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New Member
Hi Everyone,
I saw an opportunity about a year ago and started a small fitness equipment hire business as a side project. Equipment is rented out on a 4 weekly basis. Most, but not all, clients choose to keep their equipment for several 4 week blocks. Up untill now, I have made appointments to visit all the clients 4 weekly to get them to sign a new hire sheet and collect a new payment or collect equipment. This was fine at the start, but the "wee project" is starting to grow arms and legs!
Ive been toying with the idea of getting a card terminal (one of the mobile ones i can take anywhere) for a couple of reasons...
Firstly, it would save me having to visit a client who wants to extend their hire (i could take a payment over the phone and post out their copy of the contract). And secondly, when a client wishes to return the equipment, sometimes they dig their heels in a bit... i.e. a machine might expire on a Monday, but the clients tells me (for whatever reason) that i cannot collect the machine till the Thursday meaning i have lost days.
So my main questions are, anyone use these type of card machines and give me a rough idea of the true cost? Turnover is roughly £1500 per 4 weeks.
Ive been reading about "recurring card payments", anyone use this method? Can i sign every client up for this? This would save them giving me card details all the time but also means i could debit from their account if the machine is late, lost, damaged, etc... and it would make clients return equipment more promptly if they were getting charged by the day!
Anyone have any experience of this or the hire business in general??
Like i said earlier, this started out as a project which has grown and is now interfering with my "day job".
Any advice greatfully recieved.
Andy
I saw an opportunity about a year ago and started a small fitness equipment hire business as a side project. Equipment is rented out on a 4 weekly basis. Most, but not all, clients choose to keep their equipment for several 4 week blocks. Up untill now, I have made appointments to visit all the clients 4 weekly to get them to sign a new hire sheet and collect a new payment or collect equipment. This was fine at the start, but the "wee project" is starting to grow arms and legs!
Ive been toying with the idea of getting a card terminal (one of the mobile ones i can take anywhere) for a couple of reasons...
Firstly, it would save me having to visit a client who wants to extend their hire (i could take a payment over the phone and post out their copy of the contract). And secondly, when a client wishes to return the equipment, sometimes they dig their heels in a bit... i.e. a machine might expire on a Monday, but the clients tells me (for whatever reason) that i cannot collect the machine till the Thursday meaning i have lost days.
So my main questions are, anyone use these type of card machines and give me a rough idea of the true cost? Turnover is roughly £1500 per 4 weeks.
Ive been reading about "recurring card payments", anyone use this method? Can i sign every client up for this? This would save them giving me card details all the time but also means i could debit from their account if the machine is late, lost, damaged, etc... and it would make clients return equipment more promptly if they were getting charged by the day!
Anyone have any experience of this or the hire business in general??
Like i said earlier, this started out as a project which has grown and is now interfering with my "day job".
Any advice greatfully recieved.
Andy