Sep 15, 2025
Start your mountain bike business with Shopify today
Table of Contents
Why Shopify is Perfect for a Bike Rental Business
Shopify provides a solid foundation for bike rentals because it combines e-commerce with booking logic.
Centralized store management: Sell rentals, gear, and accessories in one place.
Integrated payments: Securely accept credit cards, PayPal, or Apple Pay.
Mobile-friendly design: Tourists can reserve bikes on their phones before arriving.
Scalable: Works for small shops or multi-location outdoor gear businesses.
Key Challenges of Bike Rental Management
Without a proper system, bike rental shops face:
Double bookings when multiple customers reserve the same bike.
Manual tracking headaches across different bike models and sizes.
Lost revenue from cancellations without deposits.
Staff confusion over which bikes are reserved or available.
Poor customer experience when availability is not shown in real time.
Essential Features for a Mountain Bike Rental Shopify Store
To run a professional outdoor rental company, you need a bike rental booking app with:
Equipment logic: Track each bike by ID, model, or size.
Deposits: Secure funds upfront to cover damage.
Fair-use rules: Limit max rentals per customer.
Real-time calendar sync: Keep staff and customers updated.
POS integration: Allow walk-in rentals directly in your shop.
Multi-location support: Manage more than one rental location.
Step-by-Step: How to Setup Bike Rentals in Cowlendar
Setting up bike rentals requires both Shopify and a booking app with equipment logic.
1. Install a Booking App with Equipment Availability
Use a Shopify app that supports real-time equipment tracking Shopify. Cowlendar is the most advanced option, but other apps exist too.
2. Add Each Bike as Equipment
Following Cowlendar’s guide on how to properly set equipment availability, add your bikes into the system.
Each mountain bike should be set up as a piece of equipment.
Availability is tied to each bike, avoiding double bookings.
3. Configure by Model or Serial Number
As explained in how to set up bikes, ski gear, or trailers, you can track bikes by:
Size (S, M, L, XL)
Model (downhill, cross-country, e-bike)
Serial number for precise tracking
4. Set Deposit Rules
Example: $100 flat deposit per bike.
Deposits are refundable upon safe return.
Configure rules inside the app for automatic or manual refunds.
5. Sync with Google Calendar
Staff see reservations in real time. This prevents miscommunication and helps with scheduling.
6. Create a Customer-Friendly Booking Flow
Mobile widget: Select bike → choose duration → pay deposit → confirm.
Confirmation email with rental rules.
Optional add-ons like helmets or GoPros.
7. Test the Workflow
Run a mock booking from reservation to return. Ensure deposits, staff sync, and availability logic work smoothly.
Best Shopify Apps for Bike Rental & Equipment Availability
Here’s a comparison of apps that help run outdoor gear rental booking systems:
Cowlendar (Top Recommendation)
✅ Instant bookings without Shopify checkout
✅ Staff assignment, room/equipment logic
✅ Google Calendar sync per staff
✅ POS integration for walk-ins
✅ Admin calendar with staff filters
✅ SMS/email reminders
✅ Deposits, upsells, waitlists
✅ Multi-location support
✅ Mobile-optimized booking widgets
✅ Staff performance reporting
❌ Some features require a paid plan
👉 Cowlendar Equipment Availability
Apntly (Appointly)
✅ Staff and class scheduling
✅ Google Calendar + POS + Zoom
✅ Custom forms
❌ No equipment/room support (Unspecified)
❌ Onboarding unclear
👉 Apntly
Appointo
✅ Staff assignment, rooms, and rentals
✅ POS + Zoom
✅ Deposits and upsells
✅ Admin dashboard
❌ Setup complexity can be high
👉 Appointo
Easy Appointment Booking (Servicify)
✅ Basic staff logic
✅ POS + Zoom + deposits
✅ Easy setup for solo businesses
❌ No reporting or advanced filters
👉 Easy Appointment Booking
BookThatApp (BTA)
✅ Advanced staff/room logic
✅ POS, Zoom, forms, calendar tools
❌ Steep learning curve
❌ No upsells noted
👉 BookThatApp
Sesami
✅ Multi-location staff logic
✅ POS, Google Calendar, onboarding
❌ Limited customization
❌ No upsells
👉 Sesami
Feature | Cowlendar | Apntly | Appointo | Easy Appointment | BookThatApp (BTA) | Sesami |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Instant Booking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Group / Event Booking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Rentals / Equipment | ✅ | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified |
Shopify POS Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Google Calendar Sync | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Zoom Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Email / SMS Reminders | ✅ | ❌ Unspecified | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Deposits Supported | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Upsells Supported | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified |
Customizable Forms | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Embedded Widget | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile-Responsive Design | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Admin Dashboard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Onboarding Experience | ✅ | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ❌ Unspecified | ✅ |
Complexity / Entry | ✅ Easy | ✅ Easy | ❌ High | ✅ Easy | ❌ High | ✅ Medium |
Tips for Running a Successful Bike Rental Business on Shopify
Test your booking flow before going live.
Use waitlists for high-demand weekends.
Add add-ons like helmets, guided tours, or cameras.
Track deposits to minimize disputes.
Monitor which bikes are rented most often for inventory planning.
FAQ: Bike Rental on Shopify
Q1. Can I set up different deposits for different bikes?
Yes. You can configure deposits by product type or bike model.
Q2. How do I prevent double bookings for the same bike?
Use a booking app with equipment logic, such as Cowlendar, to ensure each bike is only rented once per slot.
Q3. Can I rent bikes and offer guided tours at the same time?
Yes. Staff can be assigned to both equipment and services, syncing calendars automatically.
Q4. Do rentals sync with Google Calendar for staff?
Yes. Most apps allow two-way sync so staff see live bike reservations.
Q5. What’s the best Shopify app for outdoor equipment rentals?
Cowlendar is the most complete option, combining equipment availability, deposits, POS integration, and staff scheduling.
Conclusion
Launching a mountain bike rental Shopify store requires more than a checkout button. You need equipment availability tracking, deposits, and staff scheduling to avoid chaos and build customer trust. Shopify apps give you the tools to manage bikes, trailers, and outdoor gear with professionalism and scale.
👉 Try Cowlendar — the easiest way to manage bike rentals, deposits, and equipment availability in Shopify.
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