Andrew runs Skylark Hire, a one-person rental business based in Brisbane, Australia, shaped by years working in the DJ industry. While performing at bars, nightclubs, and event venues, he noticed something pretty quickly: people didn’t just need music, they also needed the equipment to make the night run smoothly.
That’s what pushed him to start offering sound and lighting rental, focusing on the speaker and DJ gear customers were already asking for. Today, Skylark Hire is busiest on weekends, supplying equipment for weddings, 21st birthday parties, and corporate events. Andrew operates from home, with a flexible setup where customers can pick up and return their gear, or request delivery if needed.
After managing rentals through Wix, he started searching for event rental software that was built for rental businesses, with the right tools for bookings, inventory, terms, payments, and deposits. He chose Booqable as both his rental software and website platform so customers could place orders upfront, without long message threads. From the start, Booqable’s rental website builder and refundable security deposits helped Skylark Hire take bookings with more confidence and fewer loose ends.
A better booking flow
Before Booqable, Andrew’s main issue was that Wix wasn’t made for rentals. He needed a booking flow that clearly guided customers through choosing dates, selecting items, and confirming the order. When you’re running a solo sound and lighting rental business, it’s hard to stay on top of weekend demand if every booking needs manual follow-up.
With Booqable’s rental website builder, Andrew could set up an online store where customers can choose their rental dates, place an order, and pay upfront. And the website setup itself didn’t require extra tools or custom development. He could start with a template, connect his custom domain, and use the theme customizer to match the site to his brand.
Here’s what the Booqable rental website builder helps Skylark Hire do:
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Let customers book online with clear date selection, so availability makes sense immediately
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Take upfront payments during checkout, so orders feel confirmed and complete
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Show equipment in a clean storefront, making it easier for customers to choose the right setup
Instead of building workarounds, Andrew now has a booking pathway designed for rentals. That means fewer back-and-forth questions, fewer booking mistakes, and more time to focus on getting gear ready for events.
Less stress around returns
Renting out DJ and speaker equipment comes with a risk: you need everything returned in good condition. Andrew wanted a way to protect his gear while keeping the process fair and straightforward for customers, especially with one-off weekend bookings.
Booqable’s refundable security deposits gave him a simple way to do that. Andrew can set a deposit rule in Booqable so it’s automatically added to bookings, rather than handled manually. Deposits can be calculated in different ways depending on what fits the business, including a fixed amount per order, a percentage of the rental total, or a set amount per product.
The deposit is charged upfront at checkout, and once the equipment is returned, it can be refunded quickly. Andrew also mentioned that returning deposits to customers is one of the features that’s made a real difference.
Here’s what security deposits help Skylark Hire achieve:
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Protect high-value equipment automatically, without negotiating deposits each time
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Set clear expectations upfront, so customers know what to expect after return
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Handle refunds easily, helping build trust and repeat bookings
Deposits are now part of the normal booking flow, rather than an extra task Andrew has to chase. And that gives him peace of mind when weekends get busy.
Ready for the next stage
Skylark Hire now runs on a setup that matches how Andrew works: home-based, flexible pickup or delivery, and a clear system for managing bookings from start to finish. Booqable supports the full rental process, from booking schedules and inventory to payments, terms, and security deposits.
Looking ahead, Andrew wants to build more regular corporate clients and take on more consistent work. As he puts it, “The Booqable platform is custom made for rental businesses, and it covers the entire process.” With Booqable in place as their event rental software, Skylark Hire can keep taking upfront bookings with confidence, while offering customers competitive pricing and flexible hire terms.
