The daily price is the #1 factor that decides whether your item gets rented or sits idle. Too expensive = zero bookings. Too cheap = you earn less than you deserve and the item wears out for free.

Base formula: 1.5-3% of the purchase value

If you bought the item for $ 400, the daily price is usually between $ 6-$ 12/day. The range depends on:

• Expected turnover: high-demand items (cameras, tools, gaming) lean toward 3%. Niche items (musical instruments) toward 1.5%.
• Wear cost: drones have a short lifespan (200-500 flights) → 3-4%. A speaker can last 10+ years → 1.5-2%.
• Local competition: if there are 5 similar items near you at the same price, match it or go 5-10% lower to land your first rental + reviews.

Starting price strategy: reverse auction

The first 3 rentals are the hardest (no reviews, no history). Strategy:

1. Weeks 1-2: price 15% below the market to land your first rentals.
2. After 3 five-star reviews: raise it to the market price.
3. After 8 reviews of 4.8+ stars: you can go 5-10% higher if demand supports it.

Duration discounts

VAKA allows 3 rates: day, week, month. Recommended structure:

• Day: base price.
• Week: 6 × daily price (~14% discount). Fills your calendar without killing your margin.
• Month: 20 × daily price (~33% discount). Only applies to items that are heavy to move.

When to lower the price

If 14 days go by without bookings and your rating is good, the problem is price (not quality). Lower it 10% and monitor for 1 more week. If it doesn't move, another 10%. It's a market signal.

Calculate what you could earn with your item in the VAKA calculator.