How to Set Up Valet for Your Rental Shop

Create Your Account

Go to Valet and create your account with your business email. You'll enter your business name, location, and the type of rental operation you run (bike, kayak, scooter, ski, tour, etc.). This takes about 2 minutes.

Valet asks for your operation type because it configures the system with relevant defaults — a bike rental shop and a tour operation have different booking flows, and the system adapts accordingly.

Add Your Equipment

This is the core setup step. You're telling Valet what you rent, how many you have, and what it looks like.

For each equipment category:

1. Name and description. "Beach Cruiser — Single-speed cruiser bike, perfect for boardwalk rides." Keep it clear and customer-facing.
2. Quantity. How many of this type do you have available to rent? Valet tracks availability against this count.
3. Photos. Upload 1-3 photos of the equipment. Clear, well-lit photos on a clean background convert better than action shots. Customers want to see what they're getting.
4. Details. Size options, included accessories (helmet, lock, PFD), and any requirements (minimum age, license needed).

Example categories for a bike rental shop:

• Beach Cruiser (15 available) — $35/day
• E-Bike (8 available) — $65/day
• Tandem Bike (4 available) — $50/day
• Kids Bike (6 available) — $20/day

You can add, remove, or modify categories anytime — this isn't locked in at setup.

Set Your Pricing

For each equipment category, set your rate tiers:

• Hourly rate — for short, impulse rentals
• Half-day rate (4 hours) — your sweet spot for most customers
• Full-day rate — highest margin per transaction
• Multi-day / weekly rates — for vacation renters

Add seasonal pricing if your rates change between peak, shoulder, and off-season. Set the date ranges and Valet applies the correct rate automatically.

Add-ons and extras: Configure optional add-ons that customers can select during booking — damage waiver ($8), phone mount ($5), trail map ($3). These increase your average order value by 15-25%.

Configure Your Waiver

Valet includes a built-in digital waiver system. Your waiver is presented to customers during the booking checkout flow — they sign before they pay, and the signed waiver is stored with their booking record.

To set up your waiver:

1. Paste your waiver text into the waiver editor. If you don't have a waiver yet, see our guide to creating rental waivers.
2. Set required fields: full name, date of birth, emergency contact, signature.
3. Enable the minor participant section if you rent to families with children under 18.
4. Preview the waiver as a customer would see it on mobile — make sure it's readable and the signature area is finger-friendly.

Every booking will now include a signed waiver. No clipboards, no filing, no separate waiver tool.

Connect Stripe

Valet uses Stripe to process payments. If you already have a Stripe account, connecting takes 30 seconds. If you don't, creating one takes 5 minutes.

1. In Valet's settings, click "Connect with Stripe."
2. Log in to your Stripe account (or create one — you'll need your business info and bank account for payouts).
3. Authorize the connection.
4. Done. Payments from bookings flow through Stripe to your bank account on a 2-day rolling schedule.

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Valet charges 5% per completed booking. These are the only costs — no setup fees, no monthly subscription.

Test Your Booking Flow

Before going live, test the entire customer experience:

1. Open your booking page on your phone. This is how most customers will see it.
2. Select a date, equipment type, and duration. Is the flow clear? Can you complete it in under 2 minutes?
3. Sign the waiver. Read through it on mobile. Is the text legible? Is the signature area large enough for a finger?
4. Complete payment using Stripe's test card (4242 4242 4242 4242, any future date, any CVC).
5. Check your dashboard. Does the booking appear? Can you see the customer's waiver? Is the equipment marked as booked for that date?
6. Process a test refund. Cancel the test booking and verify the refund processes.

Fix anything that felt slow, confusing, or broken. Then you're ready to go live.

Go Live and Connect Your Booking Link

Your Valet booking page has a URL you can share anywhere. Connect it to your customer touchpoints:

• Website: Add a "Book Now" button linking to your Valet booking page. Place it in your header/navigation for maximum visibility.
• Google Business Profile: Add the booking URL to your GBP listing's "Booking" link.
• Social media: Update your Instagram bio, Facebook page CTA, and any other profiles.
• Printed materials: Generate a QR code from your booking URL and add it to rack cards, signs, and business cards.

You're now accepting online bookings. Customers can book and pay 24/7, waivers are collected automatically, and your fleet availability updates in real time.

Ready to Get Started?

Set up is free — you only pay when bookings start coming in. Explore what Valet includes, see the pricing, or book a 15-minute demo with a co-founder before setting up.