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Rentshelf Docs
Install Rentshelf

Quickstart guide

This is the short version: the setup path that takes you from “app installed” to “first test booking placed”.

The dashboard checks your published theme connection and offers Get your first rental ready, a guided storefront test for one selected product. Use the extra verification steps below when testing deposits, hourly rentals, add-ons, customer inputs or returns.

The setup steps

Section titled “The setup steps”
  1. Pick a rental duration mode - flexible date ranges, fixed packages, hourly rentals or variant-based durations.
  2. 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.
  3. Install the theme components - add the Rental Calendar Widget app block to the product template.
  4. Run the guided storefront test - choose one product on the dashboard, open its real storefront page, pick dates and review the four diagnostic signals. Use the detailed product checklist for additional checks.
  5. Verify cart and checkout - confirm the cart shows the rental quote or deposit due today, not the product’s normal sale price.
  6. Ask in Crisp chat - use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of the docs or Rentshelf admin panel if you want setup help.
  7. 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.
  • Google Calendar on Growth - send storefront and manual bookings to a private team calendar and test optional product-specific busy-calendar blocking.
  • Booking CSV export - filter Bookings by status or future dates and verify the downloaded handover file.

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:

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

Operations and catalog guides

Section titled “Operations and catalog guides”

Plan and verify your launch

Section titled “Plan and verify your launch”

Use the Shopify rental store launch checklist to plan the whole customer journey. Check current plan limits before choosing the controls for your pilot.