How to Hire
Renting gear that actually shows up.
Everything you need to know about quoting, payment, pickup and delivery, and what we ask for on a first hire, built for production managers, DOPs, and photographers on tight schedules.
Our booking process
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1
Browse and Build
Explore our 2,600+ rental products across 11 categories. Add items to your quote cart.
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2
Send Your Quote Request
Tell us your dates, your gear list, and whether you're collecting or want delivery. Nothing is held or charged at this stage.
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3
We Check Availability
Our team confirms availability for your dates and replies with a formal quote, valid for 14 days.
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4
First Hire? Quick Account Setup
New customers complete our New Business Rental Account Application: business details, our terms, and a card on file. Returning customers skip this step.
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5
Accept and Pay
Accepting your quote signs the rental agreement. Hire charges are payable before collection or delivery unless you hold a trade account with us.
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6
Pickup or Delivery
Collect from Banksmeadow (Mon–Fri 7am–6:30pm, Sat 8am–1pm), book delivery priced by distance across Sydney, or have it freighted anywhere in Australia.
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7
Return and Check-in
Return on the agreed date. We check everything in, and any security hold is released once the gear checks in clean.
What we'll need from you
Your first hire with us
- Shoot dates and gear list, plus a delivery address or confirmation you're collecting from Banksmeadow
- Our account application: your business details, our terms and conditions, and a card on file. One form, once.
- Quote acceptance: your quote doubles as the rental agreement, so accepting it is the paperwork done
- Payment before pickup: hire charges are payable before the gear leaves. First hires may also carry a security hold of up to $3,000 depending on the equipment.
- Insurance is optional: no certificate required to hire. See the insurance FAQ below for how it can reduce your costs.
Coming back? It's lighter
- We already know you: no account application, no security hold. Just accept your quote and go.
- Card on file: we may ask you to refresh it if it's expired or your details have changed
- On-set contact: a crew name and phone number if we're delivering
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should we book equipment?
We recommend booking 2–4 weeks ahead for large jobs or specific high-demand items. Last-minute hires (3–7 days) are possible subject to availability. Contact us to check.
Do I need production insurance to hire?
No. You don't need insurance to hire from us. By default, every hire carries a 15% Risk Payment on the rental value, which covers the risk of accidental loss or damage. If you'd rather use your own insurance, send us a Certificate of Currency for review: to qualify, it must name The Front Pty Ltd as an additional insured or interested party and explicitly cover loss or damage to hired equipment in your care. Once verified, the Risk Payment can be reduced or waived. Note that public liability insurance alone doesn't cover our equipment, so it can't waive the Risk Payment on its own. A small number of high-value or specialist items (matched, irreplaceable lens sets) may require insurance as a condition of hire; we'll tell you before anything is confirmed. The Risk Payment is also not available for equipment taken outside Australia, where your own insurance is required.
What counts as damage versus normal wear and tear?
Normal wear and tear (minor scuffs, dust, lens coating abrasion) is covered under your rental agreement. Damage assessed as beyond normal use is charged based on replacement cost and severity. Our team will document the equipment's condition at both pickup and return.
Can I sub-hire equipment to another production?
Sub-hiring is allowed only with written permission from The Front. You remain fully responsible for the equipment under your hire agreement. Contact us to request a sub-hire waiver before lending gear.
How are weekend and weekly rates calculated?
The weekend is one day. Pick up Friday between 12pm and 6:30pm, return Monday between 7am and 10am, and you're charged a single day's hire. For longer hires, most cinema equipment runs on a 3 day week: hire for seven days, pay for three. Other product families carry their own weekly rates, so the exact multiplier depends on the item. Your quote always shows the real figure for your dates, and the longer the hire, the cheaper each day gets.
How does delivery work, and what does it cost?
We deliver and pick up across Sydney, priced by distance from our Banksmeadow warehouse, with each leg (delivery and pickup) quoted separately. Tell us your suburb and we'll include the exact figure on your quote; runs beyond the metro area are priced per job. We also ship Australia-wide by freight, so tell us where you're shooting and we'll quote it. Collecting it yourself is always free: we're open Monday–Friday 7am–6:30pm and Saturday 8am–1pm.
What happens if I return equipment late?
Late returns incur additional day rates. Contact us as soon as you know there will be a delay so we can adjust your quote and ensure the equipment is available for the next booking.
What's your cancellation policy?
You can cancel in writing any time. Because we hold gear exclusively for your dates, a cancellation fee applies close to the hire: cancel 48–36 hours before the hire period and 50% of the hire price applies; under 36 hours, 100% applies. Cancellations earlier than 48 hours are not charged. See our Rental Terms (clause 10) for the full detail.
How we price rentals
Equipment is priced per day, and the longer you hire, the cheaper each day gets. The structure:
- Daily rate: the price shown on every product page
- Weekend rate: pick up Friday 12pm–6:30pm, return Monday 7am–10am, charged as 1 day
- Weekly rate: most cinema equipment runs on a 3 day week (seven days for the price of three); other product families have their own weekly rates
- Longer hires: multi-week and multi-month jobs are priced as a custom package, so talk to us
Payment terms: hires are prepaid by default, payable before collection or delivery. A trade account with invoice terms is available upon review once your rental history with us meets requirements. See the rental terms for the fine print.