WhatsApp Rentals is one of those low-key, high-potential business ideas that almost no one is talking about — yet it can easily become your daily income machine if you understand how to position it.
At the core, WhatsApp Rentals means creating a WhatsApp group, channel, or broadcast list where people can rent or advertise rentals of physical items, spaces, or services — and you make money by acting as the connector, middleman, or facilitator.
You’re not buying the items. You’re not owning the house, car, gown, or camera. You’re just connecting people who have things to rent with people who need to rent them. And you’re doing it from WhatsApp.
This model is powerful because WhatsApp is naturally a trusted, local-first, real-time platform. People use it for urgent things, for personal needs, and for daily life. So, when they need something like:
- A short-let apartment
- A wedding gown
- A laptop for the weekend
- A bus for a church retreat
- A speaker for a birthday party
- A photoshoot space
- A generator
- A projector for training
- A gas cooker or freezer
- A power bank or ring light
…the first instinct is usually to ask around on WhatsApp.
They’ll post on status. They’ll ask in groups. They’ll message friends. This means WhatsApp is already a marketplace for rentals — just very unorganized.
Your job? Organize it.
Build a rental plug community, become the person people think of when they need to rent something, and monetize every deal that flows through your group or network. It’s one of the simplest plug-and-play businesses that requires nothing but your phone, hustle, and a system.
How to Start
Let’s walk through how you can start the WhatsApp Rentals business from scratch — with no capital and no inventory.
Step 1: Pick Your Rental Focus
Don’t try to do “everything rentals” from day one. Start with a tight, clear niche.
Some hot rental niches you can dominate on WhatsApp:
- Event rentals: chairs, canopies, decorations, speakers, lights
- Fashion rentals: wedding gowns, traditional outfits, designer shoes, agbada
- Tech rentals: laptops, projectors, generators, ring lights
- Photography gear: DSLR cameras, softbox lights, microphones
- Short-let apartments & studio spaces: Airbnb, studio flats, training halls
- Student rentals: calculators, books, hostel space, exam kits
- Car rentals: daily rides, buses, Uber-ready vehicles
- Beauty rentals: makeup kits, hair dryers, salon tools
- Content creator kits: phones, cameras, lighting, backdrops
For example, if you’re based in Lagos and you pick “Event Rentals,” your group could focus on:
“Need 100 chairs in Surulere this weekend?”
“Looking for a birthday hall for 50 people in Ikeja?”
“Anyone renting out balloon décor and tables? DM me.”
Once you dominate one angle and build a reputation, you can expand into others or run multiple WhatsApp communities for different categories.
Step 2: Build Your WhatsApp Rental Community
Create a WhatsApp group or channel and brand it well.
Examples:
- “Naija Rentals Plug”
- “Lagos Gowns & Event Rentals”
- “Shortlet, Studio & Space Finder NG”
- “Student Rentals Hub”
- “Tech & Gear Rental Marketplace”
- “Skincare & Makeup Kit Rentals”
- “Rent It Daily – Nigeria’s Rental Community”
Write a group description that’s clear:
“A community for people looking to rent or list items. Events, gowns, tech gear, shortlets, cars & more. If you rent it, you can post it. No spam, no fake listings. Admin verified only.”
Then drop a pinned welcome message that explains the rules:
- What kind of rentals are allowed
- How to list your item
- How to request something
- Your fee structure (if you’re charging listing fees)
- Your referral commission rates (e.g. you take ₦1,000 for every successful transaction)
This gives your group structure and trust. Nobody wants to rent from a scammy, unverified group. You can also run a WhatsApp Channel if you want a cleaner “only-posts-by-admin” model — and use broadcast lists for people who want private deals.
Step 3: Start Finding Rental Vendors to Work With
Remember, you don’t need to own any of the items yourself. All you need is to find people who do — and convince them to let you list their rental items and bring customers in exchange for a fee or commission.
You can find these vendors by:
- Searching Facebook Marketplace, Jiji, or Instagram
- Walking into event centers, fashion houses, or makeup studios
- DMing photographers, stylists, and decorators
- Joining wedding or event planning Telegram groups
- Checking business cards in your area
- Asking your network for referrals
When you reach out, say something like:
“Hi, I run a WhatsApp community where people are always looking to rent event gear, outfits, and tech equipment. I’d love to feature your rental service. It’s free to join — I only charge a small commission when I bring you a customer. Are you interested?”
Once they say yes, collect:
- Their item photos
- Rental price
- Availability
- Location
- Delivery/pickup terms
- Deposit or ID requirements
Now you can post their rentals in your group, tag them if needed, or collect payment on their behalf. And you’re officially in business.
How to Monetize It
- Charge a Commission Per Successful Rental
The most common and beginner-friendly model. For every item you help someone rent, you collect:
- A flat commission (e.g. ₦1,000–₦10,000 depending on the item)
- Or a percentage (10%–20% of rental cost)
For example:
- You help someone rent a ₦25,000 wedding gown — you collect ₦3,000
- You connect a short-let deal worth ₦80,000 — you collect ₦5,000
- You arrange a laptop rental for ₦10,000 — you take ₦1,000
To make this work:
- Track every lead
- Make sure payments are made through you, or get confirmation from vendor
- Have basic terms or agreement in writing (even if it’s just a chat screenshot)
It’s simple. You bring value. You earn from the link.
- Charge Vendors to List Their Rentals in Your Group
Once your group becomes active, you can start charging vendors a small listing fee to post their rental offers.
You can charge:
- ₦1,000 – ₦5,000 per listing
- ₦10,000 – ₦30,000 monthly fee for unlimited posting
- ₦500 – ₦1,000 per pinned item for 3 days
If you have 20 vendors paying you ₦10,000/month to access your community — that’s ₦200,000 monthly without touching a single product. Just make sure you curate quality listings. No one likes a noisy, untrustworthy group.
- Build a “Rental Deal” Broadcast List and Charge for Promo
Start a broadcast list where you drop daily or weekly rental offers — limited-time deals, new vendors, discounts, etc.
People love curated stuff.
Now tell vendors:
“I have a broadcast list of 300+ event planners and students. I charge ₦3,000 to promote your rental deal to them. Interested?”
Vendors who want exposure will pay. And since the list is private, it feels more premium than a group.
- Flip or Lease the Group for Big Niches
Once you build a strong group in a hot niche (e.g., Lagos shortlets or student rentals), you can:
- Flip it to someone for a one-time sale (₦30,000 – ₦100,000+)
- Rent it out monthly for other rental marketers to post
- Sell ad space inside the group
You’re treating the group like real estate. Because it is.
- Sell Related Products or Upsells
Let’s say you’re in the event rentals niche. You can also sell:
- Vendor contact list (₦2,000)
- Event planning checklist (₦1,500)
- Ebook: “How to Start a Rental Business in Nigeria” (₦3,000)
- PDF: “20 Best Shortlet Apartments in Abuja 2024” (₦2,000)
You’re no longer just the rental plug. You’re now an authority.
How to Promote It and Get People to Join
Rentals solve real-time, urgent problems — which makes marketing them even easier. People are always looking for a solution, and you just need to show up.
- Post Daily on WhatsApp Status
Drop:
- New rental listings
- Screenshots of successful deals
- Testimonies from clients
- Pictures of delivered items
- Polls: “Who needs a shortlet this weekend in Lekki?”
Then close with:
“Looking to rent something this weekend? Or want to list your items? Join our WhatsApp Rentals group.”
Status views turn into members. Members turn into money.
- Promote in Facebook, Telegram & Twitter Groups
Find groups like:
- “Weddings in Nigeria”
- “Event Planners Hub”
- “NYSC Community”
- “Side Hustle NG”
- “Shortlet Apartments Lagos/Abuja”
Drop real value:
“If you’re planning an event or looking to rent gowns, speakers, chairs, or studio space — I run a WhatsApp group for verified rentals. No scam, no noise. Want the link?”
Engage, then drop your link.
- Partner with Rental Vendors to Grow the Group
Tell vendors:
“I’ll help promote your rentals if you help bring 10 people to our rentals group. Everyone wins.”
It becomes a network effect. Every vendor adds their customers, and the group grows fast.
