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Discounts & Coupons - Create Promotional Codes

6 min read Beginner For Owner, Manager Updated about 2 months ago
Quick Answer
Create promotional codes by going to Account → Gift Cards and using the gift card wizard. Choose Coupon for percentage discounts or Discount Code for fixed amounts. Set the code, value, and expiration date.

Discounts & Coupons

Promotional codes drive bookings and reward customers. Create percentage-based coupons or fixed-amount discounts for marketing campaigns, special events, or loyal customers.

Types of Promotional Codes

Coupons (Percentage Off)

Reduce the price by a percentage.

Example:

  • Code: SAVE15
  • Value: 15% off
  • $300 rental → $255 (saves $45)

Best for:

  • General promotions
  • Social media campaigns
  • Partner referrals

Discount Codes (Fixed Amount)

Reduce the price by a set dollar amount.

Example:

  • Code: 25OFF
  • Value: $25 off
  • $300 rental → $275 (saves $25)

Best for:

  • Specific dollar savings
  • First booking offers
  • Fixed promotional value

Creating Promotional Codes

Step 1: Go to Gift Cards

Navigate to Account → Gift Cards in the navbar.

Step 2: Create New

Click Create or use the wizard and choose the type:

  • Coupon — Percentage discount
  • Discount Code — Fixed amount

Step 3: Configure

For Coupons:

Field Description Example
Code What customers enter SAVE15
Percentage Discount amount 15
Expiration When code expires 12/31/2026

For Discount Codes:

Field Description Example
Code What customers enter 25OFF
Amount Dollar discount $25.00
Expiration When code expires 12/31/2026

Step 4: Save

Click Save to create the promotional code.

Code Naming Tips

Make It Memorable

  • SUMMER20 (summer, 20% off)
  • WELCOME10 (new customer, $10 off)
  • BOAT25 (boat rental, 25% off)

Keep It Simple

  • Short and easy to type
  • Avoid confusing characters (0/O, 1/l)
  • ALL CAPS is standard

Include the Value

  • SAVE15 (15% off)
  • 25OFF ($25 off)
  • HALF50 (50% off)

How Discounts Apply

Pre-Tax Application

Discounts reduce the subtotal before tax:

Rental:              $300.00
Discount (SAVE15):   -$45.00
─────────────────────────────
Subtotal:            $255.00
Tax (8%):             $20.40
─────────────────────────────
Total:               $275.40

Multiple Items

Percentage coupons apply to the entire cart subtotal. Fixed discounts reduce the total by the set amount.

Customer Experience

Applying a Code

  1. Customer adds rentals to cart
  2. Finds Have a promo code? field
  3. Enters the code
  4. Clicks Apply
  5. Discount appears in total

What Customers See 

──────────────────────────────
Subtotal:        $300.00
Promo: SAVE15    -$45.00
──────────────────────────────
New Subtotal:    $255.00

Invalid Codes

If a code doesn't work, customer sees:

  • Invalid code — Code doesn't exist
  • Code expired — Past expiration date
  • Code already used — One-time code depleted

Promotional Ideas

Welcome Discount

Code: WELCOME
Type: Fixed, $20 off
Use: New customer acquisition

Seasonal Sale

Code: SUMMER25
Type: Coupon, 25% off
Dates: June - August
Use: Peak season promotion

Early Bird

Code: EARLYBIRD
Type: Coupon, 15% off
Use: Advance booking incentive

Flash Sale

Code: FLASH30
Type: Coupon, 30% off
Dates: 24-48 hours only
Use: Fill last-minute availability

Referral Reward

Code: FRIEND10
Type: Fixed, $10 off
Use: Word-of-mouth marketing

Social Media Exclusive

Code: INSTA20
Type: Coupon, 20% off
Use: Instagram followers only

Managing Codes

Viewing Active Codes

Go to Account → Gift Cards in the navbar to see all codes:

  • Code name
  • Type and value
  • Expiration date
  • Usage count

Editing Codes

Click on a code to edit:

  • Change expiration date
  • Update value (affects future use only)
  • Deactivate if needed

Tracking Redemptions

Monitor code performance:

  • How many times used
  • Revenue impact
  • Which campaigns work best

Code Restrictions

One Coupon Per Checkout

By default, customers can use one percentage coupon per checkout. This prevents stacking multiple coupons.

Gift Cards Stack

Credit-based gift cards work with coupons:

  • Apply coupon (reduces subtotal)
  • Apply gift card (reduces amount due)

Configure Stacking

In settings, you can control:

  • Allow multiple discount codes
  • Allow combining coupons with discounts

Best Practices

Set Expiration Dates

  • Creates urgency
  • Limits long-term exposure
  • Enables campaign measurement

Unique Codes for Campaigns

  • Track which marketing works
  • FACEBOOK10 vs GOOGLE10
  • Measure ROI per channel

Test Before Promoting

  • Create the code
  • Do a test booking
  • Verify it works correctly

Communicate Clearly

  • Code requirements
  • Expiration dates
  • What it applies to

Troubleshooting

Code not working

  • Verify spelling (exact match required)
  • Check expiration date
  • Confirm code is active
  • Review any minimum requirements

Wrong discount amount

  • Percentage vs. fixed confusion
  • Check actual code value
  • Review what code is applied

Customer can't find promo field

  • Usually in cart or checkout
  • May need to expand section
  • Clear labeling helps

Related Articles:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a discount code?
Go to Account → Gift Cards and click Create or use the wizard. Select Discount Code for a fixed amount off (like $25), enter the code customers will use, set the amount, and optionally add an expiration date.
What's the difference between a coupon and a discount?
Coupons are percentage-based (like 15% off) and can be reused until expiration. Discount codes are fixed dollar amounts (like $25 off) and are typically one-time use.
How do customers use promotional codes?
Customers enter the code in the cart or checkout. The discount is applied to their subtotal and shown in the price breakdown.
Can I limit how many times a code is used?
Coupons are reusable by default until expiration. Discount codes are typically one-time use, depleted after redemption.