Rental Items w/ Recurring Monthly Fees

[Randy_Sedlacek]

I'm wanting to create physical products on my Square website that are available for monthly rental. I know how to create a subscription plan with recurring charges, but I can't figure out how to include physical items on my website that have recurring monthly charges for as long as the customer keeps the product. 

Is this even possible with Square?

[crystalimages]

I haven't used subscriptions, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Item is the Subscription.

And forgive me if I'm misinterpreting your situation.

Are you approaching this by creating a "Monthly Subscription" and wanting to have the customer select which item they are renting under the duration of the rental? As far as I can tell, it won't work that way.

I believe the best approach would be: Tractor Rental - Monthly $xxx.xx and you will have to create a new subscription for each item you're renting. It's a little extra work, but in the long run it would be better.

By doing it this way, you can track your sales more closely. See which items are being rented most and if you need to purchase more of them to meet demand.

You can also utilize inventory. If you have 5 hammers for rent, once they are all out it will show sold out.

Once one comes back, you just adjust inventory and add it back and it's available to rent again.

Are you collecting deposits? Not sure what kind of equipment you're renting, but if it's expensive, you may want to consider that. Unfortunately, you can't combine a subscription with and Appointments Deposit.

[Randy_Sedlacek]

Thanks for the response @crystalimages 

Looks like creating a subscription for each item might work like you mention. Kind of a long process as I have to create separate subscriptions for each item, create separate checkout links, and then create a separate page (with the checkout link) for each subscription item. This is going to take a very long time. Sure wish I could simply add items like normal items for sale. 

You also mention utilizing inventory. I can't figure out how to track subscription inventories. Is that even possible with subscriptions?

I wasn't thinking about requiring deposits, but that is something I may need to rethink.

I wonder if memberships would give more flexibility or functionality than subscriptions??? I might need to look into that.

[crystalimages]

You're right, I didn't realize the subscription doesn't allow inventory tracking.

I was thinking along the lines of an item that has a checkout link.

Doing it this way, you're making an item and creating a checkout link, it's not actually a subscription. 

It would then allow you to track inventory. I guess square didn't think a subscription would need inventory.

The only way to do recurring payments is a subscription, or invoice, but I'm not sure the invoice would charge automatically. 

Unfortunately, you can't set an item unit to month, the best they offer is per day.

Does seem like something that should be added. If the per day thing works for you, that would be an option.

However, it's a one-time charge.

Looks like some changes need to be made on Square's end. I would suggest putting in a feature request.

I was curious, do you manually shut off the subscription after the item is returned? Or is it set to expire after so many occurances? Just wondering how you ensure you get paid if they keep it longer, but you don't charge them an additional month by accident.