Purchase Calculator

Model every purchase before you buy

Rental IQ helps you estimate whether a new piece of gear will pay for itself. Enter the purchase price, expected rate, and utilization, and see the projected break-even timeline.

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Buying decisions based on gut feeling

A new camera body costs $4,000. You think you can rent it for $250 a day. But how many days per month will it actually book? And after insurance, maintenance, and platform fees, how long until it pays for itself?

Most equipment owners answer these questions with rough guesses. Some never run the numbers at all. The result is gear that sits idle, purchases that take years to recoup, or missed opportunities on items that would have earned well.

Rental IQ gives you a calculator that models the full picture before you spend the money.


How it works

1

Enter the purchase details

Input the purchase price, the daily rental rate you expect to charge, and your estimated utilization rate (the percentage of days the gear will be rented).

2

Add monthly expenses

Include recurring costs like insurance, storage, and maintenance. These are subtracted from projected earnings to give you a realistic net number.

3

See the break-even timeline

Rental IQ calculates how many months until the gear pays for itself, accounting for expenses and utilization. A 60-month projection chart shows cumulative earnings vs. purchase cost.

4

Check resale value estimates

Based on equipment category and condition, Rental IQ estimates what the gear would be worth if you sold it used. Factor that into your decision.


What makes this different

Designed for rental economics

Generic calculators do not account for utilization rates, platform fees, or rental-specific expenses. This calculator was built for equipment rental owners.

Resale value estimates for production gear

Rental IQ estimates used equipment value based on category and condition, using market-aware data for cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio gear.

Expense-aware projections

Monthly costs like insurance and storage are factored into the break-even calculation. You see net earnings, not just gross rental income.

Decision support before you spend

Run the numbers on a purchase before committing. See exactly what utilization rate you need to break even within a year, two years, or five.

Who it's for

Solo owner-operators

Before dropping $3,000 on a new lens, run the calculator to see if rental demand at your expected rate will actually cover the cost within a reasonable timeframe.

High-volume renters

When evaluating multiple potential purchases, the calculator lets you compare projected returns side by side and prioritize the gear that will earn back fastest.

Rental houses

For rental houses making capital expenditure decisions, the calculator provides the data you need to justify purchases and forecast inventory returns.

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Ready to track your rental business?

Free during beta. No credit card required. Import your data and start seeing results in minutes.

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