What Rental IQ does for you
See what gear like yours actually earns
Our gear database has real earnings data for the cameras, lenses, and lighting that newcomers actually own. Not theoretical rates from a marketing page, but actual performance: what a Sony FX3 is earning, how often it rents, how fast it pays for itself. If your gear is in that database, you can see what it's reasonable to expect before you even make a listing.
- Gear database with earnings and utilization data
- Filter by category, brand, and price range
- See payback timelines for gear you already own
Use the calculator to stress-test your expectations
Plug in your gear's value, your local market, and a realistic rental frequency. Get back: monthly earnings, time to payback, and how that compares to leaving the money in a high-yield savings account. Sometimes the answer is "this is great, list today." Sometimes it's "this isn't worth it for what you have, focus on something else." Both answers are useful.
Read the guides that go deeper than forum threads
The Rental IQ blog has 50+ guides written for gear owners at every stage, and many of them speak directly to people just starting out: how to price your gear, how to write a listing that gets bookings, how much Sharegrid actually pays after fees, how to handle your first damaged rental. The pillar guides (equipment ROI, Sharegrid guide, kit fees) cover the foundational concepts in one place.
Start free when you're ready
Rental IQ is free during beta. When you make your first rental, you can import it (or log it manually) and start tracking from day one. Unlike a spreadsheet, your setup work compounds: the earlier you start, the more useful your data is in year two.
A realistic path from curious to consistent
Month 0: You read the gear database, run the calculator, and realize your A7 IV and 24-70 could reasonably earn $200-400 per month in your market. You decide to list.
Month 1-3: Four rentals, $550 total. You log them in Rental IQ because it's already set up. You see per-item earnings and notice the 24-70 is doing all the work, the camera body is mostly tagging along.
Month 6: You've cleared $1,800 total. The 24-70 has paid for 40% of itself. You're considering a second lens (the 70-200) because demand is clearly there.
Month 12: You've built a real side income. Your decisions about what to buy are informed by 12 months of your own data, not by forum posts from strangers.
That's the version of this that works. It starts with measuring instead of guessing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I realistically make money renting out my gear?
Depends on what you own and where you are. A full-frame mirrorless body with two or three lenses in a major market (LA, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago) reasonably earns $200-500/month at 20-40% utilization. A crop sensor body with kit lenses in a small market earns much less. The gear database and calculator are there to get you to a realistic number before you list.
How long before my gear pays for itself?
Typical payback for well-priced gear in an active market is 18-36 months at normal utilization rates. Some items (workhorse zooms, popular bodies) pay back faster. Specialty gear and underpowered kit can take 5+ years or never.
What platform should I start on?
Sharegrid is the deepest market for camera gear in the US. It's where most renters look first. If you only want to list on one platform, start there. Kitsplit and Fat Llama are secondary options worth exploring once you have a track record.
Is it safe to rent my gear to strangers?
Yes, with the right guardrails. Sharegrid requires verified renters and handles basic dispute resolution on rentals booked through their platform. You'll want your own equipment insurance. And for off-platform rentals (direct to clients, crew, or repeat customers), a signed rental agreement is worth the 30 seconds it takes to send. One thing to note: Rental IQ is a tracking tool, not a booking platform or marketplace. We don't facilitate rentals or handle disputes. For anything you log as an off-platform rental, you're the party responsible for screening renters, collecting payment, and resolving any issues.
When should I start using Rental IQ?
From your first rental. The data compounds. Waiting until you have "enough rentals to justify it" is a common mistake that leaves you with a year of untracked history. Start free during beta.
Keep reading
Deeper guides on the topics most relevant to your situation.