How to Start A Golf Cart Rental Business

Starting a golf cart rental business is a practical and rewarding way to support tourists, vacation renters, event coordinators, campuses and local communities. Golf carts are increasingly popular for short-distance travel, resort transportation, festivals, construction sites and outdoor experiences.

This guide walks you step-by-step through what you can do to prepare, set up and grow your business using smart planning, reliable tools and the support of your golf cart rental software and golf cart rental website.

Research your local market

Researching your local market begins with checking whether you have competitors in your area and understanding what could set your business apart. This includes identifying gaps in their offerings, noticing which cart types they do not provide, and observing customer reviews that highlight strengths or weaknesses.

Starting with competitor insight gives you a clearer direction for choosing your fleet, pricing and service style. A focused look at your area helps you avoid misaligned investments and gives you a clear strategy for serving renters more effectively.

Actions you can take:

• Identify popular visitor routes such as beachfront roads, boardwalks, lake communities and large campgrounds.

• Record competitor pricing, cart types, accessories and delivery fees.

• Study peak months by reviewing hotel occupancy, campground activity and seasonal tourism patterns.

These steps help you understand what customers expect, what gaps exist and how you can stand out in a busy area.

If you run a rental company near a coastal town, you may find that competitors rarely offer accessories like beach-ready tires or coolers included with rentals. This insight allows you to build services that feel more complete and appealing to tourists.

Good research helps you begin with confidence, make smarter purchasing decisions and shape a service that renters will appreciate from the start.

Research licensing, storage and transport

Understanding local regulations, insurance requirements and your transport needs helps you run your business legally and safely. It also prevents unexpected downtime from compliance issues or damage caused by weak storage conditions.

Good preparation reduces risk and protects your equipment. Understanding local rules, insurance requirements and transportation needs helps you run your business legally and safely. Planning in advance prevents disruptions and keeps your fleet protected.

Being prepared reduces risk and ensures renters feel comfortable using your carts.

Actions you can take:

• Confirm whether carts require permits, plates or specific safety features.

• Check insurance requirements for carts used on public roads and private property.

• Set up secure indoor storage with adequate charging space.

• Acquire a trailer or utility vehicle for deliveries and pickups.

These steps contribute to safer rentals, longer-lasting carts and smoother day-to-day operation.

For example, if you run a rental company near a resort, you may need both on-road insurance and a trailer to move carts to vacation homes. Planning ahead helps you avoid legal issues and ensures your business runs responsibly and safely.

Invest in your first fleet of golf carts

Your first carts shape the success of your business. Choosing reliable, versatile models ensures that customers enjoy their experience and that your fleet stays in good condition over time.

A well-chosen fleet supports strong early bookings and reduces maintenance problems.

Actions you can take:

• Start with 2-seater and 4-seater electric carts that appeal to most renters.

• Check battery age, tire condition and mechanical history when buying.

• Add useful accessories such as rain covers, storage boxes or beach tires.

• Label carts clearly and record their condition and maintenance schedule.

• These steps help you build a fleet that performs well and stays easier to manage.

If you run a rental company near a campground, carts with all-terrain tires and weather enclosures may be essential to handle rougher roads.

Choosing the right first fleet gives you a strong base to grow from and a reliable service renters can count on.

Choose the right golf cart rental software

Choosing the right management system allows you to run your business from one place. That is why Booqable has created a solution that allows you to manage availability, bookings, payments and deliveries with accuracy.

Booqable’s all-in-one system combines online bookings and a rental back-office to prevent errors, and help you stay in control during busy periods.

A good rental software will allow you to:

• Track real-time availability for every cart.

• Bundle carts with accessories such as coolers or beach gear.

• Accept payments from your online store and back-office.

• Create invoices, quotes and rental agreements instantly.

These features make it easier to manage bookings, improve accuracy and support customer trust. If you run a rental company in a holiday resort area, Booqable allows you to create bundles that guests can book instantly through your golf cart rental website.

Using the right software helps you focus on customer service while keeping your rental operation organized and reliable.

Set up pricing, availability and mobile management

Clear pricing and live availability help customers understand your service right away when they are browsing your rental website. Mobile access through Booqable’s mobile app will allow you and your team to manage bookings, view cart statuses, and take rental signatures from anywhere.

This approach supports both seasonal and year-round businesses and helps customers plan confidently.

Actions you can take with Booqable:

• Offer daily, weekly and seasonal pricing options.

• Add delivery and pickup fees based on distance..

• Use your phone to review bookings, update schedules, and send rental contracts.

These steps lead to fewer questions, smoother scheduling and predictable rental patterns. If you run a rental company in a summer town, you can set peak-season pricing that adjusts automatically in Booqable.

Clear pricing and mobile management help your business stay flexible and ready for busy and slow seasons.

Set up online bookings

An online booking system allows customers to reserve carts instantly without needing to call. A strong golf cart rental website displays availability, pricing and options clearly so renters can book anytime.

Online bookings help you reach more customers and reduce manual tasks.

Actions you can take:

• Build your site using Booqable’s rental website builder and templates.

• Add photos and detailed descriptions for each cart.

• Display live availability that updates automatically.

• Enable online deposits or full payments at checkout.

These features increase bookings and reduce the time you spend answering repetitive questions. If you run a rental company near an island resort, tourists can book carts as soon as they confirm their travel dates, giving you predictable schedules ahead of time.

Online bookings help make your business easier for customers to interact with and easier for you to manage.

Market your business

Marketing helps customers find you and understand why your service is worth renting. A mix of online visibility, partnerships and community presence keeps your business active and relevant. Good marketing builds trust and strengthens your reputation.

Actions you can take:

• Add your business to Google Maps and local online directories.

• Share photos and short videos on social media platforms.

• Track website visitors using Booqable’s integration with GA4 or Meta Pixel.

• Partner with hotels, resorts and vacation rental hosts.

These steps help you reach more customers and boost your recognition in the area. If you run a rental company near a theme park, partnering with vacation homes can significantly increase mid-week rentals.

Consistent marketing keeps your business visible, competitive and trusted in your community.

Bonus tips for growth

Once your business is stable, you can explore ways to offer more value, attract new customers and increase revenue without needing a significantly larger fleet.

Growth helps your business stay adaptable and competitive.

Actions you can take:

• Add specialty carts such as lifted carts or utility carts.

• Offer accessory add-ons like Bluetooth speakers or sunshades.

• Create rental packages for weddings, group events or beach days.

• Build partnerships with tour operators or event planners.

• These ideas help you expand your offerings and reach new customer groups.

If you run a rental company at a resort, offering utility carts can open a new income stream from contractors or maintenance teams.

Growth strategies help you stay ahead, serve more customers and increase your long-term success.

In Summary

Starting a golf cart rental business is an exciting opportunity that blends tourism, mobility and customer service. With smart planning, a reliable fleet and helpful tools like Booqable’s golf cart rental software, you can confidently serve tourists, event planners and local communities.

A strong golf cart rental website, clear pricing, online booking and organized availability help your service stay dependable throughout the year. With the right preparation, your rental business can grow steadily and thrive long term.

By Catrin Donnelly · Published November 18, 2025

Catrin is a rental software expert with a digital marketing background. She’s interviewed over 1,000 rental businesses to create insightful, actionable content.