Understanding Pricing#

RecSystems gives you complete control over how you price your rentals. This guide explains the pricing components and how they work together.

Pricing Components#

Your total rental price is built from several components:

How Pricing Flows#

When a customer books:

Base Rate ($200)
     +
Dynamic Adjustment (+$50 weekend)
     =
Subtotal ($250)
     +
Add-Ons ($25 cooler)
     +
Fees ($35 cleaning)
     =
Pre-Tax Total ($310)
     +
Taxes ($21.70 at 7%)
     =
Total Due ($331.70)

Advance Deposit (if enabled - balance collected later)

Base Rates#

Base rates are your standard prices for each rental duration:

• Hourly rate — Price per hour for hourly rentals
• Half-day rate — Price for morning or afternoon rentals
• Full-day rate — Price for all-day rentals
• Multi-day rate — Daily rate for overnight rentals

Each unit can have its own rates, allowing different prices for different equipment.

Learn more: Setting Base Rates

Dynamic Pricing#

Automatically adjust prices based on:

• Day of week — Charge more on Saturdays, less on Tuesdays
• Season — Peak season vs. off-season rates
• Holidays — Premium pricing for holiday weekends
• Demand — Increase prices when inventory is low
• Advance booking — Discount for booking far ahead

Rules are evaluated automatically when customers book, so you don't have to manually change prices.

Learn more: Dynamic Pricing Rules

Add-Ons#

Add-ons are optional extras customers can include with their rental:

• Life jackets
• Coolers
• Fishing equipment
• GPS devices
• Insurance/damage waivers
• Delivery service

Customers see available add-ons during checkout and can select what they need.

Learn more: Add-Ons & Extras

Fees#

Fees are charges you apply to rentals:

Common Fees#

• Cleaning fee — Covers post-rental cleaning
• Fuel fee — Pre-charged fuel or fuel surcharge
• Location fee — Extra charge for certain pickup locations
• Late return fee — Charge for returning past the scheduled time

Fees can be:

• Fixed amount — Always the same ($35)
• Percentage — Based on the rental total (10%)
• Per-item — Multiplied by number of units

Learn more: Fees & Taxes

Taxes#

RecSystems calculates taxes automatically based on your tax settings:

1. Set up your tax rates in Settings
2. Choose which taxes apply to which items
3. Taxes are added automatically at checkout

You receive the full amount (including taxes) in your payout. You're responsible for remitting taxes to the appropriate authorities.

Learn more: Fees & Taxes

Deposits#

RecSystems supports two types of deposits:

Advance Payment Deposits#

Collect a portion of the booking total at checkout, with the balance due later:

• Deposit amount — Percentage of total (e.g., 50%) or fixed amount (e.g., $100)
• Balance due — Collected before pickup or at check-in
• Purpose — Reduces booking friction while securing commitment

Learn more: Advance Payment Deposits

Security/Damage Deposits (Informational Only)#

Configure damage deposit information in your account settings for customer communication:

• Amount — Set in Account → Account Info under damage & liability
• Purpose — Displays in FAQs and customer communications to set expectations
• Important — RecSystems does NOT automatically charge or authorize security deposits. Your staff handles security deposit collection manually (via separate card authorization, cash, etc.)

Discounts & Promotions#

Reduce prices with:

• Coupon codes — Customer enters a code at checkout
• Automatic discounts — Apply based on rules (e.g., 10% off rentals over 3 days)
• Gift cards — Customer credits applied to purchase

Learn more: Discounts & Coupons

Price Preview#

Before publishing prices, use the Price Preview tool to see exactly what customers will pay:

1. Go to any unit's pricing page
2. Click Preview Price
3. Select dates and options
4. See the complete breakdown

This helps you verify that your pricing configuration produces the results you expect.

Learn more: Price Preview Tool

What Customers See#

When customers browse your booking site, they see:

1. Starting price — Your base rate (e.g., From $200/day)
2. Estimated total — Calculated as they select dates and options
3. Complete breakdown — All components itemized at checkout
4. Deposit notice — Clear indication of any security hold

Transparent pricing builds trust and reduces booking abandonment.

Pricing Best Practices#

Be Competitive but Profitable#

Research what similar businesses charge. You don't have to be cheapest — focus on value.

Use Dynamic Pricing#

Automated price adjustments maximize revenue without constant manual updates.

Keep It Simple#

Too many fees confuse customers. Consider bundling common items into the base price.

Review Regularly#

Check your pricing against bookings. Are certain items always booked? Consider raising prices. Never booked? Consider lowering or improving the listing.

Related Articles#

• Setting Base Rates
• Dynamic Pricing Rules
• Fees & Taxes
• Advance Payment Deposits
• Discounts & Coupons