Renting Equipment or Tools Locally for Extra Cash

Not all passive income ideas are digital. Sometimes, the most overlooked assets are sitting in your garage or storage shed. If you own tools, gear, or equipment that others might need occasionally—think pressure washers, lawn mowers, cameras, or even party tents—you can rent them out locally and turn idle assets into ongoing cash.

Welcome to one of the most underrated side hustles with semi-passive income potential: equipment rental.

Why Renting Equipment Works as a Side Hustle

People love to rent what they don’t want to buy.

Whether it’s a DIYer needing a circular saw for the weekend, a parent renting a bounce house for a birthday party, or a content creator needing a drone for a shoot—you can meet temporary needs with long-term assets.

And unlike selling something once, rentals bring recurring income from the same asset over and over again.

What You Can Rent Out Locally

Here are just a few ideas of in-demand items you could rent:

Power tools (drills, saws, pressure washers)
Yard equipment (lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers)
Photography gear (DSLRs, lighting kits, tripods)
Event items (tables, chairs, tents, projectors)
Camping gear (tents, coolers, portable stoves)
Baby items (strollers, cribs, car seats)
Tech gadgets (GoPros, drones, VR headsets)
Construction tools (ladders, cement mixers, air compressors)

If it's expensive, infrequently used, and portable—it can probably be rented.

How to Start Renting Out Equipment for Extra Cash

1. Take Inventory of What You Own

Walk through your garage, shed, or storage unit. What items are:

In good condition
Not used daily
Likely to be in demand

Make a list and take quality photos.

2. Choose a Rental Platform or Go DIY

You can list your items on platforms like:

Fat Llama – for general items
ShareGrid – for photography/cinema gear
Loanables – tool and equipment rental
Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor – local DIY options

Or build a simple one-page site with contact info and listings using Carrd, Notion, or Linktree.

3. Set Your Prices and Policies

Pricing tip: Aim for 5–15% of the item’s retail value per day.

Example: A $400 pressure washer could rent for $25–$40/day.

Set clear terms:

Pick-up or delivery options
Rental period length
Security deposits or ID verification
Cleaning or late-return fees

4. Create a Safe, Smooth Rental Process

Use rental agreements (you can find free templates online)
Require deposits or payment upfront
Inspect items before and after use
Offer brief instructions to avoid misuse

This adds professionalism and protects your gear.

Semi-Passive Potential: Is It Worth It?

While there is some hands-on work—coordinating pick-ups, cleaning, occasional maintenance—the income can become fairly semi-passive, especially with high-ticket rentals or if you rent the same item multiple times a month.

You can even scale by:

Renting out other people’s gear on commission
Hiring someone to handle handoffs
Automating bookings via an online calendar

Real-Life Example

A local handyman bought an industrial-grade tile saw for $900 and rents it out for $60/day. After 15 rentals, it paid for itself—and now earns hundreds monthly while sitting in his garage most of the time.

This is the power of utility over ownership.

Final Thoughts

Renting out equipment locally is a smart, overlooked way to make your stuff work for you. It's sustainable, community-driven, and capitalizes on assets you already own. Best of all, it doesn’t require you to learn complex digital systems or market globally—you just serve your local area with real-world value.

Turn clutter into cash. Turn tools into income. And turn your weekends into passive profit.