Quickstart guide
This is the short version: the setup path that takes you from “app installed” to “first test booking placed”.
The core setup steps are tracked on your admin dashboard with a progress bar. Use the extra verification steps below when you are testing deposits, hourly rentals, add-ons, customer inputs or returns.
The setup steps
Section titled “The setup steps”- Pick a rental duration mode - flexible date ranges, fixed packages, hourly rentals or variant-based durations.
- Configure your first rental product - link a Shopify product, search products by name or ID, filter by collection when linking in bulk, then set pricing, availability, inventory, deposits, add-ons and customer inputs.
- Install the theme components - enable the Rental Calendar Widget app embed on your product pages.
- Check it on your storefront - open the product page, pick dates, add to cart.
- Verify cart and checkout - confirm the cart shows the rental quote or deposit due today, not the product’s normal sale price.
- Ask in Crisp chat - use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of the docs or Rentshelf admin panel if you want setup help.
- Review returns - use the Returns screen to chase ended rentals, switch card/table views and print a returns worksheet.
Features to test before sharing your store
Section titled “Features to test before sharing your store”- Booking deposits - collect a percentage or fixed amount today while tracking the remaining balance.
- Pay in full - let customers choose to pay the whole rental amount up front when a booking deposit is available.
- Security deposits - show a separate refundable deposit for damage or loss protection.
- Hourly rentals and fixed packages - test products that use hourly slots, fixed day packages or variant durations.
- Seasonal pricing - test dates inside and outside peak-season or holiday pricing rules.
- Bulk product linking - search linked rental products, link products from a Shopify collection and bulk unlink products when needed.
- Rental product buttons - confirm Rent Now, Choose rental dates, Add to cart and dynamic checkout behavior match your rental workflow.
- Add-ons and customer inputs - confirm optional extras, required fields, file uploads and notes are carried into the cart and order.
- Returns workflow - mark rentals returned, record condition notes, view recent returns and print a clean return queue.
Demo store access
Section titled “Demo store access”Rentshelf’s demo store is a Shopify development store, so Shopify keeps it password protected. Share both values with prospects:
- Demo store: https://rentshelf-demo-rentals.myshopify.com/
- Password:
yuighi
The demo store includes sample products for deposits, pay-in-full, hourly rentals, fixed packages, add-ons, customer inputs and returns testing.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”- Make sure the Shopify product exists and is published on your Online Store sales channel. The picker won’t show up on unpublished products.
- If you have another rental app installed (IzyRent, Appointment Booking, Sesami, …), uninstall it before testing to avoid cart conflicts.
- You can follow this guide on a development store or a password-protected production store.
- If you use booking deposits or automatic remaining-balance collection, approve the Shopify draft orders permission when the app asks for it.
Need help partway through?
Section titled “Need help partway through?”- Crisp live chat in the bottom-right of the docs or admin panel
- Book a demo from the dashboard - we’ll walk you through setup and answer product-specific questions live
- Email info@rentshelf.app