Need to Rent Stuff or Have Stuff You Want to Rent? SnapGoods May Be for You This rental site thrives on the philosophy 'Why buy when you can borrow?'
By Gwen Moran •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
What it is
SnapGoods connects people who need things--paintball helmets, high-end cameras--with product owners willing, for a fee, to rent out those items. The site has a verification program for borrowers and, when lenders agree to the program terms, the site fully backs the transaction and replaces lost, damaged or stolen goods.
How it started
As Labor Day 2009 approached, SnapGoods co-founder Ron J. Williams wanted to take his girlfriend on a motorcycle tour of New York City. But he didn't own a bike and he couldn't find a place to rent one. Using an online classifieds site, Williams found a motorcycle owner willing to rent his ride, but it wasn't an easy transaction. "I had to take $2,000 cash out of the bank for a deposit, plus I didn't know the guy," Williams says. "It led to an aha moment: What if the entire scope of consumer options was available not just to buy or sell but to grab as I needed it?"
Continue reading this article — and all of our other premium content with Entrepreneur+
Join the internet’s leading entrepreneur community! With your subscription you’ll get:
- Access to all of our premium content and an ad-free experience
- A complimentary subscription to Entrepreneur Magazine
- Four free e-books a year and 20% off everything from our bookstore
- Exclusive events with business celebrities and successful entrepreneurs
