I've looked at a rental business a couple of times and I can never get the financials to work - insurance is the killer at over $1000 a bike per year with $2000 to $5000 excesses for third party damage.
The issue becomes would a renter ante up $5000 to me before I let them ride off into the sunset - I don't think so.
I looked at buybacks and the laws about becoming a "motor vehicle dealer" kick in after 3 sales in a year and it all turns to shite again and the costs go up.
Even "buybacks" where we don't register the change of ownership is a legal minefield with owners now responsible for all fines and accidents - who'd offer a buyback with unlimited liability under those circumstances.
The only option that looks vaguely safe for all parties is a coop where buying a share in the coop entitles usage of a bike as a co owner. But that takes a lot of admin effort with probably not even a living wage for the admin person.
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