Test the collection point
Check routes from your premises, parking and nearby rental offers. Ask accommodation providers which bikes guests request and when they struggle to find them.
Record enquiries by size, duration and group size. Bookings you repeatedly turn away because a bike is unavailable give you a better reason to expand than one sunny weekend.
Choose bikes you can maintain
Compare the availability of batteries, chargers, tyres and brake parts. Get prices for common repairs and ask about workshop lead times before choosing a range.
Five bikes at €2,500 would cost €12,500 in this example. Add locks, helmets, tools, spares, secure storage and a repair reserve. Leave cash available after buying the fleet.
Count paid days and running costs
Worked example: at €35 a day, 90 rental days produce €3,150 in revenue per bike. At 60 days, that falls to €2,100. These are assumptions, not market averages or profit.
Deduct maintenance, insurance, storage, payment fees and your time. Allow for eventual bike and battery replacement too. Include a cost for deliveries and roadside assistance, even if the customer does not pay separately.
Prepare every departure
Publish frame sizes, included accessories, collection hours and return terms. Suggest a route suited to the rider without promising a fixed battery range: hills, wind and assistance settings affect it.
- Identify the bike, battery, charger, keys and accessories.
- Check tyres, brakes and assistance, adjust the saddle and let the customer try the bike.
- Record its condition and explain what to do after a breakdown.
- Inspect, clean and recharge each return before making it available again.
Plan for repairs and incidents
Ask your insurer to confirm cover for rental, theft while with a customer, transport and storage. Explain deposit and return terms before payment.
Block bikes awaiting repair in the calendar. Track rental days, costs and declined requests by bike to decide which models to replace or add.