past, the high costs have also significantly bolstered the need for a rental market.

Here are a few things to consider during the business planning stage.

Define your value proposition

How will your RV business stand out? That's the big question you need to ask. If there are a lot of RV rental companies in your area, you need to find a way to get an edge.

While competing on price is an excellent way to win new customers, high costs and business expenses will cut your profits. So consider offering high-quality rentals, more convenience with pickups and drop-offs, or next-level service.

Think about your target audience and what they want. Understand their needs and communicate how your RV rental business can accommodate these desires and more!

Describe your business model

You need a concrete financial plan to raise money for your camper van rental business. So get your business model and pricing strategy down on paper so you and your potential investors understand precisely how you'll generate money.

RV rental income will make up the bulk of your revenue. But you should explore other areas where you can earn money. For starters, you can offer extras and upgrades that people might need during their vacation. That could be something as simple as selling coffee and drinking water or offering extra equipment to make life on the road more fun.

Project your finances

Financial planning is a crucial stage of starting an RV rental business. You need to find an answer to the question, "Is an RV rental business profitable?"

The good news is that you can charge around $200 or more per night for an RV rental. Motor Biscuit suggests the average monthly payment for RV financing is between $225 to $650 monthly . Crunching those numbers shows that renting RVs can be very profitable, especially if your inventory is constantly used during the high season.

However, before you start working out how soon you can retire, you must consider the expenses that can eat into those profit margins. Let's take a look.

Startup costs:

Downpayment for your RV fleet

Rental facility

Permits and licenses

Accounting and legal advice

Business and admin tools

Ongoing expenses:

Maintenance

Credit card fees

So, while rental fees have a solid gross margin, there are plenty of business expenses to consider. Experts suggest you target around 60% profit margin on your rentals.

Create a marketing plan

Once you have your costs and business model down, it's time to think about how to reach your target market. Consider both online and offline channels. Content marketing and SEO can turn your website into a well-oiled booking engine, but don't ignore the power of social media platforms. PPC ads are a cost-effective way to get instant results.

Ensure your business plan has a solid go-to-market strategy . It's not something you can figure out on the hoof.

Establish a legal entity for your RV rental business

To start your own RV rental business, you must do things by the book. Here are the major things you'll need to take care of to ensure your business is legal and above board.

Choose a name for your business

Coming up with a business name is an exciting time. Pick something catchy and memorable that makes it clear what business you are in. Check your desired name against local business registries, social media accounts, and websites. You don't want any confusion.

Form a business entity

You have a few options when deciding on a legal structure for your business. Pick carefully because each kind has tax and legal implications.

Sole Proprietorship: This business entity can be set up with just a social security number (SSN). However, there are two major downsides to consider. Firstly, you'll need to pay tax on your business and personal earnings. Secondly, you're liable for any debts or damages which could affect your personal assets.

Partnership: A partnership has many similarities to a sole proprietorship. However, it's the business structure to use when you have a business partnership. But choose carefully because you'll be liable for your business partner's actions and decisions.

LLC (Limited Liability Company): An LLC is a good structure for an RV rental business because it allows for pass-through taxation while limiting your liabilities in the event of bankruptcy or legal action.

Before you choose your business structure, speak to a legal professional to get a recommendation that suits your needs. Rules vary from country to country, so ensure you get some advice or, at minimum, do some research.

Register for taxes

You'll need to pay taxes on your earnings. However, the exact process depends on the country you are operating in. If you're in the US, you must apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) before registering for state and federal taxes.

Your local government websites should offer you all the information you need about taxes in your region.

Set up a business bank account

Setting up a business bank account is an essential step. There are several benefits to consider. For starters, if you want the liability protections afforded by an LLC, you need a business account. Furthermore, it's a bad idea to commingle personal and business funds.

Finally, setting up a separate account for your RV company means you can build credit, get a business credit card, and avail of loans. This can help with cash flow, which is crucial for small businesses of any kind.

In the US, you can set up a business bank account with an EIN. Check your local requirements to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Legal and regulatory considerations

Starting an RV rental business requires more than just registering your business. There are also legal and insurance matters that you need to take care of. Failure to do so could result in fines or business closure, so don't take this step lightly.

Small businesses need to apply for a variety of permits and licenses. Requirements vary depending on where you do business. So ensure you check government websites to ensure you comply with local regulations.

Insurance coverage

You'll need business insurance to protect your inventory and employees. However, you'll also need RV Insurance to cover your vehicles while they are being rented.

Some of the insurance policies that you'll need are:

Property insurance for your RV rental premises

Business property insurance for your RVs and equipment

Commercial auto insurance for your company vehicles

RV breakdown insurance

Professional liability insurance

Shop around to get the best packages and ensure you get advice from a professional.

Rental contract and waiver policies

An RV rental firm needs rock-solid contracts to protect your inventory and business. Accidents happen on the road, and you can't be liable for your renter's actions.

So get the advice of a legal professional and ensure you are protected in the event of damages or loss. What's more, you must also build in protection for your inventory. You are renting out goods that can cost more than six figures, so make sure you have policies that guarantee they return to you within the specified time frame.

You'll also need to ensure that any damages are charged to your customers. This includes windscreen damage, punctures, dents, and scapes. So draw up a contract that protects your RV.

Inventory management

RV rentals involve some logistics. While customers can sign rental agreements digitally, you'll need to ensure you collect documents, set up insurance, and give out and collect the keys.

Here are a few things you need to consider.

Sourcing RVs and equipment

Buying an RV fleet is expensive. While you could buy used vehicles, RV renters are increasingly looking for fresh campervans. Additionally, having a fleet that is under warranty means you're protected from mechanical issues.

Buying in bulk can get you a better price. But if you're starting, it might be best to start with just a few RVs while you get into the groove.

Tips for maintaining and organizing inventory

Rental inventory management software is crucial. You can also connect these programs to your website, allowing potential customers to see availability and book online.

You need a solid process for checking vehicles in and out. Ensuring your RV's are roadworthy is essential. Any negligence will destroy your business and your reputation.

RV shops are expensive. So, if you're mechanically minded, you can save a lot of money on maintenance and repairs. Otherwise, buying new and reliable models can keep maintenance costs down.

Marketing and customer acquisition

Your dreams of starting an RV rental business can only come true with good marketing and advertising. Here are some helpful tips.

Identifying your target market

RV renters come from lots of different backgrounds. But reaching all of them is a challenge. Your best bet is to figure out who you want to target. For example, families, RV renters with pets, adventurers, etc. Catering to these cohorts will require distinct messaging.

Another thing to consider is how the campervan will be used. Some renters will want to drive thousands of miles over rough terrain and camp under the stars. Others will want to drive to a campsite and stay there for their RV vacation. The wear-and-tear implications are totally different.

So figure out who you want to serve and where they congregate.

Build a memorable brand for your business

Branding is essential in the RV rental business. But you need to strike the right tone. Appealing to your client's sense of adventure is a good start. However, most holidaymakers want to rent from a dependable and trustworthy business.

All this comes downstream from knowing your target audience. Understand their needs, and project them with your brand.

Effective marketing strategies for an RV rental business

Millennials represent a significant source of growth in the RV rental world. Digital marketing is the best way to connect with this demographic. So consider a mix of short and long-term strategies.

A content marketing strategy that produces updated and exciting information on campervan holiday routes can help draw long-term traffic to your website. When paired with SEO, this can be a great way to bring a steady stream of customers.

However, if you're just starting out, digital ads on Meta or Google can help you connect with your audience. And don't forget about using a solid local SEO strategy , either.

Ensure you have social media accounts too. Post regularly, be helpful, and engage with RV-oriented groups, and you'll make the connections that can make a difference.

The role of a website and online user experience in driving bookings

The way that consumers shop has changed remarkably over the last few years. Today buyers want to do their research and find the best deals. So make it easy for them by providing photos, vehicle specs, and transparent prices.

Ensure the user experience is as frictionless as possible. Don't make them need to call you up to enquire about availability or prices. Make sure all the essential info is at their fingertips.

Here is a step-by-step guide to building a rental website . Make it as functional, professional, and reassuring as possible to boost conversion rates .

Operations and customer service

You need smooth operations and excellent customer service to build trust, loyalty, and a reputation. Here are two areas you need to consider.

Managing daily operations

You must build clear internal policies for handling the pickup and drop-off of your vehicles. Additionally, because you'll be dealing with driver's licenses and personal information, you need solid data management too.

The most important thing is ensuring your fleet is going out and coming back in good condition. Thorough inspections and a good maintenance schedule are essential.

Delivering excellent customer service

Excellent customer service keeps people coming back. Be attentive, knowledgeable, and compassionate, and you'll make your customers feel cared for.

Problems will happen. But deal with them responsively and with kindness, and you'll protect your business reputation.

Growth and expansion

Of course, the work never truly ends. Starting a business is just the first phase, but if you want to generate more revenue, you'll need to grow and scale.

Key Performance Indicators to monitor

KPIs are a great way to track performance. Here are a few RV rental-specific KPIs that you should monitor.

RV fleet utilization = # days rented / # days available

Rental rate = total rental revenue / # of rental contracts

Capital utilization = annual rental revenue/cost of acquisition

Average order value = total revenue/# of bookings placed

RV to rental ratio = # of RVs available for rent/ total # of RVs

Strategies for growing the business

High business expenses and extreme seasonality mean that RV business owners need to look for additional revenue streams. Thankfully, there are a few ideas that can help you make the most of the busy season.

While RV rental will bring the lion's share of revenue, you can explore add-ons to increase the value of each rental. Depending on the surrounding area, you can offer extra services. For example, you can provide mountain bikes that attach to the RV, disposable BBQs, fishing rods, or anything that helps your customers achieve the RV holiday of their dreams.

Other things to consider are mileage charges. These extras would cover wear and tear. Additionally, you can explore airport pickup and drop-offs to target international travelers at an additional cost.

Make the most of local attractions and events. Additionally, you might be able to establish partnerships with surrounding campsites that welcome RV visitors. Be brave enough to think also outside the box.

Potential challenges and how to overcome them

RV rental businesses face some challenges as the market grows and matures. Here are some key concerns that you need to consider.

Peer-to-peer popularity: Peer-to-peer (p2p) rentals are rising in popularity. This model involves an RV owner and RV renter doing business over an online platform. The best way to compete here is by offering new models and outstanding service.

Seasonality: Depending on your location, motorhome demand will drop off during winter. If you're sitting on a fleet of RVs, you're paying out costs without any return. Short-term leasing agreements can allow for a more dynamic inventory that responds to demand. But they will also be more expensive. So crunch the numbers.

Insurance costs: Rising RV insurance costs can eat into profits. However, some innovative options on the market allow you to pay for insurance only when you need it. These policies can counter the downsides of seasonality too.

Becoming a new RV rental business owner could be a great way to earn a living. The sector is growing steadily due to the demand for more unique and sustainable holidays.

Running a successful RV rental business takes hard work and a significant financial investment. But once your campervans are on the road, you can sit back and take profit with minimal hassle.

RV rental is becoming more popular with Millenials and Gen Zs. Reaching these demographics requires a solid digital marketing strategy alongside a website and booking portal.

If you think RV rentals are the life for you, get out there and make it happen!

Article written by Akseli L.

A marketer who gets excited about all things e-commerce. Outside of office hours, you'll most likely find Akseli from the countryside, hiking and shooting landscapes.

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Start an RV Rental Business

Why Starting an RV Rental Business is Your Road to Freedom and Success

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RV RENTAL BUSINESS

Related business ideas, discover your perfect domain, rv rental mini business plan, business idea: rv rental business, expected percent margin:, earnings expectations:, actions to hit those numbers:, inventory management:, marketing and customer acquisition:, quality customer service:, seasonality:, not what you had in mind here are more ideas, grab your business website name, step 1: determine if the business is right for you, breakdown of startup expenses, breakdown of ongoing expenses, examples of ways to make money, step 2: name the business, step 3: obtain necessary licenses and permits, step 4: find a suitable location, step 5: purchase rvs, step 5: purchase an rv, step 6: establish an online presence, step 7: market the business, step 8: set up a booking system, step 9: hire employees, explore more categories, take the next steps.

How to Start a Trailer Rental Business [Beginner’s Guide]

If you want a business that is affordable, easy to maintain, and simple to operate, a trailer rental business may be perfect for you.

In this article, I am going to cover how you can start your trailer rental business. This beginner’s guide will include step by step instructions on setting up your business, selecting your trailers, obtaining appropriate insurance, and attracting customers.

Why is a trailer rental business so attractive?

The answer is simple. Regular people need trailers for a variety of reasons and many don’t want to invest the money to buy a trailer when they may only need to use it for just a short period of time.

They may need one to move, dispose of trash or large items, or go on a trip. Regardless of the reason, you can easily meet that need by renting out small utility trailers at an affordable price.

Of course, you can also service the trucking industry by renting out larger, commercial grade trailers to truckers. In many cases, these rentals will be for much longer periods of time and will also generate much more money per trailer.

Either way, your service perfectly fits a real customer need.

Of course, that’s not the only reason why this business is so good. We’ll talk more about the pros and cons of operating this business, so you can get a more complete picture of what’s involved in this type of business.

Ok, we’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!

If you would like to see a condensed version of this article in video format, check out my YouTube video on the topic below.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and complete a transaction, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy or invest, and it is not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified professional before making any investment or other decisions relating to the topics covered by this article.

What Types of Trailers Are There [And Which Are Best For Rentals]?

Now, it’s worth noting that trailers come in many shapes and sizes.

As I just mentioned, they can include large trailers that are used by semi-trucks to haul freight as well as smaller utility trailers used by regular folks to move furniture or to haul away trash.

You can start a rental business for any of these types of trailers but you need to bear in mind that your customers are going to be different depending on the types of trailers you will be offering for rent.

Semi-Truck Trailers

If you want to get into renting out trailers for semi-trucks, you are talking about very large trailers. These are not trailers you can just store or park in your driveway or garage. Below are some of the most common types of trailers used by semi-truck operators to haul freight.

Dry van trailers
Refrigerated trailers (aka Reefers)
Flat Bed Trailers
Step Deck or drop deck trailers
Lowboy trailers
Dump trailers

Of course, if you are going to be starting a rental business, you will want to know which types of trailers are in most demand in the rental market. The overwhelmingly popular choice is dry van trailers because they are the most common type of semi-truck trailer you see on the road.

It’s basically the rectangular-shaped trailer that you see everywhere and is often used to transport clothing and household goods, non-perishable food and drinks, building products, and other common items.

A dry van trailer is a great choice when you are starting out your rental trailer business because of its overwhelming popularity, easy maintenance, and relatively low cost.

Of course, as you expand, you can start offering other types of specialized trailers, such as reefers (which are refrigerated trailers used to haul things like perishables, chilled or frozen foods, etc.) but they are more expensive and will require more maintenance and repairs. The same holds true for dump trailers and tippers, which use hydraulics to lift the trailer bed up and down.

You can normally rent these specialized trailers out for more money, but as we just covered, there will be tradeoffs in terms of cost and maintenance.

Trailers for Pickup Trucks

Now, as I mentioned above, semi-truck trailers are not the only game in town. You can appeal to pick-up truck owners as well by getting trailers that will attach to a special hitch on the bed of the pickup (gooseneck trailers) or a standard hitch on the back of the pickup (standard trailers).

Many pickup truck owners use hotshot trailers (which are smaller than your typical dry van or flatbed trailers) to haul a fairly large amount of freight without needing to have a semi-truck. You can certainly appeal to this demographic of truckers by renting out bumper pull or gooseneck trailers.

Related Reading : If you want to learn more about hotshot trucking, check out my article on how to start a hotshot trucking business .

Bumper pulls are more straightforward, while goosenecks will be more complex and expensive. That being said, goosenecks can be a great choice due to their increased stability.

If you want to position your trailer rental business to the people outside the trucking industry, you can purchase smaller utility trailers for this purpose. In this case, you are marketing to regular folks who just need a trailer for a day or two (or maybe a week) to move stuff, get rid of garbage or go on a trip.

It’s a completely different business model and dynamic because your rental business is not dependent on the trucking industry at all. Of course, you won’t be able to rent out the trailers for as much money, but the trailers will be cheaper to obtain.

There are two types of utility trailers – enclosed and open-air. I don’t think you need a long explanation for them – these pictures serve pretty well to show the differences.

How Much Do Trailers Cost?

The most significant cost to starting your trailer rental business is going to be obtaining your trailers. So the following information is going to be critical.

If you want to position your rental business toward truckers, you need to look at the right types of trailers. I have collected information on some of the most popular types of semi-truck trailers and their corresponding costs in the table below. There are also links to the various sites where I obtained the information.

I would note that the information below is based on larger trailers (e.g.,53′), and is the result of some estimation and averaging by me. I ignored what I thought were aberrations in price because I thought including them they would be misleading. My point is that there were some pretty broad ranges in price, so take that into account.

If you are appealing to the hotshot pickup truck community, new gooseneck trailers are around $20,000 – $30,000, but will vary depending on size, etc. Obviously, used goosenecks will generally be cheaper depending on their size, age, condition and features.

If you want to target the retail customer market, your price per trailer becomes much more affordable. A small 4’X6′ new open-air utility trailer will run you around $1,200 at Home Depot. Enclosed utility trailers tend to be more expensive and in most cases a bit larger, with prices averaging around $10,000 for a new one.

Other Costs of Trailer Rental Business

Now it’s important to note that the cost of your trailer is not going to be your only expense. You are going to have insurance costs (which can be significant) and costs associated with setting up your business.

The costs of setting up your business will usually run a few hundred dollars, depending on whether you establish an LLC or other corporate entity, whether you spend money on business licenses, and how much you invest in your business website, etc. You may also have marketing expenses and and costs for storing or parking your trailers.

All in, however, your overall costs for these types of miscellaneous expenses should be far less than the costs of obtaining your trailers.

How Much Money Can I Make Renting Out Trailers?

According to coop.com, you can make $1,455 per month renting out a single trailer full time. That is, of course, an estimate and your actual revenue will vary depending on the type of trailer you rent out and the demand for that trailer.

I used coop.com’s revenue calculating tool to find this estimate, which you can access here .

As you grow your business and accumulate more and more trailers, your revenue can obviously grow too. In fact, there are people who have fleets of trailers that they are renting out on platforms like coop.com and are apparently making great money doing this.

Ok, now that we got some of the introductory (but key questions) answered, let’s dive into setting up your trailer rental business.

How to Set Up Your Trailer Rental Business

If you want to set up your trailer rental business the right way, there are some basic steps you should follow:

Set Up Your Business Entity . If you want to get some basic liability protection for assets held outside your trailer rental business you may want to consider forming an LLC, Corporation, etc. A nice affordable option is Northwest . You can get started for just $39 as of the date of this article.
Pick a Name and Logo For Your Trailer Rental Business . Look at Shopify for Name Ideas and Canva to design a logo)
Create a Basic Business Profile and Get Your Business on Google My Business . Check out these free resources From Google to get started. Basic free business profile website and intro to getting on Google My Business .
Develop a Simple Business Plan . You need a business plan for your trailer rental business, which is just a roadmap for your business. See the SBA’s free guide on how to develop one.
Pick the Right Marketing Strategy . This is exactly what we’ll cover in the next section.
Get Appropriate Licenses, Permits and Insurance . You’ll want to check federal, state, and local laws around the type of rental business you will be running and obtain necessary licenses. You will also want to get appropriate insurance for your trailer rental business to protect against lawsuits from accidents and other liabilities. More on that later.

If you want to learn more about how to set up a business in general, check out my ultimate beginner’s guide to starting a business , which goes in to many of these areas in much more detail.

How to Market Your Trailer Rental Business

One of the keys to success for your trailer rental business is making sure you have customers coming in the door. Pretty obvious, I know, but I can’t overstate how important this is.

If you are going the semi-truck trailer route, I think one of the best options is going with coop.com. They are a Ryder company, so you know they are reputable. The process is simple – you sign up with them and you can get customers from their platform. When I called, they set me up with an initial consultation with one of their reps to walk me through the process.

The rep gave me some helpful tips on what types of trailers do well and the process for renting them out, parking them, and how coop can help make this business as passive as possible. If you are looking for a relatively low key approach to your rental business, this platform is worth checking out.

Plus, you get to leverage the immense power of coop.com and gain the benefit of their large marketing machine.

Of course, if you choose to go it alone, you can do that as well. This will be necessary if you are going to be targeting residential customers who just want simple utility trailers.

First, I would make sure you have a strong online presence.

Google My Business (now known as Google Business Profile) is essential if you want to be found during a Google search as a local business offering this service. You should also get a decent looking website and consider online marketing via paid ads (it can be Google Ads or Facebooks Ads or even marketing your business through popular platforms like Yelp).

Try different marketing strategies and don’t be afraid to mimic what works. In many cases, your competitors have already done the trial and error for you. Find out what they are doing to market their business and experiment with that.

Don’t Forget About Insurance For Your Trailer Rental Business

Insurance is an important element of safely running your trailer rental business.

If you work with a company like coop.com, they will require it.

But even if you go it alone, it makes sense to protect yourself with appropriate insurance coverage in case things go sideways.

Progressive is a major player in this space, so you should consider them as an option.

Some of the other insurance companies operating in this area include mbainsurance.net (who specialize in covering businesses renting out utility trailers).

Ok, now that we’ve covered some of the key steps in establishing a successful trailer rental business, let’s talk about some of the pros and cons of this type of enterprise.

Pros and Cons of Trailer Rental Business

There are a ton of great benefits to owning a trailer rental business. Here are some of the pros:

Pros of Trailer Rental Business

One of the most compelling benefits of a trailer rental business is its relatively low cost to start. As we discussed earlier, you can buy a new utility trailer for as little $1,200 new. You will need to find a place to store your trailers, but renting out some space in a lot will not break the bank.

And your repair and maintenance costs will be much cheaper than, for example, the costs associated with other businesses, because you are not dealing with complex engines or other machinery, like in trucking or manufacturing.

Low Maintenance

Now, as we mentioned, your day to day maintenance should be relatively light because of the nature of the asset you are renting out. You can also keep your daily operations pretty simple because you can use sites like coop.com (which we already discussed) to make the business fairly passive and turn-key.

Easy to Expand

Because trailers are discrete items, it is really simple to grow your business. Just buy more trailers! Of course, you have to be smart about it and not overextend yourself, but as you become more comfortable and knowledgeable about what works, it’s easy to sensibly scale your business.

As we discussed earlier, you can make decent money renting out trailers. The combination of low cost and solid returns make for a really compelling business.

But every business has drawbacks and it is important to know what they are, so you go into the business with a sober and realistic view of what to expect. Here are some of the cons of owning a trailer rental business.

Cons of Trailer Rental Business

Competition.

Every business is going to have some level of competition. This one is no different. Depending on your strategy, you may be facing competition from other rental businesses in the trucking industry as well as large corporate players, such as Home Depot (which rents out utility trailers, for example).

Some Repairs and Maintenance Will Be Needed

Despite being relatively low maintenance, you will still encounter some repairs and upkeep along the way, Things will break or malfunction and you will need to deal with the costs and hassle associated with that.

Demand Will Mirror Trucking Industry

As you can imagine, if you are renting out trailers to truckers, the demand for your product will rise and fall with the trucking industry. It’s an unavoidable part of the business, unless of course, you cater to non-trucking customers (renting out small utility trailers to residential customers, etc.).

So you need to be prepared for the potential ups and down of operating type of business.

So there you have it – a beginner’s guide to starting your own successful trailer rental business. If you are looking to expand your rental business by including trucks, check out my detailed article on how to rent out trucks profitably .

If you are interested in the trucking industry more generally and want to explore a variety of transportation business ideas, check out my comprehensive article on the topic here .

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What to consider when starting an RV rental business

When starting an RV rental business, you need to consider a few important factors first.

Where are you going to get the RV?
What type of RV is it (Class A, Fifth Wheel, Class B)?
What condition is the RV in?
How many people does it sleep?
Do you have an insurance policy that will cover an RV rental?
Does the renter have experience using an RV or driving one?
How will you repair your RV if it gets damaged or breaks down during the rental?
How many miles you are willing to allow somebody to drive your RV?
If you are renting a trailer, do you have a certification process to make sure that the renter owns a vehicle capable of towing your RV trailer safely?
Where will you store your RV so that you can access it at random and multiple times during a camping season?
Do you have a marketing budget and a way to reach out to and communicate with potential renters?
Do you have a merchant account set up so that you can accept credit cards and store deposits against potential damage?

You need to make important considerations when starting an RV rental business. Download this guide to starting your RV Rental business, then check out the Five Steps to consider when starting off.

RVPlusYou.com was established by RV owners with experience and knowledge in the RV rental market. The biggest problem in the RV rental business is lack of inventory. During the peak summer months demand far outstrips supply, which creates a real opportunity to earn significant income as a rental provider.

We address many of the main considerations that come with starting a RV rental business, including:

Providing insurance coverage during the rental.
Eliminating the risk of damage from inexperienced renters moving your unit.
Providing a steady stream of potential renters for vetting.
Handling the payments and deposits in a secure and easy to handle manner.

Starting a RV rental business is an amazing opportunity to cash in on a popular but often forgotten industry.

Common RV Renter Questions

Who cleans the rv after an rv rental.

The RV Owner is responsible for sterilization, following CDC guidelines for sanitizing after use. The RV owner or rental company is also responsible for the quality and functionality of the RV that they are renting out to guests.

Why do I need RVPlusYou, why not just book direct with the RV owner?

RVPlusYou holds payment for the RV rental, thereby making sure that both parties get what they expect. Payment to the owner of the RV does NOT happen until after check out. Booking through RVPlusYou means a reliable RV rental is delivered when it’s supposed to be, and payment for services is paid on time to RV owners. RVPlusYou provides marketing, advertising, reservation and booking software, as well as a $5,000 liability and $300,000 Protection Policy designed to protect both parties.

NOTE: Only fraudsters and scammers will request payment outside of the RVPlusYou booking system. If the RV owner requests information or payment outside of the platform, do not proceed with the booking!

What costs can I expect when I rent an RV from RVPlusYou

Rates and fees are determined by each individual RV owner. Owners publish a nightly rate, a delivery and set up rate, cleaning fees, and will list other fees that may apply, including extra mileage fees. Fees that RV owners charge may vary depending on the season, special event, etc.

RVPlusYou collects a nominal booking fee (8% to 17%) from renters. This amount is clearly outlined for you when you check availability and make a booking inquiry to an RV owner. For more information, see RV Rental Cost. For information on payments, see our Renter Payment Policy .

Does RVPlusYou deliver the RV or does the RV owner deliver and set up

RVPlusYou does not get involved in the delivery of the RV. The logistics of the RV rental delivery and set up is arranged by the owner. The RV is usually delivered by the RV owner, RV Vacation Rental manager, or a contracted RV Transport company.

Do I need to make a separate campsite reservation

Yes, you almost always need to find your own campsite reservation, but that can be negotiated with the RV owner. The campsite fee is paid separately from your RV rental through RVPlusYou unless you have made arrangements with the RV host. Some campgrounds are first-come, first-serve and your RV host can advise you how to best to secure those sites. Other campgrounds book up months in advance and require reservations well in advance.

Do I have to drive a big RV to my campsite and then set it up myself

No. RVPlusYou is different than other RV rental companies. Our RV owners will deliver, and set up the RV for you at an agreed destination—RV resorts, campgrounds, special events, farms, even private homes. You never have to drive the RV. You simply drive up to the location and begin enjoying your RV accommodations. At the end of your stay, you check out and drive away.

What is a Trust Platform

RVPlusYou is built on a trust platform, meaning that each party is verified by phone number, email, and social media (if available). Each party creates a profile that includes a full name, descriptive personal bio, and photos. We encourage users to get to know each other through our messaging system. Renters and RV owners are rated and reviewed by each other for past transactions. This builds value for RV Owners and peace of mind for RV renters. Remember, when in doubt, ask questions! Reach out to multiple RV owners. If you′re not getting the answers you need, consider booking with another RV owner.

How Payment for RV Rental Works

How does the payment process work and what are the payment options.

The RV owner must accept your reservation request for the dates and pricing you have agreed to in order for you to see the “Book It” button where you can pay.

You must click on the shopping cart to pay and confirm your reservation. Accepted payments include Visa, MasterCard and American Express which is process via Stripe . When you reach the payment window, enter your billing information first, then click ‘Continue’. You will see the option to pay by credit card on the next screen. Click for details on How to Book.

I’m ready to check out and pay for my RV rental. How can I pay by credit card?

After clicking on the “Book It” button, follow instructions to add a credit card and pay for your RV rental.

If you’ve navigated away from the payment instructions, you can find your booking in your shopping cart. Click on your name at the top of the page to find your cart and RV rental booking ready for payment.

Fill out the contact information required, accept the terms and conditins, and then click ‘Continue’. Click for More Payment Information .

How to Book an RV Rental

Step 1 – search rv rentals near your destination.

Enter your destination: Where you want the RV delivered; you will be sent to a search results page listing all RV rentals that deliver to that destination.

In most cases, this is a campground where you have reservations, or an event, a private home, or work site.
Most RV owners will deliver within 60 to 100 miles of their location for a set fee. Others will charge extra mileage fee for distances outside of their delivery area.
Contact several RV owners to insure you have options for your trip.
Note : Most RV owners require that you make campground reservations , unless your RV rental will be delivered to a private residence or event.

Step 2 – Sign Up and then Contact the RV Owner

Once you find an RV rental that works for you, contact the owner and check availability.

First you must sign up and become a member. It’s free and easy to do.

Photo of RV host and check availability button

Step 3 – Contact Multiple RV Owners – Ask Questions

The best way to find the right RV for you and your family, is to ask questions of multiple RV owners. Remember:

It doesn’t obligate you to “Check Availability” and ask questions.
If the RV listing doesn’t provide the necessary information or photos that help you make a decision, just ask: “Will you please upload a photo of the bathroom? Does your RV rental include camp chairs?”
Use the ‘Click to Call’ button to speak directly to the RV owner.

Step 4 – Pay for your RV Rental

Only after the RV owner has approved your request can you book your RV rental. Make sure you “request to book”. Note : RV owners also have the option to send a custom quote for a special offer. See payment policy for details.

Important : Once the RV owner accepts your request to book their RV, or sends a special offer, you will receive a message. Follow the prompts to your message inbox to book your rental.

You may now book and pay for your rental, cancel the request, or send a message to the RV owner.

How to List Your RV For Rent

Step 1 – click on the list your rv button – top right of page.

By clicking on “ List your RV ” you will start a process that first requires you to sign up or log in if you haven’t already.

Step 2 – Enter Information About Your RV

Make sure to choose a title that will be searched. Example : “RV Rental Sleeps 8 Delivered to Houston Area Campgrounds”
What should renters expect when they arrive?
What condition is your RV?
What sets you apart?
Note : The more relevant, detailed, and useful information you provide, the better your chances are of booking the rental request.

Questions an RV Owner might have

What about insurance.

RVPlusYou provides a Rental Protection Policy , that is included in our service fees. However, this damage and liability policy only applies when the RV is rented through this website, and within the contracted rental period. The RV is NOT covered while the RV is moving . Coverage applies only after the RV is set up at the destination, NOT while moving.

Note: The renter is always responsible for damages and the security deposit will always apply. Our rental protection plan is supplemental.

Most auto policies cover RV trailer towing, as well as your motorhome while you’re driving it to the campground destination, but check with your agent to be sure your RV is covered for commercial operations. Insurance is always a question that should be discussed with your insurance professional.

What happens if my renter cancels?

If your renter cancels their reservation, your cancellation policy will be employed and you will be paid accordingly.

Note: Your renter must click the cancellation button to officially cancel. Please advise your renter that they responsible for the Guest Fees, whether or not you cancel, or they cancel. Only if you cancel will they be free from paying the Guest Fees. If you, the RV owner cancels, you will be responsible to pay the Guest Fees on behalf of the renter.

Check to be sure your RV listing is displaying the correct policy.

Can I let the RV renter drive or tow my RV

Yes, you may let the RV renter book through the RVPlusYou platform and drive or tow your rental. It is your decision, however there are two issues to address:

The RVPlusYou Rental Protection policy does not apply to moving RV rentals. Make sure to obtain a rider from the renter’s auto policy to cover your RV.
The RVPlusYou terms and conditions apply to delivered RV rentals, not driving or towing rentals. Make sure to obtain a supplemental RV rental agreement that covers you for driving RV rentals.

Note : Most damage as well as excess miles on your RV will happen when you let others drive or tow. If you want to limit damage and maintain resell value, your focus should be on delivered RV rentals.

What are the RVPlusYou fees? What will renters be charged? What will owners be paid?

RVPlusYou will process the rental transaction on behalf of the RV owner and charge 3% of the total rental fees charged by the RV owner. Once the rental is complete, RVPlusYou releases the credit card deposit hold from the renter and pays the RV owner their portion of the rental fees (97%) within 72 hours.

Note: The 3% transaction fee charged to the RV owner is based on what the RV owner charges. In addition, RVPlusYou charges a guest booking fee of 8% to 17% to the renter.

On the day of check out, the RV Owner will receive an automated email asking about any issues or damage. RV owners should simply reply to that email. Tell the support team that there was no damage. Payment can usually be expedited and released the same or next business day. The credit card token for the renter’s damage deposit will also be released.

See Damage Policy if the RV incurred damage. Note that renters are responsible for any damage caused.

Who lists their RV on RVPlusYou

RV rental companies and individual RV owners typically list their RV’s for rent on the RVPlusYou peer to peer platform. For information on how much can be earned, see average cost to rent an RV.

RV owners can offset the high cost of owning an RV, expenses such as loan payments, insurance, maintenance and storage. RV rental companies can fill out the corners of their season by listing their RV’s. RVPlusYou returns 97% of the rental fees to the owners and rental companies.

How will RVPlusYou Pay me

RVPlusYou will send payment to your Stripe Express account, or by check. You must first set up your Stripe account and update your ‘Payout Preference’ in your ‘Account’ setting.

RVPlusYou Rental Protection Policy

Who pays for the rental protection benefit.

The RVPlusYou liability and damage policy “ Protection Policy ” is paid by RVPlusYou and included in the service fees paid by guest and RV owner.

How would the RVPlusYou Protection Program respond where a guest slips on Member Host property and sues

The RVPlusYou Protection Program liability coverage protects RVPlusYou recreational vehicle owners in the event that someone is injured on your recreational or you are deemed responsible for personal injury or property damage through negligence, in every case solely associated with a RVPlusYou booking. The program will also defend any claims against RVPlusYou recreational vehicle owners and pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to the program limit regardless of who was at fault.

Website Help & Trouble Shooting

How does the click to call feature work.

The feature is only available to Gold Hosts and for those users with an updated and verified mobile phone number. To Opt Out of the feature, edit your profile and untick the box marked, “Share this number”.

Why can’t I use the ‘Click to Call’ feature that allows live phone calls between RV renter and RV Owner?

Second, both renters and RV owners must have verified their mobile phone accessed through the edit profile section. By verifying your mobile phone, you qualify for “Click to Call”.

How to verify your phone:

Click on your dashboard and find your profile.
Click on “edit profile” and scroll to the alerts section. Follow instructions to verify your mobile phone.
Be sure you tick ‘Yes’ to accept phone calls.

You are now set up for “Click to Call” and may call a Gold Host RV owner. If you are an RV owner, you must be a Gold Host in order to use this feature and contact renters prior to booking.

Note : Once you book and pay for a rental, both parties can see contact information whether they are a Gold Host or not.

Form an LLC
Should I Start an LLC

Last Updated: February 16, 2024, 1:49 pm by TRUiC Team

Should I Start an LLC for My RV Rental Business?

Starting a limited liability company (LLC) for your RV rental business can provide several benefits.

Most importantly, an LLC structure offers limited liability to its owners, which can protect their personal assets from lawsuits and creditors.

For an RV rental business, lawsuits can arise from things like mechanical issues with your RVs due to poor maintenance or failure to disclose a unit’s defects to a customer before renting.

LLCs are also affordable, highly flexible (from a tax point-of-view), and can make your RV rental business seem more credible.

Recommended: Use Northwest to form an LLC for $29 (plus state fees).

Do I Need an LLC for an RV Rental Business?

LLCs are a simple and inexpensive way to protect your personal assets and save money on taxes.

You should start an LLC when there's any risk involved in your business and/or when your business could benefit from tax options and increased credibility.

LLC Benefits for an RV Rental Business

By starting an LLC for your RV rental business, you can:

Protect your savings, car, and house with limited liability protection
Have more tax benefits and options
Increase your business’s credibility

Limited Liability Protection

LLCs provide limited liability protection. This means your personal assets (e.g., car, house, bank account) are protected in the event your business is sued or if it defaults on a debt.

RV rental businesses will benefit from liability protection because of the risks associated with operating an automobile and property damage.

Example 1: A customer rents an RV, and while on their trip, the RV is found to have a mechanical issue that causes an accident. The customer sustains injuries in the accident and decides to sue the business for damages. If found liable, limited liability protection will ensure that the owner's personal assets are protected from any compensation awarded in the lawsuit.

Example 2: An employee is injured while performing maintenance on an RV and decides to seek financial compensation through legal action. Limited liability protection will ensure that the owner's personal assets are not at risk, even if the business is found to be liable for the employee's injuries.

Example 3: A worker is injured while cleaning an RV and decides to sue the business for damages, claiming that the RV was not properly maintained. If the business is found to be liable for the worker’s injuries, limited liability protection will help to protect the owner's personal assets from the lawsuit.

An LLC will also protect your personal assets in the event of commercial bankruptcy or loan default.

To maintain your LLC's limited liability protection, you must maintain your LLC's corporate veil .

LLC Tax Benefits and Options for an RV Rental Business

LLCs, by default, are taxed as a pass-through entity, just like a sole proprietorship or partnership . This means that the business's net income passes through to the owner's individual tax return.

The business’s net income is then subject to income taxes (based on the owner's tax bracket) and self-employment taxes.

Sole proprietorships and partnerships are taxed in a similar way to LLCs, but they do not offer limited liability protection or other tax options.

S Corp Option for LLCs

An S corporation (S corp) is an IRS tax status that an LLC can elect. S corp status allows business owners to be treated as employees of the business (for tax purposes).

S corp tax status can reduce self-employment taxes and will allow business owners to contribute pre-tax dollars to 401k or health insurance premiums.

The S corp status requires that the business pay the employee-owner(s) a reasonable salary for the work they perform.

In addition, the business might need to spend more on accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services. To offset these costs, you'd need to be saving about $2,000 a year on taxes.

We estimate that if an RV rental business owner can pay themselves a reasonable salary and at least $10,000 in distributions each year, they could benefit from S corp status.

You can start an S corp when you form your LLC. Our How to Start an S Corp guide will lead you through the process.

Credibility and Consumer Trust

RV rental businesses rely on consumer trust. Credibility plays a key role in creating and maintaining any business.

Businesses gain consumer trust simply by forming an LLC.

A growing business can also benefit from the credibility of an LLC when applying for small business loans , grants , and credit .

Northwest will start an LLC for you for just $29 (plus state fees).

How to Form an LLC

Forming an LLC is easy. There are two options for forming your LLC:

You can hire a professional LLC formation service to set up your LLC for a small fee
Or, you can choose your state from the list below to start an LLC yourself

Select Your State

Alabama LLC
Arizona LLC
Arkansas LLC
California LLC
Colorado LLC
Connecticut LLC
Delaware LLC
Florida LLC
Georgia LLC
Illinois LLC
Indiana LLC
Kentucky LLC
Louisiana LLC
Maryland LLC
Massachusetts LLC
Michigan LLC
Minnesota LLC
Mississippi LLC
Missouri LLC
Montana LLC
Nebraska LLC
New Hampshire LLC
New Jersey LLC
New Mexico LLC
New York LLC
North Carolina LLC
North Dakota LLC
Oklahoma LLC
Pennsylvania LLC
Rhode Island LLC
South Carolina LLC
South Dakota LLC
Tennessee LLC
Vermont LLC
Virginia LLC
Washington LLC
Washington D.C. LLC
West Virginia LLC
Wisconsin LLC
Wyoming LLC

For most new business owners, the best state to form an LLC in is the state where you live and where you plan to conduct your business.

Do LLCs Need Insurance?

All businesses need insurance to protect their business assets — even LLCs. This is because the limited liability protection from an LLC protects your personal assets, not your business assets.

Insurance can benefit an RV rental business by protecting against financial losses due to damages or accidents involving rented vehicles.

Common Situations Business Insurance May Cover for an RV Rental Business

Example 1: As you show a customer the different RVs you have for rent, she trips over a cable, breaks an arm, and decides to sue your company for damages. General liability insurance would pay for your legal defense and any required settlement.

Example 2: A local competitor sues your business for libel. While you disagree with the claim, you know you need a lawyer right away. General liability insurance would cover your legal defense costs and any required settlement.

Example 3: While entering your restroom, a customer slips on a wet floor, injures himself, and demands you pay for his medical treatment because you didn’t mark the wet floor. General liability insurance would cover the cost of his medical care.

Other Types of Coverage RV Rental Businesses Need

While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some other types of insurance all RV rental businesses should obtain:

Product Liability Insurance

While you strive to keep your RVs in good repair and hope your customers enjoy them, there’s always a chance someone might decide your product caused them injury. In the event of a lawsuit, product liability insurance would cover your legal fees and any required settlement.

Commercial Property Insurance

You made a major investment in your RV inventory as well as the other equipment, supplies, and real estate needed to run your business. In the event of a fire, theft, or natural disaster, commercial property insurance would cover the cost of repairing or replacing your business-related property. This includes structural damage to your building and grounds as well as the business materials stored there.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

If you have any employees, most states will require you to carry workers’ compensation insurance for your part-time and full-time workers. This coverage protects your employees if they become injured at work or fall ill after a work-related accident. It not only covers an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they need time to recover but also any disability or death benefits stemming from a workplace accident.

Commercial Umbrella Insurance

While your general liability insurance policy covers most claims, some accidents or lawsuits may be so catastrophic that they threaten to exhaust the limits of your primary coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from paying out-of-pocket for any legal fees and awarded damages that exceed your primary policy.

Should I Start an LLC FAQ

Which is better for my rv rental business — an llc or sole proprietorship.

Choosing the right business structure depends on your business’s unique circumstances and needs. However, unless your business is very low risk (like a hobby), an LLC is likely the better option.

Visit our LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship guide to learn more.

What type of insurance does an RV rental business need?

At a minimum, you’ll need general liability insurance and commercial auto insurance .

Read our RV Rental Business Insurance article for more info.

What are the costs to start and maintain an RV rental business?

If you are opening a new business, your costs may be substantially higher, as you’ll need to purchase RVs. If you take over an existing business, though, the costs may be lessened. Either way, you will need to invest in at least a few RVs to get started.

Visit our How to Start an RV Rental Business guide to learn more about the costs of starting and maintaining this business.

What are the ongoing expenses of running an RV rental business?

The ongoing expenses of running an RV rental business includes advertising, vehicle maintenance, insurance, screening renters, and coverage for roadside assistance.

Learn more about running an RV rental business .

How do RV rental businesses make money?

RV rental businesses make money by charging rental fees for their RVs. Rental fees will vary depending on the size of the RV and its amenities.

Learn more about starting an RV rental business .

Is an RV rental business lucrative?

With the increase in RV booking platforms on the internet, RV rental businesses are seeing significant growth. This business is typically seasonal, but with relatively low barriers to entry, there is excellent profit potential.

On average, RV rental businesses can earn $16,000 on a single RV. Depending on the type of vehicle and the frequency of rentals, that number can increase to about $60,000.

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ZenBusiness LLC Services Review

How Do I Pay Myself From My LLC?

How to Choose a Business Structure

Article sources.

IRS: Limited Liability Company

IRS: S Corporations

SBA: Small Business Guide

SBA: Choose a Business Structure Guide

US Census Bureau: Small Business Statistics

SBA Office of Advocacy: Data on Small Business

FRED: SBA Data for Small Business

Start an RV Rentals Business: Your Ultimate Guide

Are you looking for an interesting and exciting business opportunity? Why not start an RV rentals business? This could be the perfect venture for you if you love spending time outdoors, traveling, and meeting new people. In this guide, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to get started. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!

What is an rv rentals business, how much does it cost to start an rv rentals business, how do i find customers for my rv rentals business.

RV Rentals businesses provide travelers with the opportunity to rent an RV for their vacation. This can be a great option for those who do not own an RV or for those who want to try out a different model before making a purchase. renting an RV can also be more economical than staying in hotels, as it allows travelers to cook their own meals and use the RV’s facilities. Most RV Rentals businesses offer a wide range of RVs to choose from, as well as a variety of price points. For example, some businesses may specialize in luxury RVs while others may offer more budget-friendly options. In addition, most businesses will provide customers with insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance. This can be a great way to ensure that your vacation goes smoothly and that you have peace of mind while on the road.

Why would I want to start an RV Rentals business?

More and more people are hitting the open road for vacation each year. And why wouldn’t they? With an RV, you have the freedom to go where you want, when you want. No more waiting on buses or trying to find a hotel in a strange town. But RVs can be expensive, and not everyone can afford to buy one outright. That’s where RV rentals come in.

RV rental businesses are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more budget-friendly ways to travel. And there are plenty of other reasons why starting an RV rental business is a great idea. Here are just a few:

Low overhead costs

When compared to other types of businesses, RVs require very little in terms of overhead costs. You won’t need to worry about things like rent, utilities, or even employees (more on that later).

Be your own boss

One of the best things about being in business for yourself is that you get to be your own boss. You make your own hours and you’re in control of your own destiny.

Help others fulfill their dreams

When you start an RV rental business, you’re not just helping yourself; you’re helping others fulfill their dreams of hitting the open road. There’s something very gratifying about that.

Potentially high profits

The profit margins on RV rentals can be quite high, especially if you own your RVs outright. According to industry experts, the average profit margin for an RV rental business is between 20-40%.

It’s a recession-proof business

The RV industry has been pretty recession-proof over the years. Even during tough economic times, people still seem to find the money to take their annual vacation.

Minimal staff required

As we mentioned before, you won’t need to worry about employees when you start an RV rental business since everything can be done by you and your family members. This will help keep your overhead costs down even further.”

Limited competition

The RV rental industry is still relatively new, which means there isn’t a ton of competition out there… yet.

Easy to get started

You don’t need a degree or any special certifications to start an RV rental business… just some good ol’ fashioned hard work!

Starting an RV rental business is a great way to become your own boss with minimal overhead costs while helping others fulfill their vacation dreams. The industry is still relatively new which means there is limited competition and it’s easy to get started!

How do I start an RV Rentals business?

Are you looking for a business idea that’s both fun and profitable? If so, starting an RV rentals business could be just the thing for you! This type of business can be operated from home, making it ideal for those who want to be their own boss. And, as long as you have adequate storage space and are familiar with the basics of vehicle maintenance, there’s not much else you need to get started. So, if you’re ready to hit the open road, keep reading for tips on how to start an RV rentals business!

Define Your Niche

Before you can start an RV rentals business, you need to first decide what your niche will be. Are you going to focus on luxury RV rentals, family-friendly RV rentals, or something else entirely?

Once you have a good understanding of your niche, you can start to put together a business plan and marketing strategy that will attract the right customers. Keep in mind that the RV rental market is highly competitive, so you’ll need to make sure your prices are competitive and that you’re offering a unique experience that will appeal to your target market.

With a little bit of planning and some hard work, you can build a successful RV rental business.

Create a Business Plan

Starting any business can seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be. One of the most important things you can do is to create a business plan . This document will serve as a roadmap for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and financial projections.

When it comes to starting an RV rentals business, there are a few things you’ll need to take into consideration. First, you’ll need to decide what type of RVs you want to rent out. There are many different types on the market, from small trailers to large motorhomes. Once you’ve decided on the type of RV, you’ll need to find a supplier. You can either purchase RVs outright or lease them from an RV dealer.

Once you have your RVs, it’s time to start marketing your business. You’ll need to decide on a pricing strategy and develop a marketing plan. One of the best ways to get started is by creating a website and social media accounts. You can also list your business in online directories and local print publications. Lastly, don’t forget to obtain the necessary insurance for your business. With a little planning and effort, you can start an RV rentals business that will be successful for years to come.

Find Funding for Your Business

Starting any business requires funding, and an RV rental business is no different. You will need to have enough money to cover the cost of purchasing or leasing RVs, as well as the cost of insurance, marketing, and maintenance.

One way to raise funds for your business is to take out a loan. You can apply for a small business loan through a bank or credit union, or you can look into government-backed loans such as the SBA 7(a) loan program.

Another option is to seek funding from investors. Angel investors are individuals who invest in small businesses, and venture capitalists are firms that invest in high-growth businesses. You can also look into crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo.

Finally, you can use your own personal savings to start your business. Whichever route you choose, be sure to do your research and create a solid business plan before seeking funding for your RV rental business.

Get the Necessary Permits and Registrations

Before you can start your RV rental business, there are a few important things you need to take care of. First, you will need to obtain the necessary permits and registrations.

Depending on your location, this may require a business license, permit to operate an RV rental facility, and/or registration with the state or local government. You will also need to make sure that your RV is properly insured. This will protect you in case of any accidents or damages that occur while your RV is being rented out.

Finally, you will need to create a contract that outlines the terms of the rental agreement between you and your customers. This contract should include provisions for things like insurance, damages, and late fees. By taking care of these things ahead of time, you can ensure that your business is off to a smooth start.

Find Your Location

Whether you live in a big city or a small town, there’s likely a market for RV rentals in your area. To get started, the first step is to find the right location. The ideal spot will be close to major highways and popular camping destinations, as this will make it convenient for customers to pick up and drop off their RVs. It’s also important to find a location with enough space to store the RVs when they’re not being used.

Once you’ve found the perfect spot, the next step is to start marketing your business. Creating a website and social media profile is a good way to get the word out, and you can also reach out to local campgrounds and RV parks to let them know about your services. With a little effort, you can quickly turn your passion for RVs into a thriving business!

Purchase or Lease RVs

There are two ways to get into the RV rental business: purchase RVs or lease them. Each option has its own pros and cons that you should consider before making a decision.

Purchasing RVs outright gives you more control over your fleet, but it also requires a larger upfront investment. Leasing RVs, on the other hand, is a more flexible option that requires less capital, but it also means that you will have to give up some control over your business.

Whichever route you choose, make sure to do your research and create a well-thought-out business plan before getting started. With a little planning and effort, you can be on your way to becoming a successful RV rental business owner.

Hire and Train Staff

Hiring the right staff is critical to the success of any business, but it is especially important when starting an RV rental business. Not only do you need employees who are knowledgeable about RVs and the rental process, but you also need employees who are customer-service oriented and have a good sense of mechanical abilities.

In addition, it is important to train your staff on how to properly maintain and clean the RVs. A detailed training program will help to ensure that your staff is up to the task of providing top-notch service to your customers.

By taking the time to hire and train the right staff, you can set your business up for success from the start.

Market Your Business

Before you even start your RV rentals business, you need to market your business. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but trust us, it’s not. Marketing your business is essential to getting customers and generating income. There are a number of ways to market your business, and the best way is to start with a marketing plan.

This will help you identify your target market, craft your marketing messages, and choose the most effective marketing channels. Once you have a solid plan in place, you can start executing your marketing strategy. If you’re not sure where to start, consider hiring a professional marketing consultant to help you get the most out of your marketing efforts.

You’ve been thinking about starting an RV rental business. It’s a great way to make some extra money and have some fun at the same time. But you’re wondering how much it’s going to cost to get started. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this section, we’ll break down the costs of starting an RV rental business so you can make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right business for you.

The first thing you need to do is purchase an RV. This will be your biggest expense, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. You can find RVs for sale all over the internet, and if you’re patient, you can find a good deal on a used RV. Just make sure to have the RV inspected by a professional before you finalize the purchase.

Each RV will cost between $20,000-$200,000, depending on the type and size. You can likely finance the cost of the RV to enable your company to purchase several units for rental.

Once you’ve got your RV, you’ll need to get it insured. This is important because it will protect your investment in case of any accidents or damage that may occur while the RV is in your care. The cost of insurance will vary depending on the type of RV you have and the coverage you choose, but it should be fairly affordable.

Now that you’ve got your RV and it’s insured, you’ll need to find somewhere to store it when it’s not in use. If you have a garage or driveway, great! But if not, there are plenty of storage facilities that offer discounts for long-term storage. Just make sure to do your research and find a reputable company with good reviews.

The last major cost you’ll need to consider is marketing. Marketing is important because it’s how you’ll let potential customers know that your business exists and that you have RVs available for rent. There are many ways to market your business, but one of the simplest and most effective ways is through online directories like VRBO and Airbnb. These platforms allow people searching for RVs to find and contact you easily. There is usually a small fee associated with listing your business on these platforms, but overall they are very affordable and easy to use.

Starting an RV rental business can be a great way to make some extra money and have some fun at the same time. The key is to do your research and understand all of the costs involved so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right business for you.

If you’re an entrepreneur who owns an RV Rentals business, you know that finding customers is essential to your success. But how do you reach potential customers in a way that’s effective and affordable? Check out these tips for marketing your RV Rentals business!

Define Your Target Market

It is important to remember that not everyone is your target market. When you are starting a new business, it is vital that you take the time to identify your target market and understand their needs. Only then can you create a marketing strategy that will reach them effectively.

The first step is to identify your ideal customer. What are their demographics? Where do they live? What are their interests? Once you have a good understanding of who your target market is, you can begin to develop a marketing strategy that will reach them.

There are a variety of channels that you can use to reach your target market, such as social media, email marketing, and even traditional advertising. The important thing is to be creative and think outside the box. With a little effort, you can find the right customers for your new business.

Create a Marketing Plan

Starting an RV rental business can be a great way to earn income while enjoying the outdoors. However, one of the most challenging aspects of this business is finding customers. To help you get started, here are a few ideas for marketing your RV rental business:

Start by creating a list of potential customers. This can include people who have previously rented RVs, people who live in areas with high tourist traffic, and people who belong to camping or outdoor clubs.
Once you have a list of potential customers, reach out to them through various marketing channels. This can include online advertising, direct mail, and even personal visits.
Make sure to offer potential customers a competitive rate for your RV rental services. Many people are price-sensitive when it comes to renting RVs, so it’s important to be competitive.
Finally, always follow up with customers after they’ve rented an RV from you. This helps to build goodwill and ensures that they’ll come back to you in the future.

By following these tips, you can create a successful marketing plan for your RV rental business and find the customers you need to succeed.

Build a Web Presence

These days, if you want to be successful in business, you need to have a strong web presence. And that’s especially true if you’re in the RV rental business. After all, potential customers are likely to start their search for an RV rental online. So, if you want to grow your business, it’s essential to build a web presence that will attract new customers.

One of the best ways to build a strong web presence is to create a website for your business. Make sure that your website is well-designed and user-friendly. Include plenty of photos and detailed information about your RVs. Be sure to include your contact information so that potential customers can easily get in touch with you. In addition to your website, you should also make sure that your business is listed in online directories and review sites. And don’t forget about social media.

Creating profiles on popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help you reach even more potential customers. By taking these steps, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful web presence for your RV rental business.

Use Organic and Paid Social Media

If you’re in the business of renting out RVs, you’ll want to make sure you have a good social media presence in order to reach the widest possible audience of potential customers.

Organic social media is all about using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to organically reach your target market without paying for advertising. This means posting engaging content that will get people talking about your business. You can also use organic social media to build relationships with potential customers and create a community around your brand.

Paid social media, on the other hand, is all about using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to reach your target market through paid advertising. This can be a great way to reach a larger audience than you would be able to organically, and it can be a great way to generate leads and drive sales.

When it comes to finding customers for your RV rental business, a combination of organic and paid social media is hard to beat.

Find an Influencer

Many businesses, especially small businesses, use influencers to help promote their products or services. Influencers are people who have a large following on social media and who are respected by their followers. If you can identify an influencer in the RV rental industry, they can help you reach a larger audience and promote your business. Here are some tips for finding an influencer for your RV rental business:

Do some research: Use social media and Google to find people who are influential in the RV rental industry. Look at their follower count, engagement rate, and the content they share.
Identify your goals: What do you want to achieve by working with an influencer? Do you want more website traffic, more customers, or more social media followers?
Contact the influencer: Once you’ve found someone who you think would be a good fit, reach out to them and introduce yourself and your business. offer them something in return for promoting your business, such as a discount on their next rental.
Track your results: Once you’ve worked with an influencer, make sure to track the results so you can see if it was effective and whether or not it’s worth doing again in the future.

Advertise in Local Publications

Renting out RVs can be a great way to earn some extra income, but it can be tough to find customers. One way to reach potential renters is by advertising in local publications. Newspapers and magazines are still widely read, and many people use them to find businesses in their area.

When placing an ad, be sure to include all the relevant information, such as your contact information, rates, and any special deals you may be offering. You should also consider running a ad in multiple publications to maximize your reach. By placing ads in local publications, you can connect with potential customers and get the word out about your RV rental business.

Get Involved with Local Community Organizations

If you want to get involved with local community organizations to find customers for your RV rentals business, there are a few things you can do.

First, try reaching out to organizations that work with families or individuals who enjoy traveling. These types of groups may be interested in renting RVs for their next trip. You can also try contacting organizations that host events like concerts or festivals. Many of these events require participants to camp overnight, and they may be interested in renting RVs to make the experience more comfortable. Finally, consider working with youth groups like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

Many of these organizations go on camping trips, and they may be in need of RV rentals. By working with local community organizations, you can expand your customer base and grow your business.

Attend Trade Shows

RV rental businesses are a great way to make extra money and meet new people who share your passion for travel. However, it can be difficult to find customers for your business. One way to reach potential customers is by attending trade shows.

At trade shows, you’ll have the opportunity to network with other RV owners and renters, as well as learn about the latest trends in the industry. You can also promote your business by handing out flyers and business cards. Trade shows are a great way to connect with potential customers and grow your RV rental business.

Network with Local Businesses

If you’re in the business of renting out RVs, you’ll want to make sure that you have a steady stream of customers. One way to find potential renters is to network with local businesses.

For example, if you’re based in a popular camping destination, reach out to campgrounds and offer to provide a discount to their guests who rent from you. You can also partner with businesses that offer activities like whitewater rafting or hiking; customers who are interested in those activities are likely to be interested in renting an RV.

By networking with local businesses, you can reach a wider range of potential customers and generate more business for your RV rental company.

Bring Your Business to Local Events and Festivals

There’s no better way to find potential customers for your RV rental business than by bringing your RVs to local events and festivals. By setting up a booth or display at these events, you’ll be able to showcase your RVs and let people know about your business.

You can also hand out flyers and business cards, and offer special discounts to event attendees. Best of all, you’ll be able to meet potential customers face-to-face and get their contact information so you can follow up with them after the event. So if you’re looking for a great way to promote your RV rental business, make sure to bring your RVs to local events and festivals.

Get Listed in Online Directories

If you manage an RV rental business, you may be wondering how to connect with potential customers. One way to reach a wider audience is to list your business in online directories. This can help people who are searching for RV rental companies in your area to find you more easily.

In addition, online directories often provide customer reviews, which can give potential customers an idea of what others have thought of your business. To get started, search for online directories that focus on businesses in the RV industry.

Then, create a profile for your business and include as much information as possible. Be sure to include your contact information, website, and a brief description of your services. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your business is easy to find – and that potential customers have all the information they need to make a decision.

Offer Coupons and Discounts

Many businesses, especially small businesses, use coupons and discounts as a way to attract customers. This is often done when the business is first starting out, or when they are trying to increase business during a slow period. Offering a discount can be a good way to get people in the door, but it’s important to make sure that you’re still making a profit.

Otherwise, you may end up losing money on each transaction. When deciding whether or not to offer coupons or discounts, it’s important to consider your target market and what sort of deals they would be most likely to respond to.

If you’re targeting families, for example, you might offer a discount for booking multiple nights. seniors might appreciate a percentage off their total bill.Whatever sort of deal you decide to offer, make sure it’s one that will attract the right kind of customer and help you reach your goals for your business.

About Jeremy Reis

Jeremy Reis is a serial entrepreneur from the Franklin, Tennessee area. Jeremy is the founder of multiple businesses and is the VP of Marketing for CRISTA Ministries. Jeremy has his MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from The Ohio State University.

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RV Rental Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their RV rental companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating an RV rental business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write an RV Rental business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is an RV Rental Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your RV Rental business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for an RV Rental Company

If you’re looking to start a RV Rental business or grow your existing RV Rental company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your RV Rental business to improve your chances of success. Your RV Rental business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for RV Rental Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a RV Rental business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for RV Rental companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for an rv rental business.

If you want to start a RV Rental business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your RV Rental business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of RV Rental business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have an RV Rental business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of RV Rental businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

Give a brief overview of the RV Rental industry.
Discuss the type of RV Rental business you are operating.
Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of RV Rental business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of RV Rental businesses:

Vacation RV Rentals: This type of an RV rental business is popular with individuals, couples and families who rent recreational vehicles for vacations, “glamping experiences,” or long-distance trips. Vehicles may include small campers, trailers, 5th wheel vehicles and large mobile home RVs.
Long-term RV Rentals: Specializing in rentals for long-term use, such as six to twelve months, this type of RV rental company is focused on those who summer in cooler weather or those who want to reside in warmer climates during the snow season at home. RV Rental vehicles are typically at least 24-feet in length up to 40-foot trailers that have several sliding pop-outs for additional space.
Corporate RV Rentals: Corporations that require interim housing for employees who are visiting a worksite or building project will use this type of RV Rental company to supply housing accordingly. This type of rental is typically short-term rather than long-term.
Senior Living RV Rentals: A segment of the senior population travels the USA in RVs throughout each year, stopping in particular gathering places in multiple states. RV Rentals are often used to equip seniors for a minimum of 12-month travels, sometimes extending to 2-years in length.

In addition to explaining the type of RV Rental business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

When and why did you start the business?
What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, the number of RVs purchased by your company, reaching X number of nationwide customers , etc.
Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the recreational vehicle rental industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the recreational vehicle industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your RV Rental business plan:

How big is the RV Rental industry (in dollars)?
Is the market declining or increasing?
Who are the key competitors in the market?
Who are the key suppliers in the market?
What trends are affecting the industry?
What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your RV Rental business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your RV Rental business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, those seeking “glamping” experiences, families, seniors, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of RV Rental business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regard to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your RV Rental Business Plan in 1 Day!

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With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other RV Rental businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes RV sales businesses, permanent mobile home parks, outdoor accommodation companies (cabins, fishing camps, tent campgrounds, etc). You need to mention such competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

What types of customers do they serve?
What type of RV Rental business are they?
What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
What are they good at?
What are their weaknesses?

With regard to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And, don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

Will you provide options for rentals that can be purchased after a certain number of rental months?
Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
Will you provide better customer service?
Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a RV Rental business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of RV Rental company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide RV drop-off/pick-up service to a campground, discounts for groups who rent RVs, or senior pricing for long-term rentals?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the RVs and the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your RV Rental company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your RV Rental business located near major tourist areas in a large complex, is it located by ocean campgrounds, or is it situated near a massive seniors-only RV park? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your RV Rental marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

Advertise in local papers, radio stations and in RV travel magazines
Reach out with direct-mail pieces to individuals and families
Distribute flyers to senior communities
Engage in email marketing
Advertise “RV Glamping” on social media platforms
Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) for targeted keywords on your website

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your RV Rental business, including answering calls, planning and directing recreational vehicles, cleaning and servicing vehicles, and billing customers.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth rental, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your RV Rental business to a second location in a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your RV Rental business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing RV Rental businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But, also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing an RV Rental business or have successfully sold a wide array of recreational vehicles to customers.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 20 customers each day and offer large RV rental party discounts online? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your RV Rental business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit, but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a RV Rental business:

Cost of recreational vehicles and equipment
Payroll or salaries paid to staff
Business insurance
Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and office supplies

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your RV rental lot location lease or a list of recreational vehicles already owned and ready to rent.

Writing a business plan for your RV Rental business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the RV Rental industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful RV Rental business.

Recreational Vehicle Rental Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my rv rental business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your RV rental business plan.

How Do You Start Business?

Starting business is easy with these 14 steps:

Choose the Name for Your RV Rental Business
Create Your RV Rental Business Plan
Choose the Legal Structure for Your RV Rental Business
Secure Startup Funding for Your RV Rental Business (If Needed)
Secure a Location for Your Business
Register Your RV Rental Business with the IRS
Open a Business Bank Account
Get a Business Credit Card
Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
Get Business Insurance for Your RV Rental Business
Buy or Lease the Right RV Rental Business Equipment
Develop Your RV Rental Business Marketing Materials
Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your RV Rental Business
Open for Business

Where Can I Download a Free Business Plan Template PDF?

Click here to download the pdf version of our basic business plan template.

Our free business plan template pdf allows you to see the key sections to complete in your plan and the key questions that each must answer. The business plan pdf will definitely get you started in the right direction.

We do offer a premium version of our business plan template. Click here to learn more about it. The premium version includes numerous features allowing you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan. Its most touted feature is its financial projections template which allows you to simply enter your estimated sales and growth rates, and it automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Here’s the link to our Ultimate Business Plan Template.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your RV Rental business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success. Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan writers can create your business plan for you.

How to Start an RV Rental Business - Trailer Valet

Starting an RV Rental Business: How to Create a Plan for Your Project

Starting an RV rental business takes initiative, a collection of reliable tools, and a big sprinkle of determination.

One of the beauties of RV travel is that this lifestyle appeals to a huge number of people. If you’re passionate about traveling in an RV and want to dedicate your life to this business, you are not alone. But, even though there’s a huge amount of happiness and joy involved, starting an RV rental business takes initiative, a collection of reliable tools, and a big sprinkle of determination.

At Wheelbase Pro, we’ve helped countless entrepreneurs with setting up their RV rental business, so we understand the different steps you need to take. There are many variables that will be unique to your scenario, like the laws in your specific location. However, we’ve also realized that almost all successful RV rental business owners go through similar steps to launch a company.

For this reason, we’ve put together an article breaking down the general steps you need to take to establish an RV rental business below.

Are RV Rental Businesses Profitable?

Before going over the steps on how to start an RV rental business, let’s figure out if this is a viable business idea or not.

As with any other business, there are risks involved with starting an RV rental business that go beyond your profit margins. Plus, you may already own one or even two RVs, but you’ll need to grow your fleet and learn how to manage it in order to scale your business. Additionally, RV rentals can be quite seasonal depending on your location, so there might be a slow time of the year that you’ll need to account for.

With all of the above in mind, RV rentals have the potential of being extremely profitable. For starters, RVs are high-ticket items, so many travelers avoid maintenance expenses by paying top-dollar for a rental. Depending on the camper, travelers are often willing to pay more than $200 per night, but remember that the price needs to be in line with the features and amenities in the rental.

So, in simple terms, an RV rental business has a huge amount of potential in terms of revenue, but you need to put in the work and create the perfect environment for your company to thrive.

How to Create an RV Rental Bussiness Plan

Now that we’ve discussed the potential for revenue, it’s time to go over the steps you need to take to create an RV rental business plan and set up your company for success.

Think of All the Costs Involved

Entrepreneurs that set up an RV rental usually consider variables like the cost of the RVs, the rental space itself, and traditional expenses like accounting. But, you also need to think about industry-specific expenses, like camper repairs, upgrades, dedicated business insurance, advertising, and required maintenance like oil changes. This will help you develop a comprehensive budget and prevent you from getting blindsided by unforeseen expenses.

Start Saving Funds

Whether you already own a business or think it will be your first venture, you need to start saving money as soon as you begin planning. Yes, working with a financial institution is necessary, but having some liquidity in the form of cash savings means that you don’t have to wait until your credit gets approved to get started.

If Possible, Work with a Specialized Financial Institution

This may not be an option for every single entrepreneur, but when possible, you should partner with financial institutions that specialize in RV rental businesses. If it’s not possible, you can also opt to work with a bank or similar organization that either helps small businesses or that has a good record of working with regular car rentals and dealerships.

Consider Creative RV Rental Business Models

When starting an RV rental business, most entrepreneurs opt for starting with something basic. The idea is sound because a more basic business should be easier to run. However, in the RV rental space, having a creative approach or model can actually bring you more business. For example, consider marketing your RV as a rental for sporting events or making modifications to a vintage RV to make it stand out. Just remember that you’ll have to provide the right amenities and ensure that there is demand for the theme you choose.

Find the Best Rental Software for Your Business

As part of learning how to start an RV rental business, you need to evaluate booking software and select the best option for your company. Having RV rental software will help you collect bookings even while you sleep, but you need to choose a provider that’s experienced and also creates a safe environment.

At Wheelbase Pro, we’ve developed one of the leading out-of-the-box RV rental solutions for entrepreneurs of all levels. The best part is that our robust software is completely free of charge, so contact us today and our team will be glad to help.

Create Detailed Listings

Solid booking software is a must, but you also have to create detailed listings that include photos, descriptions, and everything else that travelers need in order to make a decision. As part of this step, you can create walkthrough videos that serve as marketing content while also helping customers understand how the features in your RVs work.

Provide the Best Benefits in the Industry

Having additional features in a RV is common and these extra elements allow you to raise the price of your rentals. The problem is that most industry leaders charge a significant amount of money for these features. Instead of strictly following the industry, you should try to deliver the best benefits and try to garner a reputation for being customer-centric.

Maintain Flexibility

Once you have your listing, booking platform, and default feature/benefits list in place, you can basically take your business in any direction. Promoting your rental business early on is crucial, but also remember to maintain enough flexibility to adjust your business plan according to the results you get and the objectives you want to achieve.

Ready to Learn More? Wheelbase Is Here to Help

Establishing an RV rental business takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion. But, as long as you plan ahead, develop a comprehensive plan, and acquire the right tools to simplify the process, you’ll be able to position your RV rental company for success.

To find out more about Wheelbase Pro, get in touch with us today and we’ll be glad to help.

Reservation Software for RVs: Advantages of Online Reservation Tools

Find out 9 main advantages why choosing the right online reservation software is essential for your RV rental company.

RV Consignment: The Most Cost-Effective Way to Grow Your Fleet

Find out more about how consignment can help you grow your RV rental business without spending a small fortune.

Do you want to know more about Wheelbase?

Get in touch with us today and one of our team members will reach out to further discuss your needs and explain how Wheelbase can support your business.

How To Start A Rv Rental Business

When it comes to starting a RV rental business, you may find yourself in a place where you have to make some big decisions.

You may be asking yourself:

What's the first step in establishing my business?
How much will it cost to start my RV rental business?
How do I price my RV rental business?
How do I market my RV rental business?
... so much more!

We walk you through all of the steps; from idea → starting → launching → growing → running your business.

The purpose of this guide is to act as an outline for the steps you'll need to take to get your business running successfully!

Start A Rv Rental Business ➜ avg revenue (monthly) $80K see all RV rental businesses ➜ starting costs $37.9K see all costs ➜ gross margin 20% time to build 240 days average product price $315 growth channels Organic social media business model Subscriptions best tools Adobe Suite, Quickbooks, LinkedIn time investment Full time pros & cons 32 Pros & Cons see all ➜ tips 7 Tips see all ➜

💡 Introduction To Starting A Rv Rental Business

Is starting a rv rental business right for you.

There are many factors to consider when starting a RV rental business.

We put together the main pros and cons for you here:

Pros of starting a RV rental business

• Flexibility

You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own.

• Meaningful business connections

You never know who you will meet as a RV rental business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity!

• High customer retention rates

Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer.

• Pick & choose the clients you work with

Rv Rental Businesses have the ability to choose the clients they work with. You have the freedom to work with only a few loyal clients or with hundreds of clients!

• Unlimited income potential

With starting a RV rental business there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make.

• Amazing perks and discounts

Working in the RV rental business comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts.

• Predictable income stream

Your businesses income stream tends to be predictable based on the number of customers you have signed up. This makes financial planning and outlooks much more seamless!

• Higher likelihood of getting referrals

This business is all about referrals, which can be a a very impactful way to attract and retain customers. It's critical that you have a great referral program in place that incentivizes your customers to tell their friends about your product.

• Simple business model

A RV rental business has the advantage of a simple business model, which makes launching and building the business more seamless.

• Greater Income Potential

With this business, the sky is the limit in regards to your income potential.

• You can decide who you work with

Gone are the days of working in a toxic work environment with employees that you may not vibe with. As a small business owner, you get to decide who you work and surround yourself with.

• You establish yourself as an expert

With starting a RV rental business, you establish yourself as an expert in your niche, which builds your credibility. In return, customers are more likely to trust you and refer you to other friends and family.

• Can build solid foundation of clients

It's unlikely you will have one-off customers as a RV rental business. Typically, you have a solid foundation of clients that use your product and services regularly.

• Results and revenue happen quickly!

Unlike other businesses, it can be relatively quick to start seeing results and revenue. As long as you follow all the steps to validate your idea before launch, you are likely to see quick results and ROI.

Cons of starting a RV rental business

• Motivation of employees

If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees.

• Longer Sales Process

A RV rental business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers.

• Low margins

The gross margins for your RV rental business are typically around 20%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability.

• High employee turnover

In the RV rental business, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment.

As a RV rental business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

• Niche Market

A niche business is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it can be the key to your success. However, it can be more challenging and time consuming to find the perfect niche market and target audience.

• High overhead expenses

With starting a RV rental business, there are overhead expenses that come with selling a physical product. You will want to make sure you strategically budget for these overhead costs. We discuss this more in the startup costs section below.

• Time commitment

With starting a RV rental business, all responsibilities and decisions are in your hands. Although this is not necessarily a negative thing, work life can take over at times. This can place a strain on friends and family and add to the pressure of launching a new business.

• Difficult to build trust with your customer

With starting a RV rental business, there can be minimal face-to-face interaction, which means it can be a lot more difficult to establish trust with your customers. You'll need to go the extra mile with your customer to grab their attention and business.

• Impatient customers

You may offer an engaging user experience for your customer, but customers expect a lot and may be impatient if they aren't pleased with your product or service.

• Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone!

Although this is exciting for some entrepreneurs, it can be a big challenge for others! You may find yourself in uncomfortable social and business situations, jumping into tasks and responsibilities you aren't familiar with, and pushing yourself as far as you can go!

• You might struggle financially (at first)!

If you bootstrap your business or choose not to pay yourself (or pay yourself less than you were making at your corporate job), this can be financially taxing. It's important to adjust your lifestyle and set a plan for yourself so you don't find yourself in a stressful situation.

• Difficult to scale

With a RV rental business, it can be challenging to find ways to scale. Check out this article that discusses scaling your business and the challenges that come with it.

• Learning Curve

When you start your own business, you no longer have upper management to provide you with a playbook for your roles and responsibilities. You should know the ins and outs of every aspect of your business, as every decision will come down to you.

• Equipment Breakdowns

Over the years, your equipment can get damaged, break down, and may need repairs which can be expensive. It's important you prepare for these expenses and try to avoid damages/wear & tear as much as possible.

• Answering Phones

The RV rental business is still considered a traditional business, which means answering phones is a big part of the job. If you or your team miss phone calls, you could be missing out on potential revenue opportunities. If you are unable to attend to your phone throughout the day, it would be in your best interest to hire a call center or an employee dedicated to this.

• Technical issues can be frustrating

Technical issues are common in this business. If you struggle with the technical side of things, you may want to consider outsourcing this responsibility to save yourself the time and frustration.

• More challenging to earn passive income

It can be more of a challenge to make passive income in this business. Often times, the amount of revenue you bring in is limited by the amount of time you have in the day.

Big Players

RVshare (21.3K Alexa Ranking)
Outdoorsy (21.4K Alexa Ranking)
America's RV Rental Experts (70.4K Alexa Ranking)
Motorhome Republic (175K Alexa Ranking)
El Monte RV (221K Alexa Ranking)

Small Players

NW Adventure Rentals - Revenue $250K/month
Fireside RV Rental - Revenue $150K/month
ROAMERICA - Revenue $10K/month
Dry Camp - Revenue $2K/month

Search Interest

Let's take a look at the search trends for rv rental over the last year:

How To Name Your Rv Rental Business

It's important to find a catchy name for your RV rental business so that you can stand out in your space.

Here are some general tips to consider when naming your RV rental business

Avoid hard to spell names: you want something easy to remember and easy to spell for your customers
Conduct a search to see if others in the space have the same name
Try not to pick a name that limits growth opportunities for your business (ie. if you decide to expand into other product lines)
As soon as you have an idea (or ideas) of a few names that you love, register the domain name(s) as soon as possible!

Why is naming your RV rental business so important?

The name of your business will forever play a role in:

Your customers first impression
Your businesses identity
The power behind the type of customer your brand attracts
If you're memorable or not

It's important to verify that the domain name is available for your RV rental business.

You can search domain availability here:

Find a domain starting at $0.88

Although .com names are the most common and easiest to remember, there are other options if your .com domain name is not available. Depending on your audience, it may not matter as much as you think.

It's also important to thoroughly check if social media handles are available.

As soon as you resonate with a name (or names), secure the domain and SM handles as soon as possible to ensure they don't get taken.

Here's some inspiration for naming your RV rental business:

Road to Happiness check availability
All Aboard RV check availability
Rolling Along check availability
Road Warriors check availability
Ocean Breeze RV check availability
Globe Rental check availability
Complete RV check availability
Wheels Up check availability
Keystone RV check availability
Checkmate RV check availability
Classy Chic RV check availability
RVaza check availability
Camping Out RV check availability
RV Ventures Co. check availability
Freely RVs check availability
Mobile RVer check availability
Ironhorse RV check availability
RVorama check availability
Easy Trailers check availability
Breath Deep RV check availability
Encore Motors check availability
Happy Camper check availability
RV Campground check availability
RV Connections check availability
Legend Trailers check availability
Around the RV check availability
Acumen RV check availability
RVlada check availability
Caravan Parks RV check availability
Wild West RV check availability
Across the Road RV check availability
RV Buddies check availability
Estate RV check availability
Outdoorsy check availability
Star View RVs check availability
Eagle Nest RV check availability
Wild Road Trip check availability
Traveller Liberty check availability
Rock Solid RV check availability
Path RV check availability
RVio check availability
All Coast RV check availability
Ample RV check availability
Task Rental check availability
Road Ryder check availability
Fun Holiday RVs check availability
Adventure Bound check availability
Secure RV check availability
Rentnetic check availability
RV Freedom check availability
RVnest check availability
New Moon RV check availability
Road Trippers RV check availability
Atlas RV check availability
Holiday Fun RV check availability
American Way RV check availability
Alpine Escape RV check availability
Cool Rides RV check availability
Autocamping RV check availability
Big Red RV check availability
Rentarc check availability
Get Moving RV check availability
Acorn RV check availability
Luxury Bliss check availability
Up to Speed RV check availability
Easy Life RV check availability
Eagle RV check availability
Control Rental check availability
Electric RV check availability
RVgenix check availability
Our Camper check availability
Rolling RV check availability
Go Camping check availability
Camping in Style check availability
Camping Fun Ride check availability
Bod Spot check availability
Brief check availability
DownCamper check availability
Postal Vanguard check availability
The Boer check availability
Truck Trading Co check availability
Occasional check availability
1a Pro check availability
Que Bus Group check availability
AlaskanCamper check availability
Dutch Vanguard Place check availability
Celebrated Campfire check availability
Casual Truck check availability
Pickup Place check availability
Tiny check availability
Camper Spot check availability
Camp Group check availability
Overzicht check availability
Empty Minivan check availability
Modern Camp check availability
Stolen Minibus check availability
DenierVan check availability
Hungry Camp Pro check availability
Homemade check availability
The Range Bus check availability
Known check availability
Tiger salamander Camper check availability
The Outstanding check availability
Hungry Van check availability
Ordinary check availability
Late Camp Pro check availability
The Motor Caravan check availability
The Wise check availability
Vehicle Trading Co check availability
Fibula check availability
The Real check availability
Youngest check availability
Old Minibus check availability
The Blue Vanguard check availability
Happier check availability
Covered Car Group check availability

Read our full guide on naming your RV rental business ➜

How To Create A Slogan For Your Rv Rental Business:

Slogans are a critical piece of your marketing and advertising strategy.

The role of your slogan is to help your customer understand the benefits of your product/service - so it's important to find a catchy and effective slogan name.

Often times, your slogan can even be more important than the name of your brand.

Here are 6 tips for creating a catchy slogan for your RV rental business:

1. Keep it short, simple and avoid difficult words

A great rule of thumb is that your slogan should be under 10 words. This will make it easy for your customer to understand and remember.

2. Tell what you do and focus on what makes you different

There are a few different ways you can incorporate what makes your business special in your slogan:

Explain the target customer you are catering your services towards
What problem do you solve?
How do you make other people, clients, or your employer look good?
Do you make people more successful? How?

3. Be consistent

Chances are, if you're coming up with a slogan, you may already have your business name, logo, mission, branding etc.

It's important to create a slogan that is consistent with all of the above.

4. Ensure the longevity of your slogan

Times are changing quickly, and so are businesses.

When coming up with your slogan, you may want to consider creating something that is timeless and won't just fade with new trends.

5. Consider your audience

When finding a catchy slogan name, you'll want to make sure that this resonates across your entire audience.

It's possible that your slogan could make complete sense to your audience in Europe, but may not resonate with your US audience.

6. Get feedback!

This is one of the easiest ways to know if your slogan will be perceived well, and a step that a lot of brands drop the ball on.

Ask friends, family, strangers, and most importantly, those that are considered to be in your target market.

Here's some inspiration for coming up with a slogan for your RV rental business:

And On The Eighth Day, God Created Van.
America's Most Trusted Camper.
Camper Can Do.
It's My Rv!
Rv Tested, Mother Approved.
Set Of The Camping
Large Black Maria Are What We Do
Kills All Known Van - Dead.
Chicken Coop Is What We Do
Always The Real Thing, Always Camper.
Is It Live, Or Is It Rv?
Van Is Forever.
Van - You See This Name, You Think Dirty.
Cottage Is What We Do
Lay Of The Aa
What Can Camper Do For You?
An Army Of Rv.
Cruiser Is What We Do
An Army Of Camper.
Rv Is What We Do.
Small Driveways Are What We Do
Base Of The Pickup
Did Somebody Say Rv?
Camper For Hire.
Appendix Is What We Do
Australians Wouldn't Give A Van For Anything Else.
Blue Van, We're Commiitted
Van, Fun For The Whole Family.
Het Jeeps Are What We Do
Camper - The Revolution.
Vorsprung Durch Van.
Put Of The 1a
Why Can't Everything Orange Be Rv?
See You At Camper.
Large Minibus, Big Wagon
Camper Is What We Do
So Easy, No Wonder Rv Is #1.
Because Camper Can't Drive.
Life's Pretty Straight Without Van.
The Ultimate Rv Machine.
Lay Of The Caravan
Nobody Does It Like Rv.
Got Camper?
Australians Wouldn't Give A Camper For Anything Else.
Schhh... You Know Rv.
Armored Vehicle Is What We Do
Behold The Power Of Rv.
Weak Truckload, Blue Wagon
Live In Your Van, Play In Ours.
Old Camper, We Are Here
Set Of The Truck
Vans With Vegetable
Don't Live A Little, Live A Rv.
Het Bus, Old Wagon
Everyone's Favourite Camper.
Rv Is My Sport.
Refreshes The Van Other Beers Cannot Reach.
Camper Will Get You More Girls.
Absolut Rv.

The Brick & Mortar Business Model

When deciding whether or not to start a RV rental business, it's important to first decide what type of business model you want (brick and mortar, eCommerce, or both)!

Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering a Brick & Mortar store:

If you do plan to open a physical store, it's important that you find a spot in a high-traffic area. This is a great way to gain exposure for your business and also get new customers.

It's also important to consider the higher costs associated with operating a physical store (ie - employees, rent, utilities, etc) and the long days/hours associated with running a store.

The main benefit, however, is that customers love being able to see products in person. It's important to recognize that although some people enjoy shopping online, there will always be the shopper persona that likes to touch, feel, and see the product they're buying.

Learn more about starting a RV rental business :

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a RV rental business? -> Pros and cons of a RV rental business

Need inspiration?

-> Other RV rental business success stories -> Examples of established RV rental business -> Marketing ideas for a RV rental business -> Rv rental business names

Other resources

-> Rv rental business tips -> Blog post ideas for a RV rental business

🎬 How To Start A Rv Rental Business

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Rv Rental Business

If you are planning to start a RV rental business, the costs are relatively low. This, of course, depends on if you decide to start the business with lean expenses or bringing in a large team and spending more money.

We’ve outlined two common scenarios for “pre-opening” costs of starting a RV rental business and outline the costs you should expect for each:

The estimated minimum starting cost = $62
The estimated maximum starting cost = $75,701

Raising Money For Your Rv Rental Business

Here are the most common ways to raise money for your RV rental business:

Bootstrapping

You may not need funding for your RV rental business.

In fact, many entrepreneurs take this approach when starting their own business, whether they have a little amount of cash or a substantial amount to get started.

So what exactly does the term "bootstrapping" mean?

This method essentially refers to self-funding your business without external help or capital and reinvesting your earnings back into the business**

Bootstrapping means building your company from the ground up with your own, or your loved ones, personal savings and reinvesting all earnings back into the business

Here are some tips to consider when bootstrapping your business :

Use your savings as your capital - one of the best ways to bootstrap your business is to collect your savings and use them as startup capital. This will also help you avoid using your personal or business credit cards when getting started.
Determine exactly how much capital you need and how much capital you have to get your business off the ground. Generally, when bootstrapping your business, you may want to consider starting a business that involves less startup capital.
Consider starting a business that will generate immediate returns so you can put money back into the business
Be as lean as possible - this refers to cutting down expenses as much as possible, such as payroll, fancy software tools, unnecessary travel, renting an office, etc
Consider outsourcing instead of hiring - in the beginning, you may not need to hire someone permanently to help run your business. It tends to be much less expensive to outsource work to a freelancer and hire someone permanently down the road!

Want to learn more about bootstrapping your business? Check out this article

VC funding is a traditional and long process, but an effective way to raise money for your business.

The term "VC funding" refers to venture capital firms investing in businesses in exchange for equity.

The VC's (venture capitalists) are an individual or small group investing in your business and typically require substantial ownership of the business, with the hope of seeing a return on their investment.

VC's are typically the best approach for businesses with high startup costs - where it would be very difficult to raise the money on your own or through a loan.

When deciding whether to take this approach, it's important that you have a few things in place first, and know what you're getting yourself into:

Determine if your business is ready

Having an idea is not enough to get VC funding.

Typically, VC's will check to make sure you have these things in place prior to closing any deal:

An MVP (Minimal Viable Product)
A founding team with all proper documents in place (articles of organization, business formation)
A validated idea with actual customers buying your product/service

Get everything in place and build a pitch deck

A VC individual or firm will be expecting a fine-tuned presentation that gives an overview of your business.

Here's what you should consider including in your pitch deck:

Management team, their previous experience + current roles in the business
Market challenge and solution
Company financials - including a P&L statement, cash flow statement, and projections
Company progress
Investment amount - how much do you need and why?

Research the right VC to fund your business

Research the types of VC investors out there and what niche they focus on.

Then, put together a list of target VC's you want to approach and your strategy around setting up meetings.

Be sure you have everything in place (as discussed above) before setting up any meeting!

Make sure the terms and expectations are right for your business

Committing to VC funding is a big deal and a decision that should not be made lightly.

Although the money and experience from VC's can help your business quickly grow, you are also giving away a stake in the company, and the money comes with strings attached.

Be sure you do your due diligence in finding the right investor - one that truly believes in the growth and success of your business.

What Skills Do I Need To Succeed In Starting A Rv Rental Business?

As a RV rental business, there are several essential skills and characteristics that are important to identify prior to starting your business.

Let’s look at these skills in more detail so you can identify what you need to succeed in your day-to-day business operations:

Self Motivation Skills

Self motivation and discipline skills are critical in order to become successful in this field.

It's likely that you will find yourself starting and running your RV rental business from home, which could mean there are more distractions for you.

Here are the basic skills needed for self motivation & discipline:

Becoming a self starter: It's important that you are capable of independently completing a task without the help or direction of anyone else
Listening and following directions : When you are given direction by others, it's critical that you are able to follow directions and ask the right questions in order to get your job done
Taking the initiative in problem solving: Instead of taking the easy route, you'll need to learn to troubleshoot issues on your own as much as possible.

Customer Service Skills

Friendly communication with customers and the ability to address service issues is a critical part of the job.

Here are some customer service skills you may want to consider prior to starting a RV rental business:

Professionalism: The way you act, present yourself, and respond to situations all leave an impression on your customer. It's important to stay professional at all times when handling customer requests or issues.
Problem-solving: When issues arise, it's important that you are able to think quick on your feet and address the situation with a calm and clear solution
Friendly-manner: This is an obvious one, but customers truly appreciate someone that can respond in a quick, efficient, and friendly manner.
Proficient in writing: These skills include the ability to write well-crafted emails, service tickets, and any other programs used by the business (ie. chat functions, SMS texting)

Business Savvy Skills

When starting a RV rental business, there are a few fundamental business skills you will want to learn in order to be successful:

Leadership and training skills: A great team starts with YOU. Make sure you have all company policies and training procedures in place prior to hiring your team
Decisive and self-confident: Over the course of your career, you will need decisions that could impact your business significantly. It's important you are able to think clearly and rationally about these decisions.
Ability to understand the financials : You don't need to be an accountant, but it is important that you are able to clearly understand and define metrics such as expenses, revenue, profit, margins, COGS, etc.
Strategic Thinking : Setting clear goals and benchmarks, identifying opportunities, risks. Ability to effectively communicate these insights to your team.

These are a few of many business savvy skills you should have (or work on) when starting a RV rental business.

For a full list, check out this article here .

Advice For Starting A Rv Rental Business

We've interviewed thousands of successful founders at Starter Story and asked what advice they would give to entrepreneurs who are just getting started.

Here's the best advice we discovered for starting a RV rental business:

Gretchen Bayless and Taylor Hood, founder of ROAMERICA ($10K/month):

If you throw in the towel when it's tough, you’d never know if success was right around the corner.

Read the full interview ➜

Garr Russell, founder of Fireside RV Rental ($150K/month):

The greatest asset you have as a business owner is your employees first in your database second.

You have to play the long game, and during that game you will most likely be close to broke, SO YOU MUST LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO CARRY YOU THROUGH THOSE HARD TIMES. The ones who press on and don’t quit, are the ones who reap the rewards.

It’s okay to have big dreams and strive for them to come true but it’s also necessary to make progress, one step at a time.

Write a Business Plan

Writing a business plan from the start is critical for the success of your RV rental business.

Because this allows you to roadmap exactly what you do, what your overall structure will look like, and where you want to be in the future.

For many entrepreneurs, writing out the business plan helps validate their idea and decide whether or not they should move forward with starting the business.

You may want to consider expanding upon these sections in your business plan:

Executive Summary : Brief outline of your product, the market, and growth opportunities
Overviews and Objectives : Overview of your business, target customers, and what you need to run your business
Products and Services : Specifics on the products and services your business will provide
Market Opportunities : Analysis of customer demographics, buyer habits and if your product is in demand
Marketing : Outline of your marketing plan and how you plan to differentiate yourself from other customers
Competitive analysis : Analysis of your competition and the strengths and weaknesses therein
Operations : Hierarchal structure of the company and what it will take to run the business on the day-to-day
Leadership Team : Detailing roles and responsibilities of each manager based on their specific skill-set
Financial Analysis Understanding of all expenses, operating budgets, and projections for the future.

Learn more about how to write a business plan here

Determine Which Business Bank Account You Need

There are hundreds of banks out there, and it can be overwhelming to find one that's right for your business.

Here are some factors you may want to consider:

Location - Is your bank close enough that you can easily make deposits or get cash?
Low Fees - Make sure to understand any and all fees associated with setting up and maintaining your bank account. Ask for a list - banks usually try to keep this hidden and in the fine print.
Online Banking Services - Make sure you can easily navigate through your online portal and you have easy access to everything you need.
Line of Credit - What do your options look like (even if you don't need this now, you may need this down the road).
Every bank has something that differentiates them from the rest, so make sure whatever that is applied to your needs and values.

Check out this list of the 13 Best Banks for Small Business in 2020 and what makes them so unique.

Setting Up Your Rv Rental Business (Formation and Legal)

When it comes to setting up your business, you may find yourself in a place where you have to make some financial and legal decisions.

The first thing you'll want to decide on is whether you want to be an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp.

These three options are found to be the most common when starting a small business, and all serve to protect your personal assets and also provide you with certain tax benefits.

LLC : All income and expenses from the business are reported on the LLC personal income tax return.
S corp : Owners pay themselves salaries + receive dividends from profits.
C Corp : C Corps are separately taxable entities that file a corporate tax return (Form 1120). No income tax is paid at the corporate level and any tax due is paid at the owners individual expense.

Depending on where you're conducting business, you'll also want to consider securing the proper permits, licenses and liability insurance.

Learn more about securing the right permits and licenses ➜

Need to start an LLC? Create an LLC in minutes with ZenBusiness .

How Do I Pay Myself As A Small Business Owner?

Most entrepreneurs start a business to do something they love- but at the end of the day, you still have bills to pay (maybe now more than ever).

But it's important to strike the right balance - if you pay yourself too much, you could be putting your business at risk.

There are two common ways to pay yourself as a business owner:

1. Owner's Draw

Many entrepreneurs pay themselves through an owner's draw. This means that you are technically sean as "self-employed" through the eyes of the IRS and are not paid through regular wages.

At the point that you collect money from the draw, taxes typically are not taken out - so make sure you are prepared to pay these taxes once you file your individual return.

As an owner who takes a draw, you can legally take out as much as you want from your equity.

This type of compensation is suited for Sole props, LLCs, and partnerships. If you’re an S corp, you can pay yourself through both a salary and draw if you choose.

If you decide to pay yourself a salary, you will receive a set and recurring amount. This will be taxed by the federal government and the state you reside in.

The reality is that it can be really complicated to set your own salary, so we have some tips for you to consider:

Take out a reasonable amount that allows you to live comfortably but also sets your business up for success
Consider the number of hours you are working weekly + the type of duties you are performing.
Set your salary based on your industry-standard, location, and profits (or projected profits)
Look at your P&L statement : Deduct your own pay from that amount. This is important so you can first tackle important business expenses, and then pay yourself from the amount leftover.
Pick a payroll schedule (and stick to it)! In the US, it's most common to pay yourself and employees twice a month.

To learn more about how to pay yourself and what is a reasonable amount, check out this article .

How To Price Your Rv Rental

One of the most challenging aspects to starting a RV rental business is determining how much to charge for your rv rental.

When businesses under-price their product, this can be extremely detrimental to their bottom line and reputation.

Often times, businesses under-price their products to drive demand and volume, but that last thing you want is for customers to view your product/service as "cheap." Additionally, this can have a big impact on the type of customer you attract, which can be difficult to recover from.

On the other hand, when businesses over-price , this tends to be just as damaging to the business.

When customers buy, it's likely that they will explore the internet and look at other competitors to ensure they're getting the best value + deal. This is why it's so important that you research your competition and understand where you land in the marketplace.

Here are some factors to consider when pricing your product:

Understand your customer

It's important that out of the gates, you identify the type of customer you want to attract and how much they're willing to pay for your service. One great way to do this is by surveying your customers. Here are some important items you'll want to takeaway:

Customer demographic: Age, gender, location, etc.
Buying habits of your customer: What they buy + when they buy
Level of price sensitivity with your customer

All of these segments will help you identify the type of customer you're attracting and how to price your product accordingly.

Understand your costs

When pricing your rv rental, it's critical that you first identify all of your costs and consequently mark up your rv rental so you can factor in a profit.

The actual cost of your rv rental may include things like:

The actual cost to make the product (ie. raw materials, supplies, manufacturer).
Shipping + overhead fees
Operating costs to run your business

You may want to consider creating a spreadsheet with every single expense involved in operating/owning your business. This will give you an idea as to what you need to generate in order to at the very least, break-even and will help you price your products to factor in a profit.

Create revenue goals

When determining the price of your rv rental, you'll want to create goals for revenue + how much profit you want your RV rental business to make.

This process is simpler than you may think:

Think about your breakeven cost (by completing the above step).
Create a revenue goal based on your break-even cost
Evaluate the # of items you plan to sell in a given period (make sure this is a realistic number)
Divide your revenue goal by the number of items you plan to sell

This figure will help determine your estimated price per product in order to meet your revenue goals.

Evaluate your competition

The last piece in determining how to price your rv rental is by simply looking at your competition.

The best way to do this is by finding like-minded businesses that offer product(s) with similar perceived value. Then, you can compare prices of the different businesses and determine where your rv rental fits best in the marketplace.

All of these factors play an equal part in pricing your rv rental, so it's important you evaluate each one individually to come up with an accurate price that will help optimize your business from the start.

Understanding Your Costs

Example from Ishan, founder of Ugly Duckling

First objective: profitability

Our profitability is OK at this point but definitely not where it should be yet. To this day I have not paid myself a regular salary yet...and it’s been 4 years!

The problem is not the cost of goods which are well under 20% of sales, which is good by any standard. The problem is fulfillment costs. In 2018 we transitioned from our first fulfillment company to a much bigger company. We did this because we wanted to provide faster shipment speeds and a better quality of packaging. In hindsight, we chose a company which would have been more suitable for a larger company with bigger volumes. We ended up being tied in with some pretty large minimum monthly payments. So currently fulfillment costs are currently around 45% of sales...way too high.

We are now looking to transit to another fulfillment center. Our target is to get our fulfillment costs down to around 30% of sales which I believe from what I have researched, is possible.

Just to be clear, when I say fulfillment that includes transportation costs also - FedEx, USPS, etc. Not just storage, picking, and packing. I am pretty sure that it is possible to get fulfillment costs down even lower, and I suspect that some large pro sellers on amazon.com work with around 20-25% of sales.

So our target P+L for 2020 looks something like this:

Cost of goods, including inbound freight and clearance - around 22% of sales.
Fulfillment - around 30% of sales.
Digital Advertising & Promotion - around 15% of sales.
Other marketing and office costs, including salary costs - around 10% of sales.
That would leave us around 23% of sales - enough to pay me a liveable salary and for the company to make a profit and finance future growth.

That's the first objective for 2020: to right-size the P+L so that we are profitable at our current sales level

Gross Margin Calculator: How to Calculate The Gross Margin For Your Rv Rental

Our calculator is designed to be simple and easy to use.

The goal is to help you set realistic expectations and understand what is considered a healthy gross margin for your RV rental business.

Calculate your gross margin and profit margin here .

What Type Of Customers Will Buy Your Rv Rental

It's important to first establish who you will be selling to, whether it's to businesses or consumers.

Typically, in this industry, products are sold to B2C markets (business-to-consumer).

Let's take a look at what this means for your RV rental business:

B2C (or business to consumer) is a transaction where businesses sell their products or services to the consumer directly.

In this market, consumer behavior is the primary driver for your business decisions - so it's important that you truly identify who your customer is, and what their buyer habits are when building your product/service.

The advantage

B2C is that you are able to cast a very wide net when targeting your customers. Your product may interest a large number of consumers or a specific niche.

The disadvantage

B2C is that consumers hold all the power - so if your website is not the most user friendly, or does not rank in the top search results on Google, chances are, your customer is going to shop elsewhere.

When building your RV rental business, it's critical that you hone in on who your target audience is, and why they need your product over your competition.

Here are some items to consider when identifying your buyer persona:

Design A Prototype

Turning your idea into a reality can feel like a daunting task - but it's critical that you have an idea of what your product will look like (even if it's just a sketch) prior to finding a manufacturer.

Here are some common ways you can design your prototype:

Draw Your Initial Design on Paper
Form pieces of fabric together
Consider Taking A Generic Product And Putting Your Own Brand On It
Try Making the Product Yourself
Consider Building A Prototype With A 3D Printer

To learn more about how to design and prototype a product, check out our latest guide here .

Paul Schauer, founder of Dry Camp dives deep into the process of designing and prototyping their product:

Manufacturing a product is actually quite harder than you would expect. You have to do your research on what materials you want to use and where they would be coming from. We sought to build a brand with great quality that offered more product for the price and a great warranty behind it.

This meant we were going to have to compare manufacturer ratings and prices, all while creating a relationship that could last our company’s lifetime. We wanted to offer a lifetime replacement warranty on our products - so to do that, we needed to find a reputable manufacturer.

There are great sources for finding manufacturers for goods, but you want to be sure you are finding the right one for you. We searched Google high and low to see what we could stumble upon, beyond what places we already knew of. Then you start by submitting each manufacturer a request for quotation, where you can receive an estimated price for what you are looking to have made or sent to you.

I would highly recommend creating a list of these quotes and the following process to anyone who has a unique design, product or invention that they want to build.

Here are steps of the process we heeded:

Go to Google and search for manufacturers, whether by typing that in the search bar or looking through sites such as Amazon to get a feel for what products come from where. Check to see if they offer the goods you are looking for and/or comparable materials that you may want a sample of to test out. Do your research on the differences of these - and always take notes!

Be sure to look for ratings that are higher on the given scale, read reviews (which are always a must!), and check to see if they come with any assurance policies that will guarantee your products to arrive safe and sound. Make certain you take a look at the number of sales they do and their supply capacity. Begin making a list of the ones you want to contact with space for commentary.

Contact the suppliers with a message explaining exactly what you are looking for, including how many items you want as this can change their estimation on pricing dramatically. Then, ask if you can be sent a sample, either of their materials or the finished product. Be sure to be very thorough in the description of the product you are looking for, and I would suggest sending along a drawing even to help. Some manufacturers will work with you while alter your design, but some will not, so be sure to tell them that you want to wait to order when you have had time to properly review the samples.

When your samples arrive, make notes of your thoughts, test them out and show them off to get feedback from potential customers and/or people that will give you an objective review. This really helped us when we designed our products, and actually resulted us in having to go back to the drawing board to maintain the quality of our designs while ensuring comfort.

Talk to the manufacturer about packaging and anything you need and want to be included, including UPC’s, warning labels, and any other printed material. This will help you to know whether you have to look elsewhere or if the pricing and time frame needs to be adjusted.

Double and triple check your order before completing and sending through to the manufacturer. Remain in constant and quick contact as to ensure a smooth process and build upon your business relationship with the manufacturer for possible future purchases. Always remember to keep your options open though - for pricing is always ever-changing to meet your needs.

As mentioned many times above, be very thorough with what manufacturer you go with. You’ll notice they may change their pricing on you, so be sure to ask if they can send you an itemized bill. We had to search through many manufacturers until we found one we could trust, that had consistent communication, and exactly what we were looking for.

How To Find A Supplier For Your Rv Rental Business

Here are the steps to consider when finding a supplier/manufacturer:

Know your design

One very critical step to finding the right supplier is having an initial idea of what your design/product will look like.

Sketching is one of the most simple ways to get started in the design phase.

What's great about sketching is that you can practically do this anytime, anywhere - even on the back of a napkin.

To get started, all you need to do is pick up a pen and paper and start drawing - or if you are working on a virtual/software product this can be a diagram that outlines the user interface or experience.

Decide your supplier type

You'll want to identify the type of supplier you are looking for.

Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself prior to searching for a supplier

Are you looking for a manufacturer to produce your product idea ?
Do you want to find a supplier that can simply purchase existing products for you ?
Do you want a drop-shipper to supply and fulfill orders?
Do you want a domestic supplier or an overseas supplier? Read more about the pros and cons of each here

Where to start your search

Once you have an understanding of what type of manufacturer/supplier will be best to bring your idea to life, there are several areas you can start your search:

Domestic Suppliers

Overseas Suppliers

Manufacturing Your Product In House

It's also very common to manufacture your rv rental on your own - either from your home or in a commercial space.

In order to get the product right, you may want to consider experimenting with different designs and recipes until you find the perfect one.

Some founders choose to manufacture their product in-house so that they can control quality, manage costs, and easily handle production/logistics.

Down the road, you can always choose to outsource your rv rental.

Leslie Eisen, founder of AlmondClear discusses how to manufacture products in house

If you want to start a line of unique products, then you have two basic options: you can make them yourself, or you can find a manufacturer to work with that creates custom formulations for their clients.

I knew that I was trying to build a larger-scale business and that the home-made model wasn’t right for me, so I had to find the right manufacturing partner. It took a lot of research, phone calls, and emails before I found the laboratory that met my needs.

I wanted to create unique products (as opposed to private label), so I worked with the manufacturer’s chemist who specializes in skin care formulations. This process takes some time!

First, you have to tell the chemist what kind of product you’re looking for , the ingredients that you want to include or leave out, and what you want the final product to look like/feel like/smell like, etc.

Then, the manufacturer sends you the first sample , you try it out or give it to others to try, and then provide feedback for revisions. In my case, the first two products came together fairly easily because I only needed to make small changes to stock formulations.

There are many, many rules and regulations around cosmetics and skin care products. If you want to sell products that contain FDA regulated ingredients then you have to register and get a permit.

My products aren’t FDA regulated, so I didn’t have to go through this step, but I did have to be aware of the many guidelines and standards around labeling and safety warnings. Some people hire a lawyer to help them through this process, but my manufacturer was able to guide me through the regulatory process.

The entire process, from researching labs to work with to having the first finished products shipped out to me, took around six months.

Purchasing Inventory For Your Rv Rental Business

When first starting out, it's important to start small with your overhead to get a gauge for what people want.

Just remember - if you order a line of items that don't sell, it's nearly impossible to recoup the money lost.

Buying the right inventory takes research and planning in order to get it right.

Identify your target audience : Identify the age, gender, annual income that you will be selling to. This is a defining factor in ordering the right inventory that will sell.
Research your competition : Conduct market research and identify the different types of styles, price points, and materials being used. This will help you see what's trending and ways that you can improve/stay ahead of the competition.
Create an inventory wishlist : Identify what you need for the launch of your business and create a budget that you will stay within. Remember, it's okay to start small.
Find a supplier Make sure to first compare prices and analyze different options.
Delivery timing : Schedule the inventory delivery to match with seasonality and trending buying seasons

Pro-tip: It's easy to become biased based on your own fashion preferences on what types of shoes/apparel to purchase. This is where a lot of fashion businesses go wrong. It's important to base purchase decisions on current buyer behavior, trends in the market, and specific to your niche.

Erin Hooley, founder of Bailey's Blossoms tells us how poor inventory projections led her to lose over $2M

When we first launched Peyton Bre we did so in a social or direct sales model.

Through poor inventory projections we were forced to change models but only after losing $2 million dollars.

It was a devastating time for us and one we were not sure we could survive.

I have since become very intentional about the way that we project our inventory needs and we continue to refine that quarterly and even monthly. We have created a KPI for the cost of goods sold to help us hold ourselves accountable.

Ultimately, the better we manage our inventory the less we have need to discount and the healthier our profit margin becomes.

This is, of course, a very high-level overview of the importance of inventory control.

To see the full breakdown on how to manage inventory, check out my guide over on my blog. .

🚀 How To Launch Your Rv Rental Business

Build A Website

Building a website is imperative when launching your business, and with the right tools in place, this can be a simple task to check off the list (without having to hire someone).

Pick a domain name that's easy to remember and easy to type
Choose a Web Hosting Plan (ie. Shopify, Squarespace)
Make sure you choose the right theme and design
Implement the proper page structure (ie. about page, contact page, pricing etc)

To learn more about how to build a stellar website with little stress, we give you all the details on this step-by-step guide .

Once you have chosen the domain, web hosting, and platform, it's time to get started with the design phase.

Themes are a great way to produce the fundamental style and identity of your website - this includes everything from your font design to your blog post styles.

One of the best ways to get started is to simply explore the various themes (free or paid depending on what you're looking for) and test them on your site.

If web-design really isn't in the cards for you, you may want to consider outsourcing a web designer to help bring your vision and brand to life.

Launch Strategies For Your Rv Rental Business

There are various different ways you can launch your RV rental business successfully.

Here are a few different strategies to get customers excited about your RV rental business.

Build hype with a landing page : you can effectively do this through waiting lists, discounts, countdown timer etc
Create a teaser video : even just a 30 second video is a great way to exposure for your RV rental business, and possibly even go viral
Reach out to influencers : The right influencer for your product has the ability to reach your audience with just one post, and because of their loyal following, this could lead to a big return for you.
Get Press : Whether you plan a PR stunt or get exposure through a popular news outlet, this is a great way to attract initial customers
Launch on popular sites : A great way to get buzz about your RV rental business is to submit your launch to popular startup sites.

Here are a few popular sites to launch on:

ProductHunt
Hacker News

Learn more about how to launch your business successfully ➜ here

Gretchen Bayless and Taylor Hood, founder of ROAMERICA dives deep into the process of launching the business:

We knew the website and branding needed to make an impact. Luckily we had the background and passion to create that. We also knew SEO would play a huge role. What’s the point of putting an awesome website out there amongst millions, if no one can find it.

So for about 6 months prior to ‘launching’ the website, we were building the brand and working on the SEO. This meant, designing our own logo and website. We knew how important these would be in the success of the initial launch. So we did a lot of research on keywords and what people were interested in learning about when searching for road trips or campervan rentals. We took what we learned and added it to our website.

We learned people wanted information on Oregon and for the process to be easy. So our website was super simple and resourceful. We also did a few road trips in our own van to test out our process, to make sure it was actually easy for customers. This was in November of 2015, so it was cold and wet but almost perfect. We did make one major change, we knew built-in heaters would be a must!

Crater Lake National Park - November 2015

Oakridge - 2015

We started the typical social media channels as well, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Luckily, we didn’t have to shell out a ton of money for the website since the business was 100% bootstrapped. Again, Taylor and I were both working full time jobs and operating ROAMERICA out of our home. Luckily, we received a super low interest rate for that 1st van so our overhead was really low. This first van was completely converted too so that saved us time. It was a 1998 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile. We didn’t have any employees either and neither of us took money out of the business to ‘pay ourselves’. We originally talked with a few banks about a business loan so we could buy a van but we were a pretty unique business and banks wanted 2 years of financial history on the business before they would even sit down and talk to us. So with our own savings to get the business up and running, we got to work. Between getting the van ready for the road, updating the ‘look’ of the van, building the site, brand, etc. we were busy...but really excited.

Our first van , ALPHA - We removed teal and purple pin stripes, removed the running boards, upgraded the tires to BF Goodrich All Terrains and added a 2” lift.

Prior to launching, we also did a lot of research about pricing. There weren’t any other campervan companies in Oregon offering what we were going to offer. So between, AirBnB, hotels, car rentals, etc we came to the decision of pricing the campervan to compete with what it would cost a person to rent a car and hotel. Our goal was to rent the van for 3 days a month. We far exceeded this goal, which meant we were prices too low. Our first customers were nice enough to tell us this as well:). So we increased our pricing and offered more in terms of gear and customer service.

Looking back, our launch was pretty amateur. We literally posted something on Facebook, no promotion or boost or anything, letting the ‘world’ know we started a business and had a website.

However, luck was on our side, we received a phone call that week to rent one of our Roof Top Tents (which we hadn’t even purchased yet!) for that weekend. This customer happened to be a photographer, so we offered the RTT to him at no cost in trade for images.

After his trip, he posted some pictures on his social media and tagged us. We did this once more with the van that May. We posted these images on our Facebook and Instagram and it helped a ton. Prior to these images we were just taking our own (not great at all!) so having these professional images at no cost to us, really helped propel our brand.

We pushed our website live in May of 2016 and by early June we were booked for the summer.

One of our own photos, early Instagram days: 28 likes, 2 comments.

Working with professional photographers helped propel our online brand.

Working with @taylersteven for photos of the RTT: 205 likes, 11 comments

Working with @kylesipple for photos of the campervan: 123 likes, 18 comments

Make Sure You Get The Package Design Right

The way you package your RV rental business is often the first impression your customer has - so it's important to get it right.

You may want to ask yourself these questions:

If my product is on a shelf next to hundreds of other similar products:

Will my RV rental business stand out?
Will the branding/packaging create a connection with my customer, and hence, lead them to buy?

There are hundreds of tools you can use to help with packaging and design:

Canva - Allows non-designers to create beautiful Instagram/Pinterest posts, flyers, business cards, etc.
Stickermule - High quality custom stickers you can include on or in your packaging.
Noissue - Custom tissue paper and compostable mailers
Rollo Label Printer - A great tool to print all shipping labels at home

Sheets & Giggles explains the motive behind their "Premium Unboxing Experience"

I had a particular vision for our packaging centered around one goal: because we were a DTC company and wouldn’t do physical retail in year 1, we needed to focus entirely on an incredible unboxing experience that made the product feel as premium as possible.

Outside: a white box, nice wax coating, logo front and center with no other copy, easy to open, nice and sturdy.

Inside: make people smile from the get-go, have a social call-to-action, include free extra surprises (a knapsack that wraps the sheets and an eye mask), put funny copy all over the place, and add a donation bag that people could use to donate their now-defunct cotton sheets (sheets & blankets are the #2-most-requested item at shelters behind socks).

Get Press Coverage For Your Rv Rental Business

The more buzz around your brand - the more the phones ring, the more traffic to your website, and the more customers as a result.

Here are a few ways you can get press for your business:

Press releases:

Press releases are a great way to share big announcements or news, but in order to get any traction, you'll need to find a way to make your press release stand out amongst others.

Try to convey a story that really matters, not just to you, but to the reporter and to their audience.

Here are some things to consider when submitting a press release:

Craft a catchy subject (keep it short and sweet).
Acknowledge the journalist's past work and interests - this is key!
Include the main point of the story in the first paragraph, heck, even the first sentence. Reporters want to hear the juice first and foremost.
Focus on the facts and try to limit the amount of jargon used.
Pitch yourself! Help them put a face to the story.
Make sure your topic is newsworthy. If it's not, find a way to!
Try not to include any attachments of your release!

Email is one of the most effective and preferred way to send your press release, so as long as you keep your pitch brief, interesting and personalized (no cold emails), you should stand a chance!

Get Press Using HARO

HARO, otherwise known as "Help a Reporter Out" is an outlet for journalists to source upcoming stories and opportunities for media coverage.

The best part is, HARO is free to use! There are, of course, premium versions you can purchase, but the free version is still an accessible way to get press.

Once you set up an account, HARO essentially will email you based on stories (that are relevant to you) that need to be covered where you will then have a chance to essentially "bid on the story."

Here are some tips when crafting your pitch:

Discuss your experience and expertise in the space. Make sure it's obvious why you're relevant to this story.
Answer the question in 3-4 sentences. Try and be as direct as possible
Offer to provide the reporter with more information and make sure to give them your contact info

Plan a Publicity Stunt

Planning a publicity stunt is an effective and quick way to raise awareness for your brand and gain some traction from the press.

If you're looking to plan a stunt, the objective should be to be bold and create something memorable

However, being bold has a fine line - it's important that you consider the timing of your stunt to ensure you don't come off insensitive or unethical. For example, timing may not be in your favor if you plan something during the general election, or in most recent cases, a global pandemic.

In order to measure the success of your stunt, it's important that you first determine your end goal, for example:

Is the stunt aimed to raise money for your business or a particular organization?
Is the stunt aimed to drive more traffic to your website?
Is the stunt aimed to get more followers and engagement on Instagram?

Here are a few tips for creating a great publicity stunt:

Research to ensure that there haven't been similar stunts done in the past by other businesses - this could easily turn off journalists and your audience.
Make sure you can explain the stunt in one headline - this will help grab the media's attention. In other words, simplify!
The stunt should be related to the product you are promoting. Even if the stunt is a success in terms of viewers, but it doesn't tie back to your original goal, then it's not useful.
Keep the stunt visual with videos/images.
Leverage the internet and social media platforms for your stunt by sharing your message across a variety of audiences. This will help with word of mouth and the overall success of your event.

To learn other strategies on how to get press, check out our full guide here .

🌱 How To Grow Your Rv Rental Business

Consider Selling On Amazon

In addition to selling your products directly on your site, you may want to consider selling on Amazon to reach a wider audience and attract new customers.

Here are some pros and cons of selling on amazon:

Easy and seamless process to get your product listed on Amazon
There are roughly 100 million thoroughly committed prime customers, so you're bound to tap into new business
Can help grow your business exponentially and reach new audiences
You may encounter some "copycats" and counterfeit products
Amazon owns the relationship with the customer (you lose control over product reviews + customer service)
If you already have a low-markup, amazon may not wrth your while and you could end up losing money
Commissions and listing fees are high - it's easy to lose control of your offering

Follow these instructions to get your product listed on Amazon or check out the video below on how to get started:

Cory Stout, founder of Woodies ($250K/mo) provides us with specifics on how to rank better on amazon:

Our main product is walnut wood sunglasses that I sell for $25 on Amazon and Woodies.com.

I dedicated myself to becoming an Amazon expert. I listened to all the podcasts and read all the blog posts I could find. Shoutout EcomCrew I took the basic fundamentals that are out there and I added a couple of my own twists.

Amazon brings me, 100 brand new customers, every day for very little acquisition cost. If I tried that on my own, it would take a TON of work and it wouldn’t be nearly as effective as Amazon, so I took the easy road on this one.

Here's an article I wrote on how to rank better on amazon (30+ Tips):

5/5: ESSENTIAL

Beautiful images (minimum 5 images) especially lifestyle images I use UpgradedImages.com for product photography (hey Ken!)
Keywords in your title (but it still needs to sound human)
Competitive price (contributes to high conversion rate)
NOT having 1-star reviews
DON'T STOCKOUT: it's such a killer and if you DO stockout, definitely DON'T raise your price right before you do, if anything LOWER your price for the last 10-20 units before you stockout, each ASIN has a 'memory' for when you do get back in stock so that will help you regain ranking quickly
DON'T VIOLATE AMAZON TOS: just don't
Perform QC on your stock before you send it in (I sent in a wrong box once and I had to 'remove' over 3,000 pieces so I could sift through them and remove the 150 contaminated pieces 0/7 would not recommend

4/5: Pretty Friggin Important

Minimum 10 5-star reviews (do this before you do anything below this)
Well optimized PPC campaigns (could do a whole post on this, keep ACOS under 40%) here's a screenshot of some of my campaigns I use a combination of manual campaigns with exact phrases and high bids...and auto campaigns with a broad range of products and very low bids
Turning on FeedbackGenius for auto review requests (it's not as good as it used to be, but it's still worth it)
Get a trademark and get Brand Registry, this protects you from hijackers and other unscrupulous sellers
Quick response to customer messages (under 12 hours) here are my stats my mom does all my customer service "Employee of the Year" status
Drive outside traffic (amazon loves outside traffic because they don't have to spend so much to acquire customers) Facebook, Instagram, and Google Adwords are the usual suspects
Use ocean shipping to save mucho $$$ on unit costs (use flexport)

Consider Working With Instagram Influencers

Partnering with like-minded influencers (within your industry) is one of the most effective ways to grow your social media organically.

Industry influencers already have an established and loyal following. With one post, your product immediately establishes a connection with a brand new audience. It's that powerful.

When finding influencers to promote your product, do your research and make sure that their following will actually be interested in your product.

It's easy to be blinded by any influencer with a huge following, but if those followers don't resonate with your product, there may not be any value there... so make sure you do your research!

Evan Marshall, founder of Plain Jane discusses how "micro-influencers" have impacted his business:

Influencer marketing has been huge for us. Our approach is pretty simple. We give out samples of our products and ask people to post about us on social media aka a micro-influencer strategy.

We really like this approach because we get authentic stories and content. We cannot really control the messaging so the product has to speak for itself. We don’t really take product photos at all. Our customers take the photos and we ask to reuse them.

With any influencer strategy, you have to be very sure you’re targeting the right people and engaging with them. You can make sure you’re targeting the right influencers by looking through their posts and then looking through the profiles of their engaged followers.

It takes more time per influencer but the payoff is certainly worth it. Make sure their followers look like your existing customers.

It takes a ton of time and work to grow a social media following this way but it’s worth it. Other accounts have tried to grow themselves through botting or other manipulations. As a CBD company, we didn’t want to give Instagram any reason to shutdown our account so we’ve done everything through content and real engagement. It’s not magic to make this happen. You just have to post consistently and then reply or like every single comment you get. It takes months but it works

Improve your SEO

SEO is not just about driving traffic to your site, it's about driving the RIGHT traffic to your site , and ultimately, converting leads into customers.

One of the most important aspects of SEO is understanding what your customers are searching for, otherwise known as "keyword research."

Here are some tools that can help you choose the right keywords for your RV rental business.

Google Ads Keyword Planner invaluable for discovering search trends.
Google Search Console is very helpful once your website is up as it shows you what words/phrases are generating traffic.
Ahrefs and SEMRush are paid tools that allow you to look at results of your competitor's website.

Publish Great Content

Finding keywords is an important piece of the puzzle, but Google also ranks your site based on the actual content you produce, as this is what your customers are reading and engaging with.

There are various different "forms" of content that you may want to consider diversifying on your sites, such as blog posts, articles, studies, and videos.

So let's discuss what google considers "good content:"

Length - This will vary depending on the page, however, generally having a sufficient amount of content helps search engines recognize that your site is a good source for a specific topic
Engagement - The longer people stay on your website to read your content, the higher Google will rank your website. It's important to have informative and "thick" content that keeps people reading
Avoid Duplicating Content - Google will recognize this and may consider your content to have low value
Ensure pages load quickly - This will also help with engagement and time spent on your website
Shareability - Create content that people want to share, and is easy for them to share, especially to their social media accounts (ie. "click to tweet" is a great example of this).

Another element of creating good content is creating consistent content.

If (and hopefully you are) publishing content frequently, it's important to stick to a schedule - this helps build brand trust and easy user experience with your customers.

Planning out your content with a content calendar is key to staying consistent.

Here are a few great content calendar tools that can help you:

If you prefer to keep it simple, your average spreadsheet is just as useful!

Backlinks are an important piece to SEO, as they allow for other websites to link to your content.

Search engines recognize that other sites are essentially "verifying" your content and essentially rank you higher because of this.

Of course, some links are more valuable than others and can affect your site in different ways.

For example, if a highly valuable and credible site like the New York Times links to a page on your website, this could be remarkable from an SEO perspective.

Aside from organically getting mentioned from other sites, there are other ways that you can increase and earn backlinks:

Create infographics with relevant data that people want to share
Promote your content on different sites/look into "guest blogging"
Contact influencers/journalists/bloggers and ask them to mention you!
Write testimonials for other sites in exchange for a backlink
Leverage existing business relationships

Learn more about the fundamentals of SEO ➜ here and check out Neil Patel's 3 Powerful SEO Tips below

Build A Blog

One of the most effective ways to build brand awareness and grow your business is through consistently blogging.

We've outlined some useful tips for you to consider when creating content:

Consistency and Quantity

Quality is important, but it should be the standard for any content you publish.

What’s more important is consistency and quantity.

Consistency is as simple as committing to publishing and sharing a certain number of posts per week. For me, that’s three per week right now.

This kind of commitment is key, because one day, a random post will blow up, and you will have never expected it.

Oversaturation

The easiest mind trap is to think "I’m posting too much", and “I need to give my readers/audience/this platform a break”.

This is nonsense.

There is no such thing as oversaturation. Well, there is, but it is just someone else’s opinion.

For every person that tells you you are posting too much, there is another person that wants even more of your content.

You should ignore people’s opinions on how much you post.

Patience & Persistence

Keep posting, keep trying, and keep putting out good content on the regular. Your time will come, and when it does, it will change everything.

The only thing you have control over is your content.

You can’t control how people will react to it. You can’t control pageviews, likes, or shares.

So the only metric you should focus on is how much content you can put out in a week, month, etc.

Where to share your blog content

Mailing List

I know it sounds obvious, but the best places to share your content is on your mailing list. It is guaranteed traffic and it is a great way to get rapid feedback from your most loyal readers.

Send newsletters often. I have done once a week since starting, and I’m moving to twice a week soon.

Work on increasing your mailing list as well. Look into ways to increase your conversion rate to your mailing list. I added a flyout popup thing to my site and now I’m collecting ~30 emails per day.

An email newsletter is one of the most powerful assets you can have and it is worth its weight in gold.

Reddit is one of my favorite places to promote content.

It is a very scary place because you will often get banned or heckled, but it can really pay off.

Create social media accounts for your blog, the main ones I use:

Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Set up Buffer and share all of your blog posts to all of your accounts. All of these little shares really do add up.

Automate this as much as possible. I automated all of my social media for Starter Story.

Facebook Groups

When I started out, I put together a spreadsheet of relevant Facebook groups for my niche, and I would post to these groups whenever I had a big story I wanted to share.

Grow Your Email List

The more engaged list of emails, the more engaged customers, which ultimately leads to more sales.

One of the best ways to start growing your list is by providing your customer with something free (or discounted) in return.

This could also be anything from:

Fascinating case study
Video series
Free week of the product
Discount on the product

Learn more about how to grow your email list and improve email marketing ➜ here .

Dylan Jacob, founder of Brumate states their email collection tactic that is proven to work:

We use Spin-a-Sale for this (you spin a wheel for a discount code in exchange for subscribing to our email list). This has been the best email-collecting tool we have found because the customer truly feels like they won a prize rather than just a coupon code.

Even if a customer doesn’t convert right away, if we have their email we have a 19% chance of converting them into a future customer whether that is through future promotions, new releases, or simply just sending an email at the right time for a purchase to finally make sense for them.

We also have a return customer rate of over 14%, so one out of every 6 people we convert will end up buying from us again with an average order value of over $60.00.

Add an exit-intent popup to your online store

A great way to double, or even triple, your email opt-in rate and to grow your list is to add an exit-intent popup to your site, and offering a discount or content upgrade for subscribers.

Here's an example of what that might look like:

One thing that I spent years NOT doing, that I now kick myself about, is adding an "exit intent pop-up" to our site, which lets people enter a sweepstakes to win a Xero Shoes gift certificate.

That one idea has added over 100,000 subscribers to our email list, which is one of our most effective marketing channels.

Improve Your Email Marketing

Different types of emails

Here are the most common types of email campaigns you can send to your customers and their benefits:

Welcome emails - the perfect way to provide information from the start with a clear CTA. Make sure to tell your customer everything they need to know about your product or service.
Newsletters - a great way to give customers updates or send out your latest content
Product launch emails - the quickest (and easiest) way to increase sales is by selling to current customers. Make sure they're the first on the list to know about your new product
Promotional emails - promote discounts, deals coupons etc. Try and make this feel exclusive and for a limited time only
Abandoned cart emails - give your customers a reason to complete their purchase!

Here's a great resource for finding curated email designs, for all types of email campaigns!

Abandonded Cart Flow

The abandoned cart workflow is one of the most effective strategies for turning your lead into a customer, and a powerful tool to have if you're an e-commerce business.

Think about all the times that you went on a shopping frenzy only to add items to your cart and then either forget or realize nows not the right time to pull the trigger.

Then, minutes later you receive an email saying "Hurry up! Your cart is waiting - and we want to provide you with 20% off your order."

Maybe that's the special touch (and discount) you needed to pull that trigger.

Implementing this workflow can automatically trigger this for your business every time a customer abandons their cart.

Here's a great example of an abandoned cart email from Brooklinen :

Things they do well:

Showcase 5-star reviews from other customers
Offer a small discount + free shipping
Great design + clear call to actions!

Experiment With Pay Per Click Ads (PPC)

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a performance-based marketing method that allows you to show specific ads for services or products oriented to a very defined target, with the goal that the user visits your website or landing page.

Here are some tips to consider:

Consider connecting the ad to your corresponding landing page so that the audience receives the necessary information after clicking on the ad.
Conversion Tracking: When running PPC campaigns, be sure to run the ads with conversion tracking.
Focus on quality keywords, even if there are few as this will save you time and money. When assessing the performance of a keyword, it's important to track the expense, conversion, and cost per conversion, as well as the ROI.

PPC advertising can be a very important lead generator as long as it's done properly. Your PPC campaign is intended to drive traffic to your website and help the business scale.

Additionally, if the campaign is not having the desired results, you can make the necessary changes immediately to improve them.

Ryan Schortmann, founder of Display Pros talks about their investment in PPC Ads:

My name is Ryan Schortmann and I’m the founder of Display Pros. We are a custom trade show display booth company offering easy to use portable display “kits” for small and medium businesses wanting to get into the trade show game.

It did not take long to come to the realization that to compete at any reasonable level, we were going to need to take the plunge and invest in Pay Per Click ads and display.

From experience, I know that it is important to give Google’s hivemind some time to settle in before each campaign starts seeing consistent results (this is largely dependent on budget).

A certain amount of PPC budget must be viewed as a “marketing research” expense and then you can look at the analytics data and make informed decisions on where to refine, tweak or plain scrap an idea.

Google Shopping was an entirely new concept for me. You can’t assign keywords to products so at first, I was asking myself “How the hell do you refine these?”. Then I found some good reading material and courses and learned of some advanced methods that the pros are using. It turns out you can utilize negative keyword lists combined with the priority setting on each shopping campaign to “shape” the keywords that are coming in and how much you are spending on them.

To learn more about PPC Ads and Google Shopping, check out this video to learn everything you need to know!

Social Media Advertising

Social Media Advertising is one of the leading ways to get the word out when it comes to RV rental business.

There are various different Social Media platforms available to you. Some may be more critical for your marketing efforts than others, however, it's important to have an understanding of what's out there and available to you.

Let's talk about a few of the main platforms and what makes them unique:

Facebook Advertising - more than 2 billion monthly users. Facebook is the best for lead generation + capturing email addresses for e-commerce businesses.
Instagram Advertising - approximately 500 million monthly users and has a higher audience engagement rate than any other platform. Instagram ads are best for linking to a product page or landing page and reaches the 18-29 age group most effectively.
Twitter Advertising - Small businesses typically use twitter ads to drive brand awareness, but the platform is meant more for organic engagement (and is not as heavily used for paid advertising)
Pinterest Advertising - 175 million monthly users and most effectively reaches the female audience. Pinterest is great for promoting products without "promoted". The promoted pins have a way of blending right in.
LinkedIn Advertising - 227 million monthly users and is geared towards the B2B market and generates the highest quality leads. Great platform for recruiters, high-end products and services that will help businesses

It's important to first define your goal/objective so that you don't waste time and money into the wrong platform:

Here are some different questions to ask yourself as it relates to your goals:

Do I want to simply drive brand awareness?
Do I want to drive users to my website to gather information?
Do I want to increase sales and get my customer to take action?

From there, choose the platform that targets your audience best and start experimenting!

Learn more about social media advertising ➜ here .

Founder Andy Hayes talks about mastering FB ads and the pixel:

The biggest bang for your buck will likely be mastering Facebook and it’s platform - which we all know is pay for play, so you’ll have to come up with a small amount of budget to start for marketing.

We’ve spent countless hours (and paid numerous coaches) before we cracked the code that works for us on Facebook, but it is working really well for us now.

Some of the most important things to know when it comes to FB Ads:

Start with retargeting (that’s showing ads to people who already know you but did not purchase). Master this - and start building information on your Facebook Pixel - before you do anything else
Once you have that down, try working with the 1% “Lookalike” audience to prospect for new customers. This may take awhile because your pixel audience is small, so try layering on interests - 1% Lookalike and your largest competitor, for example. Don’t use interest-only targeting until you master this.
Great photography and videography is key, as is smart copy. Research what’s out there in your industry and constantly test - what works for one company may not work for other people.
Make sure you have good offers. For example, we have a $5 trial for our subscription, which converts affordably - if we promoted our subscription with the standard $30 front charge, it wouldn’t be as cost-effective.

🏃🏼‍♀️ How To Run Your Rv Rental Business

How To Retain Customers For Your Rv Rental Business

Retaining customers is one of the most effective ways to grow your RV rental business.

Oftentimes, it's easy to find yourself focusing on generating new customers, vs retaining your current ones.

Look at it this way - you are 60-70% more likely to sell a new product to an existing customer than you are a new customer.

That's not to say that finding new customers and revenue streams is not important, however, the easiest (and most inexpensive) source of new revenue is right there in front of you.

Here are some ways you can retain customers for your RV rental business:

Responding to comments on social media
Send discounts (or freebies) to loyal customers
Provide valuable content, for free
Write a hand written thank you note
Provide awesome customer service and build relationships with customers

To find out more tips and tricks on retaining customers, check out this article ➜ here

Gretchen Bayless and Taylor Hood, founder of ROAMERICA dives deep into the process of attracting and retaining customers:

We are firm believers in ‘the more you give, the more you get’. We love helping people, offering advice, trip planning, van trip giveaways, etc. and our reward is seeing the smile on people’s faces. We develop a relationship with every customer and really get to know them. It’s a natural thing for us to do and it just so happens that it probably helps the business.

Another thing we believe in and has helped attract customers is to never pass up an opportunity. Always exceed expectations of the customer and always give before you take. You may be overworked, tired and have other responsibilities but if something presents itself and you know it may help the business or is super low risk, take that opportunity. Even if it means later nights and earlier mornings.

We haven’t come across the perfect formula to increase sales or traffic but we’re always tweaking and learning. We work a lot on SEO and our brand awareness. We work with a lot of companies with the same values and promote each other, which helps our reach.

In order to attract new customers and retain our customers, we really have to look at our website analytics. Most of our web traffic comes from organic Google searches which means we pay a lot of attention to SEO. That is our top priority.

Next, we focus our effort on social media and just staying present and keeping our brand fresh and inspiring. In order to stay present and in front of our customers and attract new customers, we look at our social media and website analytics every week. We use Iconosquare for social media analytics and Google Analytics for our website. It was pretty evident early on, that everyone LOVES pictures of the van. Specifically, exterior shots of the van set up in all its glory.

Our most ‘most liked’ post. Taken by @spreadsheetqueen.

We are a small business, just the two of us and we don’t outsource any marketing which is why we don’t do much in comparison to other brands. However, this also gives us complete control of what we put out there because we personally have created it.

In order to stay relevant, we send out an e-newsletter once a month and have a sign up on our website. We use MailChimp to design and schedule our newsletters and MailMunch for the pop up form on our website.

We also ask for emails at events or to sign up for our annual giveaway. We just added this newsletter January of this year, 2019. We had been wanting to do this since we started but we just couldn’t find the time. We still don’t have the time but we know how important it is to stay in front of your customers and offer something to prospective customers. Our newsletter has travel tips, trip ideas and more. This is also how we notify our customers of announcements.

For example, we recently updated our logo and dog policy (we now allow dogs!). So we sent out a super simple and quick e-newsletter to let our subscriber list know! It’s actually quite fun to create every month! What we’ve come to realize is that our email list doesn’t expect a highly professional newsletter with in depth articles. They expect relevant information that is up to date and they just want to hear about the business. So we try to not analyze too much about what we ‘should’ put out every month. We just look at our most recent blog posts or social media and share the information. Then if we have exciting announcements to share, we’ll send those as well. We have a 34% open rate and great click through as well.

Another way to to market the business and attract new customers, was to create partnerships and be a part of events/raffles. We partake in events and causes like the Children’s Cancer Association annual auction and the annual auction for the Native Fish Society. We love giving van trips away to causes like these. Once a year, we hold a big contest where one winner can win a campervan trip and a pile of gear from our partners. This gets a lot of attention and is super fun for us too! We also have our vans in raffles for Patagonia Portland events, Royal Treatment Fly Fishing and others. In the end, this attracts new people to our brand and one day when they’re thinking about taking a road trip, hopefully they remember us!

Diversify Your Product Line

Adding new products to your business is a great way to expand into new markets and grow your business.

It's important to note that adding new products and diversifying may not be in the cards for you right this moment, and that's okay. You can always consider it down the road.

Here are some reasons you may want to considering adding/diversifying your product

Meeting the needs of your customers
Establish yourself as a top provider in your industry and stay ahead of the game with competition
Resistance to downturns/trends fading
Create new revenue streams

Provide Great Customer Service

Providing exceptional care and creating relationships with clients is a great way to build your reputation and retain customers.

Whether you are an online business or a physical business, it's highly important to communicate with customers and make them feel like they are the priority.

Just remember: customer service represents your brand, values, vision and YOU as a person.

Authenticity

As a brand, you want to deliver an experience that authentic, honest and transparent.

Don't make the mistake of giving your audience less credit than they deserve.

Be Authentic

If you go around chasing every trend and only focused on yourself and money, you’re going to lose very quickly.

There have been many times where we have been tempted to do this but stayed true.

Sure we sacrificed sales, but we kept our integrity, played the long game and people saw and appreciated that, and really began emotionally investing in the brand.

Build a Referral Program

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get the word out about your business and acquire new customers. Especially when you are starting out, it’s important to build a solid referral program to encourage existing customers to help you find new ones.

A great way to do that is by offering a reward (ie. credit on your service or cash) to customers that refer you to their friends and family.

A fantastic referral program will help with clout, credibility, and establishing yourself in the space.

Word of Mouth

The most tried and true way to grow a RV rental business is through word of mouth - some entrepreneurs would say it's more important than all social media.

Why you should focus on word of mouth:

Consumers trust word of mouth above all other forms of marketing
92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising
64% of marketing executives indicated that they believe it is the most effective form of marketing

Learn more about word of mouth in our guide: 30 Ways Founders Grow Their Business ➜

How To Crush The Sales Process For Your Rv Rental Business

You may find yourself in a spot where you're ready to hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process.

Regardless if you have one or thirty salespeople, it's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.

Mike Korba, co-founder of User.Com walks us through the entire sales process and which teams are responsible for what:

User.com Sales Process

Each user and account is qualified with a specialist. For business leads, they are handled by the sales team, and if they are qualified we give them a demo, more than often at the end of their fourteen-day trial. If they’re happy they’ll add a payment, and get an account manager, so a customer support and success team who will help implement the solution and to use the technology.

Sometimes, users will convert naturally on their own, after using the freemium product and finding it to be something that they will find beneficial.

After they convert, we help with onboarding , give them some personalized tips for their specific business or industry to grow plus all kinds of support, for whatever they need - something we take huge pride in.

The team is right now more than 30 people, with more than half working on the IT and product side, and the rest are in three teams: Support, Marketing, and Sales who all work together very closely.

We put together the best resources on the internet to help you start your RV rental business.

Platform tools such as Amazon or Canva
Email tools such as MailChimp or Constant Contact
Social media tools such as Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube , Pinterest or LinkedIn
Advertising tools such as Facebook Ads , Google Adwords or Google ads
Reviews tools such as YotPo , Judge.me , Yelp or Google My Business
Design tools such as Canva , Adobe Suite or HubSpot’s form builder
Analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager
Productivity tools such as Google Suite , Dropbox , Slack , Microsoft Office 365 or pCLoud
Payments tools such as Square
Blog tools such as WordPress
Accounting tools such as Quickbooks
Crm tools such as Hubspot
Freelance tools such as Fiverr
Affiliate tools such as Refersion or Amazon Associates
Sales tools such as ClickFunnels
Stock images tools such as Unsplash , Pixabay , Shutterstock or Istockphoto
Seo tools such as Ahrefs
Web hosting tools such as WP Engine or Kinsta
Payroll tools such as TSheets or Intuit
How To Buy, Sell And Operate Rv Parks And Campgrounds

The Complete Guide To Renting An Rv

The Narrow Road: A Brief Guide to the Getting of Money

The Richest Man in Babylon

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Web Resources

How To Start Your Own Rv Rental Business
How To Start An Rv Rental Business
Rv Rental School - How To Start An Rv Rental Business - Rv Sharing
Rv Rental Business (Unedited) 10,000 Profit First Season

Case Studies

Starting a Casual Camping Brand and Growing To $2,000/month
How We Started A Camper Van Rental Business and Quit Our Full Time Jobs
This Founder Turned His Part Time Gig Into A $3M RV Rental Business
How I Started A $1.8M/Year RV Rental Franchise Across 24 Locations
1,000+ Clever RV Rental Business Names 1 of 8
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Rv Rental Business? (In 2024) 2 of 8
44 Trending Rv Rental Businesses [2024] 3 of 8
80+ Best RV Blog Post Ideas To Inspire You [2024] 4 of 8
32 Pros & Cons Of Starting A Rv Rental Business (2024) 5 of 8
7 Tips For Starting A Successful Rv Rental Business (2024) 6 of 8
6 Rv Rental Business Success Stories [2024] 7 of 8
55 Marketing Ideas For A Rv Rental Business (2024) 8 of 8

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The questions to ask to reserve the perfect RV campsite.

Is Renting out Your RV Really Profitable? (My Personal Experience)

NOTE*** The content on this page may contain affiliate links, we may make a commission. And, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More information: disclosure page .

You may be skeptical that renting out your RV is profitable. In the right situation renting out your RV can be worth it. However, you need to make sure to avoid common pitfalls of the RV rental business… which don’t worry I will get to here. To get an idea of how much you can actually make I talk about our personal experience and dip into the expertise of over 40,000 other RV owners.

Let’s get started. So, Is renting out your RV profitable?

You make between $1000 and $3500 a month renting out your RV in the camping season. Many owners pay off their rigs in an average of three years. The rest is profit after that.

My family loves taking trips in our RV travel trailer. The freedom and flexibility it offers are second-to-none, especially with a large family like ours. The memories we have of past trips and our dreams for future trips truly keep us inspired.

So, I decided to try renting out our travel trailer on Outdoorsy and RVezy . Since then, I have learned so much about the RV rental business.

I am an active member of a huge RV owners’ group online. With over 11,000 members, it is a robust source of support and education. It was there that I learned how to run the most profitable RV rental business and avoid the downfalls.

What are the most profitable RVs to rent out?

Camper vans, Class C motorhomes, and small to medium-sized travel trailers that are 2 to 10 years old make the most money.

My 35-foot bunkhouse travel trailer sleeps nine. I purchased it for $14,000 and it rents for $125 a night from early spring to late fall. On average, I have bookings for 10-20 days per month. I can tell you – that an extra $1,250 to $2,500 every month is always welcome.

I have heard from many other RV owners that they enjoyed the easy income potential of renting their RV so much that they added two or three new rigs to their fleet!

In fact, we gathered information from RV owners renting on the peer-to-peer network Outdoorsy and RVezy to find out how much you could make with each type of RV. In addition, I interviewed RVe z y to get the best tips for making the most money renting out your RV.

Are you ready to get started? Stick with us for information about the most profitable RVs to rent out, the average income you can expect, and some pitfalls of renting out your personal RV. And of course, we’ll answer the biggest question you may have about renting out your RV – how and where to list it.

What is the Most Profitable RV To Rent Out?

A 20 – 30 foot Class C motorhome or travel trailer that sleeps 4 to 8 people, is in excellent condition and 5 to 10 years old is the most lucrative RV rental for you as an owner. A camper that is a couple of years old has already lost value due to depreciation but still has low maintenance costs.

Having a type and style of RV that is in demand will make your new business profitable very quickly. Just by chance, my travel trailer happened to be very popular. The nice amenities, the bunkhouse in the back, and the separate room are features that many renters seek.

Here are the best RVs that will rent out all summer long.

Class C Motorhome

Class C motorhomes are the basic RV that you think about when renting an RV. Average length, 25 – 30 foot Class C motorhomes rent extremely well. The size is short enough to maneuver and fit in many campsites but large enough for a family to be very comfortable.

Camper vans are in high demand because they are built on a van chassis and are by far the easiest RV to drive. These are perfect for couples and small families that want flexibility during their road trips.

Camper vans are also quite popular due to their coolness factor. People are just excited to experience #VanLife!

Small or Mini Travel Trailers

Small R-Pods, pop-ups, and other lightweight towable travel trailers are all the rage. Since the small RVs can be towed with an SUV or light truck, they are highly desirable. People also like that they can have and use their own vehicle for side trips once they arrive at the campsite.

The benefit to you, the owner, of renting out a travel trailer is that there is no vehicle maintenance and no depreciation due to mileage. They are also much cheaper to purchase. You can buy a travel trailer at a fraction of the cost of a motorhome but still rent it out for over $100 a night.

Of course, the downside is the risk of an inexperienced driver towing your vehicle. You can avoid this issue by offering delivery and set up (and make extra money in the process!)

Bunkhouse Travel Trailers

Larger travel trailers are rented frequently by families and groups that want to camp together. The lighter travel trailers that can be towed by a half-ton truck will rent the best. However, I can say that my 35-foot travel trailer requires more than a half-ton truck, it is still quite popular.

For people who rent out a large camper, an additional service you might consider offering is delivery to the campsite. I have received requests to deliver all over the state of Colorado.

These RVs Should Never Be Used as Rentals

There are some types of RVs that make poor rentals. This can be due to a high purchase price vs low-income potential or to a greater potential for damage. After connecting with thousands of RV business owners and getting input on the best and worst RV rentals, here is what I’ve learned about RVs to avoid if you plan to do rentals.

Expandable RVs and Travel Trailers with Canvas Sides

Travel trailers that expand with canvas sides are popular rentals. However, the canvas is very expensive to repair when damaged. The units are relatively cheap to buy but the maintenance could be very high.

I regularly see folks ask on the RV forum if they should add a pop-up to their RV fleet – and the answer is always a resounding no.

New Luxurious Motorhomes

A brand new motorhome depreciates quickly due to mileage. Although some people will be willing to pay a premium to take a vacation in a luxurious motorhome, this will not be a popular model. People who don’t regularly drive an RV don’t usually want to practice on one that’s quite so pricey.

Old Motorhomes

People generally want to rent the nicest thing they can afford and an older motorhome with a broken and worn-out interior will get negative reviews. In fact, some RV rental platforms only insure RVs up to 10 years old. On Outdoorsy, If your RV is older than 10 years, you must secure your own commercial insurance . RVezy adds an additional layer of screening for RVs older than 20 years.

Where to List Your RV for Rent

The easiest way to get started in the RV rental business is to list your RV on a sharing economy website. I have experience using Outdoorsy , RVShare, and RVEzy . All are free to list your RV and you do not have to commit to renting to anyone you do not approve. So I keep an active listing on all 3 platforms.

Related Content: How to Make Money Renting Out your RV (The Smart Way)

I suggest listing on either RVEzy or Outdoorsy first to get set up. Download our swipe file here for instructions on getting your listing up quickly so you can start bringing in customers.

I have found that Outdoorsy is the best and easiest site to use for my RV rental business. You will get a welcome package and can schedule a coaching session with them.

I like Outdoorsy because it is super intuitive to use and you don’t have to commit to a big business venture. You could try renting out your RV once and see how it goes. This is how I got started, and how I became convinced that the effort of renting out my RV is totally worth the reward.

Listings are free; you pay a 15% commission to the site when your vehicle is rented.
Liability insurance with Liberty Mutual for up to $1 million is automatically provided on rentals (but vehicles must be less than 10 years old).
Every renter must pass a driving history check.
You always get the final say on who rents your RV.
Payments are deposited directly into your bank account within 24-48 hours after your rig leaves your driveway.
New owner training and personal business coach available

RVEzy is by far the best if you are in Canada and is quickly gaining popularity in the US. They make the process as easy as possible and have in-house customer service and insurance. So, when you call for help, you get a real live person, sitting in an office in Canada, complete with a Canadian accent.

Listings are free; you pay a 20% commission fee to the site when your RV is rented.
In-house insurance up to $1 million is required to be paid for by the renter
You can interview and choose which renters to accept
Payments are deposited directly into your bank account. 50% after departure and 50% after the RV is returned to you.
New owner training and welcome package. They will even notice and call to help you if your rig is underperforming.

See how much you will make with their income calculator on RVezy here.

Let us help you get up and running the easy way. Bookmark our Ultimate Guide to Getting Started Renting out Your RV (the smart way).

More Tips for Making the Most Money Renting Out Your RV

Use eye-catching pictures.

The profile picture of your RV listing should be shot somewhere scenic that the renter can imagine themselves camping and having a great time. Many people use a picture of their own family at a campground to add that personal touch. A great picture can be inspiring.

But because potential renters are also looking to inspect the merchandise, it’s helpful to include the entire outside of your camper in the image. Then, add additional pictures of your RV from the inside to highlight all of the listed features.

Use an Enticing Description

A picture is worth a thousand words, but the words in your listing are what close the deal after the pictures hook a potential customer. Aim for a description that is interesting and unique yet also includes all of the amenities and features of your RV. This will help to catch people’s attention. Your description should allow them to see themselves having a great time on their vacation.

To help you get started with your description, you can download our free swipe file here. Simply make a copy of this file and fill in the blanks, then upload it to your rental profile.

Offer Delivery and Set Up

Delivery and setup is a great service to offer because many people want the exciting experience of camping without all of the work. When I first listed my trailer for rent, I had 10 requests for delivery within the first month.

If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to deliver and set up your RV, you will get more renters, earn more money, and reduce the risk of an inexperienced driver damaging your camper.

Many people charge a flat delivery fee of $50-$100 within 25 to 100 miles. You could also charge by the mile at a rate of $1 to $3 a mile.

One tip that Matt at RVEzy gave me about delivery is to make sure that the commercial insurance covers your delivering the trailer. Your personal insurance may not cover your RV if you are delivering it for a rental purpose. RVezy insurance will cover you the owner, during delivery in case you were to get in an accident.

These are only a few of my top tips for renting out your RV. I have also written a comprehensive list of tips and tricks for making the most money renting out your RV, which you can read here.

Final Thoughts on Whether an RV Rental Business Is Profitable

An RV rental business is lucrative, and starting one is quick and easy. I have found this to be a much better side hustle than flipping campers.

If you are looking for an RV for sale or already own one, renting it out can help you make your payments and even bring in some extra income. Most people earn between $1000 and $3000 a month in peak season. I have been able to make at least $1500 a month on an older travel trailer.

RV Rental Is a Business That Can Grow

Signing up on Outdoorsy and listing your RV there is the quickest and easiest way to get started – and to keep growing. When you use a reputable listing service for your RV rental business profit comes securely and predictably.

RVEzy is the next place you should list your RV. They are so beginner-friendly they will help you through the entire process. They will even notice if your RV is not getting enough bookings and a coach will reach out to your personally. Sign up with RVezy here.

Some people find that renting out their personal RV is so profitable that they decide to add one or two more RVs to their fleet. The business is easily scalable and doesn’t require an expensive storefront to run. You just have to have the space to park your RV when it’s home!

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Thanks for the information. I’m looking to get into the RV rental business just for passive income. I have experience in RV so your article was very informative. I ready run a IT consulting business so adding this later will create another income stream.

Where is the best place to buy the RV? I don’t have a place for storage. Any advice on this?

I have found it’s best to buy a used RV for renting out. You can look on Facebook groups, Craigslist and local newspapers. You can find a storage lot near you that allows RVs and boats.

Where are you located? I am in Chicago and wondering if buying a campervan would be a good idea. I am concerned that during the winter I wont get any traction. I am looking to make side income. Do you know how I can learn what the demand in my city would be? I tried looking at the calendar of other camper vans but saw a wide difference in bookings. Any suggestions on determining the demand in my area? Thanks

I am in Colorado. In the Western states, campervans are very popular. You could contact Outdoorsy customer service and ask them the most popular RV for your area.

You say that vintage rentals are a good investment, but then that your rv shouldn’t be over 10 years old. Can you explain?

Vintage rentals have an appeal to some but they must be in great condition and a type in demand, such as airstream. If you have a vintage camper, Outdoorsy or RVezy offer insurance. However, for most new business owners, the best approach is to have an RV under 10 years old.

Me and my wife are thinking about keeping our old travel trailer when we soon upgrade to a bigger one. Do you think this could be profitable as we would have to keep it at a storage unit, and do you think it would be hard to be able to deliver it for customers while also working a full time job? We would love to connect with you if possible!

Christian & Anna

Yes, I think it would be profitable depending on the storage costs but you would need to look at all the costs associated with keeping the RV. Used RVs tend to have a poor trade-in value, so renting out is a good option. The delivery of your RV would depend on your work schedule. You could offer delivery in the afternoon when you are off work.

Are there any revenue streams for the winter months?

The 5 Best RV Rental Companies of 2024

By Tony Carrick , Catherine Hiles

Updated on May 1, 2024 10:13 AM EDT

17 minute read

Best Overall

The word 'Outdoorsy' is written in black cursive font.

Best Bang for the Buck

Cruise America

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A white RV parked on a road with trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.

Purchasing an RV gives you the freedom to explore the great outdoors in a home away from home—but you don’t need to own an RV to enjoy this experience. Many companies rent out RVs, allowing customers to try RV life before they buy or simply enjoy an RV vacation without the expense that comes with owning one. There are peer-to-peer companies that connect renters with RV owners as well as companies that rent out their own fleet of rigs.

Renting a rig can be a confusing experience to those new to RVing. There are various options to choose from, including towable pop-up tents, travel trailers, and drivable full-size class A motorhomes. Read on to learn more about some of the best RV rental companies in the country, and find out what to consider when renting an RV.

BEST OVERALL: Outdoorsy
RUNNER-UP: RVshare
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Cruise America
BEST FOR CAMPERVANS: Escape Campervans
ALSO CONSIDER: El Monte RV

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best RV Rental Companies

Understanding the differences among the various RV types, how their pricing works, and what insurance coverage a customer needs to drive one are all crucial factors when renting an RV. Below, potential RV renters can find out more about these and other factors to consider where to rent a camper or RV.

When choosing an RV rental service, customers will first want to consider what type of RV they want to rent. RVs fall into two categories: drivable motorhomes and towable campers. The main difference is that drivable RVs don’t need a tow vehicle, whereas towable ones do—though there are additional differences customers will want to consider when choosing the best type of RV for their trip.

Class A motorhomes are the largest drivable motorhome rental options. They are capable of accommodating large families due to their spaciousness, and they include kitchens that have full-size appliances. Many have multiple slide-outs that expand the living space once they’re parked at their destination. At up to 45 feet long, they are also quite large, which can make them more difficult to drive than other RV types.
Class C motorhomes , which are built on a truck chassis, offer many of the same amenities as a Class A motorhome but on a much smaller scale. They are also easier to drive than their larger motorhome counterparts.
Better known as campervans, Class B motorhomes are less spacious than Class A and C motorhomes and have fewer amenities. However, they’re the easiest to drive and get much better gas mileage than Class A or Class C motorhomes.
Per their name, towable RVs require a tow vehicle—typically either a pickup truck or an SUV. They range in size from small pop-up campers with modest tent-like accommodations all the way up to large 45-foot-long fifth-wheel trailers that offer a spacious climate-controlled living area with multiple sleeping areas, ample storage, running water, and electricity.

Availability

When considering an RV rental company, customers will want to look carefully at its locations and availability. While some RV rental companies have RV campers for rent throughout the country, some may only serve major cities. Customers can usually find a greater selection of RVs through national peer-to-peer networks, which connect RV private owners throughout the country to renters. RV companies that own their own fleet may not have as much availability throughout the country. Customers will also want to keep in mind that it’s more difficult to rent an RV during peak periods, which is from mid-July to mid-August.

Peer-to-peer companies also have a broad variety of RV types available that include both towable and drivable RVs. RV companies that rent out their own fleet of rigs usually offer only Class B and Class C motorhomes. Customers can search online for “recreational vehicles for rent near me” to see what options are available close to home.

RV Pickup, Drop-off, and Delivery

Customers will want to consider how they’d like to receive their RV when choosing a rental company. Some rental companies require their customers to pick up the RV at a specific location, while others will deliver their RVs to their customers—typically for an additional fee. If the customer is planning on using the RV for a specific trip, such as to a national park, they will want to look for RV rental companies with locations that suit their itinerary. Some, but not all RV rental companies, allow for a one-way RV rental in which the customer picks up the RV at one location then drops it off at a different location when the trip concludes.

Pricing and Fees

While pricing and fees vary from RV rental company to RV rental company, all of them generally use the same system. Customers are charged a nightly fee for the RV plus an additional fee for mileage. Generally speaking, pop-up tents are the most affordable campers to rent, while Class A motorhomes are the most expensive. On average, customers can expect to pay between $155 and $215 per night for an RV that sleeps between five and seven people with a mileage rate that ranges between 35 cents and 50 cents per mile. There may also be additional fees if the renter chooses to have the RV delivered to them. Some companies may also charge a cleaning fee.

Some auto insurance policies may cover their customers when they rent an RV the same as they would for any car or moving truck rental. However, many insurance companies have limitations based on the weight of the RV, the number of wheels that it has, and how long the RV is being rented. If the RV rental exceeds those limitations, the customer may need to purchase additional temporary insurance to ensure they’re adequately covered. Keeping this in mind, customers will want to call their insurance company prior to renting an RV to determine what coverage they have and purchase more if needed. Most insurance companies offer coverage plans that range from $300,000 to $1 million for liability insurance. It’s important for customers to get an adequate amount of RV insurance to cover accidents, liability, and other events while they’re on their road trip—in addition to liability coverage, this may include collision insurance (to cover damage to the vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object, such as a light pole) and comprehensive insurance (to cover other types of damage to the RV, such as hail damage following a storm, vandalism, or a collision with an animal).

Roadside Assistance and Support

There’s always the chance for problems to occur with the RV during the journey even with a rig that’s well maintained. As such, customers will want to look carefully at the roadside assistance and support the rental company offers before making a reservation. A reputable RV rental company will offer 24/7 roadside assistance, assuring their customers aren’t left stranded somewhere in the event of a flat tire or mechanical problem.

Cancellation Policy

Most RV rental companies have a limited cancellation policy once customers make a reservation. Since these policies can vary, renters will want to pay careful attention to them to avoid losing money in the event they need to cancel or change their trip at the last minute. While most companies allow renters to cancel up to 7 days in advance, others require 14 days or more. Cancellation policies for peer-to-peer services usually vary from RV owner to RV owner, so customers will want to be mindful of the cancellation policy when using this type of RV rental company.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Our top picks.

Our top picks include both peer-to-peer recreational vehicle rental agencies as well as those that have their own rigs. All have multiple locations around the country and have good reputations with their customers.

Why It Made the Cut: Outdoorsy offers all types of RVs, has availability throughout the country with delivery and pickup options, and boasts top-notch customer reviews.

With its ability to deliver RVs right to its customer’s doorstep, a wide variety of RVs to choose from, and excellent ratings from customers, Outdoorsy is a top choice for customers looking for RV rentals. The nationwide company offers both towable and drivable RVs, giving customers across the country plenty of rental options to consider. Customers can also choose to pick up the RV or pay to have it delivered to their location, including their home or a campsite. Either way, the host will do an in-person key exchange so they can walk the customer through the RV and answer any questions they may have. Outdoorsy also offers 24/7 roadside assistance should a customer run into trouble while out on the road.

Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer service, which means the customer’s rental experience can vary from one host to another. As such, renters will want to pay careful attention to the cancellation policy, which varies with each rental. However, Outdoorsy is well liked by its customers, with more than 90 percent rating it 5 out of 5 stars. Seeing these overwhelmingly positive reviews can give potential customers added peace of mind about renting an RV through Outdoorsy.

Types of RVs: Class A, Class B, Class C, truck camper, campervan, travel trailer, fifth wheel, toy hauler, folding trailer
Availability: 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Sample pricing: $215/night for 2018 Class C RV for 6 guests
Cancellation policy: Varies by host
Wide selection of drivable and towable vehicles
Nationwide availability
Reported 93 percent 5-star ratings
RV pickup and delivery options
Potentially strict cancellation policies

Why It Made the Cut: With its pickup and delivery options, nationwide availability, and last-minute rebooking assistance, RVshare is a top choice for peer-to-peer RV rentals.

RVshare offers a broad range of drivable and towable RVs ranging from pop-up tents to motorhomes and has exceptional customer service. Customers can either choose to pick up their RV or pay a modest fee to have it delivered to them. RVshare also offers last-minute rebooking assistance to those who need to cancel their reservation. The company’s booking team will help the customer find and book a similar RV for their preferred dates.

Before proceeding with a booking, RVshare customers will want to read the terms and conditions and pay careful attention to the fine print. Since RVshare is a peer-to-peer service, different RV owners will have different conditions for renting their rig, such as limiting the areas that the renter can drive. Similarly, each host’s cancellation policy may vary—and some may be quite strict—highlighting the importance of reading the fine print before booking an RV rental. However, since RVshare is one of the largest peer-to-peer RV rental services in the country, with rentals available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., customers will have plenty of options to choose from when looking for the RV that best suits their travel needs.

Types of RVs: Class A, Class B, Class C, fifth wheel, toy hauler, travel trailer, pop-up
Availability: 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Sample pricing: $213/night for 2018 Class C RV for 6 guests
Last-minute rebooking assistance available
Potentially strict rental terms and conditions

Why It Made the Cut: Cruise America boasts affordable pricing, a reliable fleet of vehicles, and a customer-friendly cancellation policy.

Those looking to rent an RV without spending a lot of money may want to consider Cruise America, which offers some of the most competitive pricing of any RV rental service. In addition to its low rates, the company frequently offers discounts and promotions that further cut the cost. The fleet of RVs includes four size options of Class C RVs and small travel rental trailers, though customers will want to be aware that amenities on Cruise America RVs are on the basic side with limited customization options, so they won’t find more upscale features such as retractable awnings, ovens, or folding steps. For those looking for low-cost RV rental, though, this is unlikely to be a concern.

Cruise America owns its fleet of rental RVs, so customers can count on them being professionally serviced and maintained. The company also has one of the more customer-friendly cancellation policies in the marketplace, allowing renters to cancel up to 7 days before their rental is scheduled to begin.

In addition, Cruise America customers can book one-way rentals between two of its 119 locations in the U.S. and Canada, making it ideal for customers who don’t plan to return to their starting point at the end of their trip. One-way rental customers may also benefit from a steeply discounted rental rate if their nearest Cruise America location needs to move an RV to another branch. In some cases, customers may even receive a discounted rate for booking a one-way rental.

Types of RVs: Large RV, standard RV, compact-plus RV, compact RV, adventure travel trailer
Availability: 39 states
Sample pricing: $134/night for large RV for 7 guests
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 7 days before pickup
Relatively affordable pricing
Relatively generous cancellation policy
Regular professional RV maintenance
Somewhat limited RV customization options

Best for Campervans

Escape campervans.

Why It Made the Cut: Escape Campervans offers a fleet of colorfully painted and well-maintained campervans that come outfitted with numerous standard and optional amenities.

With its brightly colored fleet of well-equipped RVs, Escape Campervans is the go-to source for those looking to escape the city in a campervan. The company operates in 13 major cities across the U.S. and Canada, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver, and offers five different van models, all of which have brightly colored hand-painted artwork on their exteriors. Prospective customers will want to book early, as Escape has a very limited availability of each camper type at its locations. Additionally, Escape has restrictions on where customers can drive its campervans—for example, customers are not permitted to drive on unpaved or gravel roads and will be liable for any resulting damages. However, these restrictions won’t be a concern for those who plan on keeping to paved roads.

Along with the vans themselves, Escape Campervans also sells and rents various supplies and accessories (such as door canopies, electric kits, propane tanks, kitchen kits, picnic tables, booster seats, and roof sleepers), making it easy for customers to get everything they need for their trip from one location. Escape also offers regular discounts and promotions to help customers get the best deal on their campervan rental.

The company’s fleet of vans include such amenities as propane stoves, refrigerators, beds, pop-up tents, and water tanks with sinks. Each van also receives regular maintenance, reducing the odds the customers will experience mechanical problems during their trip. This isn’t always the case with peer-to-peer RV rental sites, so renting with Escape Campervans can provide customers with additional peace of mind.

Types of RVs: Campervans
Availability: 10 states
Sample pricing: $155/night for campervan for 5 guests
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 15 days before pickup
Regular professional campervan maintenance
Generous discounts and promotions available
Wide variety of rental extras and accessories
Limited availability
Road restrictions limit travel area

Also Consider

El monte rv.

Why It Made the Cut: El Monte maintains its own fleet of RVs, including Class A motorhomes, many of which are less than a year old.

El Monte RV is another great option for those who live near one of its 28 locations. The RV rental company has depots in California and several major cities throughout the U.S. including Miami, Seattle, Dallas, and New York—there’s even one international El Monte RV located in Tokyo. El Monte only serves 11 states in total, though, and has a limited number of locations in some of those states, which could rule it out for those outside the company’s service area. However, the company offers one-way RV rental options, making it a good choice for those wanting to rent an RV for a road trip from point to point rather than returning to the original rental location.

Although rental options can be limited, El Monte is one of the only national companies to rent full-size Class A motorhomes in addition to Class B and Class C RVs. El Monte also owns its fleet of RVs, which means each vehicle receives regular professional maintenance, including a multi-point inspection after each rental, regular servicing, and professional cleaning. Additionally, most of El Monte’s RVs are a year old or less, making them even more reliable. The company also offers free generator use for every rental customer, which is a service that many RV rental companies charge additional fees for customers to use.

Types of RVs: Class A, Class B, Class C
Availability: 11 states
Sample pricing: $209/night for Class C RV for 6 guests
Cancellation policy: Nonrefundable $250 down payment
Free generator use with every rental
Somewhat limited RV selection

Our Verdict

With its nationwide coverage, broad range of RV types to choose from, and excellent customer satisfaction ratings, Outdoorsy ranks as the Best Overall RV rental business in the country. RVShare earns the Runner-Up award thanks to its broad collection of RV types to choose from.

How We Chose the Best RV Rental Companies

After reviewing numerous RV rental companies throughout the country, we assembled the above list using several criteria. We looked for companies with a national presence that make it easier for customers to find locations and accommodate their pickup and drop-off needs. All of our selections also offer competitive rates for their RV rentals. Since customer needs vary depending on the size of their family or group, we chose companies that offer a variety of different RV types with both large and small RVs for rent. Our list includes a mix of peer-to-peer companies, which offer a wide variety of RVs along with companies that own and maintain their own fleet of RVs to suit different preferences.

Before You Use One of the Best RV Rental Companies

There are a few factors customers will want to consider before renting an RV. Campgrounds can accommodate RVs of different sizes and typically require a reservation. Customers will want to determine which campgrounds they’ll be visiting and make sure their RV rental fits the site. Customers will also want to keep in mind that RVs typically require additional accessories in order for them to use all the amenities. Gas stoves require a propane tank. If a customer wants to use electrical appliances, such as a refrigerator, they’ll need to take their RV to a campground that has electrical hookups or plan on renting or purchasing a generator to go with it. If a customer is renting a towable RV, they’ll want to keep in mind that they’ll need a vehicle with a hitch and towing capacity to suit the rig. Finally, customers will want to make sure they’re comfortable driving an RV, which is more difficult to maneuver and park than a car or truck.

The Cost of Using One of the Best RV Rental Companies

Rental RVs are priced on a per-night and per-mile basis. Costs can vary significantly depending on the size and type of RV and the time of year the customer is renting. Customers can expect to pay between $80 and $300 per night, plus between 35 and 50 cents per mile. So if customers rent an RV for a week at $150 per night ($1,050) and travel a total of 1,000 miles at 40 cents per mile ($400), they’ll pay a total of $1,450 plus taxes and fees for the rental. When calculating the total cost of their rental, customers will also want to factor in gas, keeping in mind that most RVs get much lower gas mileage than the average car or truck.

The Advantages of Using One of the Best RV Rental Companies

There are several good reasons for choosing a reputable RV rental company over a company that offers cheap RV rentals. The best RV companies give customers a broad range of RV sizes and types to choose from, and they have locations throughout the country. The best one-way RV rental companies also offer the option to book a point-to-point trip so the renter doesn’t need to return to their point of origin to turn in the vehicle. With one of the top RV rental companies, a customer will also know they’ll be renting an RV that’s reliable and well maintained and that the company’s customer support and roadside assistance is only a phone call away should they run into trouble. The best places to rent an RV offer the following perks:

A broad range of RV sizes and types to choose from;
Reliable rigs and 24/7 customer service and roadside assistance;
Pickup and drop-off locations around the country; and
The option to book a one-way trip.

If a customer is wondering when the best time is to rent an RV or whether they can book online, the following answers to these and other questions about RV rental companies can help them feel more confident in their choice to rent an RV.

With its many locations throughout the country, excellent reputation, and broad range of RV types to choose from, Outdoorsy has established itself as one of the most popular RV rental websites.

RV trailers, which come in teardrop, travel, and fifth-wheel varieties, are the most popular RV rentals on the market, due to their affordability and the fact that many Americans have pickup trucks and SUVs that are capable of towing them.

The best months to rent an RV are June and September, when demand is not as high and the weather is somewhat milder. Warmer months and school breaks make summer by far the most popular month for renting an RV. Mid-July to mid-August is peak RV rental time, making it much more difficult to rent an RV during this period when compared with other times of the year.

Depending on the size of the RV and time of year, a customer can expect to spend between $80 and $300 a night plus between 35 cent and 50 cents per mile to rent one. Since RVs cost anywhere from $10,000 to $400,000 to purchase, renting an RV can be a much more affordable alternative. In addition, RV insurance costs $848 a year on average. Although liability insurance is the only type of insurance an RV needs from a legal standpoint, owners may also decide that they want to buy extra coverage, such as comprehensive and collision insurance, which protects the vehicle itself. In addition, vacation liability RV insurance can protect RV owners against liabilities when the vehicle is parked at a designated campsite. While buying coverage from one of the best RV insurance providers may help keep costs down, these extra expenses make owning an RV even more expensive compared with renting a vehicle for individual trips.

Whether customers rent an RV for a weekend or several weeks, they can experience what owning an RV is like without having to commit to buying one. They’ll experience driving and setting up an RV, not to mention what it’s like living inside one, making it easier to determine whether they want to invest in owning an RV. It can also help them decide what type of rig suits their family or traveling group best. Customers can bring budget camper decor to help make the RV feel more like home.

You can book an RV online. Many of the best RV rental sites allow you to search for and choose the specific RV you want to rent and make reservations through their online portal.

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Nationwide Travel Insurance Review 2024

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Nationwide has been around close to 100 years after being founded in 1926. The Ohio-based company has many different products in the insurance and finance space, including coverage for trips. Nationwide Travel Insurance policies are available for single or multiple trips and can cover cruise trips too.

Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel insurance plans available
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong trip cancellation coverage
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason coverage available
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer

Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

Cancel for any reason coverage available

Nationwide is one of the leading names in insurance across various areas of coverage including life, auto, and travel insurance. Nationwide's coverage is also as comprehensive as it is varied. It tops our list of the best travel insurance companies and best cruise travel insurance , also ranking among the best cheap travel insurance companies for the value it provides.

With single trip, multi trip, and cruise-specific policies along with an abundance of riders, there's a good chance Nationwide will have the coverage you're looking for.

That said, Nationwide lacks some of the niche coverage that other companies can provide. For example, Nationwide doesn't insure trips over 31-days long. Its annual travel insurance only applies to trips 30 days or under. Additionally, Nationwide lacks specific adventure sports coverage.

Ultimately, Nationwide is the company to beat. If you're shopping for something a little more specific, use Nationwide's quotes as your baseline as you search for something more tailored to your trip.

Coverage Options from Nationwide

Nationwide offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

The travel insurance policies offered by Nationwide are available to consumers and are divided up by the type of trip: single trip, multiple trips, or cruise coverage.

Single-trip travel insurance policies

Nationwide offers two single-trip travel insurance policies: the Essential plan and the Prime plan.

As the name suggests, Nationwide Essential travel insurance covers the basics. It offers some protection should anything happen ahead of your trip or while you're on your trip.

The Prime plan takes your coverage to the next level, with higher coverage limits and the option to add on the coveted cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage at an extra cost.

Both plans include trip cancellation or interruption coverage in the event of terrorism in your destination city, travel assistance from Nationwide at no additional charge, and refunds with a 10-day review period (except in Washington and New York). Note that for baggage and personal effects coverage, there is a $500 combined maximum limit for valuable items (see your policy's terms and conditions for details on what's considered valuable). It also covers damaged or lost sports equipment.

Here's how the two plans stack up in terms of coverage limits. For trip delay coverage, you'll be eligible for reimbursement for delays of six hours or more.

Annual and multi-trip travel insurance policies

If you're looking for travel insurance coverage for more than one trip and want to cover your partner and children, the Travel Pro Plan may be an affordable option. It's important to note that this policy only covers events after departure, not pre-departure events. This policy could be as low as $59 as of the time of writing.

The Travel Plus Plan is another multi-trip policy from Nationwide that has flexible term limits for trip interruption and cancellation coverage, up to $10,000. This covers the gaps from the Travel Pro Plan, which only covers post-departure events. So if you needed to cancel the trip due to a covered illness or other reason, this is the plan for you.

If you want to increase the level of benefits for your after departure coverage, the Travel Pro Deluxe Plan does just that. It builds on the Travel Pro Plan, hence the name, and includes higher coverage limits for just $20 more.

All plans include the same travel assistance from Nationwide that's included with the single-trip policies. Here's how the multiple-trip plans compare:

Cruise coverage

Nationwide offers three cruise travel insurance plans.

If you're going on a short cruise or going for the first time, the Universal Cruise Plan may be a good starting point if you want added protection and to recoup nonrefundable costs. Just make sure that you qualify based on your state, as cruise coverage isn't available in all states.

If you're going on a longer cruise and want added coverage to protect your trip, the Choice Cruise plan is an option to consider. And if you're looking for the most benefits and go on many cruises, the Luxury Cruise plan offers the most coverage options.

All three policies can be refunded with a 10-day review period, except in Washington and New York.

Here's a comparison of the coverage you'll get with Nationwide's three different cruise travel insurance policies:

Additional coverage options from Nationwide

Nationwide has a number of additional coverage options that can add more protection to your policy but also add to the cost as well. These include:

Financial default coverage , in the event your travel supplier ends up in default or bankruptcy. This is available with the Essential and Prime single-trip policies.
Pre-existing condition waiver, which may offer coverage for pre-existing illnesses or diseases if certain conditions are met. This is available with the Essential and Prime single-trip policies.
Accidental death and dismemberment, which can have limits of $5,000, $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000 depending on the plan. This is available with the Essential and Prime single-trip policies.
Accidental death for flights only, which can have limits of $100,000, $250,000, or $500,000. This is available with the Essential and Prime single-trip policies.
Rental car collision or loss coverage, in the event something happens to your rental car, you can add on this coverage for up to $25,000 or $35,000 depending on the plan.This is available with the Essential and Prime single-trip policies (except in Texas or New York).
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) , which must be added to a policy and is available through the single-trip Prime Plan, the Choice Cruise Plan, and the Luxury Cruise Plan.

Nationwide Travel Insurance Cost

The premium you pay will depend on various factors, including the age of the travelers, destination, and total trip costs. The average cost of travel insurance is 4% to 8% of your travel costs.

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for Nationwide Insurance plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimate Nationwide coverage costs.

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following travel insurance quotes:

Essential: $89.55
Prime: $129.19

Premiums for Nationwide Insurance plans are between 3% and 4.3% of the trip's cost, well within the average cost of travel insurance.

Nationwide insurance provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

Essential: $113.01
Prime: $160.47

Once again, premiums for Nationwide plans are between 2.8% and 4% of the trip's cost, within and below the expected range of travel insurance costs.

A Texas family consisting of two 40-year-old parents with a 10-year-old and 4-year-old on a two-week trip to Australia for $20,000:

Essential: $571.62
Prime: $801.94

Nationwide plans cost between 2.8% and 4% of the trip's cost, below and within the average cost of travel insurance.

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New Jersey for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following quotes:

Essential: $248.56
Prime: $352.44

Premiums for Nationwide plans are between 4.1% and 5.9%, which is well the average cost for travel insurance. While its certainly more expensive than coverage for younger travelers, it's on the lower end of what travel insurance companies tend to quote for older travelers.

Nationwide Annual Travel Insurance Cost

Quotes from Nationwide's annual travel insurance plans don't actually change based on age or state. You'll get a base quote of $69, which will vary based on how much trip cancellation coverage you'd like to purchase. Prices range from $155 to $729

You can also select a Pro Delux upgrade, which will cost an additional $20.

How to Purchase and Manage Your Nationwide Policy

To purchase a Nationwide travel insurance policy, you first need to obtain a quote from Nationwide's website. You should be prepared to provide the following:

Destination
Departure date
Return date
State of Residence
Total trip cost
Initial trip payment date

When you select a plan, be sure to also take a moment and scroll through the optional add-ons, such as rental car coverage.

How to File a Claim with Nationwide

If you purchased travel insurance through Nationwide and need to file a claim, you can contact a Nationwide representative. You have seven days from the start of the issue that caused loss to notify Nationwide of your claim.

Claims through Nationwide are handled by Co-ordinated Benefit Plans, LLC. You can use its claims portal or call a representative, based on your type of policy.

Single trip policy phone number: 888-490-7606

Annual plan policy phone number: 866-281-1017

Cruise policy phone number : 866-281-0334

Rather reach out via email? You can contact Nationwide via [email protected] .

If you need to send documents via mail, the mailing address is:

Co-ordinated Benefit Plans, LLC

On Behalf of Nationwide Mutual Insurance

Company and Affiliated Companies

P.O. Box 26222 Tampa, FL 33623

Nationwide refrains from promising a specific response time frame. However, customers have reported waiting several weeks before hearing any updates.

Since Nationwide offers such a wide breadth of insurance types, it's difficult to separate its travel-specific customer reviews from reviews on its other products. It received an average of 1.16 stars out of five across over 340 reviews on its BBB page, though most customers are writing about experiences with Nationwide's auto and health insurance.

On SquareMouth, a travel insurance-specific aggregator, Nationwide has an average of 4.01 stars across 570 reviews. Reviewers reported unresponsive a claims team and long wait times. Additionally, while insurance companies often engage directly with customer reviews on SquareMouth, Nationwide doesn't respond to customer reviews.

Learn more about how Nationwide Travel Insurance compares against the competition.

Nationwide Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Much like Nationwide, Allianz Travel Insurance insurance offers many different types of insurance coverage. While the company may be most well known for auto insurance, it offers travel insurance as well and has eight options. Allianz Travel Insurance, a major player in the travel insurance space, has 10 options listed.

Allianz Travel Insurance may offer higher coverage limits for the policies offered and have a streamlined process for filing a claim online. Where Nationwide wins out is the fact that you can add cancel for any reason (CFAR) for an added cost, whereas CFAR coverage isn't available when purchasing an online policy via Allianz Travel Insurance.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

Nationwide Travel Insurance vs. John Hancock Travel Insurance

John Hancock Travel Insurance is similar to Nationwide in that it provides a wide range of insurance offerings and financial services. One of those offerings is travel insurance. John Hancock travel insurance offers travel insurance through Bronze, Silver, and Gold policies.

When comparing policies, the budget option may be slightly more affordable with Nationwide. However, mid-tier and higher coverage options may be more affordable with John Hancock travel insurance. It depends on your policy, trip details, and age. One good thing is that you can add cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage under all John Hancock travel insurance plan options.

Read our John Hancock Travel Insurance review here.

Nationwide vs. credit card travel coverage

Rewards credit cards come chock full of benefits for cardholders, some of which they might be unaware of. One such perk can be travel interruption or cancellation coverage as well as rental car coverage. Credit cards may have sufficient coverage for quick trips. However, if you want the peace of mind of having solid medical coverage or higher limits, going the traditional travel insurance route may be a better fit.

For frequent travelers, credit card travel protection may be appealing as the coverage is constant. If you're looking for a comparable travel insurance plan with more comprehensive coverage, some companies offer annual travel insurance.

You can find our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Nationwide Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

Nationwide's travel insurance offers very comprehensive coverage, including trip cancellation, interruption, medical emergencies, and baggage loss.

Yes, Nationwide allows the purchase of travel insurance up to a day before your departure. It doesn't offer plans for trips already in progress.

Nationwide covers COVID-19 like any other illness, covering trip cancellations with proof of a positive test and covering emergency medical expenses.

Nationwide single trip plans cover pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase the Essential plan within 10 days of your trip deposit and the Prime plan within 21 days of your trip deposit. The annual plan doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, with a 60-day look-back period.

Nationwide is known for its reliable customer service, wide range of coverage options, and the ability to tailor policies with various add-ons, setting them apart from many competitors.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Nationwide Travel Insurance

For our review of Nationwide, we looked at the leading travel insurance providers and compared the amount of options provided, coverage limits, cost, customer service options, and flexibility.

Nationwide is a top contender for cruise-related travel insurance policies and stands out for having cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, though it's not available with every policy and comes with an extra cost. To find the best travel insurance policy for you, review various providers and compare quotes before buying a policy.

Read more about how Business Insider rates travel insurance companies here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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goHomePort Rentals

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4075 Camelot Cir

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goHomePort Rentals is the premier source for your next RV or campervan rental adventure! We provide a comprehensive selection of high-quality RVs and campers to make sure our customers can find the perfect vehicle for their travel needs. From Class A, B, and C RV's to custom converted campervans and luxury towables, we have an option tailored to fit any budget. Our mission is twofold: firstly, to help people explore more of the world in comfort; secondly, to simplify the process so they can focus on creating lasting memories. With our uniquely simple approach and experienced team of professionals you’ll be able enjoy an unforgettable experience backed by exceptional customer service. …

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If you are looking to consign your travel trailer or camper, I'd advise looking elsewhere, anywhere. I will forewarn, this is not an emotional post because our trailer is business only. We have had rentals previously. We just did not have time for the trailer to be rented this summer while we were out of town. So, we thought we would try a RV management service. The price was fine. The split is standard among industry. The only thing they did right was at the beginning in the signing up stage. We stored at Camelot (that was a perfectly fine transaction and would recommend that part). Communication: The communication from the time we dropped off the camper until a few days before we cancelled our contract was almost none. Our emails went unanswered until the third try. This is a mismanaged, chaotic mess. The communication did get better once we cancelled our contract. Cleaning: We picked up our trailer on 1 October. The last time it had rented was in July. The trailer had never been cleaned - (dishes and utensils sitting dirty/used - gross). They charged the renters $150 cleaning fees, yet never the company never had it cleaned (obviously). Dumping of Black/Gray Tanks: We found out after we got the camper home that it had never been dumped. Yes, you read that correctly. Last rental July - picked up 1 Oct. If you own a camper - think twice if you really want to deal with a pyramid due to the negligence of the management company. Their reply was "Our new policy is to inspect & dump the tanks...our team and processes have had major overhauls since the summer - we're sorry for this oversight". At least there was an apology but there was no rectification. This should never be an oversight. Inventory: They did not do inventories upon rental returns. We were not advised that things were missing. Things missing are expected with a rental. HOWEVER, we reached out because our linens that renters paid extra for were not returned. We did receive an email today that they will refund the cost of sheets. I hope this helps someone else make a decision.

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Hello Tonya, thank you very much for posting your feedback for goHomePort Rentals. We take your experience seriously and have made major adjustments to ensure these issues don't happen again. We will have our customer experience manager reach out to you personally to follow up with this.

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