Garage-Based lawn equipment rental

Homeowners who don't want to buy a machine for occasional use, landlords, small property managers and casual tradespeople.

A daily or weekly rental rate per machine, plus a refundable damage deposit, optional delivery fees and fuel or blade charges. Busy weekends in spring and summer bring in most of the revenue.

• Basic small-engine maintenance
• Organized booking and record keeping
• Clear, friendly customer service
• Explaining safe use of equipment

• Commercial general liability insurance that explicitly covers renting equipment to others, plus cover for the equipment itself
• Home-based business licensing and zoning, since customer pickups and storing fuel at home may be restricted (check with your municipality)
• Injury and damage risk, so use signed agreements, deposits and a quick safety briefing at handover
• Strong seasonality: demand drops in winter in most provinces, so consider snow blowers or off-season storage plans
• Towing a trailer for delivery may have licence, weight and insurance rules (check your provincial transport ministry)
• GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many machines you buy, the types you offer and whether you need a trailer for delivery. Insurance for the equipment is also worth budgeting for.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $800 to $4,000, depending on your fleet size and how often machines are out. Demand drops in winter in most provinces. These are estimates only, not guarantees.

Check insurance that explicitly covers renting equipment to others, home-based business licensing and zoning (including customer pickups and fuel storage), trailer towing rules with your provincial transport ministry, and GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold.