Business plan: bicycle rental as a profitable business. How to Start a Bike Rental Business Costs and Profits

In April, the “bicycle season” begins in all cities, and for those who do not have their own vehicle, only a bicycle rental business can help. Renting two-wheeled vehicles is an excellent solution for anyone who does not want or cannot pay to buy their own bicycle, and an entrepreneur offering such a service can make great money during the season, which lasts until October.

What do you need to consider when opening a rental?

A businessman who wants to make money on bicycles must have an excellent understanding of the nuances of operating these vehicles. It doesn't hurt to know:

  • which mid-range bikes have the best performance
  • where and how should bicycles be stored (they need a closed room, which will be at least insulated in the cold season, and reliably protected from rain and heat in the summer)
  • what are the features of this locality that allow you to arrange an unusual cycling trip (the presence of mountain routes, attractions, remote beaches, etc. will contribute to business)

In general, a successful bicycle rental business may well begin with the purchase of 10-12 units (if the work is carried out in a small town) or 15-20 vehicles (if the rental is opened in a city with a population of over a million). If demand is high, purchasing the required quantity will not be difficult. It is also advisable to provide for the availability of both adult and children's bicycles - both will be in demand. Moreover, the owner of the enterprise should learn to understand the types of bicycles and purchase vehicles based on the formula: at least two bicycles of the same type. These may be models for:

  • cross-country riding (cross-country bikes with 18 and 20 inch frames)
  • dirt and street
  • confident off-road riding (bikes with rear shock absorber)
  • skating women (so-called female models)
  • children's rides

And, of course, the appropriate equipment must be purchased for each vehicle. By the way, it is best to purchase it in winter - during this period, buyers can expect excellent discounts.

What do you need to open a bike rental?

The first step is to register an enterprise (an individual entrepreneur is suitable) and formalize a “relationship” with the tax service (you can choose the simplest taxation system). Once this is completed, you should worry about finding a place of work, and it is advisable to locate it in the very center of the city or in an area with high traffic. It could be:

  • resort center
  • amusement park
  • City Park
  • garden, grove or square
  • square
  • embankment

Before you choose a specific place and rent it, you should make sure that cycling is allowed there - there should be at least one bike lane or at least a well-organized space so that cyclists do not disturb passers-by. In any case, you will need to obtain permission from the municipal authorities to open a rental shop. The point can work from 9:00 to 21:00, and if the city is a resort, you can extend the working hours until 23:00. It should be borne in mind that the most customers will be in the evenings and also on weekends. In the morning there will be fewer of them, but children’s bicycles will be more in demand, and you can earn extra money on them.

How to open a bike rental correctly?

There is only one answer to this question - you need to choose the right bikes. It is important to buy the optimal number of reliable and inexpensive vehicles that will have excellent characteristics, but at the same time their price will not be inflated due to brand or other minor factors. This is important, because newcomers to the business often strive to buy the most expensive units and then suffer from their failure after use by a careless client. The businessman’s task is to understand that even after one rental season it will no longer be possible to sell vehicles: they can almost completely fail, and this cannot be corrected. The optimal cost of a bicycle is 10 thousand rubles minimum. Children's models cost from 3 thousand. There are also vehicles for 20-25 thousand, but they break down at almost the same speed as budget ones, so only a very rich businessman who is confident in his capital can buy them. If there is no such confidence, it is better to turn to average prices. However, in no case should you even pay attention to “adult” models costing 3-5 thousand - they will fail in a matter of weeks. In addition, before you open a bicycle rental, you will also need to spend money on:

  • renting a room for storing them - a dry, insulated garage, which can cost from 5-7 thousand rubles per month
  • renting a place for rental - will cost much more, since this place will be located in the city center and occupy a fairly large area (the price depends on the specific locality)
  • tools for the care, repair and maintenance of bicycles - from 50 thousand rubles
  • additional equipment for skiing - from 50 thousand.

How much does a bike rental business make?

The vehicle should be rented out hourly (if possible, with a deposit from the client in the form of a document or a deposit amounting to 3-5 thousand). Sometimes the bicycle rental business is based on daily rental of models, but this is not always advisable: clients rarely use such services, preferring to ride for 1-3 hours. Daily rental is interesting only to those who go on bicycle trips, and not every area has such an opportunity. The cost of renting a bicycle can be 100-150 rubles per hour or 500-800 rubles per day (prices depend on the specific region). You can earn additional money by renting out riding equipment, as well as accessories - from gloves to child seats and pumps. Prices are set arbitrarily. And, of course, rental of scooters, skateboards, roller skates and other similar accessories will bring excellent profits, but you should weigh the pros and cons before attaching them to bicycles. Monthly profit, in general, is 50-100 thousand rubles, and these figures increase significantly by the end of summer. In total, investments in a bicycle rental business can be recouped in the first two months of operation, and by the end of the season you can receive a stable income, delighting your clients with pleasant and very healthy entertainment.

With the onset of summer, cyclists can be seen more and more often on the city streets. This vehicle is popular among both amateurs and professionals. The bicycle is very practical and comfortable. It is inexpensive, mobile in city traffic jams, and also brings clear health benefits. However, not everyone has their own bike. At the same time, there are quite a lot of people who want to ride it. That is why it is worth thinking about how to open a bicycle rental. This business will not only satisfy the needs of those who like to ride, but will also allow them to make good money.

First steps

What's the best place to start? First of all, a business plan must be drawn up. Bicycle rental requires the creation of a private enterprise. On a small scale, individual entrepreneurship is suitable.

The choice of the form of organization providing services must be discussed when writing a business plan. Before starting work, the enterprise must be registered with the tax authorities.

Rental location

A business plan for bicycle rental must contain a list of points where the service will be provided. There can be many options. One of them involves delivering bicycles to a location specified by the client. In this case, additional transportation charges will be required. You can also stand on the street waiting for a client. This option should also be considered by the business plan being drawn up.

In this case, it is advisable to locate a bicycle rental in the very center of the district or city, in a place where there are a large number of vacationers. The most profitable ways to offer mobile vehicles are:

In amusement parks;
- in resort centers;
- in squares or groves;
- in squares;
- in city parks;
- on the embankments.

Having chosen a suitable place, you will need to rent it. You should also make sure that bicycle riding is allowed in the surrounding area. It is desirable to have at least one bicycle path separating the travel area from pedestrians. But in any case, before you start providing bicycle rental services, you will need permission from local authorities.

Purchase of vehicles

How to organize bicycle rental? You will need to purchase the necessary vehicles for this. The class, quantity and types of equipment required to provide services must be provided for in the business plan.

At first, bicycle rental can be done if you have a small fleet of equipment, which contains four to five units. Getting started will show whether your service is in demand. In case of great popularity, the bicycle fleet can be increased. With increased demand, it will not be possible to purchase the required amount of equipment.

As part of your business, you should also consider renting children's bicycles. They will also be in demand.

What kind of vehicles to buy should also include a business plan. Bicycle rental is unlikely to interest professionals. That is why you should not look at expensive models. However, it is necessary to understand the types of bicycles.

The acquisition of equipment must be subject to a certain rule. It says that you should not purchase more than two units of the same type. It is advisable to buy models in order to ride on rough terrain. Cross-country models with an eighteen- or twenty-inch frame are suitable for this.

At the rental point, it is advisable to offer the client bicycles for confident riding in off-road conditions. To do this, you will need to purchase models with a rear shock absorber. For a successful business, it is important to have women's and children's bicycles in stock.

It is worth considering the purchase of appropriate equipment. It is more profitable to purchase it in winter, when seasonal discounts are offered.

How to open a bicycle rental if the starting capital is small? You can start with the smallest things. If it is not possible to buy several bicycles, try to arrange to rent them from your friends.

Storage

To rent bicycles you will need to rent a small room. Its main purpose will be the storage of vehicles. It is best if your garage is located near the place where the service is supposed to be provided. In this case, the cost of transporting bicycles will be significantly reduced.

The room where bicycles will be stored must be closed. Only in this case will your vehicles not be damaged by cold and snow in winter, or by heat and rain in summer.

Return Guarantee

A contract must be concluded with clients who rent a bicycle. Such a document will ensure the safety of your vehicle. The contract must specify the price, as well as the period when the bike must be returned. One of the essential terms of the contract will be the indication of the amount of the fine. It is imposed for late return or damage to the bicycle.

It is advisable to specify the amounts of the most common breakdowns in the contract itself. In this case, the client will be aware of the consequences of his dishonest attitude towards technology.
The contract must contain information about the client - his full name, residential address, as well as passport details.

Advertising

Entrepreneurs who will deliver bicycles to customers must advertise in local newspapers. You can also paste them on special boards. If bicycle rental is carried out in a specific place, then people will learn about the service themselves. However, in this case, advertising will not be superfluous.

To coincide with the opening of a business, you can organize small cycling competitions and competitions. The holiday will show people how interesting it is to spend their free time with health benefits, in the circle of a cheerful company or the whole family. Commercial organizations in your city can be involved as sponsors.

Tariffs and profits

In order for bicycle rental to be popular, prices for rented vehicles must be affordable to anyone. Let's assume that for ten hours of rental you set the cost of one hundred and fifty rubles. The amount is quite acceptable for a client with any financial capabilities. Don't forget about the fine system.

For every hour of delay, take fifty rubles. Before providing the service, require a deposit of, say, three thousand rubles. This will be an additional guarantee of return. If the bicycles were rented from friends, then give them half of your proceeds. The remaining amount should be set aside for the purchase of your own vehicles.

Basic calculations will allow you to find out the amount of your earnings. With a fleet of ten bicycles, the minimum income per day can be one and a half thousand rubles. This is the case if each piece of equipment was in demand by customers. By giving half of the income to the owners of bicycles, you will receive a net profit of seven hundred and fifty rubles. Soon you will be able to purchase your own vehicles. After that, all income will be yours.

Empowerment

To attract customers, you can come up with your own reward system. For example, when riding with a family, children's bicycles are provided free of charge. It will be possible to set a discount for the client who brings three friends, as well as arrange cheaper rides, for example, on Wednesdays.

An interesting idea is to provide rental scooters, roller skates, child seats that attach to the trunk of a bicycle, etc.

* The calculations use average data for Russia

1. PROJECT SUMMARY

The goal of the project is to organize a bicycle rental office in Rostov-on-Don. Services are aimed primarily at young people (men and women) aged 15-30 years, as well as families with children. It is planned to open two rental points - in the city center and in the recreational area (see Sections 2, 3 of this business plan).

The prerequisites for the successful implementation of the project are the popularization of cycling as a means of urban recreation and the improvement of many areas of the city, including its central part. The project does not require significant capital investments; the project initiator independently performs most of the functions related to the implementation of the project. Project risks are low. The investment attractiveness of the project is confirmed by the integral performance indicators given in Table. 1.

Table 1. Integral performance indicators

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND INDUSTRY

The project involves the organization of a small business entity in Rostov-on-Don, the main service of which will be the provision of bicycles to the population for rent for up to a day. Rostov-on-Don is a city with a population of 1.1 million people, the capital of the Southern Federal District and the administrative center of the Rostov region. The city has a concentration of cultural and art objects, educational institutions, historical monuments - all this attracts visitors pursuing various goals. In the central part of the city there is an extended pedestrian zone - st. Pushkinskaya, which is a landscaped boulevard with cafes, restaurants and other infrastructure. Thus, locating a bicycle rental here seems to be a highly feasible solution. The rental point has a branded mobile rack for the administrator, as well as a rack for bicycles, designed for 15 units. The second rental point is located in the Pervomaisky district of the city, directly at the entrance to Aviator Park, which has been a recreational area equipped for cycling since 2014.

Storage areas are provided for storing racks and bicycles. In the area of ​​st. Pushkinskaya rents part of the basement (20 m2) of one of the buildings of the federal university, for which a lease agreement has been concluded with the management of the university. Within 300 m from the entrance to Aviator Park, a metal garage located on the territory of a garage cooperative is rented from a private individual; garage area – 22 m2.

To attract the attention of potential tenants, the counters are decorated in a modern, eye-catching design. A professional designer is involved in its development. The bicycle park consists exclusively of new comfortable city bicycles, 60% of which are for men (most women do not experience any discomfort when riding a men's bicycle), 30% are for women, 10% are for children.

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As for the market for such services as a whole, it has been actively gaining momentum in recent years. Young people coming to the city center from residential areas are increasingly renting bicycles for walking. Bicycles are also increasingly being used for family recreation.

With the growing interest in cycling, there is a trend in the market towards purchasing your own bikes. However, compared to using your own bicycle, bicycle rental has a number of advantages, such as low cost of use, no need for routine maintenance, repairs and storage, etc. In addition, even having his own bicycle, a person with average physical fitness is unlikely to want to travel 10-15 km one way in order to ride along the central boulevard of the city. In most cases, city public transport is used for this, and then, on the spot, a bicycle is rented.

There are currently 18 actively operating bicycle rental bureaus in the city, which do not cover the needs of citizens for rented bicycles. Of these, 12 are located directly within the city boundaries; the rest are in suburban recreational areas. In close proximity to the street. There are 7 bike rentals located on Pushkinskaya Street, officially none from Aviator Park, but at the entrance there are rental points belonging to bureaus located in the city center.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The company provides services for renting bicycles for periods from an hour to several days. Renting and issuing bicycles is carried out at the reception desks located on the street. Pushkinskaya and at the entrance to the Aviators Park. The administrator draws up a rental agreement, the bicycle is issued on the security of a passport or driver’s license and an amount of 3,000 rubles. Upon return of the bicycle, the deposit is returned to the tenant provided there is no damage to the bicycle. If any are found, the amount of repairs is deducted from the security deposit. The tenant is familiarized with the price list for the most common damages at the stage of registration of the lease.

In fact, the company provides only two types of services: renting an adult bicycle and renting a children's bicycle. The cost of an hourly rental of an adult bicycle is 130 rubles, for a child - 100 rubles. When renting for a day/night (12 hours) or a day (24 hours), additional discounts are provided. Considering that at least 80% of renters prefer to rent bicycles for no more than 3-4 hours, discounts do not apply in most cases. In Table. 2 shows basic data on the company’s services.

Table 2. Range of enterprise services

If the tenant so desires, a full set of protective equipment is provided with the bicycle. For failure to comply with the deadline for returning the bicycle specified in the contract, the tenant pays its cost according to the price list, rounded to the nearest full hour, as well as a penalty of 10% of the overdue amount.

4. SALES AND MARKETING

The target audience of the project is men and women aged 15-30 years, as well as married couples with children. Cycling in the city center is mostly preferred by young people - single young people in groups, as well as young childless couples. Walks in Aviator Park are mostly preferred by families with children. Based on this, a transport fleet is being formed: at a point on the street. There is only 1 children's bicycle in Pushkinskaya, the remaining 3 are in Aviator Park.

Sales of company services are passive in nature. To attract the attention of potential clients, a catchy design of reception desks is used, developed by a professional designer in a modern urban style. Administrators are polite and behave as correctly and attentively as possible towards clients, which is an advantage of the company. The main competitive advantage lies in the most favorable territorial location of rental points.

The condition of the bicycle fleet is also of great importance. Each of them undergoes weekly maintenance and washing. In case of heavy contamination - more often, if necessary.

The price segment in which the company is positioned is medium. The price level is on average at the level of competitors. The difference between the company and most of its competitors is that all the bicycles provided for rent belong to the same class - urban walking ones. This allows us to unify the pricing policy.

5. PRODUCTION PLAN

The company's fixed assets primarily include bicycles. They are purchased in quantities of 30 pieces from a supplier in Moscow. The criterion for choosing is the brand of the bicycle, its model - they should be as comfortable as possible for long rides around the city. Price is also a selection criterion.

Bicycles are stored in rented premises, in close proximity to the sales points. The area of ​​the premises is 20 and 22 m2 (see Section 2 of this business plan). Administrator desks are also stored in the same premises. The stands are made foldable for ease of transportation and storage. A professional designer is hired to develop the design of the racks.

Demand for bicycle rental services is, of course, highly seasonal, with a peak in late spring and early autumn. In summer, demand arises mainly in cool evenings. On average, the calculation of project profitability assumes an average usage of 3 hours per day for each bicycle.

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In the off-season, bicycles are stored in the same premises as in the summer. Before this, conservation is carried out - cleaning and lubricating all components, loosening cables, installing bicycles on special stands. Before the season, re-preservation is carried out - repeated maintenance, tightening of nodes, etc. Maintenance is carried out by an invited qualified specialist.

Table 3. Production plan

6. ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN

The project initiator serves as a manager and also as one of the administrators. Accounting is outsourced. The functions of an administrator can be performed by an employee without special qualifications. However, given that a bike share's image is important to re-attracting customers, receptionists must appear neat, friendly and efficient in their duties. The age of administrators is 18-30 years. Work schedule: 2/2 shifts, from 10.00 to 22.00. In addition, administrators are seasonal employees hired from April to October.

Table 4. Staffing and wage fund

Job title

Salary, rub.

Number, persons

Payroll, rub.


Point of sale administrator

Total:

RUB 66,000.00

Social Security contributions:

RUR 19,800.00

Total with deductions:

RUB 85,800.00

7. FINANCIAL PLAN

The financial plan is calculated for a period of 5 years, taking into account all costs, income, tax and loan payments, etc. Investment costs for the project amount to 730,000 rubles, of which 600,000 are the project initiator’s own funds. The bulk of the funds are spent on the purchase of bicycles, as well as on the development and promotion of the company’s website (Table 5). The lack of funds is covered by a bank loan for a period of 36 months at a rate of 18% per annum.

Table 5. Investment costs

NAME

AMOUNT, rub.

Equipment

Reception desk

Bicycle rack

Bicycles

Uniforms for administrators

Obtaining licenses and permits

Working capital

Total:

730,000 ₽

Own funds:

RUB 600,000.00

Required borrowings:

130,000 ₽

Bid:

18,00%

Duration, months:

Conventionally, there are no variable costs for the project, since it is quite difficult to take into account the costs of each hour of renting a bicycle. For this reason, all expenses are considered fixed. Depreciation takes into account the cost of fixed assets and is calculated using the straight-line method for 60 months.

Table 6. Fixed costs

A detailed financial plan is given in Appendix 1 of this business plan.

8. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS

The effectiveness of the project and its investment attractiveness are assessed based on the calculated financial plan using integral performance indicators, such as net present value (NPV), profitability index (PI), internal rate of return (IRR), etc. (Table 1)

To take into account the value of money over time, a discount rate is used, set according to the inflation rate, possible risks, etc. For this project, it was adopted at the level of 5%, which is due to relatively low risks, as well as the fact that the service is not innovative, but is well known to the market, the market has a stable growth trend, and the bulk of investments are made in tangible assets, which are a guarantee of return on investment funds.

The payback period for the project is 17 months. The net profit for the fifth year of project implementation is 766 thousand rubles, which is acceptable for small businesses with self-employment. The NPV of the project significantly exceeds investment costs, which indicates the effectiveness of the project. IRR exceeds the discount rate, and PI > 1 - these values ​​also indicate the investment attractiveness of this project.

9. RISKS AND GUARANTEES

To take into account all the risks associated with the project, a SWOT analysis was carried out, taking into account all micro and macroeconomic factors.

Table 7. SWOT analysis of the project

Low level of investment

Convenient location of sales points

Systematic approach to the design of outlets and personnel selection

New fleet of high quality bicycles

High quality website to attract additional clients

Relatively small bike park

Pricing policy is higher than that of competitors

Current competitive environment

Expansion of the park over time

Attracting repeat customers through loyalty programs

Ensuring loyalty through high quality fleet

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Calculator for calculating the profitability of this business

Bicycle rental is a profitable business that has been actively gaining popularity recently. Such a business has its regular customers, it quickly pays for itself, and to open it you will need several basic documents and a minimum of investments. To implement a business plan, the idea of ​​which is bicycle rental, you will need capital in the amount of 230,000 rubles. The payback period for the business will be on average 5 months.

Bicycle rental is a seasonal business, but quite profitable. The main activity is bicycle rental. In addition, you can offer various related products. Cycling is considered a more suitable activity between April and October. During these 7 months you will be able to return your investments and make a good profit.

Instructions on how to open and what you need to do it

How to open a bicycle rental and what needs to be done for this? You especially need to pay attention to the following points: documentation, searching for premises, purchasing equipment and selecting employees - this is the minimum required to open your own bike rental company.

Stage 1 – registration and preparation of documents

How to organize bicycle rental? To organize this business, you will only need to register with the individual entrepreneur tax office. For this you need the following documents:

  • statement;
  • passport;
  • receipt for payment of state duty - 800 rubles.

Bicycle rental belongs to a service sector in which you can work under the simplified taxation system (STS):

  • STS 6% - an individual entrepreneur must pay 6% of all money earned and contributions to the FFOMS, Pension Fund;
  • STS 15% - an individual entrepreneur must pay 15% of the difference between income and expenses, as well as contributions to the FFOMS and the Pension Fund.

List of documents you will need to open a bicycle rental business in 2018:

  • individual entrepreneur registration certificate;
  • enterprise passport and its details;
  • tax registration certificate;
  • premises rental agreement;
  • medical records of employees;
  • fire department permit;
  • permission from the sanitary and epidemiological station.

Stage 2 – search for premises

Bicycle rentals should be organized in crowded places. It is advisable to find a place near a park or some tourist center. The area should be lively and popular with residents or visitors to the city. But first you need to find out from the city administration whether it is possible to ride a bicycle in the zone you have chosen. You will also need to rent a room, the minimum area of ​​which should be 20 sq.m.

Stage 3 - purchase and installation of necessary equipment

You don't need to buy a lot of bikes at once. For starters, 10-15 pieces will be enough. In the future, if demand is high, it will be possible to purchase several of the most popular types. Basic requirements for bicycles:

  1. The frame size should be 18-20 inches;
  2. Durable, lightweight metal;
  3. Shock absorbers;
  4. It is advisable to purchase street models because they are comfortable, durable and have reliable wheels;
  5. It is necessary to have an assortment of women's and children's models;
  6. Cheap brands of bicycles break down quickly, while high-quality ones are more comfortable and will attract more customers to your location, so you shouldn’t skimp on this.

A good bicycle for adults costs 10-14 thousand rubles, and for children – 4-5 thousand rubles. This means that the purchase of bicycles will require about 160 thousand rubles.

It is best to buy the necessary equipment in winter, when manufacturers offer big discounts. You can also save money by purchasing multiple units in one place. You definitely need to buy tools for repairs, because after each rental you need to check the condition of the bike and carry out preventive maintenance.

Stage 4 - selection of employees

When opening a company, two people will be enough to work with clients in shifts, one of whom may be the owner himself. Often, bicycles that are rented break down for one reason or another and need to be repaired. And since the ideal technical condition of a bicycle is the most important criterion for the success of this business, you need to hire a bicycle repair specialist for a permanent job. To properly maintain financial records, it is not necessary to hire a full-time accountant; this work can be performed by a specialist under a contract.

Stage 5 - promotion and advertising

In addition to renting bicycles, you can offer accessories and protective equipment to customers. It is advisable to install a refrigerator with drinks and make seating areas. Such techniques will increase business profitability by 2 times.

  • bright sign;
  • banners;
  • leaflets;
  • ads;
  • creating a website or group on social networks;
  • It is advisable to take part in the public life of the city.

Financial plan

Let's calculate the approximate costs required to implement a bicycle rental plan for 15 bicycles with a population of 350 thousand people:

  1. Registration of individual entrepreneurs and all necessary certificates – 10,000 rubles.
  2. Rental fee – from 10,000 rubles.
  3. Equipment – ​​160,000 rub.
  4. Salary of two employees – from 30,000 rubles.
  5. Repair work – 15,000 rub.
  6. Unforeseen expenses - 5,000 rub.

As a result, the approximate initial capital for implementing the bike rental plan will be approximately 230,000 rubles.

Possible risks

The bike sharing business is accompanied by the following types of risks:

  • Theft. To avoid this, an agreement is concluded in which the client’s passport data is recorded, or the client pays a certain amount as collateral. However, none of these methods can insure you 100% against fraud.
  • Unscrupulousness of employees who may give bicycles without signing a contract or indicate shorter terms, keeping the difference for themselves. Good wages and control will allow you to avoid such cases.
  • Weather. Rain and heat are not conducive to comfortable cycling, but you cannot influence this risk factor.

Video “Bike rental: business idea”

You will learn more information about the type of activity considered in the following video.

If you have a small net worth and a desire to start a business, we recommend considering the idea of ​​opening a bicycle rental shop. In the entrepreneurial environment, it is considered that this is a youth type of income, and is well suited for novice businessmen. Insignificant material risk, constant work with clients and regular income are what you need to learn how to earn money on your own.

Organizing a bike rental is not difficult. However, despite the comparative simplicity of such a project, there are some nuances that need to be taken into account when deciding on the feasibility of working in this direction.

Bike sharing as a business does not require too complicated organization. To get started you will need:

  • register as an entrepreneur (check out);
  • rent a room suitable for storing and servicing bicycles;
  • purchase bicycles, equipment and accessories necessary for cycling;
  • organize an advertising campaign.

This is the required minimum, with the condition that the rental organizer himself will be responsible for the issuance of transport, its acceptance and repair.

If the owner of the station does not have the skills and knowledge necessary for routine and major repairs of bicycles, he will need to additionally hire a mechanic.

Important! If an entrepreneur planning to open a bicycle rental is already registered as an individual entrepreneur for another type of activity, before opening a rental, he needs to change or add the type of activity code according to OKVED 71.40.4 (“Rental of inventory and equipment”) and enter information about the new code in the Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs.

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Formation of material and technical base

The main thing for the rental station is bicycles. There shouldn’t be many of them, but they should be different so that each client can choose transport for their level.

It is not profitable to rent low-cost bicycles, as there is a risk of frequent breakdowns. The acceptable price range is from 20 to 50 thousand rubles. You should not purchase too expensive equipment.

The station's assortment should include the following bicycles:

  • children's;
  • women's;
  • cross;
  • mountain;
  • highway;
  • cruisers.

It is enough to rent two or three units of each type of bicycle transport. On average, the cost of bicycles will be about 500 thousand rubles.

Accessories (helmets, gloves, bags, pumps, etc.) as well as consumables for repairs will cost approximately 100 thousand rubles.

Purchasing premises for bicycle rental is unprofitable. Such a transaction will require large investments, and there is not much practical benefit in this acquisition.

Moreover, recently rental entrepreneurs rent pavilions for storing bicycle equipment only during the warm season, and in the winter they hand over all equipment for storage in specially equipped garages. This significantly reduces operating costs.

If you are planning to open a bicycle rental as a way of investing, in which the entrepreneur only makes a profit, and the organization of the commercial process is carried out by hired workers, then the expected costs will increase significantly to pay for the labor of one or more specialists.

How to attract clients

The best marketing ploy for bike sharing is to install a station in a good, busy location.

How and where is the best place to organize bicycle rental? The answer to this question depends on the characteristics of a particular locality. Judging by general trends, bicycles are in greatest demand at rental stations located:

  • at the entrance to city parks;
  • in areas of cities equipped with bicycle paths;
  • in recreation areas near city lakes;
  • on busy areas in residential areas, etc.

Before opening a bike rental, you should make sure that potential clients have the opportunity to receive information about the start of a new project. To solve this problem you will need:

  • installation of information signboards and signs;
  • distribution of advertisements and leaflets.

When can you expect profit?

A good indicator for the payback of a bicycle rental is one working season, if about 600 thousand rubles were initially invested in the station.

In order for the rental to earn 150 thousand per month, each bicycle (of the 20 units purchased) must be used for about 40 hours. This is approximately 1.5-2 hours a day with an average cost of 1 hour of 150-200 rubles. The figure is small and quite achievable in even a not very large city.

With active work for 6 months, the entrepreneur will have the opportunity to fully cover the investment of 600 thousand rubles during this period.

Payment for staff work per month is about 30 thousand rubles.

Rent and utility bills – up to 20 thousand rubles.

Do not forget that force majeure, equipment breakdown, illness, etc. are possible. To cover unforeseen expenses in the first year of work, it is recommended to set aside part of the earnings in a kind of stabilization fund in order to insure yourself against any financial troubles.

New ideas in the work of bicycle rentals and the principles of setting tariffs for services are discussed in the following video: