6 Rv Rental Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: December 11th, 2023
Start A Rv Rental Business

An RV rental business involves acquiring a fleet of recreational vehicles to rent out as campers for travelers and vacationers.

As an RV rental business owner, you supply motorhomes equipped with living essentials for road trips and outdoor getaways.

With flexibility around RV classes from luxury to budget rates, building inventories and customizing rental packages can create diverse revenue streams.

For hospitality-inclined founders seeking an accessible franchise, an RV rental company presents a promising venture as pandemic-weary travelers prioritize domestic trips focused on flexibility and the outdoors.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a RV rental business:

1. ROAMERICA ($120K/year)

After experiencing the discomfort of traveling in their old Toyota Tacoma, Taylor and Gretchen began dreaming of a vehicle that could keep them dry and comfortable during their adventures. One night, Taylor suggested the idea of renting campervans, and both instantly knew it was a great idea. They started with one campervan and quickly realized the demand was high, leading them to expand their fleet and build their own campervans in-house.

How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 5

article

How We Started A Camper Van Rental Business and Quit Our Full Time Jobs

ROAMERICA, a campervan rental company founded by Taylor Hood and Gretchen Bayless who quit their full-time jobs to focus on their business and have expanded their fleet quickly to meet the demand of adventure-seeking customers, with most of their web traffic coming from organic Google searches and a focus on social media and brand awareness.

About
Gretchen started ROAMERICA about 8 years ago
Revenue
Gretchen grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Gretchen $25000 to start the business
Read by 36,082 founders

2. Dry Camp ($24K/year)

Paul Schauer and Anthony Benacquisto came up with the idea for their camping brand, Dry Camp, after realizing their mutual love for the outdoors. They conducted extensive research to find unique products that would appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, leading them to the development of their flagship products, Waterproof Dry Bags and Double Hammocks. With a focus on quality and a lifetime replacement warranty, they found a reputable manufacturer and launched their online store using Shopify. They utilized social media, including Facebook and Instagram, as well as partnerships with influencers and platforms like Reddit to attract new customers and drive traffic to their website.

How much they make: $24K/year
Current team size: 0

article

Starting a Casual Camping Brand and Growing To $2,000/month

Dry Camp founders, Paul Schauer and Anthony Benacquisto, share how they researched, designed, and launched their camping brand, which now brings in $1,500 to $2,000 in monthly revenue through multiple sales channels, with Waterproof Dry Bags and Double Hammocks as their flagship products, and reveal their tips on finding manufacturers and attracting customers.

About
Paul started Dry Camp about 7 years ago
Revenue
Paul grew the business to $2K/month
Read by 6,594 founders

So... can you actually make money with a RV rental business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. NW Adventure Rentals ($3M/year)

John Higgins, the founder of NW Adventure Rentals, came up with the idea for his business during a family vacation when they decided to rent an RV but were met with hidden fees, poor quality, and bad customer service. After having a successful trip in their own purchased travel trailer, John put an ad on Craigslist to rent it out and was overwhelmed with the response, realizing there was a real need for high-quality RV rentals without hidden fees. This led him to start NW Adventure Rentals, which has now grown to three locations, 85+ rental units, and $3 million in annual sales.

How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 19

article

This Founder Turned His Part Time Gig Into A $3M RV Rental Business

NW Adventure Rentals is a thriving business with three locations, 85+ rental units, and $3M in annual sales over the last 10 years, offering clean, well-maintained luxury RVs for road trip adventures with a leaseback program that has proven to be a win-win for all.

About
John started NW Adventure Rentals over 11 years ago
Revenue
John grew the business to $250K/month
Costs
It cost John $10000 to start the business
Read by 2,383 founders

4. Fireside RV Rental ($1.8M/year)

How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 2

article

How I Started A $1.8M/Year RV Rental Franchise Across 24 Locations

Fireside RV Rental, the nation's first RV Rental Management franchise, has 24 locations and over 200 RVs under management, with an annual revenue of just under $2 million last year and hopes to close out this year around $2.5 million; franchisees rent out privately owned RVs to families, helping owners earn passive income and franchisees maintain low overhead.

About
Garr started Fireside RV Rental about 3 years ago
Revenue
Garr grew the business to $150K/month
Costs
It cost Garr $25000 to start the business
Read by 1,387 founders