Getting Started FAQ#

Just starting with RecSystems? These common questions will help you get up and running quickly.

Setup Basics#

What should I set up first?#

Follow this order for the smoothest setup:

1. Create a fleet — Category for your equipment (e.g., Pontoon Boats)
2. Add units — Individual rental items (e.g., 22ft Bennington)
3. Set up timeslots — When items can be rented
4. Configure pricing — Base rates and any dynamic pricing
5. Connect Stripe — Enable payment processing

Follow the Quick Start Guide →

How long does setup take?#

Most businesses are ready to accept bookings in 15-30 minutes. You don't need to have everything perfect before going live—you can always add more details later.

Can I test before going live?#

Yes! You can:

• Preview your booking site before publishing
• Use Stripe test mode to practice payments
• Create test bookings to understand the flow
• Invite team members to try things out

Do I need technical skills?#

No. If you can use email and browse the web, you can use RecSystems. The interface is designed to be simple and intuitive.

Equipment Setup#

What is a fleet?#

A fleet is a category or group of similar equipment. Examples:

• Pontoon Boats
• Jet Skis
• Kayaks & Paddleboards

Fleets help organize your inventory and make browsing easier for customers.

What is a unit?#

A unit is an individual rental item within a fleet. Examples:

• 24ft Bennington Pontoon
• Yamaha WaveRunner #1
• Red Tandem Kayak

Each unit can have its own photos, description, and availability.

Do I need to add all my equipment at once?#

No. Start with your most popular items and add more later. It's better to launch with a few well-configured items than to wait until everything is perfect.

How many photos should I add?#

We recommend at least 3-5 photos per unit:

• Main photo (best angle)
• Interior/seating
• Features/amenities
• Equipment included
• Action shot (optional)

High-quality photos significantly improve booking rates.

Can Rex write descriptions for me?#

Yes! Rex can generate professional descriptions, titles, and feature lists for your units. Learn about Rex content generation →

Timeslots & Availability#

What is a timeslot?#

A timeslot defines when and how long customers can rent your equipment. Examples:

• Half Day (9am-1pm)
• Full Day (9am-5pm)
• Hourly (2-hour minimum)

You can have multiple timeslots for different rental patterns.

Do I need multiple timeslots?#

It depends on your business. Common patterns:

• Simple: One Full Day timeslot
• Flexible: Half-day + Full-day options
• Hourly: For quick rentals with time flexibility

Start simple and add complexity as needed.

What's the difference between fixed and flexible timeslots?#

Most rental businesses use fixed timeslots for simplicity.

How do I handle seasonal hours?#

Timeslots can have validity dates:

• Summer hours (June-August)
• Winter hours (off-season)
• Holiday schedules

Learn about timeslots →

Pricing#

How do I set prices?#

1. Go to Account → Pricing
2. Set base prices for your timeslots
3. Add optional price rules for weekends, holidays, etc.

What if different units have different prices?#

You can set prices at the:

• Timeslot level — Same price for all units
• Unit level — Custom price per unit (overrides timeslot)

Should I use dynamic pricing?#

Dynamic pricing is optional but recommended. Common rules:

• Weekend premium — Charge more Sat/Sun
• Peak season — Higher rates in busy months
• Early bird — Discount for advance bookings

Rex can help suggest pricing rules based on your data.

Payments#

How do I get paid?#

1. Customer pays — At checkout via credit card
2. Stripe processes — Secures and verifies payment
3. You receive payout — 2-7 business days to your bank

Do I need a Stripe account?#

Yes. Stripe handles secure payment processing. If you don't have an account, you can create one during RecSystems setup.

What if I want to accept cash?#

You can create manual bookings for cash payments:

1. Create booking from dashboard
2. Select Manual Payment
3. Record payment type and reference

Going Live#

When is my site ready?#

Your booking site is ready when you have:

• [ ] At least one fleet with units
• [ ] Timeslots configured
• [ ] Pricing set
• [ ] Stripe connected

How do customers find my site?#

Share your booking URL:

• Add to your website
• Include in social media
• Add to Google Business Profile
• Include in marketing materials

Can I customize my booking URL?#

Yes. You can:

• Use the default RecSystems URL
• Add a custom domain (book.yourbusiness.com)
• Embed booking on your existing website

Common Beginner Questions#

What if I make a mistake?#

Almost everything in RecSystems can be edited:

• Change unit details anytime
• Modify pricing
• Adjust timeslots
• Edit or cancel bookings

Can I have multiple team members?#

Yes. Add team members from Account → Account Info → User Management. Assign roles:

• Admin — Full access
• Employee — Day-to-day operations, no financial settings

What if a customer needs help booking?#

You can:

• Create the booking for them (dashboard)
• Walk them through the process by phone
• Use Rex to answer their questions

How do I handle phone reservations?#

1. Go to + Booking in dashboard
2. Select unit and dates
3. Enter customer information
4. Process payment (card or manual)

Same result as online booking—just created by you.

Getting Help#

Where do I find more guides?#

• Quick Start Guide — Essential setup steps
• Dashboard Tour — Navigate the interface
• Rex — Ask your AI assistant anything

Can I get help setting up?#

Yes! Contact us at [email protected] for setup assistance. Include Setup Help in your subject line.

What if something isn't working?#

1. Check the Troubleshooting Guide
2. Search this Help Center
3. Ask Rex for help
4. Contact support

Related Articles#

• General FAQ
• Quick Start Guide
• Account Setup
• Dashboard Tour