By: Joshua Finley
There’s something about the open road that resonates with almost everyone. Perhaps it’s the sense of freedom or the idea that behind the wheel, you control your own destiny. For many, the flexibility and freedom of RV trips are what draw them to explore the highways, byways, campgrounds, and scenic attractions of the U.S.
The appeal of RV vacations has grown in recent years due to rising living costs and the digital nomad lifestyle. Interest in RV-based trips has spiked, making the rental market increasingly attractive to investors, with expected growth from USD 603.6 Million in 2024 to around USD 913.08 Million by 2031.
However, many consumers are leery of the costs involved in RV rental. One man who is revolutionizing the RV rental market by providing a cost-efficient service is entrepreneur, founder and Chief Executive Officer of RVnGO, Paul Kacir.
The Road Less Traveled
Paul Kacir holds an LL.B from the University of New Brunswick and an MBA from The University of British Columbia, giving him a solid foundation in entrepreneurship. He supplemented his academic background by serving as general counsel at a large British Columbia’s tech company and helping guide First Solar to an IPO and NASDAQ listing, and eventually a significant valuation and becoming an S&P 500 company.
Like many entrepreneurs, Paul pondered market opportunities during a road trip, realizing that underutilized private assets could be key to tapping into a new market.
“I was on this road trip to Arizona to join First Solar, and I was thinking about the Airbnb model, how that company didn’t use any of their own capital to establish the business, what they did was monetize the utility function of underutilized assets, which in their case are extra homes or second homes or extra bedrooms or suites.
“At the same time, RVs were zipping past in an almost constant stream. And it hit me that owners of RVs have an asset sitting idle for long periods, underutilized assets in a rental market that is growing incredibly fast.”
This was to be a road trip that would result in the launch of RVnGO, a revolutionary advance in how travelers access rental RVs.
A New Model
According to Kacir, the first lines of code for establishing the RVnGO site were almost immediately laid down and the first revenues started flowing by the end of 2018.
“The response was almost immediate,” and according to Paul Kacir it’s thanks to a deceptively simple philosophy; ‘Bringing People Closer Together. In practice, that has meant establishing a person-to-person rental portal where renters and RV owners cut out the middleman, streamlining the rental process and making it extremely cost-effective.
“We’ve abandoned all the corporate mumbo jumbo, we don’t even have a mission statement. What we’re doing is sticking to the marketing basics by building a brand around bringing parties together to their mutual benefit. It’s a model that has powered the amazing growth of RVnGO. It’s proof that if you keep it simple, build a strong brand and keep your eye on the ball when it comes to changing market conditions, then shareholders and customers will all benefit.
Customers are not only attracted by the simplicity of booking their next RV-based adventure and the attraction of a free-to-use website, but also by the turnkey service that RVnGO offers. Those renting will not only be spared the financial burden of paying commissions and management fees but also through RVnGO’s insurance offerings.
According to Kacir, RVnGO’s differentiator is that the company does not charge fees and insurance is included in the rental contract (at about half the price of competitors using a traditional rental model). It’s all part of that commitment to bringing people closer together.
“Our team is incredibly focused on providing renters with a holistic RV holiday solution, we know what we’re capable of doing, and if that means disrupting the status quo to provide value, then so be it,” says Kacir.
“The RVnGO person-to-person model brings renters and providers closer together, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we’re in the travel business, and travel is one of the best ways to bring people together,” says Kacir
Overcoming Challenges
The launch of RVnGO has meant overcoming some of the barriers to entry that can make startup success so elusive. First and foremost there’s access to capital.
“If there’s one piece of advice I’d give budding entrepreneurs, it’s to be patient yet focused. Raising capital for a new, rule-breaking project is a lengthy process. Don’t be misled by investment pages hyping a revived funding market; you’ll need something exceptional to access the capital necessary to launch and grow.”
The company also had to develop new software from scratch while managing financial constraints.
“It’s been a labor of love. After six years of development, we got there last year. The results have been incredible, with a spike in visitors from organic search and a unique offering. Clients are overwhelmingly positive, calling the site more functional and user-friendly than competitors, all on a tightly controlled budget.”
A Growing Market
Paul Kacir notes that more families are choosing RV vacations due to cost and the limitless destination options.
“There are about 11 million RVs in the US, with 200,000 being rented. Many sit idle 95% of the time while demand by renters soars.
“The RV lifestyle has so much to offer—comforts of home, freedom from tourist crowds, no splurging on accommodations, and the ability to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. At RVnGO, we’re committed to offering renters a unique and cost-effective remedy for their wanderlust.”
To learn more about the unique offerings from RVnGO, visit the company website or find out why Paul Kacir’s vision for peer-to-peer rental is disrupting traditional business models on his LinkedIn page.
Published by: Khy Talara
