Where there once was a “social stigma” about renting personal items, “all of a sudden, rental has become a bit chic,” Perrone said.

“It is about having a good idea and the right idea at the right time,” O’Neil said. “I think this is the right idea at the right time.”

Perrone said most of the items will be rented at a daily rate of one-14th to one-20th of the retail price. The Shed will share revenue from rentals with the property owners. The company has insurance for damages and liability.

O’Neil said the company also is looking at opportunities to partner with businesses for storage and rentals of items. It will work with philanthropic groups to have supporters put items up for rent to raise money for charity.

The startup has acquired a truck trailer and is working with a network of gig drivers to pick up items and transport them, so no one needs to go to the warehouse itself. The company’s website lists more than 200 items it will store and rent.

Several Richmond-area investors are now backing the startup, including Marc Oosterhuis, a mentor to entrepreneurs and the chief operating officer of Babylon Micro-Farms, another local startup that makes hydroponic systems for growing edible greens indoors.