Equipment Categories
Equipment categories help organise your rental catalog, making it easy for staff and customers to find what they need. Well-structured categories also improve reporting and inventory management.
Why Categories Matter
Faster searching — Filter equipment lists by category
Clearer quotes — Items grouped logically for customers
Better reporting — See revenue and utilisation by category
Easier management — Apply settings to entire categories
Accessing Category Settings
Go to Settings in the sidebar
Click Categories
View, create, or edit categories
Creating a Category
Click Add Category button
Enter the category name
Optionally add a description
Select a colour for visual identification
Click Save
Category Fields
✓ Required
Category Name — Clear, descriptive name
○ Optional
Description — What equipment belongs in this category
Colour — Visual identifier in lists and calendars
Parent Category — For hierarchical organisation
Display Order — Control sort order in lists
Category Naming Conventions
Choose names that are clear and consistent with your industry:
Construction / Plant Hire
Category |
Includes |
|---|---|
Excavators |
Mini excavators, midi excavators, large excavators |
Loaders |
Skid steers, wheel loaders, backhoes |
Compaction |
Rollers, plate compactors, rammers |
Access |
Scissor lifts, boom lifts, scaffolding |
Power |
Generators, light towers, pumps |
Event / Party Hire
Category |
Includes |
|---|---|
Marquees |
Peg and pole, frame marquees, clear span |
Furniture |
Tables, chairs, bars, lounges |
Tableware |
Plates, glasses, cutlery, linen |
Lighting |
Festoon, uplights, dance floor lights |
Catering |
Ovens, warmers, refrigeration |
Tool Hire
Category |
Includes |
|---|---|
Concrete |
Mixers, vibrators, screeds |
Cutting |
Saws, grinders, cutters |
Drilling |
Hammer drills, core drills, augers |
Cleaning |
Pressure washers, vacuums, floor scrubbers |
💡
Tip: Keep category names short but specific. "Excavators" is better than "Earthmoving Equipment - Excavators" for everyday use.
Subcategories
For larger inventories, create hierarchical categories using parent-child relationships:
Create the parent category first (e.g., "Earthmoving")
Create child categories (e.g., "Excavators", "Loaders")
Set the Parent Category field on each child
This creates a tree structure: Earthmoving → Excavators → Mini Excavators
Editing Categories
Go to Settings → Categories
Click on the category name
Update the details
Click Save
ℹ️
Note: Changing a category name updates it everywhere, including on existing equipment and historical rentals.
Deleting Categories
Categories can only be deleted if no equipment is assigned to them.
First, reassign any equipment to a different category
Then delete the empty category
⚠️
Warning: Consider making a category inactive rather than deleting it. Inactive categories preserve historical data while hiding from selection lists.
Tips for Category Organisation
📂 Start Simple
Begin with 5-10 top-level categories. You can always add subcategories later as your catalog grows.
🎯 Think Like Your Customers
How do customers ask for equipment? Use those terms as category names.
📝 Be Consistent
Use the same naming convention throughout. All plural ("Excavators") or all singular ("Excavator").
💰 Consider Reporting
Categories you track separately should be separate categories. If you want to see "Scissor Lift revenue vs Boom Lift revenue", make them separate categories.