Mobility aid rentals with local delivery

People recovering from surgery or injury, families with older relatives, visitors and tourists, and sometimes local care homes needing extra equipment for a short time.

Rental fees by the day, week or month, plus delivery and set-up fees. Some renters buy the item at the end, which adds a sale.

• Customer service and patience
• Basic equipment maintenance and cleaning
• Organising bookings and deliveries

• Check whether Health Canada medical device rules apply to the products you rent or sell, and buy from reputable suppliers
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, plus cover for the vehicle used for deliveries
• Check whether your municipality allows home-based business storage and a business licence
• Cleaning and disinfecting between rentals, and keeping records of repairs
• Check provincial funding programs, as some aids are only funded through approved vendors
• GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how much equipment you buy, your storage and your delivery vehicle. Buying from reputable suppliers is worth factoring into your budget.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the size of your stock, how often items are rented and your local demand. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week.

Check whether Health Canada medical device rules apply to what you rent, and whether your municipality allows home-based storage and requires a licence. Also check insurance, provincial funding programs and approved vendors, and GST/HST registration.