The story of Fun and More Rentals starts with a packed sedan and a girlfriend who refused to leave San Diego without her bike. That girlfriend is now my wife, and that bike is still on the island today. The company it inspired has served AMI visitors for 25 years.
Fun and More Rentals grew from a single ten-dollar bicycle into Anna Maria Island’s largest rental operation over 25 years. The business launched on instinct, expanded through resourcefulness, and survived by taking care of the people in front of it. That same approach still drives every delivery, every cart rental, and every family who arrives on the island ready to relax.
How Does a Ten-Dollar Bike Start a Rental Company?
The story begins in San Diego, as we prepared to leave Mission Beach for Dallas. The car was packed beyond capacity, with bags spilling out, and not a single inch of space to spare. As we backed out of the driveway for a 20-hour trip, my wife spotted it in the carport and insisted on bringing it along.
The bike had cost only ten dollars, so why not leave it behind for the next tenant? She wasn’t willing to leave it behind.
To make room for the bike, the entire car had to be unpacked. The seat was squeezed into the back, and the front tire was tucked up front. After all that, the bike sat unused for a year before making one final trip to a small beach town on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
That is how the bike got to Anna Maria Island, and what happened next led to the birth of a rental company.
A Phone Call and a Bike Rental for Forty Dollars
After relocating to the island, Billi worked at a local vacation rental company, helping check guests in. One afternoon, a man walked through the door and asked where he could rent a bike.
The vacation rental company didn’t have bikes to rent, so she picked up the phone and made a quick call. A mile away, the call came in: do you want to rent the bike? After a brief pause, the answer was yes.
I rode the bike down to Domino’s, shirt and shoes optional. Forty dollars changed hands, and the customer said he would bring it back in a week.
As I walked home, the opportunity became clear. Renting just two bikes a day could quickly add up, and the idea began to take shape.
What followed was a lean operation with a creative edge. We made a flyer listing bikes, beach umbrellas, and chairs available for rent to incoming guests. The only challenge was that we did not own most of the equipment yet.
One bike quickly became two, followed by a beach wagon and six beach chairs. Before long, the garage became headquarters, and the business continued to grow from there.
We Let Demand Lead the Way
This only worked because I waited for customers to reveal what they wanted. Buying equipment before customers ask for it is always a gamble. Buying it only after a customer asks is a different game entirely.
We were waiting to see the demand before spending money. That approach helped us stretch limited capital as far as it could go. It also avoided the trap that catches many small businesses early: spending money on things that sit idle.
The same instinct shaped how the inventory evolved over 25 years. For example, the team experimented with food delivery before deciding to move on. Rollaway beds and air mattresses were added, tested, and eventually phased out. Each product either proved its value or was removed from the lineup.
A paddleboard also joined the fleet early, donated by a friend passing through on his way back to the West Coast. That board became a rental item before there was money to buy inventory outright. The whole early operation ran on resourcefulness, and the lessons from those early years never really left.
Ready to see how that same approach shows up on arrival day? Reserve your street-legal golf cart and have everything waiting at your rental home when you get there.
The Moment This Became a Business
Fun and More Rentals has been delivering gear to families on Anna Maria Island for 25 years. We also give guests local advice, brief them on golf cart safety, and answer questions about their rentals.
Hearing how the very first rental went down captures that spirit better than any summary can.
“She’s right beside Domino’s on the island here answering vacation rental phone calls, and a dude walks in the door. ‘Hey, where can I rent a bike?’ Billi goes, ‘A bike? Yeah, hang on a second.’ Picks up the telephone, calls me. Do you want to rent your bike? I jump on the dumb bike and ride down to Domino’s. He gave me 40 bucks. And I’m going, ‘Hey, if we can rent two bikes a day, that’s 100 bucks a day. Let’s just do it.'”
— Duane Gartman, Owner, Fun and More Rentals
Why Does This Origin Story Still Matter for Visitors Today?
Twenty-five years of this kind of thinking produces something worth noticing. This is not a corporate operation that landed on Anna Maria Island with venture funding and a marketing plan. It is a business that grew out of the island itself, shaped by the same resourcefulness that the Gulf Coast tends to reward.
That history shows up in how the operation runs today. Free delivery to your rental home did not come from a marketing playbook. It came from years of figuring out what actually helps families arrive without friction. The safety briefing before every cart rental did not come from a compliance checklist. It came from caring about what happens after the handoff.
Visitors who book with Fun and More Rentals get more than just equipment. They’re also benefiting from 25 years of local knowledge about what works on the island and what doesn’t.
Common Questions About Our Anna Maria Island Rental Company
How long has Fun and More Rentals been operating on Anna Maria Island?
Fun and More Rentals has been serving visitors on Anna Maria Island for 25 years. The business started with a single bicycle rental and has grown into the island’s most complete provider of vacation gear and street-legal golf carts.
Does Fun and More Rentals deliver equipment directly to rental homes?
Yes. Fun and More Rentals provides free delivery and pickup to rental homes throughout Anna Maria Island, including Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. Your equipment will be waiting when you arrive, so you can start enjoying your vacation instead of spending your first day running errands.
What rental equipment does Fun and More Rentals offer?
The lineup includes street-legal golf carts in 4-, 6-, and 8-passenger configurations. We also have bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards, beach umbrellas, beach wagons, baby gear, and more. The inventory reflects 25 years of tracking what families actually use on Anna Maria Island and cutting what they do not.
Are the golf carts street-legal on Anna Maria Island roads?
Yes. All golf carts from Fun and More Rentals are classified as low-speed vehicles (LSVs) under Florida law and are street-legal on Anna Maria Island roads. Drivers must be 25 or older with a valid license and active auto insurance. A one-on-one safety briefing is included with every cart rental before guests head out.
How far in advance should visitors book a golf cart rental?
Booking early is strongly recommended, especially during winter months and peak vacation weeks when availability fills quickly. Pre-booking before arrival ensures the cart is delivered to the rental home and waiting when guests check in. Anna Maria Island golf cart rentals fill faster than most first-time visitors expect, particularly on competitive winter dates.
What is the Best Price Guarantee at Fun and More Rentals?
Fun and More Rentals guarantees the best prices on Anna Maria Island for vacation rental equipment. If visitors find a lower rate for comparable equipment from another AMI provider, Fun and More Rentals will match it. The guarantee applies to the full range of gear, including golf carts, bikes, kayaks, and beach supply packages.
Can two families traveling together share one golf cart rental order?
Two families staying in the same vacation home can coordinate a single order for multiple carts and gear packages through Fun and More Rentals. The free delivery model means everything arrives at one address on one schedule. We covered some of the advantages in a recent post about two families sharing a rental order.
The Bike Is Still Here
That first bike never left. It still sits downstairs in the beach house where the business began, and it will probably stay there for years to come.
Anna Maria Island rewards the people who show up without a plan and figure it out anyway. The Gulf does not care about your business model, and the sand does not check your credentials. What matters is showing up, delivering on your promises, and staying long enough to become great at what you do.
If you want your vacation gear waiting at your door when you arrive, book with Fun and More Rentals. We take pride in delivering on time and helping customers make the most of the island.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Duane Gartman is the owner of Fun And More Rentals, the largest vacation equipment rental company on Anna Maria Island. With 25 years in business, Duane started with just two bicycles and built a fleet that now serves thousands of families each year. Fun And More Rentals is known for its free delivery and pickup service, Best Price Guarantee, and a focus on making island vacations effortless from arrival to departure.
