> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sailia-mintlify-5b02008a.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Set up a hire > Step-by-step guide to creating a time-based hire — from hire increment and pricing to kit, sharing rules, and waivers. A **hire** is the right session type for renting equipment or facilities by the hour, half-day, or day. This guide walks through the hire setup wizard end to end. If you're not sure whether you need a course or a hire, see [courses vs hire](/activities/courses-vs-hire) first. ## Step 1: Choose session type Start a new session and select **Hire**. This tells Sailia the booking is for a time-based rental rather than a taught course. ## Step 2: Basic hire information | Field | What to set | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Item name** | A clear, descriptive name (e.g. *Single kayak*, *Bike hire*) | | **Hire increment** | The smallest bookable time unit, in minutes | | **Price per increment** | The cost for one increment — total price scales with the number of increments booked | | **Colour** | Used on the calendar to distinguish hire types | | **Participants per ticket** | How many people each ticket covers (e.g. 2 for a double kayak) | ### Choosing the right hire increment The hire increment defines what durations customers can book. Choose the increment that matches how customers actually use your equipment. | Increment | Bookings allowed | Good for | | -------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | **30 minutes** | 30 min, 1 hr, 1.5 hr, ... | Short rentals with flexible durations | | **60 minutes** | 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, ... | Standard equipment rentals | | **90 minutes** | 1.5 hr, 3 hr, 4.5 hr, ... | Activities that naturally take 90 minutes | A 60-minute increment priced at £50 means: 2 hours = £100, 3 hours = £150, and so on. ## Step 3: Select activities Tag the hire with every relevant activity so customers find it when browsing by activity type. Use **Create activity** if a tag doesn't exist. ## Step 4: Booking settings | Setting | What it controls | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | **Booking method** | Online and phone, or phone-only | | **Minimum notice period** | How far in advance the booking must be made | | **Minimum participants** | Smallest party size on one booking | | **Maximum participants** | Largest party size on one booking | | **Ask for date of birth** | Whether to collect a DOB during booking | ## Step 5: Resources required ### Qualifications (staff) Most self-service hires don't need staff qualifications. For supervised or instructed hires, add the qualification and ratio — for example, *1 safety supervisor per 5 participants*. ### Kit (equipment) List the equipment included with the hire (kayak, paddle, life jacket) and the [kit ratio](/activities/activities#kit-and-resources). For hire items, the default is **not shared between bookings** — each booking gets its own equipment. ### Add-ons (optional extras) Link any [add-ons](/activities/addon-setup) customers can buy alongside — extended time, additional equipment, insurance, delivery. ## Step 6: Connections | Connection | What it does | | ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Waivers** | Liability documents required before the hire. Most hires need at least one. See [waivers](/customers/waivers). | | **Communication groups** | Controls which [automated emails](/customers/notifications) fire for this hire. | ## Step 7: Hire images Upload photos showing the equipment, key features, and what the customer can expect. The first image is the main one shown in listings. See [uploading images](/getting-started/uploading-images) for formats and dimensions. ## Step 8: Hire description Cover: * What the item is and its specifications * What's included with the hire * Restrictions (age limits, experience needed) * Safety information * Pickup and return procedure ## Step 9: Review and save The wizard shows a summary before save. Pay particular attention to the hire increment and price — those are the easiest things to get wrong and are the hardest to change retrospectively. Click **Save** when you're happy. ## What to do next 1. Open **What's On** and add the availability windows when the item can be hired. 2. Add additional ticket types (half day, full day, member price) if needed. 3. Make a test booking to verify pricing and time slots look right. 4. Share your booking page with customers. ## Tips * Set an increment that matches typical bookings. Too short (15 min) confuses customers; too long (4 hr) limits flexibility. * Pair a short increment with a [tiered discount](/pricing/discount-codes) to make longer rentals cheaper per hour. * Add ticket types for common durations (*Half day - 4 hours*, *Full day - 8 hours*) to nudge customers towards better-value bookings. ## Related guides Configure a taught course with fixed sessions. Make longer hires cheaper per hour with tiered pricing.