Last updated on:

February 3, 2026

How to Start a Medical Equipment Rental Business: A 2026 Guide

Learn how to launch a medical equipment rental business, from choosing rental-ready products to pricing, compliance, operations, and scaling.

Garima Singh

Product Marketing Manager

TABLE OF CONTENT

The medical equipment rental industry has grown significantly in recent years.

This growth is largely driven by factors such as:

ageing populations,
rising healthcare costs,
and a growing need for flexible access to medical devices without the burden of ownership.

Globally, the medical equipment rental market was valued at around $60–66 billion in 2025 and is expected to continue expanding over the next decade. Forecasts suggest the market could reach $87–115 billion by the early 2030s, growing at an annual rate of roughly 5–7%. Source

Another important factor behind this growth is changing customer expectations.

Subscription and rental models are now common in industries like cars, bikes, and consumer electronics.

As a result, both organisations and private customers are increasingly familiar with, and open to, accessing products through rental or subscription models rather than purchasing them outright.

Healthcare is now following this same shift.

Whether you aim to support hospitals managing fluctuating demand and surge capacity, or families caring for loved ones at home, a medical equipment rental business can be both commercially viable and socially impactful.

This guide walks you through the key considerations for getting started.

What is medical equipment rental?

At its core, medical equipment rental is no different from renting a car or an electronic device. Instead of buying something you only need for a limited time, you pay for access, use it when you need it, and return it when you’re done.

The same logic applies in healthcare. Medical equipment rental allows hospitals, clinics, or individual patients to rent medical devices for a defined period, ranging from a few days to several months, without the long-term commitment of ownership. The focus is on temporary use, flexibility, and fast availability.

Unlike subscription models (medical equipment subscription or medical device-as-a-service) that focus on ongoing, indefinite relationships with bundled services, rental businesses cater to temporary, project-based, or seasonal needs.

Example

Agiliti Health, Inc. supplies hospitals and healthcare facilities with on-demand rentals of critical medical equipment like infusion pumps, respiratory devices, and patient-ready beds, helping sites adapt to fluctuating demand without buying extra units outright.
Med One Group offers rental and leasing for healthcare facilities’ needs, ranging from ventilators and monitors to therapy equipment.
LINET Rental Services provides hospitals and care homes with short-term and long-term rental of beds, stretchers, chairs, and other clinical essentials.
AdaptHealth focuses more on home-use medical equipment, delivering and renting devices like CPAP machines, oxygen equipment, and mobility aids to patients who need them at home.

You’ve also got local medical supply providers in many regions that rent out wheelchairs, hospital beds, lifts, oxygen concentrators, and similar devices directly to families or caregivers, often with delivery, setup, and support included.

In all cases, the value is the same: immediate access to the right equipment without the cost, maintenance, storage, or long-term commitment of owning it outright.

Why has medical equipment rental grown into a dedicated industry?

Unpredictable demand in healthcare
Patient volumes fluctuate due to seasonality, emergencies, and capacity constraints. Rental allows providers to scale equipment up or down without over-investing.
High cost and complexity of medical devices
Modern equipment is expensive to buy, maintain, and keep compliant. Renting converts high upfront costs into manageable operating expenses.
Shift toward home and outpatient care
More patients are treated outside hospitals, creating demand for short-term access to beds, mobility aids, and respiratory devices at home.
Growing acceptance of rental models
Rental and subscription models are now common in industries like mobility and electronics, making “access over ownership” a familiar concept in healthcare too.
Focus on efficiency rather than ownership
Healthcare providers care about availability, not asset ownership. Rental providers handle logistics, maintenance, and compliance so care teams can focus on patients.

Medical equipment best suited for rentals

Not all medical equipment makes sense for a rental business.

The most successful rental operations focus on equipment that meets these criteria:

high upfront cost,
temporary need,
maintenance-intensive,
or used for specific recovery periods.

Here are the most commonly rented categories and what makes them ideal for rental:

Hospital beds & patient furniture
These are expensive, bulky, and often needed only temporarily (e.g. post-surgery or during capacity spikes). They’re durable, easy to clean and refurbish, and reusable across many rental cycles.
Mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, lifts)
Mobility aids are frequently required for recovery or rehabilitation periods. Renting avoids unnecessary purchases for short-term needs and allows providers to reuse assets efficiently.
Respiratory equipment (oxygen concentrators, CPAP, ventilators)
Demand often fluctuates due to seasonal illnesses or changing patient conditions. Rental enables fast access while providers handle maintenance, calibration, and compliance centrally.
Infusion pumps & monitoring devices
These devices are high-value, regulated, and not always needed permanently. Rental makes them accessible without tying up capital in underutilised equipment.
Therapy & rehabilitation equipment
Physical therapy and rehab devices are typically used for defined treatment periods. Rental aligns well with recovery timelines and reduces upfront investment for clinics and patients.
Portable diagnostic equipment
Devices used for screenings, temporary clinics, or off-site programs are ideal for rental since usage is project-based rather than continuous.

How to Start a rental business for medical equipment

Here's a practical guide on starting a rental business. Starting a medical equipment rental business is less about “selling products” and more about building a reliable, compliant, asset-driven operation. Additionally, companies enter medical equipment rental from very different starting points. A manufacturer, distributor, or retailer already has access to products, while a rental-first startup has to build supply from scratch. The core steps are similar, but the decisions and risks differ depending on your position.

These are the key steps.

Choose your target sector: B2B vs B2C
Clarify your starting position and risk exposure
Select equipment that is rental-friendly
Define ownership, financing and risk model
Design rental pricing and contract structure
Set up compliance and regulatory considerations
Think about return and refurbishment
Plan logistics, especially around delivery and return
Implement asset management systems
Customer journey mapping for requirement planning, such as the customer portal and touchpoints
Plan for billing & invoicing

#1. Choose your target sector: B2B vs B2C

One of the first strategic decisions you'll make is whether to focus on business-to-business (B2B) rentals, business-to-consumer (B2C) rentals, or both. Each model has distinct operational requirements, customer journeys, and revenue potential.

B2B Medical Equipment Rental

Target customers: Hospitals, clinics, surgical centres, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and medical practices.

Typical equipment: Ventilators, infusion pumps, patient monitors, anesthesia machines, specialty beds, surgical lasers, portable diagnostic imaging equipment.

Customer journey: B2B rentals typically involve longer sales cycles, involving procurement departments, contracts, and formal approval processes. Facilities often rent equipment for predictable surge periods (flu season, summer surgery schedules) or to cover maintenance downtime for owned equipment. Relationships are typically ongoing, with repeat rentals from the same customers.

Key considerations: Quality certifications (ISO 13485:2016), compliance with hospital standards, rapid response times, large inventory availability, and competitive pricing for bulk orders are critical. You'll also need robust logistics to deliver equipment quickly and handle complex invoicing through hospital procurement systems.

B2C Medical Equipment Rental

Target customers: Individual patients, family caregivers, elderly individuals, and people recovering from surgery or injury.

Typical equipment: Hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, patient lifts, CPAP machines, nebulisers, shower chairs, knee scooters, and mobility aids.

Customer journey: B2C rentals are often driven by immediate need—a patient is being discharged from the hospital tomorrow and needs a home bed. The decision is typically made by the patient, family member, or home health coordinator. Customers expect simple online booking, transparent pricing, fast delivery, and clear setup instructions.

Key considerations: A consumer-friendly website, an Consumer-friendly website, easy reservation system, home delivery and setup services, insurance billing assistance (Medicare/Medicaid), flexible rental periods, and compassionate customer service are essential. Equipment must be easy to use, and you'll need clear cleaning protocols to reassure customers.

Decision Framework: Which Model Is Right for You?

Use this framework to determine which rental model aligns with your resources and market opportunity:

Factor	B2B Focus	B2C Focus
Capital requirements	Higher (larger inventory, expensive equipment)	Lower (smaller inventory, less specialized equipment)
Sales cycle	Longer (contracts, procurement)	Shorter (immediate need-based)
Revenue per customer	Higher (bulk orders, repeat business)	Lower (single-item rentals)
Customer service needs	Account management, technical support	Setup assistance, insurance help, compassionate support
Regulatory requirements	ISO certifications, hospital compliance standards	Basic safety standards, insurance billing requirements

‍

#2. Clarify your starting position and risk exposure

Are you a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or rental-first startup? This determines who owns the equipment, who carries the risk, and how capital-intensive the model will be.

Example: A manufacturer may keep equipment on its balance sheet, while a retailer must decide whether it’s willing to own high-value assets at all.

#3. Select equipment that is rental-friendly

Focus on equipment that is durable, high-value, and needed temporarily. Avoid products that are consumable, highly personalised, or hard to refurbish.

Example: Hospital beds and oxygen concentrators work well; single-use or patient-customised devices usually don’t.

#4. Define ownership, financing, and risk model

Decide who owns the equipment and how it’s financed. Ownership affects insurance, accounting, liability, and cash flow.

Example: A startup may lease equipment or work with a financing partner, while an established supplier may self-finance inventory in-house.

#5. Design rental pricing and contract structure

Pricing should cover asset cost, expected lifetime, maintenance, and risk, not just daily or monthly usage.

Example: A €5,000 device rented for €120/month needs clear minimum rental periods and damage clauses to remain profitable.

#6. Set up compliance and regulatory requirements

Medical rentals require clear processes for safety checks, documentation, and traceability. Compliance is not optional and varies by region and product type.

Example: Equipment may need to be inspected, cleaned, and documented after every return before it can be rented again.

#7. Plan returns, cleaning, and refurbishment

Rental only works if equipment can be reused safely and efficiently. Define what happens the moment an item comes back.

Example: Returned equipment goes through inspection → cleaning → testing → approval → ready-for-rent status.

#8. Plan logistics, especially delivery and return

Delivery speed and reliability are part of your product. This is especially critical for bulky or time-sensitive equipment.

Example: A hospital bed rental often includes delivery, installation, and pickup, not just the product itself.

#9. Implement asset management systems early

You need to know where each device is, who is using it, its condition, and when it’s due back. Spreadsheets stop working very quickly.

Example: Losing track of a single high-value device can wipe out months of rental margin.

#10. Map the customer journey and touchpoints

Think through the full rental experience: inquiry, onboarding, usage, support, return. This often includes a customer portal or self-service flows.

Example: Customers should be able to request extensions, report issues, or schedule returns without calling support.

#11. Set up billing and invoicing

Rental businesses need recurring, usage-based, or time-bound billing that adjusts automatically when rentals are extended, paused, or returned.

Example: A patient keeps equipment for two extra weeks, the billing should update without manual intervention.

Common mistakes to avoid when launching medical equipment rentals

Treating rental as a simple add-on to product sales
Overestimating demand without validating real usage patterns
Taking on too much asset risk too early
Ignoring downtime and refurbishment time in revenue planning
Designing contracts that protect the business but hurt usability
Viewing compliance as a blocker rather than a differentiator
Forcing customers to adapt to internal processes
Scaling inventory before understanding utilisation and return behaviour

Final Thoughts‍

Starting a medical equipment rental business requires careful planning, capital investment, and a commitment to operational excellence.

Whether you choose to focus on B2B, B2C, or a hybrid approach, success depends on understanding your customers' needs, maintaining high-quality equipment, and delivering reliable service.

Begin by thoroughly researching your local market, identifying gaps in equipment availability, and building relationships with potential customers.

Start small with core equipment categories, refine your operations, and scale strategically.

The healthcare industry's ongoing evolution—particularly the shift toward value-based care and cost containment—creates sustained demand for flexible equipment access.

By positioning your rental business as a trusted partner in care delivery, you can build a sustainable, impactful enterprise that serves your community while generating strong returns.

Blog Overview

Updated

February 3, 2026

How to Start a Medical Equipment Rental Business: A 2026 Guide

February 3, 2026

Garima Singh

The medical equipment rental industry has grown significantly in recent years.

This growth is largely driven by factors such as:

ageing populations,
rising healthcare costs,
and a growing need for flexible access to medical devices without the burden of ownership.

Globally, the medical equipment rental market was valued at around $60–66 billion in 2025 and is expected to continue expanding over the next decade. Forecasts suggest the market could reach $87–115 billion by the early 2030s, growing at an annual rate of roughly 5–7%. Source

Another important factor behind this growth is changing customer expectations.

Subscription and rental models are now common in industries like cars, bikes, and consumer electronics.

As a result, both organisations and private customers are increasingly familiar with, and open to, accessing products through rental or subscription models rather than purchasing them outright.

Healthcare is now following this same shift.

This guide walks you through the key considerations for getting started.

What is medical equipment rental?

Example

Agiliti Health, Inc. supplies hospitals and healthcare facilities with on-demand rentals of critical medical equipment like infusion pumps, respiratory devices, and patient-ready beds, helping sites adapt to fluctuating demand without buying extra units outright.
Med One Group offers rental and leasing for healthcare facilities’ needs, ranging from ventilators and monitors to therapy equipment.
LINET Rental Services provides hospitals and care homes with short-term and long-term rental of beds, stretchers, chairs, and other clinical essentials.
AdaptHealth focuses more on home-use medical equipment, delivering and renting devices like CPAP machines, oxygen equipment, and mobility aids to patients who need them at home.

In all cases, the value is the same: immediate access to the right equipment without the cost, maintenance, storage, or long-term commitment of owning it outright.

Why has medical equipment rental grown into a dedicated industry?

Unpredictable demand in healthcare
Patient volumes fluctuate due to seasonality, emergencies, and capacity constraints. Rental allows providers to scale equipment up or down without over-investing.
High cost and complexity of medical devices
Modern equipment is expensive to buy, maintain, and keep compliant. Renting converts high upfront costs into manageable operating expenses.
Shift toward home and outpatient care
More patients are treated outside hospitals, creating demand for short-term access to beds, mobility aids, and respiratory devices at home.
Growing acceptance of rental models
Rental and subscription models are now common in industries like mobility and electronics, making “access over ownership” a familiar concept in healthcare too.
Focus on efficiency rather than ownership
Healthcare providers care about availability, not asset ownership. Rental providers handle logistics, maintenance, and compliance so care teams can focus on patients.

Medical equipment best suited for rentals

Not all medical equipment makes sense for a rental business.

The most successful rental operations focus on equipment that meets these criteria:

high upfront cost,
temporary need,
maintenance-intensive,
or used for specific recovery periods.

Here are the most commonly rented categories and what makes them ideal for rental:

Hospital beds & patient furniture
These are expensive, bulky, and often needed only temporarily (e.g. post-surgery or during capacity spikes). They’re durable, easy to clean and refurbish, and reusable across many rental cycles.
Mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, lifts)
Mobility aids are frequently required for recovery or rehabilitation periods. Renting avoids unnecessary purchases for short-term needs and allows providers to reuse assets efficiently.
Respiratory equipment (oxygen concentrators, CPAP, ventilators)
Demand often fluctuates due to seasonal illnesses or changing patient conditions. Rental enables fast access while providers handle maintenance, calibration, and compliance centrally.
Infusion pumps & monitoring devices
These devices are high-value, regulated, and not always needed permanently. Rental makes them accessible without tying up capital in underutilised equipment.
Therapy & rehabilitation equipment
Physical therapy and rehab devices are typically used for defined treatment periods. Rental aligns well with recovery timelines and reduces upfront investment for clinics and patients.
Portable diagnostic equipment
Devices used for screenings, temporary clinics, or off-site programs are ideal for rental since usage is project-based rather than continuous.

How to Start a rental business for medical equipment

These are the key steps.

Choose your target sector: B2B vs B2C
Clarify your starting position and risk exposure
Select equipment that is rental-friendly
Define ownership, financing and risk model
Design rental pricing and contract structure
Set up compliance and regulatory considerations
Think about return and refurbishment
Plan logistics, especially around delivery and return
Implement asset management systems
Customer journey mapping for requirement planning, such as the customer portal and touchpoints
Plan for billing & invoicing

#1. Choose your target sector: B2B vs B2C

B2B Medical Equipment Rental

Target customers: Hospitals, clinics, surgical centres, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and medical practices.

Typical equipment: Ventilators, infusion pumps, patient monitors, anesthesia machines, specialty beds, surgical lasers, portable diagnostic imaging equipment.

B2C Medical Equipment Rental

Target customers: Individual patients, family caregivers, elderly individuals, and people recovering from surgery or injury.

Typical equipment: Hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, patient lifts, CPAP machines, nebulisers, shower chairs, knee scooters, and mobility aids.

Decision Framework: Which Model Is Right for You?

Use this framework to determine which rental model aligns with your resources and market opportunity:

Factor	B2B Focus	B2C Focus
Capital requirements	Higher (larger inventory, expensive equipment)	Lower (smaller inventory, less specialized equipment)
Sales cycle	Longer (contracts, procurement)	Shorter (immediate need-based)
Revenue per customer	Higher (bulk orders, repeat business)	Lower (single-item rentals)
Customer service needs	Account management, technical support	Setup assistance, insurance help, compassionate support
Regulatory requirements	ISO certifications, hospital compliance standards	Basic safety standards, insurance billing requirements

‍

#2. Clarify your starting position and risk exposure

Are you a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or rental-first startup? This determines who owns the equipment, who carries the risk, and how capital-intensive the model will be.

Example: A manufacturer may keep equipment on its balance sheet, while a retailer must decide whether it’s willing to own high-value assets at all.

#3. Select equipment that is rental-friendly

Focus on equipment that is durable, high-value, and needed temporarily. Avoid products that are consumable, highly personalised, or hard to refurbish.

Example: Hospital beds and oxygen concentrators work well; single-use or patient-customised devices usually don’t.

#4. Define ownership, financing, and risk model

Decide who owns the equipment and how it’s financed. Ownership affects insurance, accounting, liability, and cash flow.

Example: A startup may lease equipment or work with a financing partner, while an established supplier may self-finance inventory in-house.

#5. Design rental pricing and contract structure

Pricing should cover asset cost, expected lifetime, maintenance, and risk, not just daily or monthly usage.

Example: A €5,000 device rented for €120/month needs clear minimum rental periods and damage clauses to remain profitable.

#6. Set up compliance and regulatory requirements

Medical rentals require clear processes for safety checks, documentation, and traceability. Compliance is not optional and varies by region and product type.

Example: Equipment may need to be inspected, cleaned, and documented after every return before it can be rented again.

#7. Plan returns, cleaning, and refurbishment

Rental only works if equipment can be reused safely and efficiently. Define what happens the moment an item comes back.

Example: Returned equipment goes through inspection → cleaning → testing → approval → ready-for-rent status.

#8. Plan logistics, especially delivery and return

Delivery speed and reliability are part of your product. This is especially critical for bulky or time-sensitive equipment.

Example: A hospital bed rental often includes delivery, installation, and pickup, not just the product itself.

#9. Implement asset management systems early

You need to know where each device is, who is using it, its condition, and when it’s due back. Spreadsheets stop working very quickly.

Example: Losing track of a single high-value device can wipe out months of rental margin.

#10. Map the customer journey and touchpoints

Think through the full rental experience: inquiry, onboarding, usage, support, return. This often includes a customer portal or self-service flows.

Example: Customers should be able to request extensions, report issues, or schedule returns without calling support.

#11. Set up billing and invoicing

Rental businesses need recurring, usage-based, or time-bound billing that adjusts automatically when rentals are extended, paused, or returned.

Example: A patient keeps equipment for two extra weeks, the billing should update without manual intervention.

Common mistakes to avoid when launching medical equipment rentals

Treating rental as a simple add-on to product sales
Overestimating demand without validating real usage patterns
Taking on too much asset risk too early
Ignoring downtime and refurbishment time in revenue planning
Designing contracts that protect the business but hurt usability
Viewing compliance as a blocker rather than a differentiator
Forcing customers to adapt to internal processes
Scaling inventory before understanding utilisation and return behaviour

Final Thoughts‍

Starting a medical equipment rental business requires careful planning, capital investment, and a commitment to operational excellence.

Whether you choose to focus on B2B, B2C, or a hybrid approach, success depends on understanding your customers' needs, maintaining high-quality equipment, and delivering reliable service.

Begin by thoroughly researching your local market, identifying gaps in equipment availability, and building relationships with potential customers.

Start small with core equipment categories, refine your operations, and scale strategically.

The healthcare industry's ongoing evolution—particularly the shift toward value-based care and cost containment—creates sustained demand for flexible equipment access.

By positioning your rental business as a trusted partner in care delivery, you can build a sustainable, impactful enterprise that serves your community while generating strong returns.

Continue reading.