Based in New Jersey, USA, John from Hands Down Party Rentals began his journey into the event rental world in 2024. As a one-man team with occasional help, he provides high-quality, affordable rentals for everything from “a 1st birthday to a 150 person wedding and everything in between.” The idea started as a way to create memorable events for families and communities, while building a business that could support his own family.
Before using Booqable, John managed everything through phone calls and emails. As his business grew, it became harder to stay on top of bookings and inventory. “Being able to accurately account for inventory, offering clients a seamless process with our online store and having a more professional looking website,” were the main challenges he faced.
Switching to Booqable’s rental software and website builder helped him turn his small side hustle into a professional business that works in the background while he spends more time with his wife and kids. In his words, “I can sit on the couch with my kids and play games, hear my phone go off and know someone just booked without me ever lifting a finger.”
Saving time through smarter rental management
When John started, every order meant manual work: answering emails, confirming availability, calculating prices, and writing down pickup times. Once he switched to Booqable’s party rental software, those steps became automatic, saving him hours every week.
Customers can now browse his party rental website and place orders directly online. They can instantly see product availability without having to message or call. The customizable checkout form collects all the customer’s details and preferences, so John doesn’t need to follow up for missing information. Payments are taken upfront through the Booqable and Stripe integration, meaning there’s no waiting for invoices to be paid.
From his phone, John can open the Booqable mobile app to check his pickup and return schedule. Everything updates automatically, giving him a full overview of his orders wherever he is. “The online store has been a game changer,” John says. With bookings, payments, and scheduling handled through one platform, he can focus on delivering great experiences instead of managing paperwork.
The biggest benefit is time. By automating what used to take hours each day, John can now dedicate that time to his family and focus on growing his business
Building a professional website with Booqable
Before using Booqable’s rental website builder, John wanted a more polished, professional presence online. His old setup didn’t reflect the quality of his products or give customers confidence to book without contacting him first.
The result is a clean and professional party rental website that attracts new customers and gives them a simple way to book online. As John puts it, “A lot of them have said how easy it is to order online.” With fewer phone calls and faster bookings, his website now does much of the work for him.
It feels like having an extra pair of hands managing orders while he focuses on what really matters, which is running events and spending time with family. The peace of mind that comes from knowing his site handles bookings 24/7 means he can step away from his desk without worrying about missing opportunities.
Using Booqable’s built-in tools, he was able to:
-
Choose a template and edit pre-made pages to showcase his products.
-
Add sections for featured items and adjust colors and fonts to fit his brand.
-
Connect his own custom domain to make the site look professional.
-
Quickly make updates in the backend whenever his inventory changes.
The website builder not only solved John’s challenge of creating a more professional image but also gave him valuable time back each week. Instead of answering repetitive questions or manually taking bookings, his website now brings in new customers on its own, helping his business grow while keeping family time front and center.
Saving time with online payments
Taking payments used to mean manually chasing invoices and waiting for bank transfers. With online payments, that entire process is built into his booking flow. By connecting his Stripe account, customers pay upfront during checkout, and the payment status updates automatically inside Booqable.
The result is simple and reliable cash flow. John no longer spends evenings sending reminders or checking who’s paid. Everything is automatic, giving him more confidence in managing his growing list of rentals. Having payments handled in the background frees up hours each week and removes the stress of late payments, so he can focus on preparing for events and spending quality time at home.
This allows John to:
-
Accept secure payments instantly when customers place an order.
-
See which orders are paid without checking emails or bank records.
-
Issue refunds directly from Booqable if an event is canceled.
-
Filter paid and unpaid orders in just a few clicks.
Booqable’s online payments have transformed how John manages his business day-to-day. With every transaction taken care of automatically, he can end his day knowing his bookings are confirmed, his payments are secure, and his evenings belong to his family again.
Building a family friendly business
From managing calls and spreadsheets to using a smooth, automated booking system, Booqable has helped Hands Down Party Rentals grow faster while giving John more personal time.
With Booqable’s party rental software, party rental website builder, and online payments, John has turned a side hustle into a professional business that works for him and his family. He now looks forward to the future, working full time alongside his wife while raising their two children, knowing his business runs smoothly in the background and gives him the freedom to enjoy life beyond work.
